[i World of Outlaws Preview: Dacotah Speedway]
After the World of Outlaws played to the biggest crowd in the history of Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, North Dakota last season, the series will return to the high-banked 3/8-mile again this year on Saturday, August 22 for the fifth and final stop of the season in North Dakota.
Steve Kinser dominated the event last year leading from start to finish after winning the Crane Cams Dash to start on the pole. The victory added to his remarkable record at tracks he visits for the first time.
In three races this season in the state of North Dakota, three different drivers have picked up wins, with three-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz winning at River Cities Speedway in his home state, while Jason Meyers was victorious at Red River Valley Speedway and 2001 series title winner Danny Lasoski picked up a win at Nodak Speedway.
Entering the pair of races this weekend in his home state, Schatz has a 55-lead over Jason Meyers in the series championship standings as he chases his fourth consecutive title. Joey Saldana who leads the series with 13 wins is third in points, with Steve Kinser fourth and Jason Sides fifth.
The event at Dacotah Speedway will serve as the second of 11 races that will comprise the 2009 Gold Rush Tour, which will take the World of Outlaws to seven tracks in four states and one Canadian province over a 23-day period.
Slidejobs- Dacotah Speedway:
Undefeated: Steve Kinser was victorious in the World of Outlaws debut at Dacotah Speedway last season over Craig Dollansky and Jason Meyers. The 20-time series champion has won 17 times in his career in the state of North Dakota dating back to 1982. The win last season added to Kinser’s remarkable record at tracks that he visits for the first time. The native of Bloomington, Indiana has won twice this season and is currently fourth in points.
Looking to add one to the list: Donny Schatz has won a total of 16 times in his career in his home state at three different tracks. He finished fourth last season at Dacotah Speedway in his debut at the track as he looks to add another speedway to the list of ones he has won at. He enters the weekend as current series point leader on the strength of 11 A-Feature wins. He leads the series in Top-Fives as he chases his fourth consecutive title. He has one win in North Dakota this season with that coming at River Cities Speedway back in June.
Keeping the streak going: Craig Dollansky has finished seventh or better in each of his last seven starts in North Dakota. He was second at Dacotah Speedway last season in his debut at the high-banked 3/8-mile. After picking up his first win of the 2009 season back on July 26 at Lebanon Valley Speedway in New York, the native of Elk River, Minnesota has finished seventh or better in seven consecutive races. He scored his second win of the year in the opener of the Ironman 55 weekend at I-55 Raceway which was the 30th of his career with the World of Outlaws.
On the podium: Jason Meyers won earlier this season in North Dakota at Red River Valley Speedway in a thrilling high speed duel through lapped traffic with Craig Dollansky. The native of Clovis, California finished third at Dacotah Speedway last season and has six consecutive finishes of eighth or better in the state of North Dakota. Meyers has four career wins in the state. He has won five times this season and is second in points as he chases his first career World of Outlaws title.
Looking to rebound: Joey Saldana was running third last season at Dacotah Speedway when his right rear tire exploded. This season in three starts in the state of North Dakota he has finished second, second and fifth. In his career he has four wins in the state and enters this weekend as the leading winner this season on the World of Outlaws circuit. He is currently third in points as he chases his first career World of Outlaws title.
Chasing another win: Jason Sides has finished fourth, eighth and 10th this season in the state of North Dakota. He was victorious last month for the first time in 2009 taking the checkered flag at Ohsweken Speedway in Canada, which is a 3/8-mile like Dacotah Speedway. In his career in the state of North Dakota, the 2003 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year has 14 Top-10 finishes. He enters this weekend’s pair of races fifth in points.
Strong up north: Danny Lasoski was victorious in the World of Outlaws last event in North Dakota, taking the checkered flag at Nodak Speedway in Minot to earn the sixth win of his career in the state, where he has 35 career Top-10 finishes. The 2001 World of Outlaws champion will make his debut at Dacotah Speedway this week. He has won five times this season and is just outside of the Top-Five in the series standings.
Getting close: Jac Haudenschild continues to close in on his first win of the season. The inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame finished fifth at Dacotah Speedway last season in his debut at the track. He has racked up 24 Top-10 finishes this season as he continues his second full season behind the wheel for the Carnahan Motorsports team. The native of Wooster, Ohio has two career wins in North Dakota.
Second time around: Kraig Kinser finished just outside of the Top-10 at Dacotah Speedway last season and was fourth in the series last race in North Dakota at Nodak Speedway. He racked up two Top-10 finishes during the Ironman 55 weekend most recently to bring his tally to 24 on the year as he closes in on his first win. The third generation driver is 10th in points as he continues his second season driving for Tony Stewart Racing. He has 13 career Top-10 finishes in North Dakota.
More and more laps: Lucas Wolfe has finished 11th in each of his last two starts in North Dakota as he continues to get more laps in the state. The reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner competed at Dacotah Speedway for the first time last season and has made six starts in the state over the last two seasons. He is currently 10th in the World of Outlaws standings on the strength of 10 Top-10 finishes.
First time visitor: Brian Ellenberger will make his first visit to Dacotah Speedway this weekend. The current rookie contender raced for the first time in the state of North Dakota this season and has finished in the Top-15 in all three starts so far. The native of Butler, Pennsylvania finished a season-best third earlier this year at Dodge City Raceway Park in his first visit to that high-banked 3/8-mile.
By the Numbers: Dacotah Speedway:
0.375-Miles around Dacotah Speedway
1- Driver competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that hails from the state of North Dakota, Donny Schatz
2- Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that will be making their debut at Dacotah Speedway, Danny Lasoski and Brian Ellenberger
3- Drivers that have led more than 200 laps of A-Feature racing competition this season- Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana and Jason Meyers
5- Events in the state of North Dakota this season for the World of Outlaws; Track records that have been set in time trials this season at World of Outlaws events
9- Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that competed at Dacotah Speedway last season
11- Drivers currently competing full-time with the World of Outlaws
14.723 – Track record set by Craig Dollansky in time trials last season
18- Drivers that have won the Crane Cams Dash this season to earn a pole position
30- Laps led by Steve Kinser last season en route to winning at Dacotah Speedway
39- Top-10 finishes for Jason Meyers to lead the series
91.693- Track record in miles per hour set by Craig Dollansky in 2008
276- Miles from River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota where the World of Outlaws compete on August 21 to Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, North Dakota
310- Laps led by Donny Schatz this season to lead the series
2008- Year the World of Outlaws first competed at Dacotah Speedway
10,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Saturday, August 22
51,690- Dollars in the total purse on Saturday, August 22
251,800-Dollars earned by Donny Schatz through August 8 to lead the series
Tickets: On Saturday, August 22 at Dacotah Speedway, adult general admission tickets in the infield will be $30, with general admission tickets in the infield for kids ages 6-12 just $15, with kids five-under admitted free in the infield general admission section. Adult reserved tickets in the main grandstands will be $35 with reserved seats in the grandstand for children 12-under $15. Reserved seats in the top rows of the grandstands with chairbacks will be available for $38. Pit combos are also available for $38 for advance purchase only and include a reserved seat and a pit pass. . For tickets call SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023 or the track at 701-751-2783.
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 SpeedwayEngines; and Chassis Builder’s Challenge participants J&J Auto Racing, Maxim Racing and XXX Race Company.
- Tony Veneziano on Aug 20, 2009
- Article Date: 8/20/2009