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Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Preview: I-55 Raceway
Pevely, MO— April 2, 2008--By: Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
The Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series will contest the first short track race of the 2008 season on Saturday, April 5 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri. In 29 A-Feature events at I-55 Raceway dating back to 1987, 19 different drivers have tasted victory with the series at the high-banked 1/3-mile which is co-owned by NASCAR star Ken Schrader. The last 12 races have produced 12 different winners, including nine drivers that will be in the field on Saturday.
Craig Dollansky and Jason Meyers lead the charge into I-55 Raceway, as they are separated by just two points atop the World of Outlaws championship standings, after four events. Dollansky won the opening night of the season during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida, while Meyers was victorious the following night and also won the series most recent event at Manzanita Speedway in Arizona.
Dollansky won at the track located just outside of St. Louis, in 2004, while Meyers seeks his first win at the high-banked oval.
Steve Kinser, the 20-time series champion, leads all active Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series drivers with four A-Feature wins at I-55 Raceway. Jac Haudenschild is right behind him with three triumphs.
Drivers that have single victories at I-55 Raceway with the World of Outlaws include: Chad Kemenah, Kraig Kinser, 2001 titlist Danny Lasoski, Daryn Pittman, Joey Saldana and two-time defending series champion Donny Schatz.
Kraig Kinser and Shane Stewart will both be making their first appearance at the track since 2005, while Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award contender Lucas Wolfe will make his first trip ever to the 1/3-mile to compete on April 5.
2007 Race Recap: Joey Saldana picked up his first series win at the track in a thrilling event.
After starting on the pole, he lost a couple of positions on the opening lap and found himself in third for the first 17 laps of the race. The native of Brownsburg, Indiana then lost another position on the 18th lap to fall to fourth, before working his way back to the front and ultimately making the pass for the lead and the win on Danny Lasoski on the 29th lap.
The 40-lap race on the high-banked 1/3-mile started with Saldana leading into the first turn, but contact with Danny Lasoski exiting the second turn put Lasoski in the lead and dropped Saldana to third.
Brooke Tatnell battled with Lasoski early in the race for the lead, as both ran the high side of the track. A couple of early cautions kept the leaders in open race track. Lasoski began to pull away on the fifth lap, with Tatnell and Saldana battling for the runner-up position.
After a caution with less than 15 laps remaining, Lasoski led on the final restart, with Saldana right on his bumper. Saldana passed Lasoski on the 27th lap, but Lasoski got back around as the pair headed off the fourth turn and was scored the leader at the line. Saldana passed him on the next lap to take the lead. Lasoski slipped back to fifth, as he nursed his car home with a patched right rear tire.
Donny Schatz finished second, with Steve Kinser third. Tony Bruce Jr. charged from the 23rd starting spot to finish fourth.
Lasoski rounded out the Top-Five, after leading the first 28 laps of the event in his home state.
2007 A-Feature Results
Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series; I-55 Raceway; July 7, 2007
A-main (40 laps) - Starting Position [#]
1) 9-Joey Saldana[1] [$10,000]
2) 15-Donny Schatz[4] [$5,500]
3) 11-Steve Kinser[9] [$3,200]
4) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.[23] [$2,800]
5) 83-Danny Lasoski[2] [$2,500]
6) 20-Paul McMahan[10] [$2,300]
7) 35-Jac Haudenschild[22] [$2,200]
8) 14-Jason Meyers[8] [$2,100]
9) 6-Tim Shaffer[6] [$2,050]
10) 2-Brooke Tatnell[3] [$2,000]
11) 11H-Kerry Madsen[14] [$1,500]
12) 1X-Randy Hannagan[19] [$1,200]
13) 5C-Chad Hillier[21] [$1,100]
14) 7-Craig Dollansky[18] [$1,050]
15) 8K-Chad Kemenah[12] [$1,000]
16) 21-Daryn Pittman[5] [$900]
17) 10C-Jeremy Campbell[7] [$800]
18) 11D-Dion Hindi[16] [$800]
19) 24-Terry McCarl[24] [$800]
20) 7S-Jason Sides[13] [$800]
21) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[11] [$800]
22) R19-Jason Solwold[17] [$800]
23) D1-Justin Henderson[15] [$800]
24) 36-Jason Martin[20] [$800]
Lap Leaders: Danny Lasoski 1-28, Joey Saldana 29-40
Previous Winners
World of Outlaws Sprint Series A-Feature winners at I-55 Raceway include:
2007: Joey Saldana on July 7
2006: Donny Schatz on April 1, Brooke Tatnell on July 8
2005- Kraig Kinser on April 2, Chad Kemenah on July 8
2004- Danny Lasoski on Aug. 7, Craig Dollansky on April 17
2003- Steve Kinser on April 12, Tyler Walker on July 12
2002- Jac Haudenschild on March 30, Daryn Pittman on July 13
2001-Randy Hannagan on March 24, Stevie Smith on July 14
2000- Jac Haudenschild on July 22
1999- Jac Haudenschild on July 24
1998- Stevie Smith on July 25, Andy Hillenburg on Oct. 10
1997- Mark Kinser on May 18, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 11
1996- Mark Kinser on June 12
1992- Steve Kinser on June 10
1991- Sammy Swindell on May 4
1990- Sammy Swindell on April 14
1989- Doug Wolfgang on April 15, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 11
1988- Steve Kinser on April 23
1987- Brad Doty on April 22, Steve Kinser on Sept. 25
Current Top-10 in Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Points
1. Craig Dollansky 593
2. Jason Meyers 591
3. Donny Schatz 572
4. Joey Saldana 554
5. Terry McCarl 534
6. Kerry Madsen 506
7. Steve Kinser 503
8. Chad Kemenah 500
9. Jac Haudenschild 489
10. Jason Sides 480
What to look for at I-55 Raceway:
* Current World of Outlaws point leader Craig Dollansky won at I-55 Raceway in 2004. He is one of just two drivers that has finished in the Top-Five in all four events this season. He also has qualified in the Top-Five in time trials in each race of 2008, giving him the lead in the standings for the Qwik Liner Cup.
* Jason Meyers, who is second in championship points, leads the series with two A-Feature wins this season. In his career, he has five Top-10 finishes at I-55 Raceway.
* Two-time defending series champion Donny Schatz has five consecutive Top-Five finishes at the track including a win in 2006.
* Joey Saldana, who won at I-55 Raceway last year has 11 Top-10 finishes in his career at the 1/3-mile.
* Steve Kinser leads all World of Outlaws drivers with four A-Feature wins and five overall victories at the high-banked 1/3-mile. The 20-time series champion finished third last season at the track.
* Chad Kemenah, the 2006 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year with the World of Outlaws, won his career A-Feature events with the series at I-55 Raceway in 2005
* Jac Haudenschild has three career wins with the World of Outlaws at the track, to go along with 21 Top-10 finishes
* Danny Lasoski has one World of Outlaws A-Feature win at the track in his home state and three overall wins, along with 19 career Top-10 finishes
* Daryn Pittman and Kraig Kinser each have one World of Outlaws win at the track in their careers
* Tony Bruce Jr. finished fourth last season in his first race at the track, after lining up 23rd for the 40-lap contest.
By the Numbers- I-55 Raceway:
0.333- Miles around I-55 Raceway
1- Driver that will be making their first appearance at the high-banked 1/3-mile- Lucas Wolfe
2- Points that separate Craig Dollansky and Jason Meyers atop the World of Outlaws championship standings
3- Career wins for Jac Haudenschild at the high-banked track
4- A-Feature events contested by the World of Outlaws this season
5- Total wins for 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser at I-55 Raceway; Drivers that have led laps in A-Feature competition this season
9- Current World of Outlaws drivers that have won at the high-banked 1/3-mile
10- Degrees of banking on the straightaways at I-55 Raceway
10.189-Track Record established in 2002 by Stevie Smith during time trials
12- Laps led by Joey Saldana at the track last season en route to the A-Feature win
17- Drivers competing full-time with the series this season that raced at I-55 last year
19- Drivers that have won World of Outlaws A-Feature events at I-55; Degrees of banking in the turns at I-55 Raceway
20- Drivers currently competing full-time with the series
22- Top-Five finishes for Steve Kinser in his career at the high-banked 1/3-mile to lead all drivers
23- Series championships that will be accounted for by drivers in attendance at I-55
29- A-Feature events held at I-55 Raceway by the World of Outlaws dating back to 1987
117.805- Track record in miles per hour set by Stevie Smith in 2002
1987- Year that the World of Outlaws first competed at I-55 Raceway
10,000- Dollars that the winner will receive on Saturday, April 5
25,500- Money earned by Jason Meyers this season through March 1 to lead the series
Tickets: On Saturday, April 5, reserved tickets will be $32, with general admission tickets $30. For ticket information visit: http://www.i55raceway.com or call (636) 479-3219.
Next Up: The first of four visits this season to the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. The half-mile will host two nights of Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series action on Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12.
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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