[b What a Race: Dollansky Wins Opener of Ironman 55 in a Thriller over Sides & Schatz]
[i What a Race: Dollansky Wins Opener of Ironman 55 in a Thriller over Sides & Schatz]
I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri certainly lived up to its name on Friday night as being one of the raciest tracks on the World of Outlaws circuit. Craig Dollansky, Jason Sides and Donny Schatz battled for the win on the high-banked 1/3-mile bullring down the stretch with Dollansky prevailing in a thrilling 30-lap contest to open to the Ironman 55 weekend at the track located just outside of St. Louis, Missouri.
Dollansky led the race early before Donny Schatz got around him on the 16th lap to take the point in lapped traffic. On the 25th lap, Dollansky went high off of turn four and nearly took the lead as the front pair charged down the front straightaway. He then took the top spot in turns one and two on the very next lap, with Sides closing in as well and the trio running side-by-side. Dollansky would hold on for the final five laps to score his second career win at I-55 Raceway and his second win of 2009, which was the 30th win of his World of Outlaws career.
“It’s a great total team effort,” said Dollansky. “We had a good starting spot, but when you have a good starting spot you have to capitalize on it. We were running a good pace early and Donny (Schatz) got by us in the middle of (turns) three and four. Once he got by us, I tried to be patient on the restart and work ourselves back up in there. Fortunately for our entire race team we were able to get the win.”
Dollansky started on the pole for the 30-lap after winning the Crane Cams Dash in the DirecTV Maxim, and jumped to a quick lead in turns one and two, with Jason Meyers and Schatz right on him. The leader found himself in lapped traffic by just the ninth lap and ran high when he approached the slower machines.
At this same point, Schatz and Meyers began a spirited battle for the second position. Schatz took the spot in turn one on the 12th lap and quickly closed in on Dollansky. On the 15th lap Schatz went under Dollansky coming off turn four to take lead, only to have Dollansky power back by him at the line. On the 16th lap Schatz got back around Dollansky as the pair split a lapped car and he quickly opened up a lead.
The only caution of the night flew on the 19th lap with Schatz using a strong restart to maintain his lead, while Dollansky and Meyers battled for second. After charging into the Top-Five after lining up 12th, Jason Sides got around Meyers to move into the third spot with 10 laps to go and began to set his sights on the lead pair.
With six laps to go, Schatz found himself in heavy lapped traffic, allowed Dollansky and Sides to close right in on him. Dollansky went high off turn four on the 25th go-around, nearly taking the top spot. On the next lap he took the lead in turns one and two from Schatz as the pair along with Sides all ran side-by-side.
“We all had good race cars and everybody was fighting for the lead,” noted the winner of the three-wide battle in lapped traffic. “I was just trying to go where my car felt best. I started working the middle in (turns) three and four somewhat and then went back to the top. We could hammer the top pretty good and felt good up top.”
Dollansky will look to put his name in the record books on Saturday night in the finale of the inaugural Ironman 55 as the A-Feature event will be 55 laps of green flag racing with $20,000 awaiting the winner. He applauded the track crew at I-55 for their tireless work on Friday night to provide a racy surface for the drivers.
“It’s going to be a long race and I kind of had that in the back of my mind here tonight when we were running to see what the track was going to do,” explained the native of Elk River, Minnesota. “It was a good thing that they went back out and worked the track like they did, or the fans wouldn’t have seen a show like they did. It was a good show for them. You have to patient with these tracks sometimes and give them the time to go back out and work them.”
Jason Sides came all the way from the 12th starting spot to snag second on the last lap in the Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim. He tried everything he could over the last three laps of the race as he tracked down Schatz and got around him and then closed in on Dollansky. He was able to get by Schatz coming off the fourth turn for the checkered flag by less than a tenth of a second.
“We had a great car tonight,” said Sides. “I am so proud of my guys. They have been working hard all season and to run strong is great for this whole team. We were able to really get on up through there and the track was very racy for the feature.”
Schatz started fourth in the Armor All J&J as he seeks his 100th career World of Outlaws A-Feature win, and quickly moved into second on the opening laps before Jason Meyers got back around him at the start/finish line on the opening stanza. The three-time and defending series champion led 10 laps on the night and wound up third to earn his series leading 29th Top-Five finish of the season.
“That was an exciting race for the fans,” noted Schatz. “It would have really been fun if that had been 40 laps. We just got a little caught up there in traffic and those guys were right there. We’ll come back tomorrow and see if we can’t get a couple more spots with the big money on the line.”
Sides made up a lot of ground on Dollansky and Schatz as the laps wound down and the front pack negotiated lapped traffic. For Sides, the runner-up performance was his 15th Top-Five of the season and moved him back into the fifth position in the series championship standings.
“They got caught up in traffic and that allowed us to close back in,” stated the native of Bartlett, Tennessee. “I saw them battling each other I just took advantage of that and found an opening. We’re definitely happy to finish second and we’ll take it.”
After finishing third on Friday night, Donny Schatz was already focusing on the 55-lap finale as he looks to win another “Month of Money” event with the World of Outlaws. The North Dakota native has one career win at I-55 Raceway.
“Tire conservations will come into play tomorrow and I am usually pretty good at that,” shared Schatz. “We are really looking forward to coming back tomorrow. We tried a few things tonight and kept tuning on the car and found a few things.”
Jason Meyers came home fourth in the GLR Investments KPC on Friday night, with Daryn Pittman fifth aboard the Hunter Truck Sales JEI. Kraig Kinser was sixth piloting the Bass Pro Shops Maxim, with Danny Smith seventh in the Kiger Signs Maxim. Joey Saldana was eighth piloting the Budweiser Maxim, with Steve Kinser ninth in the Quaker State Maxim. Chad Kemenah rounded out the Top-10 in the Hampshire Racing Engines Maxim.
The World of Outlaws return to action with the finale of the inaugural Ironman 55 on Saturday, August 8 at I-55 Raceway with the winner of the 55-lap A-Feature event taking home $20,000.
IRONMAN 55 at I-55 RACEWAY NIGHT #1 NOTES
• FAST QUALIFIER: Steve Kinser paced the 42 cars that took time with an AMB i.t. timed lap around the high-banked 1/3-mile oval at 10.209 seconds at 117.426 mph. For his qualifying effort, Kinser earned five bonus points. The next four fastest qualifiers also earned bonus points, including: Jason Meyers (4), Joey Saldana (3), Daryn Pittman (2), and Tim Kaeding (1).
• QUALIFYING WINNERS: Sammy Swindell, Danny Smith, Donny Schatz and Stevie Smith won heat races. Craig Dollansky won the Crane Cams Dash. Greg Wilson won the B-Main. Daron Clayton won the C-Main.
• FEATURE WINNERS: There has been 47 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature event held in 2009. The winners include: Joey Saldana (Volusia Speedway Park, Silver Dollar Speedway, Thunderbowl Raceway, Lone Star Speedway, Houston Raceway Park, The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Virginia Motor Speedway, Lawrenceburg Speedway, Dodge City Raceway Park-twice, U.S. 36 Raceway and 34 Raceway), Donny Schatz (Volusia Speedway Park-twice, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Knoxville Raceway, Eldora Speedway, Canandaigua Speedway, Lawrenceburg Speedway, River Cities Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, Eldora Speedway and K-C Raceway), Danny Lasoski (Delaware International Speedway, Nodak Speedway, Eagle Raceway, Charter Raceway Park and Lernerville Speedway), Jason Meyers (Silver Dollar Speedway, Paducah International Raceway, I-96 Speedway, Red River Valley Speedway and Ohsweken Speedway), Craig Dollansky (Lebanon Valley Speedway and I-55 Raceway), Greg Hodnett (Williams Grove Speedway-twice), Steve Kinser (Tri-State Speedway and Limaland Motorsports Park), Terry McCarl (Knoxville Raceway and Eldora Speedway), Dale Blaney (Attica Raceway Park), Randy Hannagan (Thunderbowl Raceway), Tim Kaeding (Riverside International Speedway),Chad Kemenah (Manzanita Speedway), Jason Sides (Ohsweken Speedway) and Stevie Smith (Lernerville Speedway).
• 1/3-MILE WINNERS: I-55 Raceway is a high-banked 1/3-mile oval. The World of Outlaws have raced six times this season on a track that size. The winners include: Danny Lasoski (Eagle Raceway and Charter Raceway Park), Dale Blaney (Attica Raceway Park), Craig Dollansky (I-55 Raceway), Randy Hannagan (Thunderbowl Raceway), and Joey Saldana (Thunderbowl Raceway).
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Ironman 55 at I-55 Raceway Night #1; Pevely, MO; August 7, 2009
Qualifying
- 11-Steve Kinser 10.209
- 14-Jason Meyers 10.222
- 9-Joey Saldana 10.223
- 17-Daryn Pittman 10.224
- 83-Tim Kaeding 10.272
- 7S-Jason Sides 10.306
- 15-Donny Schatz 10.328
- 30C-Lance Dewease 10.334
- 10-Sammy Swindell 10.344
- 19-Craig Dollansky 10.375
- 71-Paul May 10.404
- 1-Stevie Smith 10.411
- 20-Kraig Kinser 10.419
- 4-Danny Smith 10.434
- 22-Brian Ellenberger 10.476
- 51-Fred Rahmer 10.503
- 5W-Lucas Wolfe 10.532
- W20-Greg Wilson 10.535
- 63-Chad Kemenah 10.536
- 89G-David Gravel 10.547
- 6-Danny Lasoski 10.562
- R19-Jac Haudenschild 10.580
- 4K-Kody Kinser 10.585
- 57D-Tom Dickerman 10.688
- 83X-Tim Shaffer 10.698
- 44-A J Bruns 10.700
- 6R-Ryan Bunton 10.719
- 55B-Joey Moughan 10.725
- 22T-Miranda Throckmorton 10.730
- 56R-Ryan Myers 10.734
- 1X-Randy Hannagan 10.742
- 1M-Jim Moughan 10.761
- 12-Jerrod Hull 10.794
- 3-Mark Shirshekan 10.829
- 97-Tommy Worley 10.882
- 8-Steve Short 10.931
- 92-Daron Clayton 10.945
- 35-Jimmy Hurley 10.977
- 2K-Ryan Kempin 11.057
- O-Brandon Wimmer 11.067
- 19X-Jason Hunt 11.112
- 39W-Alex Shanks 11.208
Heat 1 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
- 10-Sammy Swindell
- 20-Kraig Kinser
- 11-Steve Kinser
- 83-Tim Kaeding
- 5W-Lucas Wolfe
- 6-Danny Lasoski
- 83X-Tim Shaffer
- 92-Daron Clayton
- 12-Jerrod Hull
- 22T-Miranda Throckmorton
- 19X-Jason Hunt
Heat 2 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
- 4-Danny Smith
- 19-Craig Dollansky
- 14-Jason Meyers
- 7S-Jason Sides
- R19-Jac Haudenschild
- W20-Greg Wilson
- 3-Mark Shirshekan
- 56R-Ryan Myers
- 39W-Alex Shanks
- 44-A J Bruns
- 35-Jimmy Hurley
Heat 3 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
- 15-Donny Schatz
- 9-Joey Saldana
- 63-Chad Kemenah
- 22-Brian Ellenberger
- 1X-Randy Hannagan
- 97-Tommy Worley
- 4K-Kody Kinser
- 6R-Ryan Bunton
- 2K-Ryan Kempin
- 71-Paul May
Heat 4 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
- 1-Stevie Smith
- 17-Daryn Pittman
- 51-Fred Rahmer
- 55B-Joey Moughan
- 30C-Lance Dewease
- 89G-David Gravel
- 57D-Tom Dickerman
- 8-Steve Short
- 1M-Jim Moughan
Crane Cams Dash (8 laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature)
- 19-Craig Dollansky
- 14-Jason Meyers
- 17-Daryn Pittman
- 15-Donny Schatz
- 9-Joey Saldana
- 1-Stevie Smith
- 4-Danny Smith
- 11-Steve Kinser
- 20-Kraig Kinser
- 10-Sammy Swindell
C-main (10 laps, top 2 finishers transferred to B-main)
- 92-Daron Clayton
- 97-Tommy Worley
- 3-Mark Shirshekan [$125]
- 2K-Ryan Kempin [$125]
- 39W-Alex Shanks [$125]
- 8-Steve Short [$100]
- 35-Jimmy Hurley [$100]
- 71-Paul May [$100]
- O-Brandon Wimmer [$100]
- 19X-Jason Hunt [$100]
B-main (12 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to A-feature)
- W20-Greg Wilson
- 6-Danny Lasoski
- 83X-Tim Shaffer
- 4K-Kody Kinser
- 89G-David Gravel [$200]
- 44-A J Bruns [$180]
- 57D-Tom Dickerman [$175]
- 1M-Jim Moughan [$160]
- 12-Jerrod Hull [$150]
- 92-Daron Clayton [$150]
- 56R-Ryan Myers [$150]
- 6R-Ryan Bunton [$150]
- 22T-Miranda Throckmorton [$150]
- 97-Tommy Worley [$150]
A-main (30 laps) - Starting Position [#]
- 19-Craig Dollansky[1] [$8,000]
- 7S-Jason Sides[12] [$4,000]
- 15-Donny Schatz[4] [$2,500]
- 14-Jason Meyers[2] [$2,200]
- 17-Daryn Pittman[3] [$2,100]
- 20-Kraig Kinser[9] [$2,000]
- 4-Danny Smith[7] [$1,800]
- 9-Joey Saldana[5] [$1,600]
- 11-Steve Kinser[8] [$1,500]
- 63-Chad Kemenah[18] [$1,300]
- 10-Sammy Swindell[10] [$1,200]
- 1-Stevie Smith[6] [$1,100]
- R19-Jac Haudenschild[20] [$1,000]
- 6-Danny Lasoski[19] [$700]
- 5W-Lucas Wolfe[16] [$600]
- 22-Brian Ellenberger[14] [$600]
- 83X-Tim Shaffer[22] [$600]
- 51-Fred Rahmer[15] [$600]
- 1X-Randy Hannagan[24] [$600]
- 30C-Lance Dewease[13] [$600]
- W20-Greg Wilson[17] [$600]
- 4K-Kody Kinser[21] [$600]
- 83-Tim Kaeding[11] [$600]
- 55B-Joey Moughan[23] [$600]
Lap Leaders: Craig Dollansky 1-15, 26-30; Donny Schatz 16-25
SuperClean Start of the Night Award: Daryn Pittman
Penske Power Position Award: Donny Schatz
KSE Hard Charger Award: Jason Sides
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 Aug 08, 2009
- Article Date: 8/8/2009