He leads the final 22 laps and survives a green-white-checkered finish
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Aug. 3, 2012 - It's finally over.
There were hugs and high fives, smiles and tears, greeting a subdued Lucas Wolfe in Victory Lane on a muggy Friday evening at Bloomington Speedway. Wolfe led the final 22 laps to claim his first career World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature victory.
"I'm not very loud of any kind; I stay pretty even," he said. "Obviously I'm usually this way on a terrible night and on the best of nights I stay pretty calm, but I'll be pretty happy. I might do a bit of screaming in the helmet, but I'll try to keep it pretty cool for right now."
After many near wins during the last five seasons as an Outlaws driver and overcoming a gamut of mechanical woes this year, Wolfe had arguably the best car in Friday's main event. He charged from his seventh starting position to the top three within the first 10 laps and took the lead before the midpoint. However, it wasn't without drama.
Wolfe was leading by a straightaway with less than two laps remaining when the event's second caution was waved for a spin by Kody Kinser in turn two. That erased Wolfe's commanding advantage and he chose the inside lane on the double-file restart.
Wolfe powered into the lead, but the final caution came on the restart as Sammy Swindell and Kerry Madsen tangled in turn four. However, once again, Wolfe mastered the restart and drove away to the sizeable victory.
"I was a little bit worried about the double-file restarts from where the track might have got a little bit of rubber laid down, about how it was going to be to get going," he said. "I felt the bottom was my best bet and obviously that was the wrong decision. I was able to get a good enough start there and obviously it didn't count anyway because we had an accident.
"(I) certainly was happy to see it go back single file. That was a relief that we didn't have to do anymore double-file restarts and were able to just finish it right there. I'd had enough; my nerves were about shot. (I was) certainly happy to finally finish a deal off."
Joey Saldana, who led the first 18 laps after starting on the pole, lost the lead in traffic as Wolfe split him and a car about to be lapped while the trio raced down the backstretch. Saldana then held off Donny Schatz for the runner-up position.
"It's well deserved," Saldana said. "The guy's been knocking on the door and having bad luck.
"He could maneuver through traffic really well. I could get through traffic as long as it went my way, but I couldn't force the issue. I had to settle for second and I really had nothing for him."
Both drivers shared a special moment with Wolfe in Victory Lane.
"I can still remember that feeling," said Schatz as he reminisced about his first Outlaws win. "I'm happy for him. It's been a long time coming. He should have won one long ago, but I'm sure tonight's very special for him having to wait that long."
Jason Sides passed Cody Darrah for fourth place on the final restart. Greg Wilson finished sixth, Kraig Kinser was seventh, Logan Schuchart ended eighth, Craig Dollansky placed ninth and Steve Kinser, who was involved in a flip on the opening lap and had to restart 21st, rounded out the top 10.
Bloomington Speedway Notebook
NOTES - Donny Schatz established his first quick time of the season. … Greg Wilson claimed his first heat race victory, Logan Schuchart his second and Joey Saldana his 11th of the season. … Saldana won his series-leading fifth dash of the season.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS - Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Bill Rose; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Lucas Wolfe; Armor All (case of product): Jason Sides; STP ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; UNOH ($50 cash): Cody Darrah; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; JE Pistons (set of rings): James McFadden; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; Superflow ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; JE Pistons (set of rings): A.J. Martin; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): A.J. Martin; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah.
WINNERS - Sammy Swindell - 8 (Autodrome Granby on July 27, Eldora Speedway on July 14, Lakeside Speedway on June 30, Red River Valley Speedway on June 16, Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Craig Dollansky - 6 (Lebanon Valley Speedway on July 22, Lernerville Speedway on July 17, I-96 Speedway on June 2, Hagerstown Speedway on May 20, Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Joey Saldana - 5 (Autodrome Drummond on July 28, Eldora Speedway on July 13, The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 25, Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Kraig Kinser - 4 (Beaver Dam Raceway on July 7, Dodge City Raceway Park on June 23, River Cities Speedway on June 15 and Kokomo Speedway on June 5); Donny Schatz - 4 (Cornwall Motor Speedway on July 29, Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Tim Kaeding - 3 (Cedar Lake Speedway on July 6, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Steve Kinser - 3 (Dodge City Raceway Park on June 22, Orange County Fair Speedway on May 19 and Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Kerry Madsen - 3 (Limaland Motorsports Park on July 11, Belleville High Banks on June 29 and Knoxville Raceway on June 9); Chad Kemenah - 2 (Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 28 and Eldora Speedway on May 4); Tony Stewart - 2 (Ohsweken Speedway on July 31 and Lernerville Speedway on July 17); Cody Darrah - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 21); Danny Dietrich - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Mark Dobmeier - 1 (Huset's Speedway on July 3); Danny Lasoski - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18); Paul McMahan - 1 (Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on May 16); Fred Rahmer - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11); Brad Sweet - 1 (Clay County Fairgrounds on June 8) and Lucas Wolfe - 1 (Bloomington Speedway on Aug. 3).
TIME TRIALS - Donny Schatz was the fastest qualifier around the quarter-mile oval with a time of 10.798 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Lucas Wolfe (4 points), Jason Sides (3), Sammy Swindell (2) and Craig Dollansky (1).
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- Admin Account on Aug 06, 2012
- Article Date: 8/6/2012 by Shawn Miller - World of Outlaws