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POSSE-OUTLAWS TIED IN SUMMER NATIONALS COMPETITION
MECHANICSBURG, PA -- When the Cleveland Brothers Summer Nationals
is presented at Williams Grove Speedway on Thursday, Friday and Saturday
evenings, July 19-21, sprint car racing's greatest rivalry will continue.
The World of Outlaws will bring many of the top sprint car drivers
in the country to the Mechanicsburg half-mile to challenge the Williams
Grove regulars known as the Pennsylvania Posse. The records indicate
that the competition has been extremely close during the previous Summer
Nationals with each side holding three victories.
The modern history of this midsummer classic began in 2002 when
Thomasville's Greg Hodnett drove the Apple Dealerships car to a victory
for the Posse. A year later Donny Schatz of Fargo, ND, evened the score
for the Outlaws.
In 2004 rain shortened the event to two days and Fayetteville's
Lance Dewease and Dover, Missouri's Danny Lasoski were co-champions,
which kept the score tied at WoO -2 and Posse-2.
Williams Grove's career win leader Fred Rahmer won the race in
2005. but Owasso, Oklahoma's Daryn Pittman evened the count last season.
All of the previous winners are expected to be contenders again
this year. Other Outlaws likely to be in the hunt include Joey Saldana
and Paul McMahan. Both have won Summer Nationals prelims in the past
and are capable of winning the finale on July 21.
Saldana drives for NASCAR star Kasey Kahne while McMahan pilots a
car owned by former Cup champion Tony Stewart.
Hall of Famer and 20-time WoO champion Steve Kinser has not taken a
checkered flag in the 3-day event, but must always be considered a threat.
Local drivers who have been impressive this year include Todd
Shaffer, Lucas Wolfe, Jeff Shepard, Doug Esh, Mike Erdley and Brian
Montieth.
Qualifying will begin at 7:45 Thursday and Friday followed by
heats, a dash and a B-main. A 25-lap feature, which will pay $5000 to
win will highlight both nights of racing.
On Saturday evening there will be no time trials. Points
accumulated on Thursday and Friday will be used to set the heat lineups
for Saturday night. Saturday's 30-lap Summer Nationals finale will pay
$20,000 to win.
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