Experience at El Paso Speedway Park valuable in racing to 575th career victory

Dan Beaver, EL PASO, Texas — April 16, 2013 — Veteran experience dominated the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series debut on Tuesday night at El Paso Speedway Park as Steve Kinser charged to his first victory of the season in the series debut at the West Texas venue.

Tony Stewart Racing teammates Kinser and Donny Schatz owned the front row for the feature, and Kinser never looked back. Kinser, the only touring Outlaw with experience on the 3/8-mile oval, quickly charged to the lead and pulled away while a wild race for second took place behind him. Points-leader Daryn Pittman was able to hold off Craig Dollansky for his 11th top-five finish of the year.

Quick-timer David Gravel and Kraig Kinser rounded out the top five.

“I was worried about everybody,” said Kinser, relieved to finally be in the win column for the 575th time in his World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series career. “The year hadn’t been going that great. It’s just good to get a win. We’ve been struggling to get a win and the whole team needed it.”

The general consensus among racers was that the track was solid and only getting better as the night progressed. “Still, you have to cowboy up,” said Gravel, “and you have to hit very precise marks.” That definitely benefitted Kinser, who has a knack for finding victory lane when the series debuts at a new venue. (more…)

At end of highly successful West Coast swing, Outlaws have one last track to invade before heading EastEL PASO, Texas — April 15, 2013 — The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series has been racing through the Western states since early March, and it has one piece of unfinished business on Tuesday night in Texas before it returns to the Midwest.

Since March 6 the hardest working drivers in sprint car racing have taken on all comers at nine tracks in Nevada, Arizona, and California comprising 11 races. Those events have showcased eight different winners. In total, 22 drivers have scored at least one top-five, and that makes this an incredibly competitive swing for the touring series. As a brand new venue for the Outlaws, the 3/8ths-mile, slightly-banked El Paso Speedway Park should provide the same level of competition, which means fans will have no idea of who is likely to win Tuesday night.

Tim Kaeding and Daryn Pittman will certainly be in the mix, however, as they carry over a furious battle from Perris Auto Speedway. Pittman snatched the lead from Kaeding with 12 laps remaining in the SoCal Showdown in a pass that was a little too close for Kaeding’s comfort. (more…)

He picks up first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win at Perris since 2002

PERRIS, Calif. – April 13, 2013 – It seemed fitting that the top World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series star collided with the premier Californian, who titles himself the “Outlaw killer.”
Both literally and figuratively, championship points leader Daryn Pittman and reigning King of California Tim Kaeding capped the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series five-week West Coast swing in a head-to-head battle on Saturday in the SoCal Showdown at Perris Auto Speedway.

Pittman and Kaeding, along with Donny Schatz, are the only drivers to record multiple feature victories this season and of course, they were in a heated match to decide the winner on the famed half mile.

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Seven official lead changes highlight the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event

HANFORD, Calif. – April 12, 2013 – Wearing an ear-to-ear grin, Chad Kemenah hopped out of his car and went in for the hug on Donny Schatz.
Keep in mind, Kemenah had just finished second to Schatz in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series return to Kings Speedway on Friday night.

“That’s just what happens when you get a race track to race on wide enough,” Kemenah said. “These fans come out and just get a hell of a show. That was a lot of passing.

“I just want to thank all the fans for coming out here and Donny for such a good race. They got their money’s worth and we’re excited.”

Schatz was a bit more subdued in celebrating his first career victory at the 3/8-mile track, which has featured a different winner in each of the last seven World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series main events. (more…)

The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series hits the 3/8 mile on Friday, April 19

PADUCAH, Ky. – April 9, 2013 – Seven for seven.

Paducah International Raceway has never seen a World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series repeat winner in the seven features since the opener in 1998. That streak will be on the line as Joey Saldana – last season’s winner – and the Outlaws head to the high-banked track on Friday, April 19.

“Paducah’s a really fun race track,” Chad Kemenah said. “It’s pretty wide, it gets really racy there usually and it puts a really good show for the fans. It’s usually really, really exciting.”

It is also the only World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event in Kentucky this season.

“Turn one and two is pretty tricky,” championship points leader Daryn Pittman said. “I’ve kinda always struggled there. It’s got a lot of bank to it. It’s fast. It’s got long straightaways and kind of tight corners. I’m definitely looking forward to going back and trying to improve on what I’ve done in the past.”

Jeff Swindell claimed the inaugural event with Andy Hillenburg, Danny Lasoski, Craig Dollansky, Jason Meyers and Jac Haudenschild each picking up a win before Saldana’s triumph last year. (more…)

He leads the final 21 laps and outlasts childhood hero Saldana at Antioch Speedway

ANTIOCH, Calif. – April 5, 2013 – The offseason, weekdays, every night before falling asleep. There is a lot of time spent dreaming and for a young sprint car driver, dreams are the gateway for perseverance.
On Friday at Antioch Speedway, Shane Golobic’s dreams were nothing like reality.

Golobic passed polesitter Jonathan Allard in thick traffic on lap 10 and held off Joey Saldana – Golobic’s favorite World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series driver – to capture his first career victory, which left him talking almost as fast as he drove after an emotional celebration on the frontstretch.

“It doesn’t compare,” Golobic said as a smile engulfed his face. “I always knew it’d be pretty awesome to win one. I didn’t know if I was ever going to get the chance. There’s some guys who win a lot of races and don’t ever get to win an Outlaws race, so to be able to do it is awesome.

“I couldn’t be happier right now. We beat the best. The Outlaws are the best and we beat them. It’s just surreal to even think that we did it.” (more…)

The Outlaws only visit to Texas in 2013 features a new and unique track for the series

By Dan Beaver – EL PASO, Texas – April 4, 2013 – World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series drivers face a clean slate on Tuesday, April 16, as they head to El Paso for the first-ever race on that track and their only visit to Texas in 2013.
It has been two years since the Outlaws were last in Texas, but the most recent race was held on the other side of the state at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown. Sammy Swindell won the 40-lap feature that night, but he and the rest of the drivers face a new challenge at El Paso Speedway Park.

Sprint car fans in West Texas are hungry for big league competition because the track is not only new to the series, so is the venue-sort of. The last time the Outlaws were in this part of the country, they were not in the country at all but rather across the border in Mexico at Autopista Juarez in 1992.

Steve Kinser is the only driver with experience in the market and on this track. “I was a lot younger at the time, but I remember winning that race and it is always part of the conversation when we get back to this area.”

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Seven of the last eight races at half mile have featured different winners

PERRIS, Calif. – April 3, 2013 – According to the trend, a first-time winner should stand atop the podium when the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series visits Perris Auto Speedway.

After Mark Kinser claimed the first five races at the half mile, seven of the last eight events – and the last five consecutive – have featured a different winner heading into the SoCal Showdown on Saturday, April 13.

One of those drivers is Kerry Madsen, who picked up a victory in 2007 and finished fifth during last season’s return to Perris Auto Speedway after a five-year hiatus.

“It’s an enjoyable track for me and I’m definitely looking forward to Perris,” he said. “It suits my style. It races like a 3/8 (mile). It doesn’t really race like a half mile. You’ve still got some speed on the straights and the corners are kinda tight and it builds a pretty nice ledge.”

Joey Saldana outlasted Californian and 2004 winner Jason Meyers in last year’s event.

“Last year I was fortunate enough to get a win at Perris,” Saldana said. “I love coming out here to the West Coast, definitely at the beginning of the year and definitely in September. It’s fun just coming out here; it’s a great atmosphere. All the fans really support sprint car racing.” (more…)

The premier sprint car series tackles the 3/8-mile track on Friday, April 12

HANFORD, Calif. – April 2, 2013 – Joey Saldana is searching for his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series feature victory as the driver for Motter Motorsports.

A 2000 winner at Kings Speedway, where the series hasn’t completed an event since 2003, Saldana has the 3/8-mile track circled on his calendar. The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series competes at Kings Speedway on Friday, April 12.

“I’m definitely looking forward to Hanford,” Saldana said. “We don’t get to race there much. I love racing there and we’ve been fortunate enough to win a race. Hopefully we can go back there and get right where we left off and that was with a win, so hopefully this 71m car can get a victory out here on the West Coast.”

Dating back to 2000, the past six races at Kings Speedway have been won by a different driver. Before that streak, 20-time champion Steve Kinser claimed a series-leading seven wins with Sammy Swindell, Stevie Smith and Danny Lasoski each winning three of the 28 World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series events between 1985-2003.

“It’s always been a fun place to go race,” Kerry Madsen said. “It’s got a nice little progressive banking to it so it can be quite quick and I’m pretty excited to go back there.” (more…)

He also announces full-time status with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series

CHICO, Calif. – March 23, 2013 – Saturday was a day of celebration and commemoration for Paul McMahan.
It began during the bright afternoon when he announced his CJB Motorsports team will compete full time this season with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series. It was then capped under the lights with a splattering of confetti on the frontstretch at Silver Dollar Speedway, where McMahan earned his 15 th career World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory at the famed Mini Gold Cup.

“Kenny Speck passed away last Friday night at Tulare and we laid him to rest today, and this is the first time I’ve been back to Stephen’s (Allard) hometown here in Chico,” he said after an emotional Victory Lane. “To win here, I know he’s smiling down, looking on me – both of them are. I said earlier in the night that if I could win here this would be for them guys and I was fortunate enough to get it done.”

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