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Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series News & Notes
Concord, NC— March 4, 2008--By: Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
After contesting the Cactus Classic at the famed Manzanita Speedway last Saturday night, the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is heading back east to gear up for a pair of events at the high-banked Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15.
Last season in the series inaugural visit to the 0.4-mile facility, Joey Saldana held off a hard charging Tim Shaffer for the win. Shaffer started ninth and came within just a couple of feet of taking the win before a standing room only crowd.
Fast Out of the Box: Shane Stewart, the 2005 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, set fast time for the second consecutive event last Saturday night at Manzanita Speedway in the Cactus Classic. He also bested a 40-plus car field in time trials during the finale of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida last month.
“Paul Kistler does a great job with the engines, while Davey (Whitworth) and Bonzai (Bruns) do a great job taking cars of the cars,” said Stewart of his DTR Transport JEI. “Dennis and Teresa (Roth) give us the funds to do our job right. The JEI has been working really well in qualifying.”
After setting fast time last Saturday night, Stewart lined up fourth in the first heat race, where he finished second to earn a spot in the Crane Cams Dash. He was the runner-up in the dash to earn a front row starting spot for the A-Feature, where he ran up front all night long and came home third to earn his best finish of the season.
“It’s everything,” the native of Bixby, Oklahoma said of time trials. “At the half-miles, if you don’t start in the first two or three rows, you really don’t’ have a chance. The days of coming from the back to the front to win are very rare. On a smaller track sometimes it’s different, but on the big half-miles it’s everything. Everyone in the pit area has good motors.”
Top-Fives All Around: Current Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship point leader Craig Dollansky has finished in the Top-Five of all four A-Feature events this season, including a win on opening night during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida. Jason Meyers who won his second event of the season last Saturday night at Manzanita Speedway also has finished in the Top-Five in each and every race in 2008 and is just two markers behind Dollansky in the championship standings.
A Quick Trip Home: Kerry Madsen will return home to Australia this weekend to compete in the two night King of Wings event at Perth Motorplex. Madsen, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year who is currently sixth in championship points with the World of Outlaws, won both nights of the event last season in his native land. His win in the finale came over Shane Stewart, who finished in the Top-Five of both races. The native of St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia won back in November at Perth Motorplex with the World Series Sprintcars and is undefeated in his last three events at the track.
Statistically Speaking: Through the first four events of the 2008 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season, there have been three drivers that have won A-Feature events, while five different drivers have led laps in feature racing competition. Four drivers have won the Crane Cams Dash to earn a pole position in the A-Feature, with three drivers setting fast time in trials and also a trio of drivers earning KSE Race Products Hard Charger Awards. Through the first four races, 54 different drivers have attempted to qualify for at least one of the events.
Alltel All Star: Voting continues through March 16 for the inaugural Alltel All Star. Drivers earned a nomination by winning an A-Feature during the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. To cast a vote for any of the drivers that won during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals, go to http://www.AlltelAllStar.com.The winning Alltel All-Star receives a $12,000 cash prize. Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Drivers that are eligible include: Craig Dollansky, Danny Lasoski, Jason Meyers and Donny Schatz.
Qwik Liner Cup: After four rounds of the Qwik Liner Cup, Craig Dollansky is the overall leader by seven points over Shane Stewart. Dollansky has qualified first or second in each of the four events this season. He opened the season with a fast-time honor at Volusia Speedway Park during the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals. The Quik Liner Cup will run through the first 13 events of the 2008 season, with each of the drivers that qualifies in the Top-Five earning points. The fastest qualifier earns five points, with second quick earning four points and so on back to the fifth-place qualifier who earns one point. Dollansky is the only driver that has earned Qwik Liner Cup points in each of the four events this season.
Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts is the second-largest retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, based on store count and sales. As of October 6, 2007, the company operated 3,228 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets.
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