Chico, CA— March 15, 2009—
A trip to his home track: After winning for the third time in his career at the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway, Jason Meyers returns home to Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare this coming weekend for two full nights of racing. In his career at the high-banked 1/3-mile, the native of nearby Clovis, California He has three career wins at the track and 14 consecutive Top-10 finishes. He recently moved into the third spot in the World of Outlaws championship standings as he chases his first title.
“I can’t wait to get to Tulare,” said Meyers. “We are looking forward to the whole season. We have such a good team assembled here and everyone has been working so hard.”
Chasing wins: Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, has earned three consecutive Top-Five finishes as he continues to get up to speed in his first season with the Parsons Motorsports team. After a fifth-place performance at Las Vegas on February 26, he was fourth in the opener of the Mini Gold Cup and second in the finale. He tracked down Jason Meyers late in the race and ran side-by-side with him down the back straightaway on the final lap as he closes in on his first win of the year.
“We do feel good about the strong runs, but we really want to win these races,” deadpanned Lasoski. “Don Lamberti (co-car owner) put his heart and soul into this team and we want to win them for him.”
A strong start to the season: Kraig Kinser finished a season-best third on Saturday night in the Mini Gold Cup to earn his fourth Top-10 finishes in the first six races of 2009. He also moved up into the fifth spot in points, and is just nine markers out of the third position as he continues his second full season driving for Tony Stewart Racing.
“I wish we could run up front in all of them, but I am definitely happy with this Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet,” said Kinser. “We’ve been really working hard, all the guys back at the shop this winter. It’s definitely starting to roll good.”
And then there was one: Steve Kinser finished fifth in the finale of the Mini Gold Cup on Saturday night and is the only driver that has finished in the Top-10 in each of the six A-Feature events contested in 2009. He gained 21 points on three-time and defending World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz in the finale of the Mini Gold Cup and now is just 16 points out of the lead as he chases his record 21st series title.
Working his way to the front: Kerry Madsen picked up his third consecutive Top-10 finish on Saturday night at Silver Dollar Speedway The 2007 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year began the current West Coast swing with a sixth-place finish at Las Vegas on February 26 and followed that up a ninth-place performance in the opener of the Mini Gold Cup after starting 17th. The native of St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia also moved into the Top-10 in the championship standings following the two nights of racing at Silver Dollar Speedway.
First time at Chico: Brian Ellenberger, who is a contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this year, made his first trip to Silver Dollar Speedway this past weekend. He finished a very solid 14th in his debut at the high-banked ¼-mile on Friday with a stout field of 54 cars in attendance.
“It is definitely a fun place,” said Ellenberger. “I had read about it and seen many pictures of it. This was one of the places that I was very anxious to get to. There is a lot of history at this race track. I enjoyed it. It was a crazy feature (on Friday night), but it was fun being out there.”
Fast track: In the opener of the Mini Gold Cup on Friday night, Joey Saldana set a new track record in time trials, stopping the clock in a blistering 10.918 seconds. A total of 16 drivers eclipsed the old mark of 12.208 seconds which was established last August, with Saldana and second-fastest qualifier Jonathan Allard becoming the first two drivers in the 50-plus year history of the track to turn a sub 11-second lap.
Up next: The World of Outlaws return to action with two nights of racing on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California.
2009 World of Outlaws Championship Standings through March 14
Position Driver Pts. Difference Earnings Wins Top-5 Top-10
1. Donny Schatz 851 $34,650 3 3 5
2. Steve Kinser 835 -16 $14,200 0 3 6
3. Jason Meyers 815 -36 $22,200 1 2 5
4. Jason Sides 811 -40 $17,250 0 3 4
5. Kraig Kinser 806 -45 $12,700 0 2 4
6 Joey Saldana 799 -52 $24,525 2 2 2
7. Craig Dollansky 787 -64 $11,250 0 2 2
8. Sammy Swindell 784 -67 $13,650 0 2 4
9. Terry McCarl 773 -78 $10,950 0 1 4
10. Kerry Madsen 772 -79 $9,600 0 0 3
11. Danny Lasoski 771 -80 $12,900 0 3 3
12. Jac Haudenschild 753 -98 $9,150 0 1 3
13. Chad Kemenah 736 -115 $8,750 0 1 2
14. Tim Kaeding 663 -188 $5,400 0 0 0
15. Lucas Wolfe 618 -233 $4,230 0 0 0
16. Sam Hafertepe Jr. 549 -302 $2,225 0 0 0
17. Daryn Pittman 543 -308 $8,550 0 1 3
18. Wayne Johnson 533 -318 $3,960 0 0 0
19. Brian Ellenberger 497 -354 $1,840 0 0 0
20. Jesse Hockett 461 -390 $2,850 0 0 1
2009 STAT ATTACK
There have been six World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events in 2009.
A-Feature winners (3 Different Drivers) Driver, Hometown – Wins
1- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 3
2- Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 2
3- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Lap leaders, including A-features and preliminary features Car, driver, hometown - Total laps led (7 Different Drivers)
1- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 65 laps
2- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 40 laps
3- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 32 laps
4- Joey Saldana- Brownsburg, Indiana- 22- laps
5- Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 19 laps
6- Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pennsylvania- 15 laps
7- Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 8 laps
Time trial leaders (5 Different Drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Quick times
1- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 2
2- Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 1
Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Oklahoma- 1
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 1
Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 1
Track records established during 2009 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events (1)
1- Joey Saldana, March 13, Silver Dollar Speedway (1/4-mile), Chico, California, 10.918 seconds at 82.433 mph
Crane Cams Dash Winners (6 Different Winners) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Dash Wins
1- Cale Conley, Vienna, West Virginia- 1
Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 1
Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 1
Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 1
Pole Positions (6 Different Drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown – Poles
1- Cale Conley, Vienna, West Virginia- 1
Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 1
Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 1
Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 1
B-main Winners (6 Different Winners) Rank - Driver, Hometown - B-Main Wins
1- Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pennsylvania- 1
Randy Hannagan, San Jose, California- 1
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio- 1
Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Daryn Pittman, Owasso. Oklahoma- 1
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award
1- Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 2
Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW- 2
2- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Penske Power Position
1- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 1
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio-1
Greg Hodnett, Memphis, Tennessee- 1
Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio- 1
Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 1
Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1
SuperClean Start Award
1- Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 2
2- Jonanthan Allard, Chico, California- 1
3- Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW- 1
Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Crane Cams Engine Builder Challenge
Shaver Specialties 22
Don Ott 21 -1
Kistler 21 -1
Speedway Engines 19 -3
Chassis Builder Challenge
J&J 27
Maxim 27
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), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), Quaker State (Official Motor Oil), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, KSE Race Products, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo; Engine Builder's Challenge participants Don Ott Racing Engines, Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines; and Chassis Builder’s Challenge participants J&J Auto Racing, Maxim Racing and XXX Race Company.
A trip to his home track: After winning for the third time in his career at the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway, Jason Meyers returns home to Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare this coming weekend for two full nights of racing. In his career at the high-banked 1/3-mile, the native of nearby Clovis, California He has three career wins at the track and 14 consecutive Top-10 finishes. He recently moved into the third spot in the World of Outlaws championship standings as he chases his first title.
“I can’t wait to get to Tulare,” said Meyers. “We are looking forward to the whole season. We have such a good team assembled here and everyone has been working so hard.”
Chasing wins: Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, has earned three consecutive Top-Five finishes as he continues to get up to speed in his first season with the Parsons Motorsports team. After a fifth-place performance at Las Vegas on February 26, he was fourth in the opener of the Mini Gold Cup and second in the finale. He tracked down Jason Meyers late in the race and ran side-by-side with him down the back straightaway on the final lap as he closes in on his first win of the year.
“We do feel good about the strong runs, but we really want to win these races,” deadpanned Lasoski. “Don Lamberti (co-car owner) put his heart and soul into this team and we want to win them for him.”
A strong start to the season: Kraig Kinser finished a season-best third on Saturday night in the Mini Gold Cup to earn his fourth Top-10 finishes in the first six races of 2009. He also moved up into the fifth spot in points, and is just nine markers out of the third position as he continues his second full season driving for Tony Stewart Racing.
“I wish we could run up front in all of them, but I am definitely happy with this Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet,” said Kinser. “We’ve been really working hard, all the guys back at the shop this winter. It’s definitely starting to roll good.”
And then there was one: Steve Kinser finished fifth in the finale of the Mini Gold Cup on Saturday night and is the only driver that has finished in the Top-10 in each of the six A-Feature events contested in 2009. He gained 21 points on three-time and defending World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz in the finale of the Mini Gold Cup and now is just 16 points out of the lead as he chases his record 21st series title.
Working his way to the front: Kerry Madsen picked up his third consecutive Top-10 finish on Saturday night at Silver Dollar Speedway The 2007 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year began the current West Coast swing with a sixth-place finish at Las Vegas on February 26 and followed that up a ninth-place performance in the opener of the Mini Gold Cup after starting 17th. The native of St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia also moved into the Top-10 in the championship standings following the two nights of racing at Silver Dollar Speedway.
First time at Chico: Brian Ellenberger, who is a contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this year, made his first trip to Silver Dollar Speedway this past weekend. He finished a very solid 14th in his debut at the high-banked ¼-mile on Friday with a stout field of 54 cars in attendance.
“It is definitely a fun place,” said Ellenberger. “I had read about it and seen many pictures of it. This was one of the places that I was very anxious to get to. There is a lot of history at this race track. I enjoyed it. It was a crazy feature (on Friday night), but it was fun being out there.”
Fast track: In the opener of the Mini Gold Cup on Friday night, Joey Saldana set a new track record in time trials, stopping the clock in a blistering 10.918 seconds. A total of 16 drivers eclipsed the old mark of 12.208 seconds which was established last August, with Saldana and second-fastest qualifier Jonathan Allard becoming the first two drivers in the 50-plus year history of the track to turn a sub 11-second lap.
Up next: The World of Outlaws return to action with two nights of racing on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California.
2009 World of Outlaws Championship Standings through March 14
Position Driver Pts. Difference Earnings Wins Top-5 Top-10
1. Donny Schatz 851 $34,650 3 3 5
2. Steve Kinser 835 -16 $14,200 0 3 6
3. Jason Meyers 815 -36 $22,200 1 2 5
4. Jason Sides 811 -40 $17,250 0 3 4
5. Kraig Kinser 806 -45 $12,700 0 2 4
6 Joey Saldana 799 -52 $24,525 2 2 2
7. Craig Dollansky 787 -64 $11,250 0 2 2
8. Sammy Swindell 784 -67 $13,650 0 2 4
9. Terry McCarl 773 -78 $10,950 0 1 4
10. Kerry Madsen 772 -79 $9,600 0 0 3
11. Danny Lasoski 771 -80 $12,900 0 3 3
12. Jac Haudenschild 753 -98 $9,150 0 1 3
13. Chad Kemenah 736 -115 $8,750 0 1 2
14. Tim Kaeding 663 -188 $5,400 0 0 0
15. Lucas Wolfe 618 -233 $4,230 0 0 0
16. Sam Hafertepe Jr. 549 -302 $2,225 0 0 0
17. Daryn Pittman 543 -308 $8,550 0 1 3
18. Wayne Johnson 533 -318 $3,960 0 0 0
19. Brian Ellenberger 497 -354 $1,840 0 0 0
20. Jesse Hockett 461 -390 $2,850 0 0 1
2009 STAT ATTACK
There have been six World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature events in 2009.
A-Feature winners (3 Different Drivers) Driver, Hometown – Wins
1- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 3
2- Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 2
3- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Lap leaders, including A-features and preliminary features Car, driver, hometown - Total laps led (7 Different Drivers)
1- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 65 laps
2- Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 40 laps
3- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 32 laps
4- Joey Saldana- Brownsburg, Indiana- 22- laps
5- Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 19 laps
6- Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pennsylvania- 15 laps
7- Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 8 laps
Time trial leaders (5 Different Drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Quick times
1- Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 2
2- Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 1
Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Oklahoma- 1
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 1
Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tennessee- 1
Track records established during 2009 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events (1)
1- Joey Saldana, March 13, Silver Dollar Speedway (1/4-mile), Chico, California, 10.918 seconds at 82.433 mph
Crane Cams Dash Winners (6 Different Winners) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Dash Wins
1- Cale Conley, Vienna, West Virginia- 1
Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 1
Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 1
Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 1
Pole Positions (6 Different Drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown – Poles
1- Cale Conley, Vienna, West Virginia- 1
Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 1
Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Indiana- 1
Donny Schatz, Fargo, North Dakota- 1
B-main Winners (6 Different Winners) Rank - Driver, Hometown - B-Main Wins
1- Cody Darrah, Red Lion, Pennsylvania- 1
Randy Hannagan, San Jose, California- 1
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio- 1
Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Daryn Pittman, Owasso. Oklahoma- 1
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award
1- Danny Lasoski, Dover, Missouri- 2
Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW- 2
2- Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Penske Power Position
1- Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minnesota- 1
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio-1
Greg Hodnett, Memphis, Tennessee- 1
Chad Kemenah, Findlay, Ohio- 1
Kraig Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana- 1
Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1
SuperClean Start Award
1- Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tennessee- 2
2- Jonanthan Allard, Chico, California- 1
3- Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW- 1
Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa- 1
Jason Meyers, Clovis, California- 1
Crane Cams Engine Builder Challenge
Shaver Specialties 22
Don Ott 21 -1
Kistler 21 -1
Speedway Engines 19 -3
Chassis Builder Challenge
J&J 27
Maxim 27
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), Crane Cams (Official Valvetrain), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Fusion Energy Boost (Official Energy Boost), Quaker State (Official Motor Oil), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, KSE Race Products, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo; Engine Builder's Challenge participants Don Ott Racing Engines, Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines; and Chassis Builder’s Challenge participants J&J Auto Racing, Maxim Racing and XXX Race Company.
