(Photo by John Fletcher)
Inside Line Promotions – CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 12, 2013) – Although Big Game Motorsports drivers Sammy Swindell and Craig Dollansky were unable to pick up a victory last weekend during the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, the 7th annual World Finals event was considered a success.
“At least we came out of there with a lot of positives,” Swindell said. “It was more learning about stuff for next year. We definitely have a good direction on the motors. We’ve found some things I liked and we were able to do some things with the shocks and the car that are going to be positives. It’s a good way to leave the year.”
During the qualifying only event on Thursday, which set up the Friday and Saturday programs, Dollansky timed his Eyecon Trail Cameras car in ninth quickest and 10th quickest, respectively. Swindell caught a bad bounce in the Big Game Treestands car during his qualifying session for Friday and ended up 21st before rebounding with a fourth-place qualifying run to set up Saturday.
“During the first round of qualifying the track was really rough and I got a bad bounce off of (turn) four and it messed up both of my laps,” he said. “We got a lot better during the second session, but on the second lap I caught a hole. You didn’t have a lot of control. You were lucky to get through there and who happened to bounce through there the right way got a good lap.”
Swindell, who tied for the 20th quickest qualifying time on Friday but lost the tiebreaker, missed the inversion for the heat races. The Big Game Treestands car started and finished fifth on the fast track during Swindell’s heat race, which locked the top-four finishers into the feature. That sent him to the Last Chance Showdown and Swindell placed sixth – only two positions out of a transfer.
Dollansky finished where he started – third – in his heat race both nights to miss a spot in the dash by one position, but lock the Eyecon Trail Cameras car into each $12,000-to-win main event.
“After struggling with our car Friday night we were able to get our car better for Saturday night’s feature,” Dollansky said. “Unfortunately, like Friday night, we weren’t able to get in the top two in our heat to transfer to the dash so that had us starting in the back both nights.”
Dollansky started 17th and finished 18th in the main event on Friday, but the team learned some lessons for Saturday’s season finale. After starting on the inside of the 10th row in the feature, Dollansky powered the Eyecon Trail Cameras car to its 41st top-10 result of the season.
“Getting to seventh from 19th was a decent finish,” he said. “We got held up and blocked in a few times on restarts during that race that cost us. We left some spots on the table because of it.”
Swindell also placed third in his heat race on Saturday to lock the Big Game Treestands car into the main event.
“We had a really, really good car for the main,” he said. “All of the things we’ve been working on and learning came together. When I got to about fourth there was a lot of the race left and I was still passing pretty easy.”
After starting 14th, Swindell advanced to the runner-up position by the midpoint of the feature.
“I was about to take the lead when we had a right front steering arm break,” he said. “Our car was definitely better than anybody out there.”
The failure forced Swindell to the pits with 13 laps remaining and he was relegated to a 22nd-place result.
Dollansky and his Eyecon Trail Cameras team finished fifth in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship standings. It is the 10th straight season that Dollansky has placed in the top seven in points and eighth time in the top five season since 2001.
Swindell and his Big Game Treestands team placed sixth in the championship standings.
QUICK RESULTS –
DOLLANSKY:
Nov. 8 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. – Qualifying: 9; Heat race: 3 (3); Feature: 18 (17).
Nov. 9 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. – Qualifying: 10; Heat race: 3 (3); Feature: 7 (19).
SWINDELL:
Nov. 8 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. – Qualifying: 21; Heat race: 5 (5); B Main: 6 (5).
Nov. 9 – The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. – Qualifying: 4; Heat race: 3 (4); Feature: 22 (14).
SEASON STATS –
DOLLANSKY: 76 races, 6 wins, 20 top fives, 41 top 10s, 58 top 15s, 71 top 20s
SWINDELL: 80 races, 5 wins, 18 top fives, 44 top 10s, 61 top 15s, 68 top 20s
MEDIA LINKS –
Big Game Treestands: http://www.BigGameTreestands.com
Aggressive Hydraulics: http://www.AggressiveHydraulics.com
MobileStar: http://www.MobileStar.us/mobilestarwebsite
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Big_Game_TS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Game-Treestands/251832101535076?fref=ts
BIG GAME TREESTANDS –
Established in 1977 in Windom, Minn., Big Game Treestands has grown to be a leading company in the outdoor industry. Big Game Treestands offers a Rock Solid™ line of field tested, safety certified above TMA requirements, welded steel stands & free standing elevated platforms that gives you not only a safe and extremely sturdy vantage point, but also reliable all-day comfort at a great value. Large, non-slip standing platforms, top-notch fastening systems, and our innovative pinned, sleeved ladder sections provide the Rock Solid™ stance, twist free climbing, and all around silence that Big Game Treestands® is known for. Non-glare, powder coat finish keeps our products hidden from nature’s wary eye.
For over 30 years, it has been our goal and our philosophy to provide the most innovative and practical treestands and hunting accessories in the field. As tradition continues, we are Exceeding Limitations and once again providing new models that challenge Mother Nature. In 2012 Big Game extended the line into Trail Cameras known for the easy to set, great picture quality, and over all great camera Eyecon Trail Cameras exceeds the expectations of consumers. Big Game Treestands® and Eyecon Trail Cameras® offers undeniable quality on time-tested favorites as well as new innovations for 2013.
For more information on Big Game Treestands, visit http://www.BigGameTreestands.com.
EYECON TRAIL CAMERAS® –
Eyecon Trail Cameras® are premier trail cameras for hunters and outdoorsmen. The Black Widow Trail Camera, Storm Trail Camera and Quikshot Trail Camera provide a variety of options that are user-friendly with exceptional imaging. To learn more about or purchase Eyecon Trail Cameras®, visit http://www.EyeconTrailCameras.com.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Nov 12, 2013
- Article Date: 11/12/2013 by Inside Line Promotions