By Bret Emrick
When the 2005 World of Outlaws Late Model Series season unfolded in February at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida, Darrell Lanigan of Union,KY had very high hopes for his aspirations of winning the Championship. Things looked excellent after the two nights of competition as solid top 5 finishes put the “Blue Grass Bandit” technically fourth in Championship points but only two points behind three drivers who were tied for the lead.
Lanigan looked forward to the resumption of the season. A runner-up finish at Allegany County Speedway in Maryland kept those hopes high as Lanigan took over the point lead. The very next race engines woes gave Lanigan a DNF dropping him from the point lead to third. Another runner-up finish, this time at Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania, moved Lanigan back to the second position in points as the series wrapped up April.
A rough night at Butler Speedway in Michigan dropped Lanigan to fourth in Championship points but the driver of the Gotta Race/Bert Transmissions sponsored Lanigan Autosports owned No. 29 Rocket Chassis/Cornett Racing Engines Ford Taurus rebounded with solid finishes the next two events to move back into third spot.
Heading for the Midwest at the beginning of June, Lanigan parlayed a Top 5 finish, a Top 10 finish and a June 6th victory at Deer Creek Speedway in Minnesota into another jump on the Championship points ladder regaining the second position.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series headed to the Northeast at the end of June and early July. Problems galore badly hurt Lanigan’s chances of a Championship. Only a July 6th win at Delaware International Speedway salvaged any good things to come of the tour. The string of bad racing luck saw Lanigan tumble to sixth in the Championship point standings.
Late July and early August produced two Top 5 finishes and a Top 10 finish in the next six events keeping Lanigan in the sixth position but only barely. Lanigan opened up his advantage with a solid second place run August 12th at Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania.
But, Lanigan suffered more problems in the next three events eventually falling to the seventh position in Championship points. As the 2005 World of Outlaws Late Model Series closed down the season, Lanigan held a small margin for the seventh position. Solid runs in the final two events, a third at Georgia’s Golden Isles Speedway and a seventh at Volusia Speedway Park, kept that advantage for Lanigan.
Finishing among the top five series driver in fast times(4), heat races (11) and pole dash wins (3), Lanigan placed in the Top 5 fourteen times while notching twenty-four Top 10 finishes on his way to seventh position in the 2005 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Championship point standings.
2005 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Final Championship Points
Showing Pos., Car #, Driver, Residence, Entered, Starts, Wins, Top 5’s, Top 10’s, Fast Times, Heat Wins, “B” Wins, Dash Wins, Purse $ Won, Point Fund $ Won
7. #29 Darrell Lanigan – Union,KY: 39 – 38 – 2 – 14 – 24 – 4 – 11 – 3 – 3 - $112,995 - $35,000
The World Of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to the fans across the country by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Hoosier Racing Tire and SPEED Channel. Promotional Partners include AMB i.t., RACEceiver, HUMMERSGONEWILD.COM, Zippo Lighters, and The University of Northwestern Ohio. Contingency sponsors include DART Machinery, MSD Ignitions, Wrisco Industries, and Quarter Master.
When the 2005 World of Outlaws Late Model Series season unfolded in February at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida, Darrell Lanigan of Union,KY had very high hopes for his aspirations of winning the Championship. Things looked excellent after the two nights of competition as solid top 5 finishes put the “Blue Grass Bandit” technically fourth in Championship points but only two points behind three drivers who were tied for the lead.
Lanigan looked forward to the resumption of the season. A runner-up finish at Allegany County Speedway in Maryland kept those hopes high as Lanigan took over the point lead. The very next race engines woes gave Lanigan a DNF dropping him from the point lead to third. Another runner-up finish, this time at Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania, moved Lanigan back to the second position in points as the series wrapped up April.
A rough night at Butler Speedway in Michigan dropped Lanigan to fourth in Championship points but the driver of the Gotta Race/Bert Transmissions sponsored Lanigan Autosports owned No. 29 Rocket Chassis/Cornett Racing Engines Ford Taurus rebounded with solid finishes the next two events to move back into third spot.
Heading for the Midwest at the beginning of June, Lanigan parlayed a Top 5 finish, a Top 10 finish and a June 6th victory at Deer Creek Speedway in Minnesota into another jump on the Championship points ladder regaining the second position.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series headed to the Northeast at the end of June and early July. Problems galore badly hurt Lanigan’s chances of a Championship. Only a July 6th win at Delaware International Speedway salvaged any good things to come of the tour. The string of bad racing luck saw Lanigan tumble to sixth in the Championship point standings.
Late July and early August produced two Top 5 finishes and a Top 10 finish in the next six events keeping Lanigan in the sixth position but only barely. Lanigan opened up his advantage with a solid second place run August 12th at Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania.
But, Lanigan suffered more problems in the next three events eventually falling to the seventh position in Championship points. As the 2005 World of Outlaws Late Model Series closed down the season, Lanigan held a small margin for the seventh position. Solid runs in the final two events, a third at Georgia’s Golden Isles Speedway and a seventh at Volusia Speedway Park, kept that advantage for Lanigan.
Finishing among the top five series driver in fast times(4), heat races (11) and pole dash wins (3), Lanigan placed in the Top 5 fourteen times while notching twenty-four Top 10 finishes on his way to seventh position in the 2005 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Championship point standings.
2005 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Final Championship Points
Showing Pos., Car #, Driver, Residence, Entered, Starts, Wins, Top 5’s, Top 10’s, Fast Times, Heat Wins, “B” Wins, Dash Wins, Purse $ Won, Point Fund $ Won
7. #29 Darrell Lanigan – Union,KY: 39 – 38 – 2 – 14 – 24 – 4 – 11 – 3 – 3 - $112,995 - $35,000
The World Of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to the fans across the country by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Hoosier Racing Tire and SPEED Channel. Promotional Partners include AMB i.t., RACEceiver, HUMMERSGONEWILD.COM, Zippo Lighters, and The University of Northwestern Ohio. Contingency sponsors include DART Machinery, MSD Ignitions, Wrisco Industries, and Quarter Master.
