[b World of Outlaws Preview: WoO Fest at Lone Star Speedway]
[i Kilgore, TX - October 21, 2009]
Just three races remain in the battle for the 2009 World of Outlaws championship with Donny Schatz and Jason Meyers locked in one of the best battles in series history heading into the inaugural WoO Fest at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas on Saturday, October 24. Just 18 points separate the pair as they return to the blazing fast half-mile for the second time this season. The pair is near the top of the leader board in most statistical categories this season with the World of Outlaws.
Schatz, the three-time and defending series champion is currently on top of the points standings and leads the series with 38 Top-Five finishes, while Meyers, who is second in points, tops the leader board with 52 Top-10 performances. Schatz has won 12 A-Feature events while Meyers has won eight A-Features and one preliminary feature. Schatz is tied for the series lead in fast time honors in qualifying with Meyers second in that category. Meyers leads the series in wins in the Crane Cams Dash to earn pole positions, with Schatz second on that list.
The World of Outlaws made their first appearance at Lone Star Speedway since 2004 back in April, with Joey Saldana picking up the win over Schatz and 20-time series champion Steve Kinser. Saldana is currently third in points, 39 points behind Meyers and 57 out of the lead and still has a mathematical shot at winning the title.
The World of Outlaws first visited Lone Star Speedway in 1984, with three-time series champion Sammy Swindell winning that event. He won three races at the track that season and was victorious in each of the first five events that the series contested at the track. Steve Kinser snapped that streak in 2003 picking up his first win at the track and followed that up in 2004 with another triumph.
Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, currently holds the track record at Lone Star Speedway, circling the half-mile in 13.05 seconds in 2002 during qualifying. The blazing fast half-mile has been resurfaced since the World of Outlaws raced there in April, so look for the track record to be challenged. A total of 10 track records have fallen this season during time trials at World of Outlaws events.
Following the inaugural WoO Fest at Lone Star Speedway, just the World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway remains on the 2009 calendar, in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons in series history.
Slidejobs- WoO Fest at Lone Star Speedway:
Looking for two in a row: Joey Saldana wired the field in April at Lone Star Speedway to pick up his first career win at the half-mile. In three career starts at the track he has finished eighth or better in each one of them. The second generation driver leads the World of Outlaws with 18 A-Feature wins this season and has won 19 times overall with the series. He is currently third in points on the strength of 46 Top-10 finishes with 35 of those being Top-Fives. He is 39 points behind Jason Meyers for the second spot in the series championship standings and 57 out of the lead. He was also victorious this season at Houston Raceway Park in Texas to bring his career win total to four in the Lone Star State.
Chasing wins: Donny Schatz finished fourth at Lone Star Speedway in the spring and in three career starts at the half-mile has finished in the runner-up spot twice and fourth in the other event. Lone Star Speedway is one of just a handful of tracks on the 2009 schedule that the three-time and defending series champion has not won at in his career. Schatz has 12 A-Feature wins this season and leads the series with 38 Top-Five finishes as he chases his fourth consecutive title. He has three career wins in the state of Texas, with the most recent of those coming in 2007 at Houston Raceway Park.
Chasing a title: Jason Meyers heads to Lone Star Speedway second in the World of Outlaws championship standings, just 18 markers behind Donny Schatz. Meyers finished fourth at the half-mile back in April to earn his best career finish at the track. The native of Clovis, California leads the series with 52 Top-10 finishes in the 62 A-Feature events that have been contested as he chases his first series crown. He has won eight A-Feature events this season and nine times overall. Meyers, who was fastest in time trials in the World of Outlaws most recent event at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in New York to earn five bonus points in the standings, has been quickest in time trials eight times this season which is second only to Schatz and Jason Sides.
A strong record: Steve Kinser has nine Top-10 finishes in 10 career starts at Lone Star Speedway with eight of those being Top-Five performances including two wins. The 20-time series champion finished third at the track back in April and has finished on the podium in three consecutive races at Lone Star Speedway. In his career, Kinser has over 50 wins in the state of Texas with the World of Outlaws dating back to 1979. The native of Bloomington, Indiana is currently fourth in points on the strength of 47 Top-10 finishes with 30 of those being Top-Fives.
Plenty of starts: Jason Sides has made 11 starts in his career at Lone Star Speedway, which is the most of any driver competing full-time with the World of Outlaws this season. He has seven Top-10 finishes at the half-mile including a sixth-place effort earlier this season. The 2003 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year is currently fifth in points on the strength of two wins and a career-best 45 Top-10 finishes with 23 of those being Top-Fives. The native of Bartlett, Tennessee is tied for the series lead in fast time honors, stopping the clock first a career-best 10 times this season.
Seventh heaven: Danny Lasoski has finished seventh or better in all four of his career starts at Lone Star Speedway, including winning at the track in 2002 in a World of Outlaws Gumout Series event. He finished fifth at the half-mile earlier this season and heads back to Texas a very solid sixth in the series standings on the strength of five A-Feature wins along with 40 Top-10 finishes in his first season driving for the Parsons Motorsports team. The native of Dover, Missouri has 11 career wins in the state of Texas dating back to 1990.
Taking to the track: Craig Dollansky who is currently seventh in the World of Outlaws championship standings will make his fourth career start at Lone Star Speedway this weekend. He finished seventh back in April at the track and was 10th in his last start prior to that. The native of Elk River, Minnesota has won three times this season and is currently seventh in points on the strength of 40 Top-10 finishes with 20 of those being Top-Fives. The former Gumout Series champion has one career win in the state of Texas.
2 for 2 on Top-10’s: Kraig Kinser finished third in his debut at Lone Star Speedway in 2004 and was 10th at the track back in the spring. The third generation driver is currently eighth in the World of Outlaws championship standings on the strength of 28 Top-10 finishes with 10 of those being Top-Fives. In his career in the state of Texas, the younger Kinser has eight Top-10 finishes.
Looking to change his luck: Jac Haudenschild started on the pole for the main event at Lone Star Speedway back in the spring, but had bad luck plague him as he was first penalized a row for his crew working on the car during a fuel stop and then suffered a flat tire while running second. The Hall of Famer finished fourth in his debut at Lone Star Speedway back in 1986. Haudenschild is currently ninth in points on the strength of 30 Top-10 finishes and is just 45 markers out of the eighth spot. The native of Wooster, Ohio has two career wins in the Lone Star State.
A return trip: Lucas Wolfe will make his second start at Lone Star Speedway this weekend. The reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner is currently 10th in points on the strength of 16 Top-10 finishes with five of those being Top-Fives. The race at Lone Star Speedway earlier this season was his first ever race in the state of Texas and since he has competed at Houston Raceway Park.
Back for more: Brian Ellenberger, the leading contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award this season, will also make his second start at Lone Star Speedway. The race at Lone Star in the spring also marked his first racing trip to the state of Texas. The native of Butler, Pennsylvania has four Top-10 finishes this season including a career-best third-place run at Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas back in June.
Making his debut: Brad Sweet will make his debut at Lone Star Speedway this weekend as he makes his third start in the No. 19 machine for Kasey Kahne Racing. The California native finished in the Top-10 earlier this season with the World of Outlaws in the finale of the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in his home state. Sweet competed in the state of Texas for the first time in his career earlier this season in a midget.
By the Numbers: Lone Star Speedway:
0.5- Miles around Lone Star Speedway
3- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the series at Lone Star Speedway, Steve Kinser, Joey Saldana and Sammy Swindell; Events in the state of Texas this season for the World of Outlaws
8- A-Feature events contested by the World of Outlaws at Lone Star Speedway dating back to 1984
10- Track records that have been set in time trials in 2009
11- Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws this season
13.05- Track record established by Danny Lasoski in 2002 in time trials
16- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws this season
18-Points that separate Donny Schatz and Jason Meyers atop the World of Outlaws standings; A-Feature wins for Joey Saldana this season to lead the series
20- Drivers that have been quickest in time trials this season
22- Drivers that have won the Crane Cams Dash this season to earn pole positions in feature event
25- Drivers that have led laps in feature races this season with the World of Outlaws
30- Laps led by Joey Saldana en route to winning at Lone Star Speedway on April 10
38- Top-Five finishes for Donny Schatz to lead the series through October 10
52-Top-10 finishes for Jason Meyers through October 10 to lead the series
62- A-Feature events contested through October 10
432- Laps led by Joey Saldana this season to lead the series
1430- Miles from Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge, New York where the World of Outlaws competed on October 10 to Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas
1984- Year that the World of Outlaws first competed at Lone Star Speedway
12,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Saturday, October 24
52,050-Dollars in the total purse on Saturday, October 24
348,535- Dollars earned by Joey Saldana this season to lead the series
Tickets: On Saturday, October 24 at Lone Star Speedway, general admission tickets for adults will be $25, with general admission tickets for Seniors/Military $20, with children ages 6-12 $15 and kids ages five-under admitted free of charge in the general admission seats. All reserved tickets will be $30. For tickets visit http://www.lonestarspeedway.com or call the track at 903-986-9731.
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 Oct 22, 2009
- Article Date: 10/22/2009