[i Concord, NC—November 11, 2009]
— 2009 was one of the most competitive season’s in World of Outlaws history, with the closest ever three-way battle for the title between Donny Schatz, Jason Meyers and Joey Saldana. In the end, Schatz picked up his fourth consecutive title by just 19 points over Meyers, making it the closest finish in World of Outlaws history.
Schatz became just the second driver to ever win four consecutive titles, joining 20-time champion Steve Kinser and also became the only driver other than Kinser to win at least four titles with the series. The North Dakota native also made history by becoming just the fifth driver in series history to win at least 100 A-Feature events, accomplishing that feat in his home state at Dacotah Speedway.
Saldana made history of his own, becoming just the fifth driver-ever to win at least 20 A-Feature events in one season and wrapped up the best season of his career with 21 total victories in World of Outlaws competition.
Over the course of the 10-plus month season that started at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida in February and wrapped up with the World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in November, the series competed at 42 different tracks in 23 states and two Canadian Provinces, with 16 drivers picking up feature wins, including nine who did not compete full-time with the series. In the 67 total events run, there were 92 lead changes, which were 28 more than in 2008.
The 2010 World of Outlaws season is less than three months, away beginning on February, 5 with the 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park.
By the Numbers: 2009 Season:
1- Driver that earned their first career World of Outlaws A-Feature win this season- Cody Darrah
2- Preliminary features contested this season by the World of Outlaws; Canadian Provinces that the series visited in 2009
3- Drivers that led more than 300 laps of feature racing competition this season- Joey Saldana, Donny Schatz & Jason Meyers
5- Drivers in the 30-plus year history of the World of Outlaws that have won 20 or more A-Feature events in a single season, with Joey Saldana becoming the fifth this year
7-Races in the state of California this season, the most of any state
9- Drivers not competing full-time with the World of Outlaws full-time that won feature events in 2009
9.269- Track record set on August 21 at River Cities Speedway by Jason Meyers, which is the fastest lap in World of Outlaws history
10- Track records established in time trials this season; Wins in the Crane Cams Dash this season for Jason Meyers to lead all drivers; States represented by drivers that won feature races in 2009
11- Drivers that completed the entire World of Outlaws schedule
13- Fast time honors for Donny Schatz this season to lead all drivers
16- Drivers that won A-Feature events with the series in 2009
19- Points that separated Donny Schatz and Jason Meyers at the end of the season
20- A-Feature wins for Joey Saldana to lead the series; Drivers that set fast time in qualifying at least once this year
21- Races on half-mile tracks this season for the World of Outlaws, the most of any sized track
23- Drivers that won at least one Crane Cams Dash to earn a pole position; States that the World of Outlaws raced in this year
24- Drivers that earned the Penske Power Position at least once this season for finishing third in the A-Feature
25- Drivers that led laps in feature racing competition this season
27- Drivers that earned the SuperClean Start Award at least once in 2009
32- Consecutive years the World of Outlaws have crowned a champion
33- Drivers that earned the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award at least once this season
34- Average car count in 2009 for the World of Outlaws
36- Drivers that won the B-Main at least once this season to race their way into the A-Feature
38- Drivers that earned at least one Top-Five finish with the series this year
39- Top-Five finishes for Donny Schatz to lead the series
42- Tracks that the World of Outlaws competed at this season
55- Top-10 finishes for Jason Meyers to lead the series
65- A-Feature events contested in 2009
67- Total feature events run this season including preliminary features
68- Drivers that earned at least one Top-10 finish with the series in 2009
86- Days until the 2010 season kicks off on February 5 at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida
92- Lead changes in feature events this season
100- A-Feature wins for Donny Schatz in his World of Outlaws career, a feat he accomplished on August 22 at Dacotah Speedway
114- Qualifying points earned by Jason Meyers to lead the three championship contenders
463-Drivers that attempted to race at least once this season with the series
477- Laps led by Joey Saldana to lead the series in 2009
2221- Laps of feature racing competition this season
8908- Points earned by Donny Schatz to lead all drivers this season
35,000- Miles approximately traveled between tracks on the World of Outlaws circuit this year
150,000-Dollars earned by Donny Schatz and his Tony Stewart Racing team for capturing the 2009 championship
371,535- Dollars earned by Joey Saldana to lead the series
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 Nov 12, 2009
- Article Date: 11/12/2009