Tennessee driver surges past Dollansky’s sputtering car on final turn for second win of the season
CALISTOGA, Calif. – April 2, 2011 – A quarter of a straightaway was all that separated Craig Dollansky from a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory on Saturday night at Calistoga Speedway. Dollansky had worked past Jason Sides with four laps to go but then Dollansky’s car sputtered coming off of the final corner with the checkers in sight, apparently on fumes. Sides pounced on the high side for his second victory of the season as Dollansky watched helplessly.
(Click here to see video of Jason Sides talking about Saturday’s victory.)
“Tonight certainly was a long and wild race,” said an exhausted Sides, of Bartlett, Tenn., who moved his Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim back into the Top Five in the overall World of Outlaws standings. “We had so many restarts tonight that it was tough to keep them behind us until we could build a lead back up.”
Dollansky held on to finish second in the Big Game Treestands Maxim with rising California star Kyle Larson charging from 21st to finish third in the Stadlehoffer Construction car. Joey Saldana was fourth in the Red Bull Maxim and took sole possession of the top spot in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship standings. Golden State native Jason Meyers rounded out the top five in the DDNI/GLR/Allstar Performance KPC.
Several cautions slowed the pace of the 25-lap A-main as drivers tried to figure out the changing track conditions at the picturesque Northern California speedway in wine country. The cooling temperatures as the warm daytime sun gave way to night placed a premium on experience and patience.
Four drivers led the race. Chad Kemenah, of Findlay, Ohio, started on the outside of the front row in Golden Flavor Sesame Sticks Maxim and charged out to a quick lead before polesitter Saldana surged to the point on Lap 3 in Turns 3 and 4. By that time, Sides had discovered the quickest line around the half-mile speedway and by Lap 8 was in front and starting to pull away. Cautions prevented Sides from building too much of an advantage, though, and Dollansky kept the pressure on before finally taking the lead on Lap 22. It wasn’t to be, though, as Dollansky came up just short.
“We gambled a bit tonight on fuel,” said Dollansky, of Elk River, Minn. “I knew when we crossed the line and took the white flag that we were in trouble.”
Larson’s star continues to rise as he earned a podium finish. He carefully worked his way through nearly the entire field to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award. During the World of Outlaws California Spring Break series of races, Larson’s finishes have improved from 16th to 12th to ninth and now third.
“You know, if I could ever qualify decent in these World of Outlaws races, I might have a shot at taking a few victories from these guys,” said Larson, of Elk Grove, Calif.
Paul McMahan got the night started by setting quick time for the fourth time in 2011, turning a lap around the half-mile oval in 17.600 seconds at 102.273 mph. A California native who now resides near Nashville, Tenn., has been on a tear since posting the fastest lap around a half-mile dirt track earlier this year during the 40th Annual DIRTcar Nationals in Volusia, Fla.
The action continued through the heats and into the dash, where Steve Kinser ran into trouble early. The 20-time King of the Outlaws and the points leader entering Saturday night’s race went for a wild ride coming off of Turn 4 that left the  Bass Pro Shops/J.D. Byrider/Chevrolet crinkled and creased. His crew, led by crew chief Scott Gerkin, quickly went to work on the battered machine and was able to repair Kinser’s Maxim in time for the A-main where he finished ninth.
Sides’ victory signals the checkered flag on the California Spring Break. The ‘Greatest Show on Dirt’ heads east again and will be back in action on Friday, April 15, at Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Ky., and on Saturday, April 16, at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. For a complete list of events, go to WorldofOutlaws.com.
CALISTOGA SPEEDWAY NOTEBOOK
QUICK TIME – Paul McMahan was the night’s fastest qualifier at a 17.600, earning five more championship points. Craig Dollansky, Joey Saldana, Chad Kemenah and Jonathan Allard also earned qualifying points.
WINNERS – There have been 11 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events in 2011. The winners include: Steve Kinser – 4 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 11 and 12, Pike County Raceway on Feb. 25, the Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 4), Joey Saldana – 2 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 19), Jason Sides – 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Calistoga Speedway on April 2), Sammy Swindell – 2(Royal Purple Raceway on Feb. 26, Merced Speedway on April 1), Craig Dollansky – 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 12).
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World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway; April 2, 2011
A-Main – 25 Laps – (Finish/Car/Driver/Start/Money) – 1. 7S-Jason Sides [5] [$10,000]; 2. 7-Craig Dollansky [4] [$5,500]; 3. 99-Kyle Larson [21] [$3,200]; 4. 9-Joey Saldana [1] [$2,800]; 5. 14-Jason Meyers [20] [$2,500]; 6. 91-Cody Darrah [18] [$2,300]; 7. 15-Donny Schatz [17] [$2,200]; 8. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [13] [$2,100]; 9. 11-Steve Kinser [10] [$2,050]; 10. 6-Kraig Kinser [16] [$2,000]; 11. 83JR-Tim Kaeding [7] [$1,500]; 12. 83-Paul McMahan [3] [$1,200]; 13. 55-Trey Starks [23] [$1,100]; 14. 3X-Alisa Gevling [24] [$1,050]; 15. 6R-Bill Rose [12] [$1,000]; 16. 1-Sammy Swindell [9] [$900]; 17. OO-Jason Statler [19] [$800]; 18. O-Jonathan Allard [6] [$800]; 19. 83SR-Jac Haudenschild [11] [$800]; 20. 63-Chad Kemenah [2] [$800]; 21. 92-Kerry Madsen [14] [$800]; 22. 44W-Austen Wheatley [22] [$800]; 23. 29-Bud Kaeding [15] [$800]; 24. 2B-Ben Gregg [8] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Chad Kemenah 1-2; Joey Saldana 3-7; Jason Sides 8-21, 25; Craig Dollansky 22-24. KSE Hard Charger Award: 99-Kyle Larson
Qualifying – 1. 83-Paul McMahan, 17.600; 2. 7-Craig Dollansky, 17.610; 3. 9-Joey Saldana, 17.683; 4. 63-Chad Kemenah, 17.763; 5. O-Jonathan Allard, 17.788; 6. 7S-Jason Sides, 17.831; 7. 11-Steve Kinser, 17.888; 8. 1-Sammy Swindell, 17.892; 9. 83SR-Jac Haudenschild, 17.933; 10. 2B-Ben Gregg, 17.993; 11. 83JR-Tim Kaeding, 18.015; 12. 6R-Bill Rose, 18.026; 13. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 18.048; 14. 92-Kerry Madsen, 18.120; 15. 29-Bud Kaeding, 18.152; 16. 6-Kraig Kinser, 18.170; 17. 15-Donny Schatz, 18.191; 18. 91-Cody Darrah, 18.239; 19. OO-Jason Statler, 18.254; 20. 55-Trey Starks, 18.359; 21. 5D-Josh Dewitt, 18.379; 22. 14-Jason Meyers, 18.459; 23. 99-Kyle Larson, 18.561; 24. 44W-Austen Wheatley, 18.590; 25. 3X-Alisa Gevling, 18.662.
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 2B-Ben Gregg [1]; 2. 11-Steve Kinser [2]; 3. 63-Chad Kemenah [3]; 4. 83-Paul McMahan [4]; 5. 14-Jason Meyers [8]; 6. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [5]; 7. 6-Kraig Kinser [6]; 8. OO-Jason Statler [7]; 9. 3X-Alisa Gevling [9]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 1-Sammy Swindell [2]; 2. 83JR-Tim Kaeding [1]; 3. 7-Craig Dollansky [4]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [6]; 5. O-Jonathan Allard [3]; 6. 99-Kyle Larson [8]; 7. 92-Kerry Madsen [5]; 8. 55-Trey Starks [7]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 9-Joey Saldana [4]; 2. 7S-Jason Sides [3]; 3. 6R-Bill Rose [1]; 4. 83SR-Jac Haudenschild [2]; 5. 91-Cody Darrah [6]; 6. 44W-Austen Wheatley [8]; 7. 5D-Josh Dewitt [7]; 8. 29-Bud Kaeding [5]
Dash – (8 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature – 1. 9-Joey Saldana [2]; 2. 63-Chad Kemenah [1]; 3. 83-Paul McMahan [4]; 4. 7-Craig Dollansky [3]; 5. 7S-Jason Sides [6]; 6. O-Jonathan Allard [5]; 7. 83JR-Tim Kaeding [10]; 8. 2B-Ben Gregg [9]; 9. 1-Sammy Swindell [8]; 10. 11-Steve Kinser [7].
B-Main – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 92-Kerry Madsen [1] [-]; 2. 29-Bud Kaeding [2] [-]; 3. 6-Kraig Kinser [3] [-]; 4. OO-Jason Statler [4] [-]; 5. 55-Trey Starks [5] [-]; 6. 3X-Alisa Gevling [7] [-]; 7. 5D-Josh Dewitt [6] [$200].
| Pos. | Driver | Total | Diff | W | T 5 | T 10 | QT |
| 1. | Joey Saldana | 1546 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2. | Steve Kinser | 1542 | -4 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| 3. | Jason Meyers | 1501 | -45 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| 4. | Donny Schatz | 1493 | -53 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| 5. | Jason Sides | 1483 | -63 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
| 6. | Sammy Swindell | 1467 | -79 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| 7. | Craig Dollansky | 1431 | -115 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 8. | Paul McMahan | 1430 | -116 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| 9. | Cody Darrah | 1427 | -119 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 10. | Lucas Wolfe | 1390 | -156 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 11. | Kraig Kinser | 1367 | -179 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 12. | Chad Kemenah | 1316 | -230 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 13. | Bill Rose | 1221 | -325 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14. | Ben Gregg | 1116 | -430 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15. | Lance Dewease | 854 | -692 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 16. | Terry McCarl | 804 | -742 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17. | Jac Haudenschild | 734 | -812 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 18. | Tim Kaeding | 648 | -898 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 19. | Danny Lasoski | 647 | -899 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 20. | Trey Starks | 645 | -901 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), Factory Motor Parts, VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), Vicci (Official Apparel) and Chizmark and Larson Insurance Agency; in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, RacingJunk.com, KSE Race Products, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo, JE Pistons, Wix Filters and SuperFlow; Engine Builder’s Challenge participants Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines. Electronics, S&S Volvo, JE Pistons, Wix Filters and SuperFlow; Engine Builder’s Challenge participants Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines.