Pittman, Larson earn podium finishes in Circle K/NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown
CONCORD, NC. – May 24, 2013 – Just past the halfway point of the Circle K/NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown on Friday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Paul McMahan stole the lead from World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship leader Daryn Pittman.

After a restart on Lap 17, Pittman moved up the track, and McMahan saw his chance. McMahan steadily worked the bottom groove and was able to make a pass to move himself past Pittman, where he pulled away to win in the CJB Motorsports car for the second time this season.

“Last year at the World Finals we had a pretty good car coming from 22nd to second,” said McMahan, of Nashville, Tenn., who is second to Pittman in the championship standings. “This year we pretty much got the car awesome again. We ended up starting ninth in the dash and got to fifth so that was a big jump for us. (more…)

Defending champ drives to fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Victory of ’13

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – May 17, 2013 – Donny Schatz caught and passed Greg Hodnett in the final corner on Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway to win his fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event of the season in thrilling fashion.

Schatz, who started 12th, picked off series points leader Daryn Pittman and two of Pennsylvania’s fiercest competitors, Fred Rahmer and Hodnett, over the final three laps to win at the historic central Pennsylvania venue for the 17th time in his career.

The lead was never safe in the 25-lap feature event. Paul McMahan started on the pole and led the first 10 laps before Hodnett worked his way to the front to complete Lap 11 just as caution came out. Hodnett tried to pull away on the restart but McMahan, Rahmer and Pittman stayed in close pursuit. It looked as if the vaunted PA Posse with Hodnett and Rahmer was going to deal the Outlaws their second consecutive defeat in as many nights before Schatz ran them both down on the last lap, surprising Rahmer by going to the outside in turns 1 and 2, then setting up Hodnett in turn 3, passing under him in turn 4 and charging down the long front stretch to absolutely stun the huge crowd.

“Man to lead the last lap is important and I got Greg at just the right time, he went to the bottom to protect it and I wasn’t about to lose that way,” said Schatz, driver of the Tony Stewart Racing STP/Armor All J&J. “I gave it everything I had tonight, it worked. A lot of nights it doesn’t.” (more…)

PA Posse racer tops World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car stars for second year in a row

ABOTTSTOWN, Pa. – May 16, 2013 – A year after being schooled by the vaunted Pennsylvania Posse at Lincoln Speedway, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series racers made great strides but still came up short as local star Danny Dietrich powered to victory in the Gettysburg Clash for the second consecutive season.

Last year it was hard to find an Outlaw in the top 10 at Lincoln, this time around Donny Schatz pressured Dietrich for the entire 35 laps before settling for second by about a car length at the checkered flag. Sammy Swindell, Tim Kaeding and Brad Sweet rounded out the top five on the first of four consecutive nights of action for the Outlaws.

Dietrich remained faithful to the bottom of the race track, making Schatz have to use the high side to get around him. Schatz kept pace using the high side early on, but as the bottom proved to be the preferred line he moved down and tried to force Dietrich into a making mistake.

“Just was determined to get the jump on every restart, I screwed up a couple of times, but was able to recover from it,” said Dietrich, of Aspers, Pa. “I saw his nose probably half a dozen times, I was just trying to hit my marks, I figured if I could just hit my marks everything would probably be OK. It just feels real good to beat the best of the best guys in the world.” (more…)

Defending champion charges to third victory of 2013 by winning Mediacom Shootout

KNOXVILLE, Iowa – May 11, 2013 – If it wasn’t obvious before, Donny Schatz made it clear on Saturdaynight: The path to winning at Knoxville Raceway goes through him.

Schatz charged from seventh to victory in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series Mediacom Shootout at the famous half-mile, where he has won five of the past six Knoxville Nationals crowns in addition to winning six additional series races there since 2006.

In a field of 51 cars, it was Brian Brown, Craig Dollansky and Tim Kaeding who tried to prevent Schatz from returning to Knoxville’s victory lane, a place Schatz practically calls home. Brown earned his second pole of the season and jumped out to a quick lead before Dollansky was able to slide into the top spot on lap 9. Meanwhile, Schatz reeled in Kaeding, then Brown and set his sights on Dollansky. (more…)

Points leader charges from seventh to victory for fourth time this seasonROSSBURG, Ohio – May 4, 2013 – Eight laps to go Saturday night at Eldora Speedway and a restart with Brian Brown and Donny Schatz on the front row had the crowd on its feet, but it was Daryn Pittman who took their breath away with a stunning slider past the leaders for his fourth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season.

Brown, who stormed into the lead from the pole position, withstood several barrages by Brad Sweet and Schatz to maintain the top spot through the first 22 laps, but Pittman was too much on what was the final restart of the 30-lap conclusion to Outlaw Thunder weekend at Eldora.

Pittman started seventh in his Kasey Kahne Racing Great Clips GF1 at the Tony Stewart-owned high-speed half-mile oval and methodically worked his way forward. While everyone was watching Brown battle Sweet and Schatz, it was Pittman who was putting himself in position to pounce on the leader.

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After narrowly being denied twice before, Aussie earns checkers at historic Ohio oval
ROSSBURG, Ohio – May 3, 2013 – Twice before at Eldora Speedway, Kerry Madsen suffered the agony of defeat in World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series competition, coming up one position short of glory, but on Friday night the Aussie finally tasted the thrill of victory.

In the kickoff to Outlaw Thunder weekend at the track celebrating its 60th anniversary season, Madsen stole the lead from Craig Dollansky on lap 17 and pulled away to win for the first time this season on the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series circuit and the first time of his career at Eldora.

Dollansky was second with quick-timer Paul McMahan, hard-charger Donny Schatz and Jac Haudenschild rounding out the top five.

“I’ve had a very slow start to the season,” said Madsen, of St. Marys, NSW, Australia, who came up just short in the 2010 Kings Royal to Steve Kinser and just short again to Sammy Swindell in the 2012 Kings Royal. “So to get a win is great, but to get it at Eldora where I’ve been so close so many times … I always felt like I’ve been good here, but not gotten a win, so it feels fantastic to get the win.”

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Minnesotan holds off McMahan in Oklahoma for his second victory of the season

SALINA, Okla. — April 27, 2013 — Craig Dollansky powered to victory Saturday night at Salina Highbanks Speedway for his second World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season.

Dollansky fought off Paul McMahan’s relentless effort through heavy traffic in the 30-lap A-main to remain perfect in Outlaw competition at Salina, where he also won in 2011. Points leader Daryn Pittman was third with Sammy Swindell and Joey Saldana rounding out the top five.

The event was originally scheduled for Friday night but wet weather forced the race to run a day later, when cool temperatures equaled big horsepower as all but one of the competitors qualified under the previous track record. (more…)

Californian in right place when Saldana, Darrah collide while racing for the lead
HAUBSTADT, Ind. — April 20, 2013 — Tim Kaeding watched as Joey Saldana and Cody Darrah leaned on each other for 24 laps in a battle for the lead Saturday night at Tri-State Speedway before the two collided, ending their nights and putting Kaeding in prime position for his third World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory of the season.

After Saldana and Darrah swapped the lead four times in the first half of the race, Kaeding took command on lap 25, fought off David Gravel in heavy traffic down the stretch, and earned the second victory in his five career starts at the high-banked, quarter-mile oval. Gravel wound up second with Paul McMahan, Dale Blaney and Kerry Madsen rounding out the top five in the 40-lap A-main.

“We put ourselves in contention right at the get-go,” said Kaeding, of San Jose, Calif. “We had a great racecar all night. We just tippy-toed around there for the first half of the race, watching Joey and Cody. They got racing a little bit too hard and crashed and we kind of fell into it and definitely got the win. I’m going to take it and be happy about it.” (more…)

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers projects river levels to surpass flood stage this week near Pevely

PEVELY, Mo. — April 19, 2013 — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects rising river levels will prevent the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series from being able to compete on Saturday, April 27, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

The river is expected to be nearly 10 feet above flood stage and the track, which sits near Mississippi River tributaries just south of St. Louis, is susceptible to flooding. Flood waters are projected to recede quickly, but not in time for next week’s event.

The race will not be rescheduled. The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars will return to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 for the two-day Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 on Aug. 2-3.

Tonight’s race at Paducah International Raceway also was postponed because of rain. The series will be in action Saturday night at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., and again on Friday, Aug. 26, at the Salina (Okla.) Highbanks.

Fans with tickets to the cancelled race next Saturday at Federated Auto Parts Raceway can apply their tickets toward tickets for the Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 in August. Ticketholders with questions can call the World of Outlaws ticket hotline at 877-395-8606, or clickWorldofOutlaws.com/tickets. (more…)