[b World of Outlaws Preview: Ohio Logistics 21st Annual Brad Doty Classic]
[u Lima, OH—July 13, 2009]
—Brad Doty and sprint car racing have been synonymous for many years. First as a driver, then as a television commentator and now along with his television duties, he has added promoter as well to that list.
The Hall of Famer will again promote the event that bears his name as the Ohio Logistics 21st Annual Brad Doty Classic is set for Wednesday, July 15 at Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio. This will be the fourth consecutive season the event has been held at Limaland Motorsports Park, which is owned and operated by the University of Northwestern Ohio.
Jason Meyers is the defending winner of the race, picking up a thrilling victory last season, passing 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser coming off the fourth turn on the very last lap.
Jac Haudenschild won the event which honors his longtime friend in 2007 and was recently inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame joining Doty as a member of that hallowed institution.
Joey Saldana, who leads the World of Outlaws with 12 A-Feature wins this season, was victorious in the Brad Doty Classic in 2006. He has competed against his car owner Kasey Kahne in the event in the past at Limaland Motorsports Park.
The World of Outlaws first competed at Limaland Motorsports Park in 1978. Steve Kinser won there twice that season and has three wins with the series at the track over the years, and remains the only driver that has won more than once with the series at the ¼-mile.
Slidejobs-Ohio Logistics 21st Annual Brad Doty Classic
Always up front: Steve Kinser, the 20-time World of Outlaws champion, has finished first or second in five of his six career starts at Limaland Motorsports Park. He won for the first time in his career at the track in 1978 during the inaugural World of Outlaws season and was victorious twice in that season at the track. He won again at the 1/4-mile bullring the following season and has finished second in each of his last three starts at the track. He took the white flag as the leader of the race last season, before Jason Meyers slipped by him coming off turn four to pick up the win. Kinser has won the Brad Doty Classic in the past when it was held at Attica Raceway Park, and he is one of just two full-time World of Outlaws drivers that competed against Brad Doty when he raced.
Honoring a friend: Jac Haudenschild won the Brad Doty Classic for the first time in his career in 2007, in the race which honors his long time friend. Along with Steve Kinser, Haudenschild also competed against Doty and now all three are members of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame after Haudenschild was inducted in May. In his career at Limaland Motorsports Park, Haudenschild has won four times and has eight Top-10 finishes in 10 starts. He is currently eighth in points this season as he looks for his first win of the season.
Looking to repeat:Jason Meyers won the Brad Doty Classic for the first time in his career last season, snagging the lead from Steve Kinser coming off the fourth turn on the final lap. Meyers led a total of 19 laps in the race after starting second. The native of Clovis, California is currently third in the World of Outlaws championship standings and picked up his 28th Top-10 finish of the season on Sunday night at Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin, coming home second after leading a number of laps.
One he wants: Donny Schatz, the three-time and defending World of Outlaws champion, has yet to win the Brad Doty Classic. He finished third in the race in 2006, the first season it was held at Limaland Motorsports Park and has followed that up with fifth and sixth-place performances. The North Dakota native has won nine times this season as he chases his fourth consecutive series title.
“I’m really looking forward to the Brad Doty Classic this week,” he said after his win on Sunday night at Cedar Lake Speedway. “I have never won that one and really want to win it.”
Plenty of laps: Joey Saldana has raced at Limaland Motorsports Park more times than any other driver currently competing full-time with the World of Outlaws. He has made 14 starts over the years at the bullring and has three wins, including one in the 2006 Brad Doty Classic. The native of Brownsburg, Indiana has 10 career Top-10 finishes at the track. He is currently second in the World of Outlaws championship standings and leads the series in A-Feature wins and laps led.
Two start, two strong finishes: Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, finished fourth in his debut at Limaland Motorsports Park in 2006 and he followed that up with a 10-place place run in 2007. The native of Dover, Missouri has won four times this season and is recently moved into the Top-Five in the series standings as he continues his first season behind the wheel for the Parsons Motorsports team.
The Ohio Logistics 21st Annual Brad Doty Classic will kick off with an autograph session featuring Brad Doty, defending race winner Jason Meyers, 2007 winner Jac Haudenschild, 2006 victor Joey Saldana and third generation driver Kraig Kinser at 4:15 p.m. Eastern under the pavilion near the pond at Limaland Motorsports Park. The grandstand gates will open for the fans at 4 p.m. Eastern, with time trials set for 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Looking to change his luck:
Jason Sides, the 2003 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, has made just two starts in his career at Limaland Motorsports Park and has had tough luck in both of them. Last season he came up just one spot short in the B-Main of racing his way into the A-Feature. He looks to change his luck at the ¼-mile this season as he heads there with plenty of momentum. The native of Bartlett, Tennessee is currently sixth in points and has 26 Top-10 finishes.
Experience counts:
Craig Dollansky has made five starts in his career at Limaland Motorsports Park. He has finished eighth or better in four of those races. He has finished fourth, sixth and eighth in the three Brad Doty Classic races that have been held at the ¼-mile bullring. The native of Elk River, Minnesota is just outside of the Top-Five in the series standings as he closes in on his first win of the season. He has finished fourth in two consecutive races and has 26 Top-10 finishes on the season.
Third timer: Kraig Kinser will make his third career start at Limaland Motorsports Park this week. The third generation driver competed at the bullring for the first time in 2001 and made his first start with the World of Outlaws at the track last season. The native of Bloomington, Indiana is currently ninth in the series standings and has racked up 17 Top-10 finishes on the season.
Back at the track:
Lucas Wolfe will make his first start at Limaland Motorsports Park since 2007 this week. He missed the Brad Doty Classic last season as he was recovering from an injury suffered earlier in the summer, but did compete in the event the year before. The second generation driver is currently 10th in the World of Outlaws standings and has seven Top-10 finishes with five of those being Top-Fives.
Learning the track:
Sam Hafertepe Jr., who is in his third full season with the World of Outlaws, has made two starts at Limaland Motorsports Park in each of the last two Brad Doty Classics. The native of Sunnyvale, Texas looks to improve on a 15th-place effort in race last season. He is currently just outside of the Top-10 in the series standings and has six Top-10 finishes.
Back at the bullring:
Brian Ellenberger, who is contending for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award this season with the World of Outlaws, has competed at Limaland Motorsports Park four times in his career. He visited the track for the first time in 1999 and most recently in 2007. He picked up his third Top-10 finish of the season last Saturday night.
By the Numbers:
Ohio Logistics 21st Annual Brad Doty Classic
0.25- Miles around Limaland Motorsports Park
1- Driver competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that hails from the state of Ohio, Jac Haudenschild
2- Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that raced against Brad Doty- Steve Kinser and Jac Haudenschild
3- Drivers that led laps in the A-Feature event at the track last season
5- Drivers that have won an A-Feature event with the World of Outlaws at Limaland Motorsports Park
6- Finishes of first or second for Steve Kinser in his career at the track; Races for the World of Outlaws in the state of Ohio this season
7- A-Feature events contested by the World of Outlaws at Limaland Motorsports Park dating back to 1978
9- Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws this season that raced at Limaland Motorsports Park last season with the series
13-Points separating Donny Schatz and Joey Saldana atop the World of Outlaws standings entering the event
14- Drivers that have been quickest in time trials with the series this season
16- Laps led by Joey Saldana last season in the event before finishing third
19- Laps led by Jason Meyers en route to winning the Brad Doty Classic last season
21- Consecutive years the Brad Doty Classic has been held, including this season
29- Top-10 finishes for Steve Kinser this season to lead the World of Outlaws
36- A-Feature events contested by the World of Outlaws through July 12
39- Drivers that competed in the Brad Doty Classic last season
269- Laps led in A-Feature events by Joey Saldana this season to lead the series
615-Miles from Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin where the World of Outlaws race on July 12 to Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio
1978- Year the World of Outlaws first competed at Limaland Motorsports Park
1988- Year the first Brad Doty Classic was held
10,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Wednesday, July 15
51,690- Dollars in the total purse on Wednesday, July 15
155,525- Dollars earned by Joey Saldana this season to lead the series
Tickets:
On Wednesday, July 15 at Limaland Motorsports Park, adult general admission tickets will be $27, with general admission tickets for those ages 11-15 just $15 and kids 10-under will be admitted free of charge. Reserved tickets will also be available for $32, along with pitside reserved tickets for $40. For tickets call Limaland Motorsports Park at: 419-998-3199.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), Quaker State (Official Motor Oil), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, KSE Race Products, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo; Engine Builder's Challenge participants Don Ott Racing Engines, Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines; and Chassis Builder’s Challenge participants J&J Auto Racing, Maxim Racing and XXX Race Company.
- Tony Veneziano on Jul 13, 2009
- Article Date: 7/13/2009