Mechanicsburg, PA--July 22, 2010—In the sprint car world, there is not much that is more intense than a trip to the famed Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania, especially for World of Outlaws drivers. With the track itself being one of the most challenging on the circuit, along with the level of competition always at its peak, in addition to the rivalry with the Pennsylvania Posse alive and well, drivers have to be on their game every time they turn a wheel on the historic half-mile.
Another chapter will be written in the storied rivalry between the World of Outlaws and the Pennsylvania Posse this weekend, as the series makes its second visit of the season to Williams Grove Speedway for the annual Summer Nationals on Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24, with $20,000 awaiting the winner of the finale as the “Month of Money” continues.
Chad Layton and Fred Rahmer split wins at Williams Grove earlier this season when the World of Outlaws made a stop at the track in May, to extend the Pennsylvania Posse’s win streak to six. Layton battled Kraig Kinser in the opener, trading the lead a couple of times. In the finale, Brian Leppo led early, before Sam Hafertepe Jr. took the top spot. Rahmer used a strong restart with five laps remaining to move into third and swept around the Top-Two coming to the white flag, after lining up 24th in the field.
Donny Schatz, who has won the Summer Nationals in two of the last three seasons, charged from 18th to finish seventh in the opener at Williams Grove in May and started on the pole in the finale and was battling for the lead when he was caught up in a very hard first lap accident going into turn three that ended his night. The four-time and defending series champion has 15 career wins at Williams Grove Speedway dating back to 2000.
Steve Kinser, who kicked off the “Month of Money” with a win in the Kings Royal last Saturday night, has nearly 40 career wins at Williams Grove Speedway with the World of Outlaws. The 20-time series champion charged from 25th to 10th in the opener at the track in May and then came all the way from 25th to fifth in the finale. He has won five times this season as he chases his record 21st title.
Joey Saldana, who leads the World of Outlaws into Williams Grove Speedway, ran very strong in the spring at the track finishing second and fourth, after setting fast time in the opener and qualifying fourth in the finale. The second generation driver leads the series with 10 A-Feature wins this season, including the finale of the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup Twin 30’s on Tuesday night at Lernerville Speedway.
The World of Outlaws first competed at Williams Grove Speedway in 1978, with 26 drivers picking up a win over that span with Kinser and Schatz on top of that list.
The Buzz:
• The Pennsylvania Posse has won six consecutive races against the World of Outlaws at William Grove Speedway dating back to a sweep of all four races last season, making it the longest ever win streak during the rivalry.
• Steve Kinser passed more cars than any other driver in the spring at Williams Grove, coming from 25th to 10th in the opener and 25th to fifth in the finale to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award both night.
• Donny Schatz has finished eighth or better in 16 of his last 17 starts at Williams Grove Speedway, scoring six wins during that span.
• Jason Meyers, who has won seven times this season, is looking for his first career win at Williams Grove Speedway. The California native has 17 Top-10 finishes with the series at the track.
• Joey Saldana has won once with the World of Outlaws at Williams Grove Speedway, with that coming in a preliminary feature in 2002. He has finished seventh or better in four straight starts at the track.
• Danny Lasoski has a couple of career wins with the World of Outlaws at Williams Grove Speedway to go along with nearly 50 Top-10 finishes. The 2001 series champion is looking for his first win of the 2010 campaign.
• Craig Dollansky has won a couple of preliminary features with the World of Outlaws at Williams Grove during his career and has over 20 Top-10 finishes at the track.
• Lucas Wolfe finished fourth in the opener for the World of Outlaws at Williams Grove back in May and was victorious earlier this season in a weekly show at his home track.
• Sam Hafertepe Jr. led 15 laps at Williams Grove on May 14 en route to a career-best second-place finish, as he continues to seek his first World of Outlaws A-Feature win.
• Ben Gregg and Toni Lutar, who are both contenders for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season, made their first-ever trips to Williams Grove Speedway back in May.
By the Numbers: Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway
0.5- Miles around Williams Grove Speedway
2- Laps led by Fred Rahmer on May 14 to pick up the win; Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that hail from the state of Pennsylvania
3- Trips the World of Outlaws make to Williams Grove Speedway this season
5- Drivers that led laps in the two feature events contested by the series at the track this season
6- Consecutive wins for drivers from the Pennsylvania Posse at Williams Grove Speedway against the World of Outlaws
9- Times that Paul McMahan has been fastest in time trials this season to lead the series
10- Wins for Joey Saldana this season to lead the series
14- Drivers that have won an A-Feature event with the World of Outlaws in 2010
15- Laps led by Sam Hafertepe Jr. on May 14 en route to a runner-up finish
16- Drivers that have won a Dash to earn a pole position in a World of Outlaws main event in 2010
16.140- Track record established by Brian Paulus in time trials in 2002
18- Laps led by Chad Layton en route to winning at the half-mile on May 13
24- Starting spot Fred Rahmer came from to win on May 14; Drivers that have led laps in main events this season with the World of Outlaws
25- Points that separate current leader Joey Saldana and Steve Kinser atop the World of Outlaws standings
33- Consecutive years that the World of Outlaws have raced at Williams Grove Speedway
36-Top-10 finishes for Steve Kinser this season to lead the series
45- Drivers that competed with the World of Outlaws at Williams Grove Speedway back in May
212- Miles from Lernerville Speedway where the World of Outlaws raced on July 20 to Williams Grove Speedway
269- Laps led by Joey Saldana this season in feature events to lead the series
1978- Year the World of Outlaws first competed at Williams Grove Speedway
8,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Friday, July 23
20,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Saturday, July 24
188,500- Dollars earned by Joey Saldana through July 20 to lead the series
Tickets:
On Friday, July 23 at Williams Grove Speedway, general admission tickets will be $28, with tickets for those ages 13-20 $15 and kids ages 12-under will be admitted free of charge. For ticket information visit http://www.williamsgrove.com or call the track at 717-697-5000.
On Saturday, July 24 at Williams Grove Speedway, general admission tickets will be $30, with tickets for those ages 13-20 $16 and kids ages 12-under will be admitted free of charge. For ticket information visit http://www.williamsgrove.com or call the track at 717-697-5000.
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), Chizmark & Larson Insurance, Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, KSE Race Products, Penske Shocks, R2C Performance, 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 22, 2010
- Article Date: 7/22/2010