By Richard Day
Twenty-five years of fire-breathing, mudslinging sprint car racing and the O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series is still "the greatest show on dirt." The series has continued that long-lasting tradition through the first half of its Silver Anniversary Season as well.
Former series champions Danny Lasoski and Steve Kinser has battled closely for the points lead, while 14 different drivers have won "A" Features through 39 of 72 events as the series enjoys yet another competitive season. Sixty-seven drivers have won Heat Races.
Lasoski, who won the 2001 O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series title, has led the standings for all but two events, but has never been ahead of the defending and 17-time champion by more than 69 points. A weight rule disqualification, a flat tire and a fluke crash have hampered Kinser, who has won 14 main events and five preliminaries. Lasoski, who has won eight "A" Features and two Preliminary Features, has finished out of the top 10 only two times all year.
"Steve's been winning more than we have, but we've been right there every time," Lasoski said recently. "The point championship is our ultimate goal. We're running a lot of races and we've got to stay in contention with Steve, but I think we've got the car to do it."
NASCAR Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart, who owns the #20 J.D. Byrider Eagle Lasoski drives, couldn't be more pleased.
"I'm really happy for the team," Stewart says. "They've gone out and won races, and when they're not winning, it seems like they're right there, finishing second or third, every time they run. You can't ask for much more than that. It's like I've always told them, if you win races, the points will take care of themselves. They've been really consistent this year, and in my opinion, they're doing everything right. They're doing everything that we've asked them to do, and they have the right mindset to go out and win another championship."
Twelve other drivers – Joey Saldana, Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Mark Kinser, Paul McMahan, Tim Shaffer, Sammy Swindell, Jason Meyers, Tyler Walker, Jeff Shepard, Blake Feese and Tim Kaeding – have won O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series main events this season.
The "The Month of Money" opens this weekend at Eldora Speedway with the Eldora Clash and the 20th Annual Kings Royal. Saldana claimed the $50,000 first prize in the Kings Royal a year ago. Steve Kinser has won the prestigious event four times.
"The Month of Money" consists of 10 events over 15 dates with $1.42 million to be spread among the world’s best sprint car racers. Tuesday’s 12th Annual Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway pays $35,000 to the winner. The Second Annual Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway scheduled for July 24-26 offers a total purse of $148,575, with $20,000 going to the winner. The 43rd Annual Ford Dealers of Iowa Knoxville Nationals (August 13-16) carries a $764,000 purse and a $125,000 champion’s share.
The O’Reilly will also run single-program events at New Egypt Speedway, Sharon Speedway, K-C Raceway and Harford Speedway, then sanction the "Night Before the Kings Royal" race at Eldora Speedway August 8th.
Twenty-five years of fire-breathing, mudslinging sprint car racing and the O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series is still "the greatest show on dirt." The series has continued that long-lasting tradition through the first half of its Silver Anniversary Season as well.
Former series champions Danny Lasoski and Steve Kinser has battled closely for the points lead, while 14 different drivers have won "A" Features through 39 of 72 events as the series enjoys yet another competitive season. Sixty-seven drivers have won Heat Races.
Lasoski, who won the 2001 O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series title, has led the standings for all but two events, but has never been ahead of the defending and 17-time champion by more than 69 points. A weight rule disqualification, a flat tire and a fluke crash have hampered Kinser, who has won 14 main events and five preliminaries. Lasoski, who has won eight "A" Features and two Preliminary Features, has finished out of the top 10 only two times all year.
"Steve's been winning more than we have, but we've been right there every time," Lasoski said recently. "The point championship is our ultimate goal. We're running a lot of races and we've got to stay in contention with Steve, but I think we've got the car to do it."
NASCAR Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart, who owns the #20 J.D. Byrider Eagle Lasoski drives, couldn't be more pleased.
"I'm really happy for the team," Stewart says. "They've gone out and won races, and when they're not winning, it seems like they're right there, finishing second or third, every time they run. You can't ask for much more than that. It's like I've always told them, if you win races, the points will take care of themselves. They've been really consistent this year, and in my opinion, they're doing everything right. They're doing everything that we've asked them to do, and they have the right mindset to go out and win another championship."
Twelve other drivers – Joey Saldana, Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Mark Kinser, Paul McMahan, Tim Shaffer, Sammy Swindell, Jason Meyers, Tyler Walker, Jeff Shepard, Blake Feese and Tim Kaeding – have won O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series main events this season.
The "The Month of Money" opens this weekend at Eldora Speedway with the Eldora Clash and the 20th Annual Kings Royal. Saldana claimed the $50,000 first prize in the Kings Royal a year ago. Steve Kinser has won the prestigious event four times.
"The Month of Money" consists of 10 events over 15 dates with $1.42 million to be spread among the world’s best sprint car racers. Tuesday’s 12th Annual Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway pays $35,000 to the winner. The Second Annual Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway scheduled for July 24-26 offers a total purse of $148,575, with $20,000 going to the winner. The 43rd Annual Ford Dealers of Iowa Knoxville Nationals (August 13-16) carries a $764,000 purse and a $125,000 champion’s share.
The O’Reilly will also run single-program events at New Egypt Speedway, Sharon Speedway, K-C Raceway and Harford Speedway, then sanction the "Night Before the Kings Royal" race at Eldora Speedway August 8th.
