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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Keeping Pace

World of Outlaws Wrap-Up: Eldora Speedway

 (The Spokesman-Review)
(The Spokesman-Review)

The battle for the World of Outlaws title got even closer after the opener of the Team Chevy Four Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway on Friday night, with Jason Meyers cutting nine more points off of three-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz’s lead and is now just nine markers behind.

Courtesy: WoO Sprint Car Series Media Relations

Single Digits: The battle for the World of Outlaws title got even closer after the opener of the Team Chevy Four Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway on Friday night, with Jason Meyers cutting nine more points off of three-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz’s lead and is now just nine markers behind. Meyers, who set fast time in qualifying to earn five bonus points, has finish fourth or higher in nine consecutive races with eight of those being podium finishes. Since August 28 at Castrol Raceway in Canada, Meyers has chopped 88 points off Schatz’s lead. Joey Saldana finished third at Eldora and was second fastest in time trials and moved to within 29 points of Meyers for second and is 38 out of the lead. Saldana has finished on the podium in nine of his last 10 starts, with the other finish being a sixth-place finish. Since August 28, the native of Brownsburg, Indiana has gained 86 points.


Every win is special: The win for Jason Sides at Eldora Speedway on Friday night was his second career at the half-mile, where he scored his first World of Outlaws win in the 2004 Kings Royal. Following that triumph he next won with the series at Ohsweken Speedway in Canada in 2007 and won for the second time at the Canadian track this past July. Sides now has four career World of Outlaws A-Feature wins, the same number as Johnny Anderson, Dale Blaney, Brent Kaeding, Lee Osborne, Brian Paulus and Jeff Shepard.

“The first one, you always remember and it was here during the Kings Royal,” said Sides on Friday night. “To get another win here in the United States is great for us, along with the two in Canada. We have two in one year now and that’s a big goal for us. Hopefully we can get some more before the end of the year.”


Change of scenary:
Brad Sweet made his first start of the season in the No. 19 machine for Kasey Kahne Racing replacing Craig Dollansky at Eldora Speedway. Sweet began the night by turning in the seventh fastest lap in time trials and wound up finishing 14th in the A-Feature. The California native competed in three of the four feature events in the Team Chevy Four Crown Nationals at Eldora, picking up a win in the USAC Midget race on Saturday night. Sweet will remain in the No. 19 this weekend at Williams Grove Speedway. Dollansky, who has won three times this season with the World of Outlaws and is currently seventh in points, is scheduled to return to action with the series this weekend at Williams Grove Speedway in a car to be determined.


Second generation:
Sheldon Haudenschild made his first start at Eldora Speedway on Friday night which also was his first start with the World of Outlaws. The second generation driver who carries the No. 93 on his car was pitted next to his father Jac and received some pointers from the 2009 inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. The younger Haudenschild has been competing in his home state of Ohio this season and has picked up eight Top-10 finishes in a combination of starts in both 410 and 360 sprint cars. Sheldon Haudenschild became the second son of a famed driver to compete for the first time with the World of Outlaws this season on the same night as his father, which Austin McCarl did earlier this season racing with his father Terry at Knoxville Raceway.


A career best:
Cale Conley picked up his best ever finish with the World of Outlaws on Friday night at Eldora Speedway coming home fifth. He won his first career Crane Cams Dash earlier this season on the second night of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida en route to finishing ninth in that race to earn his first career Top-10 finish with the World of Outlaws and he followed that up with another Top-10 performance at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in May.

“The car was great and I don’t have any complaints,” said Conley after Friday’s race. “I have to thank everyone that helped me get here, without them this would be impossible. This is a heck of a chance I have here. We’ve run good ever since Florida, we just haven’t had anything solid like tonight. We weren’t quite as good I would have liked, and we lost a couple of positions, but we stayed fifth with a few guys dropping out.”


Another career best:
David Gravel finished seventh at Eldora to also pick up his best finish with the World of Outlaws, which was his first career Top-10 with the series. The Connecticut native was the fourth quickest driver in time trials with a stout 44-car field in attendance to set another career mark with the series.


First timer:
Travis Rutz made his first trip to Eldora over the weekend and was one of two drivers from British Columbia in action as Toni Lutar also competed. Rutz ran at Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario the previous weekend before making the tow south to Eldora as he ventured east for the first time in his career. Rutz normally competes in the Pacific Northwest and on the West Coast and has won races at Skagit Speedway in Washington and Castrol Raceway in Canada this season.


TV time:
The finale of the National Open from the famed Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania will air LIVE on SPEED on Saturday, October 3 at 8 p.m. Eastern with Bobby Gerould and Brad Doty on the call.


Photo Gallery:
The Media Gallery section of www.worldofOutlaws.com continues to be updated after each event. Visit http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint/MediaGallery.aspx to see Photo Galleries from 2009 World of Outlaws events. A Photo Gallery from the event at Eldora Speedway will be posted soon.


Keep up with all the action:
The number of “Followers” keeping up with the World of Outlaws via Twitter online and through text messages on cell phones continues to grow and recently surpassed the 1,600 “Follower” mark. Updates are provided throughout race nights beginning with hot laps and continuing all the way through the final checkered flag of the night. To sign-up visit: http://twitter.com/worldofoutlaws and receive live race updates, anywhere, anytime.


Up next:
The National Open at the famed Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3. Also the Crane Cams Dash and A-Feature event from the Summer Nationals in July which was postponed by rain will be completed after time trials on Friday.

2009 World of Outlaws Championship Standings through September 25

Position

Driver

Pts.

Difference

Earnings

Wins

Top-5

Top-10

1.

Donny Schatz

8038



$291,200

12

36

48

2.

Jason Meyers

8029

-9

$226,705

8

29

49

3.

Joey Saldana

8000

-38

$332,535

18

34

43

4.

Steve Kinser

7836

-202

$159,400

2

28

44

5.

Jason Sides

7736

-272

$170,830

2

23

44

6

Danny Lasoski

7634

-404

$180,980

5

21

38

7.

Craig Dollansky

7535

-503

$142,050

3

20

40

8.

Kraig Kinser

7335

-703

$93,625

0

10

28

9.

Jac Haudenschild

7282

-756

$101,825

0

13

29

10.

Lucas Wolfe

6952

-1086

$71,995

0

5

15

11.

Brian Ellenberger

6132

-1906

$43,990

0

1

4

12.

Sam Hafertepe Jr.

5069

-2969

$58,305

0

5

9

13.

Sammy Swindell

4492

-3546

$69,980

0

7

18

14.

Tim Kaeding

4349

-3689

$70,300

1

5

17

15.

Chad Kemenah

3950

-4088

$52,255

1

3

12

16.

Terry McCarl

3640

-4398

$79,450

2

9

20

17.

Randy Hannagan

2912

-5126

$42,855

1

6

8

18.

Kerry Madsen

2877

-5161

$33,150

0

2

8

19.

Daryn Pittman

2445

-5593

$34,450

0

4

10

20.

Tony Bruce Jr.

2438

-5600

$31,060

0

2

8

2009 STAT ATTACK

There have been 59 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events and two preliminary feature events in 2009.

A-Feature winners (14 Different Drivers) Driver, Hometown – Wins

1- Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 18

2- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 12

3- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 8

4- Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 5

5- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 3

6- Greg Hodnett, Thomasville, Pennsylvania- 2

Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 2

Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 2

Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 2

7- Dale Blaney, Hartford, Ohio- 1

Randy Hannagan, San Jose, California- 1

Tim Kaeding, San Jose, California- 1

Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio- 1

Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma- 1

Preliminary Feature winners (2 Different Drivers) Driver, Hometown – Wins

1- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1

Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 1

Lap leaders, including A-features and preliminary features Car, driver, hometown - Total laps led (24 Different Drivers)

1- Joey Saldana- Brownsburg, Indiana- 432 laps

2- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 351 laps

3- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 279 laps

4- Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 149 laps

5- Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 146 laps

6- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 141 laps

7- Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 99 laps

8- Randy Hannagan, San Jose, California- 49 laps

9- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 43 laps

10- Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, New Mexico- 39 laps

11- Greg Hodnett, Thomasville, Pennsylvania- 35 laps

12- Tim Kaeding, San Jose, California- 34 laps

13- Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio- 30 laps

14- Danny Smith, Danville, Indiana- 26 laps

15- Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma- 25 laps

16- Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 24 laps

17- Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, Kansas- 22 laps

18- Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas- 21 laps

19- Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania- 18 laps

20- Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pennsylvania- 15 laps

21- Brian Brown, Grain Valley, Missouri- 14 laps

22- Dale Blaney, Hartford, Ohio- 12 laps

23- Peter Murphy, Clovis, California- 10 laps

24- Jayme Barnes, Everett, Washington- 8 laps

25- Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 5 laps

Time trial leaders (19 Different Drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Quick times

1- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 10

Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 10

2- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 7

3- Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 5

Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 5

4- Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 4

5- Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 3

6- Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pennsylvania- 2

Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas- 2

Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Oklahoma- 2

Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania- 2

7- Jonathan Allard, Chico, California- 1

Ryan Bohlke, Fredon, New Jersey- 1

Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, Kansas- 1

Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio- 1

Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio- 1

Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 1

Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia- 1

Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma- 1

Track records established during 2009 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events (10)

Joey Saldana, March 13, Silver Dollar Speedway (1/4-mile), Chico, California, 10.918 seconds at 82.433 mph

Terry McCarl, March 20, Thunderbowl Raceway (1/3-mile), Tulare, California, 12.713 seconds at 94.297 mph

Joey Saldana, April 17, Paducah International Raceway (3/8-mile), Paducah, Kentucky, 12.825 seconds at 105.263 mph

Sammy Swindell, July 4, Eagle Raceway (1/3-mile), Eagle, Nebraska, 11.076 seconds at 108.234 mph

Joey Saldana, July 29, Ohsweken Speedway (3/8-mile), Ohsweken, Ontario, 12.420 seconds at 108.696 mph

Jason Meyers, August 21, River Cities Speedway (0.3-mile), Grand Forks, 9.269 seconds at 116.517 mph

Danny Lasoski, August 22, Dacotah Speedway (3/8-mile), Mandan, North Dakota, 12.705 seconds at 106.257 mph

Jason Sides, September 4, Skagit Speedway (3/10th-mile), Alger, Washington, 10.872 seconds at 99.338 mph

Kerry Madsen, September 16, Clay County Fair Speedway (3/8-mile), Spencer, Iowa, 13.345 seconds at 101.161 mph

Sam Hafertepe Jr., September 19, Deer Creek Speedway (3/8-mile) Spring Valley, Minnesota, 11.583 seconds at 116.550 mph

Crane Cams Dash Winners (20 Different Winners) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Dash Wins

1- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 9

2- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 8

3- Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 5

4- Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 5

Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 5

5- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 4

Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 4

6- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 3

Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio- 3

Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 3

7- Brian Brown, Grain Valley, Missouri- 1

Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, Kansas- 1

Cale Conley, Vienna, West Virginia- 1

Lance Dewease, Fayetteville, Pennsylvania- 1

Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas- 1

Randy Hannagan, San Jose, California- 1

Greg Hodnett, Thomasville, Pennsylvania- 1

Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio-1

Peter Murphy, Clovis, California- 1

Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma- 1

Pole Positions (20 Different Drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown – Poles

1- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 9

2- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 8

3- Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 5

Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 5

Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 5

4- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 4

Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 4

5- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 3

Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio- 3

6- Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 3

7- Brian Brown, Grain Valley, Missouri- 1

Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, Kansas- 1

Cale Conley, Vienna, West Virginia- 1

Lance Dewease, Fayetteville, Pennsylvania- 1

Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas- 1

Randy Hannagan, San Jose, California- 1

Greg Hodnett, Thomasville, Pennsylvania- 1

Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio- 1

Peter Murphy, Clovis, California- 1

Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma- 1

B-main Winners (33 Different Winners) Rank - Driver, Hometown - B-Main Wins

1- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 4

Randy Hannagan, San Jose, California- 3

2- Brian Ellenberger, Butler, Pennsylvania- 3

Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma- 3

Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 3

Tommy Worley, Farmington, Missouri- 3

3- Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas- 2

Tim Kaeding, San Jose, California- 2

Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 2

Bob Martin, East Grand Forks, Minnesota- 2

4- Bill Balog, Cameron, Wisconsin- 1

Jayme Barnes, Everett, Washington- 1

Garry Brazier, Sydney, NSW, Australia- 1

Daron Clayton, Sikeston, Missouri- 1

Cale Conley, Vienna, West Virginia- 1

Colby Copeland, Roseville, California- 1

Roger Crockett, Medford, Oregon- 1

Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pennsylvania- 1

Cole Duncan, Lockborne, Ohio- 1

Mike Erdley, Elizabethville, Pennsylvania- 1

Kaley Gharst, Decatur, Illinois- 1

Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio- 1

Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, Missouri- 1

Thomas Kennedy, Winnipeg, Manitoba- 1

Chad Layton, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania- 1

Toni Lutar, White Rock, British Columbia- 1

Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1

Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1

Greg Nikitenko, Minot, North Dakota- 1

Daryn Pittman, Owasso. Oklahoma- 1

Sean Robinson, Bronson, Michigan- 1

Travis Rutz, Langley, British Columbia- 1

Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 1

Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, California- 1

Chris Shirek, Thompson, North Dakota- 1

Greg Wilson, Benton Ridge, Ohio- 1

KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award

1- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 6

Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 6

2- Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio- 5

Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW- 5

3- Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 3

Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 3

Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Australia- 3

4- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 2

Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 2

Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 2

Chris Shirek, Thompson, North Dakota- 2

5- Daron Clayton, Sikeston, Missouri- 1

Dustin Daggett, Portland, Michigan- 1

Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pennsylvania- 1

Greg DeCaires- Elk Grove, California- 1

Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, North Dakota- 1

Trevor Green, Adelaide, NSW, Australia- 1

Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas- 1

Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, New Mexico- 1

Aaron Higgins, Waverly, Ohio- 1

Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio- 1

Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 2

Brad Kuhn, Avon, Indiana- 1

Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1

Brian Montieth, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania- 1

Sean Moran, Sherwood Park, Alberta- 1

Fred Rahmer, Salfordville, Pennsylvania- 1

Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania- 1

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Olive Branch, Mississippi- 1

George Suprick, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania- 1

Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, California- 1

Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 1

Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania- 1

Jessica Zemken, Sprakers, New York- 1

Penske Power Position

1- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 7

2- Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio-6

Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 6

Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 6

3- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 5

4- Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 5

Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 5

5- Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 3

6- Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 2

Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas- 2

Tim Kaeding, San Jose, California- 2

Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 2

7- Dale Blaney, Hartford, Ohio- 1

Brian Ellenberger, Butler, Pennsylvania- 1

Randy Hannagan, San Jose, California- 1

Greg Hodnett, Memphis, Tennessee- 1

Brent Kaeding, Campbell, California- 1

Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio- 1

Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania- 1

Danny Smith, Danville, Indiana- 1

Stevie Smith, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma- 1

Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon, Washington- 1

Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 1

Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Australia- 1

SuperClean Start Award

1- Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 7

2- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 6

3- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 5

4- Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 4

Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 4

5- Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 3

6- Dale Blaney, Hartford, Ohio- 2

Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio- 2

Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio- 2

Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 2

Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 2

Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 2

Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW, Australia- 2

Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania- 2

Jessica, Zemken, Sprakers, New York- 2

7- Jonanthan Allard, Chico, California- 1

Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, Texas- 1

Jason Johnson, Eunice, Louisiana- 1

Bud Kaeding, Campbell, California- 1

Tim Kaeding, San Jose. California- 1

Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, California- 1

Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW- 1

Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Oklahoma- 1

Travis Rutz, Langley, British Columbia- 1

Chris Shirek, Thompson, North Dakota- 1

Lucas Wolfe, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania- 1

Crane Cams Engine Builder Challenge

Speedway Engines 230

Shaver Specialties 208 -22

Don Ott 190 -40

Kistler 189 -41

Chassis Builder Challenge

Maxim 275

J&J 256 -19



Keeping Pace

Motorsports correspondent Doug Pace keeps up with motorsports news and notes from around the region.