By Richard Day
World of Outlaws Director of Public Relations
FORT WORTH, TX (March 27) – Danny Lasoski surprised Brad Furr and everybody else in the capacity crowd at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track last September 14th by using an outside move to pass Brad Furr for the lead in turn two during a 38th-lap restart.
The uncharacteristic move earned Lasoski – who traditionally races in the low groove – the O’Reilly Texas Showdown championship, a $12,000 paycheck and the 50th "A" Feature victory of his O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series career.
"Tonight was just luck," Lasoski said as fireworks mixed with rain filled the sky above him. "The #20 J.D. Byrider Eagle was great all night. I got caught behind two lapped cars and Furr got around me (during lap 32). Any good racer goes where I am not. If it hadn’t been for that last caution, we would not have passed him."
Furr, who won the Southern Bleacher Classic at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track last April 5th, was 1.1 seconds ahead of "The Dude" when mechanical problems in the #5M Maxim forced fast-qualifier Mark Kinser to stop in turn two, setting up a two-lap dash to the checkered flag.
"I should have known better," Furr said. "We were running well on the inside, but on the restart it was too tight. I should have moved up."
Lasoski, who drove NASCAR Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart’s #20 to victory at Perris Auto Speedway, leads the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series point standings. He has finished in seven of eight main events, including six in the top five.
"The Dude" will be the driver to beat when the series returns to the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track for the United States Air Force Showdown Friday and Saturday. He will have plenty of competition waiting for him, however, as seven drivers have combined to win the eight main events this season.
The Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track pit gates will open at 2 p.m. and the front gates will open at 5 p.m. Hot laps will start at 6 p.m. and qualifying at 6:30 p.m.
Steve Kinser moved to within six points of Lasoski in the standings by winning the Texas Shootout at Houston Raceway Park last weekend. "The King of the Outlaws" drove his #11 Quaker State Maxim into the top 10 in six of the first eight "A" Features, including a double-feature sweep at Hollywood Hills Speedway.
Craig Dollansky, the 2000 World of Outlaws Gumout Series champion, is continuing his consistent ways, driving Karavan Racing’s #7 VMAC Maxim into the top 10 in seven of the first eight main events.
Jac Haudenschild is back with the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series and Forbrook for a second season. "The Wild Child" has driven the #5 Wirtgen America Maxim into the top 10 in six of eight events and ranks fourth in the standings.
Mark Kinser, the runner-up in the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series 25th Anniversary Season opener at Kings Speedway, won series championships in 1996 and 1999.
Jason Sides, who finished in the Gumout Series top three the last two years, is racing for Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year honors this season. He ranks sixth in the overall standings after six events.
Jeff Shepard, the 2001 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, drove Dave Helm’s #11H Vivarin Maxim to victory at Pike County Speedway to move into seventh place in the point standings.
Shane Stewart was the runner-up in the 2002 Gumout Series points race. Driving the #4N MIN Motorsports MCI to seven straight top-10 finishes has pushed him into eighth place in the point standings.
Daryn Pittman was the 2001 World of Outlaws Gumout Series champion and last season’s World of Outlaws Hard Charger Award winner. He drove the #21 Hop & Sack J&J into second place at Pike County to move into ninth place in the standings.
Joey Saldana drove his family’s #17 Eagle Raceway MCI into sixth place at Perris Auto Speedway and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He finished seventh in the Spring Nationals.
Randy Hannagan, the 1995 Rookie of the Year, showed no ill effects from the severe leg injury that caused him to miss the final two months of the 2001 season, finishing 10th in the 2002 point standings.
Young Jeremy Campbell is another Gumout Series transplant racing for the 2003 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award. He ranks 12th in the point standings after eight events.
Johnny Herrera has driven NASCAR Winston Cup crew chief Billy Wilburn’s #2W Heintz Brothers Maxim into the top five in four of six "A" Features this season.
Donny Schatz drove his #15 Parker Stores J&J to victory at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City March 14th.
Brian Brown has taken over the driving chores in the #6 Casey’s General Stores Maxim this year. He ranks 15th in the point standings.
Tim Shaffer drove Dennis Roth’s #83 Beef Packers Eagle to victory in both feature races during the J.D. Byrider Outlaw Nationals at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Tyler Walker won the World of Outlaws Gumout Series championship in 2002. He won the Spring Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway March 15th.
World of Outlaws Director of Public Relations
FORT WORTH, TX (March 27) – Danny Lasoski surprised Brad Furr and everybody else in the capacity crowd at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track last September 14th by using an outside move to pass Brad Furr for the lead in turn two during a 38th-lap restart.
The uncharacteristic move earned Lasoski – who traditionally races in the low groove – the O’Reilly Texas Showdown championship, a $12,000 paycheck and the 50th "A" Feature victory of his O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series career.
"Tonight was just luck," Lasoski said as fireworks mixed with rain filled the sky above him. "The #20 J.D. Byrider Eagle was great all night. I got caught behind two lapped cars and Furr got around me (during lap 32). Any good racer goes where I am not. If it hadn’t been for that last caution, we would not have passed him."
Furr, who won the Southern Bleacher Classic at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track last April 5th, was 1.1 seconds ahead of "The Dude" when mechanical problems in the #5M Maxim forced fast-qualifier Mark Kinser to stop in turn two, setting up a two-lap dash to the checkered flag.
"I should have known better," Furr said. "We were running well on the inside, but on the restart it was too tight. I should have moved up."
Lasoski, who drove NASCAR Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart’s #20 to victory at Perris Auto Speedway, leads the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series point standings. He has finished in seven of eight main events, including six in the top five.
"The Dude" will be the driver to beat when the series returns to the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track for the United States Air Force Showdown Friday and Saturday. He will have plenty of competition waiting for him, however, as seven drivers have combined to win the eight main events this season.
The Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track pit gates will open at 2 p.m. and the front gates will open at 5 p.m. Hot laps will start at 6 p.m. and qualifying at 6:30 p.m.
Steve Kinser moved to within six points of Lasoski in the standings by winning the Texas Shootout at Houston Raceway Park last weekend. "The King of the Outlaws" drove his #11 Quaker State Maxim into the top 10 in six of the first eight "A" Features, including a double-feature sweep at Hollywood Hills Speedway.
Craig Dollansky, the 2000 World of Outlaws Gumout Series champion, is continuing his consistent ways, driving Karavan Racing’s #7 VMAC Maxim into the top 10 in seven of the first eight main events.
Jac Haudenschild is back with the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series and Forbrook for a second season. "The Wild Child" has driven the #5 Wirtgen America Maxim into the top 10 in six of eight events and ranks fourth in the standings.
Mark Kinser, the runner-up in the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series 25th Anniversary Season opener at Kings Speedway, won series championships in 1996 and 1999.
Jason Sides, who finished in the Gumout Series top three the last two years, is racing for Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year honors this season. He ranks sixth in the overall standings after six events.
Jeff Shepard, the 2001 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, drove Dave Helm’s #11H Vivarin Maxim to victory at Pike County Speedway to move into seventh place in the point standings.
Shane Stewart was the runner-up in the 2002 Gumout Series points race. Driving the #4N MIN Motorsports MCI to seven straight top-10 finishes has pushed him into eighth place in the point standings.
Daryn Pittman was the 2001 World of Outlaws Gumout Series champion and last season’s World of Outlaws Hard Charger Award winner. He drove the #21 Hop & Sack J&J into second place at Pike County to move into ninth place in the standings.
Joey Saldana drove his family’s #17 Eagle Raceway MCI into sixth place at Perris Auto Speedway and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He finished seventh in the Spring Nationals.
Randy Hannagan, the 1995 Rookie of the Year, showed no ill effects from the severe leg injury that caused him to miss the final two months of the 2001 season, finishing 10th in the 2002 point standings.
Young Jeremy Campbell is another Gumout Series transplant racing for the 2003 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award. He ranks 12th in the point standings after eight events.
Johnny Herrera has driven NASCAR Winston Cup crew chief Billy Wilburn’s #2W Heintz Brothers Maxim into the top five in four of six "A" Features this season.
Donny Schatz drove his #15 Parker Stores J&J to victory at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City March 14th.
Brian Brown has taken over the driving chores in the #6 Casey’s General Stores Maxim this year. He ranks 15th in the point standings.
Tim Shaffer drove Dennis Roth’s #83 Beef Packers Eagle to victory in both feature races during the J.D. Byrider Outlaw Nationals at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Tyler Walker won the World of Outlaws Gumout Series championship in 2002. He won the Spring Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway March 15th.
