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Monday, February 29, 2016

GREG HODNETT WIRES FIELD FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE ICEBREAKER 30 WIN IN LINCOLN SPEEDWAY SEASON OPENER

Photo courtesy of Tony De Seta
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA 2/28/16 - Six weeks removed from the largest snowstorm to hit Central Pennsylvania, Lincoln Speedway wasn’t fazed as the Icebreaker 30 for 410 Sprints officially kicked off the dirt track season Sunday afternoon in front of a very big crowd who enjoyed sunny skies and temperatures around 60 degrees.

And on the race track, it was Spring Grove racer Greg Hodnett leading all 30 laps to capture his second consecutive win in the Icebreaker 30.

Aboard the Heffner Racing Enterprises owned, No 27, Hodnett took advantage of good starting spots, kept out of trouble on the race track and earned the $4,000 payday for his 30th career win in the Pigeon Hills.

“I still really struggle here, we just took advantage of some good starting spots today,” said the 2015 Central Pennsylvania Sprint Car Champion. “We are very, very fortunate to be up here today because it’s a tough race track. There are a lot of good competitors here and it’s a very technical race track, which is why Fred (Rahmer) always went good here.”

While it may have looked easy for Hodnett out front, that wasn’t the case for many other drivers in the field as the event saw one red flag, seven cautions and a fuel stop.

Adam Wilt and Hodnett lined up on the front row and two straight times saw Hodnett grab the lead in turn one only to have cautions realign the field.

On the third restart, Aaron Ott and Bill Jones, Jr. both flipped in turn one, Neither driver was injured.
Hodnett once again outgunned Wilt on ensuing restart as Ohio invader Cole Duncan motored into the second spot.

Four cautions during laps three through seven kept the field slow but defending track champion Brian Montieth was blasting his way through the field after starting 11th.

A fuel stop was needed with nine laps complete as Danny Dietrich, Glenndon Forsythe and David Quackenbush crashed in turn three.

Following the fuel stop, Montieth took fourth spot as he continued his charge to the front as Hodnett worked through slower traffic at the rear of the field as Duncan, Wilt and Montieth were in a great battle.

Duncan lost the runner-up spot on a lap 20 restart as Wilt and Montieth drove by but Duncan’s great run ended with a spin on lap 22.

Hodnett was home free over the final eight laps as he picked up the win aboard the Lelands.com/Trone Outdoor/Eagle Steel sponsored sprint.

“I couldn’t run real hard because it would just spin but I figured it would be real tough for those guys to get around me,” Hodnett stated. “So I just kind of cruised and felt like I could go harder if I needed to or felt pressure. We came here way different than we would ever would have before. We wanted to try something totally different and it worked out okay.. I think we’ll come back with it next time.”

Wilt, of York settled for the runner-up spot trailed by Phoenixville’s Montieth with New Oxford racers Gerard McIntyre, Jr. and Jim Siegel completing the top five.

Rounding out the top 10 finishers were Alan Krimes, Chase Dietz, Freddie Rahmer, Danny Dietrich and Kyle Moody.

Heats for the 24 410 sprint cars were won by Scott Fisher, Brian Montieth and Gerard McIntyre, Jr.

Lincoln Speedway returns to action next Saturday, March 5th with another 410 Sprints only program beginning at 2PM. Gates open at noon. A Sunday, March 6th rain date will be used if needed.

RACE RESULTS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2016
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Abbottstown, PA
2016 SEASON OPENING ICE BREAKER 30
Lawrence Chevrolet 410 Sprints
Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 27-Greg Hodnett; 2. 15-Adam Wilt; 3. 21-Brian Montieth; 4. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 5. 59-Jim Siegel; 6. 87-Alan Krimes; 7. 44-Chase Dietz; 8. 51-Freddie Rahmer; 9. 48-Danny Dietrich; 10. 99M-Kyle Moody; 11. M1-Mark Smith; 12. 52-Austin Hogue; 13. 21T-Scott Fisher; 14. 8-Bill Dietrich; 15. 2w-Glenndon Forsythe; 16. 88-Brandon Rahmer; 17. 36D-Wayne Dadetto; 18. 91-David Quackenbush; 19. 22-Cole Duncan (DNF); 20. 11C-Cory Haas (DNF); 21. 69-Shane Hoff (DNF); 22. 25-Aaron Ott (DNF); 23. 12J-Bill Jones, Jr. (DNF); 24. Steve Owings (DNS). No Time

Lap Leaders - Greg Hodnett (1-30)

Heat One (10 laps/6 qualify) - 1. 21T-Scott Fisher; 2. 15-Adam Wilt; 3. 44-Chase Dietz; 4. 87-Alan Krimes; 5. 69-Shane Hoff; 6. 11C-Cory Haas; 7. 2w-Glenndon Forsythe; 8. 8-Bill Dietrich. Time: 2:28.26

Heat Two (10 laps/6 qualify) - 1. 21-Brian Montieth; 2. Cole Duncan; 3. 25-Aaron Ott; 4. 51-Freddie Rahmer; 5. M1-Mark Smith; 6. 52-Austin Hogue; 7. 36D-Wayne Dadetto; 8. 48-Danny Dietrich. Time: 2:23.08

Heat Three (10 laps/6 qualify) - 1. 16-Gerard McIntyre, Jr.; 2. 59-Jim Siegel; 3. 27-Greg Hodnett; 4. 99M-Kyle Moody; 5. 88-Brandon Rahmer; 6. 12J-Bill Jones, Jr.; 7. 35-Steve Owings (DNF); 8. 91-David Quackenbush (DNF). Time: 2:37.26 

© Copyright 2010 by Sel-Wil, Inc. 

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Pittman Pulls off Win at Royal Purple Raceway

Completes Kasey Kahne Racing Sweep of Texas Double Header

BAYTOWN, Texas — Feb. 27, 2016 — After coming just short the night before, Daryn Pittman was redeemed Saturday night as he scored the O'Reilly Auto Parts presents the World of Outlaws hosted by Kasey Kahne at Royal Purple Raceway Park, his first World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series victory of the season.

“This is a big relief,” Pittman said. “I have had a lot of races slip away from me as the driver. My cars have been fast and we have been up front, but these races are just so hard to win so when you put yourself in position you’ve got to get the job done. We’ve let too many of these slip away.”

Pittman’s Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb teammate Brad Sweet passed him on the final turn of the final lap for the win on Friday night at Cotton Bowl Speedway. It was the second time since the start of the season Sweet had passed Pittman on the final lap for a win.

The wins by Sweet and Pittman capped off a Kasey Kahne Racing sweep of the Texas weekend.

Pittman took the feature green flag in his Great Clips/Team ASE No. 9 from the front row with Sheldon Haudenschild starting on his outside.

Pittman pulled out to an early lead over Haudenschild, as fifth place starter Jason Johnson in the Priority Aviation/MVT No. 41 made his way to the third position, passing reigning series champion Donny Schatz.

An early caution allowed Johnson and Schatz to pass Haudenschild who began to slip back.

With a track that allowed two and three lanes of racing, Johnson, Schatz and fourth-place starter Shane Stewart swapped the runner-up position back-and-forth, allowing Sweet to join the battle.

As Pittman started to encounter lapped traffic, the rest of the top five closed the gap on the leader creating a five-car battle for the lead near the halfway point in the feature.

Pittman increased the margin between he and the rest of the top five as Schatz worked his way past Johnson who slipped back to fifth after bobbling on the bottom of the race track. As Schatz claimed the second position, the leader controlled a one second lead with just 10 laps left.

With 5 laps remaining, Schatz reeled in the leader as he set up a shootout that Pittman has seen many times already this season. Schatz tried multiple times to complete a pass for the lead on the inside, but could not build up enough momentum to complete the pass.

Pittman fought off the hard charges from Schatz as he held on for his first victory of the World of Outlaws season.

“[Jason] Sides gave me a heart attack there at the end,” Pittman said. “He beat me off of turn four to the line and I didn’t see who it was until we had already passed the flag stand. I don’t remember lapping him so I just thought we lost again off of turn four coming to the checkered. I’m not sure how I would’ve dealt with another one like that back-to-back.”

“That’s all I had physically. I’m probably in the best physical shape that I’ve ever been in my life to start a season but the race track was just so physically demanding, especially up top where I was running most of the race.”

Schatz finished second after fending off a late-race challenge from Stewart. After the feature, Schatz said his car was good and that he tried everything to get the victory but Pittman was really good tonight and they had the best car.

Stewart’s third-place finish was his best so far of the season.

“A podium finish is good because we have been struggling a little bit this year,” Stewart said. “Last year we struggled in Florida then went to Vegas and were able to win the first night out, and last night we weren’t able to do that. We got our work cut out for us. The KKR (Kasey Kahne Racing) guys have stepped their program up from last year and we have to get a little bit quicker.”

Statement Regarding the Qualifying Change at Royal Purple Raceway Park

Due to a critical failure of the electronic timing and scoring system during qualifying time trials at Royal Purple Raceway Park on Saturday night, World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series officials made to the decision to line up Heat races based on the qualifying pill draw. The extraordinary circumstance is covered by Rule 5.6C.

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will continue the western swing when the series travels to Sin City for the FVP Outlaw Showdown at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas (Nev.) for a double header on Thursday, March 3 and 4.

Follow the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws, like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws, or check out the latest videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.

Royal Purple Raceway Notebook

RACE NOTES: Kasey Kahne Racing has won four of five events so far in 2016. Donny Schatz has the only other victory… Brad Sweet snapped his streak of only top two finishes this season, but kept alive his top five finish streak… Joey Saldana picked up his first KSE Hard Charger Award after winning the last chance showdown to get into the feature.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS – MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Ray Allen Kulhanek; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 cash): N/A; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Mobil 1 ($50 cash): Jason Sides; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Super Flow ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 product certificate): Daryn Pittman; KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): Joey Saldana; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Daryn Pittman; Mobil 1 (20% off Mobil1RacingStore.com): Ray Allen Kulhanek; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Travis Rilat; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Ray Allen Kulhanek.

SEASON WINNERS: Brad Sweet – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Cotton Bowl Speedway on Feb. 26); Daryn Pittman – 1 (Royal Purple Raceway Park); Donny Schatz – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14).

World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Royal Purple Raceway; Baytown, Texas; Feb. 27, 2016

A-Main - (40 Laps) - 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1] [$10,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [3]; 3. 2-Shane Stewart [4]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [13]; 5. 41-Jason Johnson [5]; 6. 5-David Gravel [15]; 7. 17W-Bryan Clauson [6]; 8. 11K-Kraig Kinser [16]; 9. 31B-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 10. 83-Joey Saldana [21]; 11. 1S-Logan Schuchart [18]; 12. 87-Aarin Reutzel [9]; 13. 7-Paul McMahan [10]; 14. 7S-Jason Sides [12]; 15. 1-Sammy Swindell [7]; 16. 29-Travis Rilat [23]; 17. 19M-Brent Marks [8]; 18. 1A-Jacon Allen [19]; 19. 8M-T.J. Michael [17]; 20. 21T-Ray Kulhanek [22]; 21. 2C-Wayne Johnson [11]; 22. 33-Danny Lasoski [20]; 23. 82-Dusty Zomer [24]; 24. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [14]. Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman 1-40. KSE Hard Charger Award: 83-Joey Saldana [+11]

Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 1-Sammy Swindell [2]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [5]; 3. 87-Aarin Reutzel [3]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [7]; 5. 8M-T.J. Michael [4]; 6. 17X-Dustin Gates [8]; 7. 33M-Jon Agan [6]; 8. 1M-Freddie McCall [9]; 9. 13-Clyde Knipp [1]

Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 19M-Brent Marks [2]; 2. 17W-Bryan Clauson [1]; 3. 7-Paul McMahan [3]; 4. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [5]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [7]; 6. 17-Josh Baughman [4]; 7. 21T-Ray Kulhanek [6]; 8. 45X-Johny Herrera [9]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson [8]

Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 2-Shane Stewart [1]; 2. 31B-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 3. 2C-Wayne Johnson [3]; 4. 5-David Gravel [5]; 5. 1A-Jacon Allen [4]; 6. 83-Joey Saldana [9]; 7. 82-Dusty Zomer [7]; 8. 19-Klint Angelette [6]; 9. 24-Terry McCarl [8]

Heat 4 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 41-Jason Johnson [2]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [1]; 3. 7S-Jason Sides [4]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3]; 5. 33-Danny Lasoski [6]; 6. 29-Travis Rilat [5]; 7. 88-Scottie McDonald [7]; 8. 2M-Wes Miller [8]

Dash - (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 8 starting positions of A-feature) - 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 31B-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [6]; 5. 41-Jason Johnson [5]; 6. 17W-Bryan Clauson [3]; 7. 1-Sammy Swindell [8]; 8. 19M-Brent Marks [7]

Last Chance Showdown - (12 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 83-Joey Saldana [3]; 2. 21T-Ray Kulhanek [6]; 3. 29-Travis Rilat [4]; 4. 82-Dusty Zomer [7]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson [14]; 6. 17X-Dustin Gates [1]; 7. 45X-Johny Herrera [10]; 8. 19-Klint Angelette [11]; 9. 88-Scottie McDonald [8]; 10. 33M-Jon Agan [5]; 11. 1M-Freddie McCall [9]; 12. 2M-Wes Miller [12]; 13. 17-Josh Baughman [2]; 14. 13-Clyde Knipp [13]; 15. 24-Terry McCarl [15]

Passion revives Susquehanna Speedway

By CATHERINE HOGUE

They say that passion is working hard for something that you love.

Scott Gobrecht is passionate about racing, and he’s channeling that into a new endeavor this season.

Over the years, he’s played many different roles within the racing community, including crew member, driver, car owner, and most recently, speedway owner. In 2015, Gobrecht debuted his No. 44 410 sprint car team with rookie driver Chase Dietz behind the wheel. The team logged one win at Lincoln Speedway and is looking for another successful year with the start of the 2016 season this Saturday in the Pigeon Hills.

The track boasts a new clay surface, as seen from this view in Turn 3 || PC: Kolten Gouse.
At the end of 2015, Gobrecht took on his new role of speedway owner after purchasing Susquehanna Speedway Park from then-owners, Todd and Rhonda Fisher. Gobrecht wanted to have as many outlooks as possible before becoming a racetrack owner. “I thought that owning the car piece was important because I knew I wanted to get to the point of owning a racetrack,” Gobrecht said. “I wanted to have that perspective of what it’s like to be Mike Heffner or Jerry Parrish.”

Fisher originally approached Gobrecht about taking over the Dirt Trackin’ show for this year, which was renamed the Racing Xtravaganza. “He approached me kind of half-heartedly about the show and worked that out and jokingly said, ‘Well I might as well sell you the racetrack,’” Gobrecht said of how the opportunity arose. “One thing led to another and here we are.”

While the Fishers are now completely phased out of the dealings with the track, Gobrecht said they have been great to work with throughout the entire transition. “I give a lot of credit to Todd and Rhonda Fisher,” he said. “They’re some of the most trained people I know. They’re very intelligent and very good at what they do.”

With the Fisher’s 12-year reign at Susquehanna Speedway coming to an end after the Final Showdown this past November, there were a lot of little things that needed sorted out and attended to. “I cannot think of one thing yet that’s come up that we haven’t found mutual ground,” said Gobrecht of working with the Fishers during the transitional period. “We’ve disagreed on some things but we always found something that made sense to both sides and more importantly, made sense for the racetrack and the sport, because all of this is about giving that speedway a chance to succeed in its next life.”

And it really does seem to be a rebirth of sorts for the Newberrytown, Pennsylvania track. One of Gobrecht’s first moves as owner was to name a General Manager to handle the day-by-day operation of the facility. His choice? Kolten Gouse, a Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania native who spent the last eight-and-a-half years on the road with the World of Outlaws tour working for Kasey Kahne Racing.

Gobrecht was introduced to the 26-year-old through the National Open Benefit that Gouse has spearheaded the past several years. “It was just kind of a natural fit,” Gobrecht explained. “It was that, it was the experience he had all over the country, it was his connections. I really think he’s the right man for the job. And he’s young too, he’s energetic, and that’s what that racetrack needs right now.”
Renovations are currently underway on the Turn 1 concession stand || PC: Kolten Gouse.

Working as a crew member for KKR, Gouse has traveled all over the country and has seen a lot of tracks. He wasn’t actively looking to move back home but said he had experienced everything he possibly could while out on the road so when the opportunity with Gobrecht came up, it was a win-win in his eyes.

“It was definitely something I’ve always wanted to do and definitely had an interest in doing,” said Gouse. “It’s just a different challenge to still be involved in racing but take a totally different career path.”

Along with Gouse and the help of community members who have graciously volunteered equipment and their time, Gobrecht has been giving the facility a facelift during the offseason.

“We have a lot of neighbors,” Gouse said. “A lot of peope that live a couple of blocks or a couple miles away that come over and donate their time or their efforts during the week after work or even on the weekends so a lot of it has really been the community stepping up and getting behind this deal and really kind of making this thing work.”

New aluminum bleachers were purchased from Daytona as well as stadium seating from Charlotte Motor Speedway through a company out of the south called Bleacher Builders. The goal was to install new seating within the next two-to-three years but things came together so that the project was feasible now.

“I’m real proud of that because I would have never thought that we’d be able to do it in the first year,” admitted Gobrecht. “But now that we found a way to do it I’m real excited because to see this physically come together and see what our fans are going to have available to them, it’s just really exciting stuff.”

“It’s very positive,” Gobrecht said of the community’s reactions thus far to the changes at the facility. “I know that’s going to change. I know we’re going to have a honeymoon stage for a while and at some point it’s going to change but we just want to keep doing the right thing and listen to people and just try to make the best decisions that we can.” || PC: Kolten Gouse.


The pair also wanted to give the track some much-needed attention and laid down a new clay racing surface. Gobrecht reached out to other racetracks in the area to get a sense of how they would move forward with the surface and feels confident that they have prepared it to the best of their ability.

Additional updates include drainage, bathroom and concession stand renovations, a new state-of-the-art catch-fence and 400-feet of Jersey barriers along the backstretch. Gobrecht said they are working on acquiring additional equipment to maintenance the track, including a good water truck and a tractor with an attachment on the back that will allow them to really groom the track.

The speedway’s branding also underwent some changes, starting with a shortened name: from Susquehanna Speedway Park to just Susquehanna Speedway. The digital platform’s new home is now www.susquehannaspeedway.net, and Gouse introduced the new facility logo on his Facebook page in January.

“We’ve got a lot of neat things in place as far as aesthetics at the racetrack,” Gobrecht said. “We’re going to use that new logo. We’re just trying to give it a new image and just let folks know that things are going to be different at Susquehanna and that’s in a good way.”


Gobrecht and Gouse, along with their volunteers, have been hard at work since the Final Showdown in November 2015. “I really think we’ll be ready with Kolten sort of leading the say,” Gobrecht said of meeting their season opener deadline. “With the neighbors we have out there and the support we’re getting, we’ll be ready to go.” || PC: Kolten Gouse.

Also new this year is the schedule that Gobrecht and Gouse have come up with, including 41 races from March through November. In addition to almost all the original series that have supported Susquehanna over the last decade, several new series will be joining the lineup. The Williams Grove Saturday Night Series will move to Susquehanna this year, bringing with it the Super Sportsman, among others.

They wanted to provide an exciting schedule that consisted of a mixture of regular Central PA series along with some bigger shows, such as the USAC and Modified events, the Sportsman 100, and the Carl Billet Memorial.

“We really want to build not just a race, but an actual event that people mark on their calendars that they want to come to,” explained Gouse of their motivation behind the schedule they put in place. “I think if we can give the race teams a track to race on and the fans a good time week in and week out, I think that’s going to really exceed all of our goals for the year.”

Gobrecht and Gouse have also been hard at work securing additional sponsorship. Two new series sponsors have come onboard: Credit Connection for the Super Sportsman division and BAPS Auto Paint & Supply for the 410 Sprint Cars.

The new bleachers will be a welcome addition for the 2016 season || PC: Kolten Gouse.


“I think having those people a part of this brings credibility to our speedway but also brings a lot of strength,” said Gouse. “We couldn’t do it without people like that and obviously their support, not just for race cars but for speedways and racing in general is just a testament to how much they really love this sport. We need people like that to be the backbone of this speedway and it’s definitely greatly appreciated by Scott and myself, that’s for sure.”

Gobrecht said his goal for the facility for the season is to just work hard for the people that they count on to support them, from marketing partners to fans in the stands to the race teams and the car owners.

And it all circles back around to that one key ingredient: passion.

“I’m just real passionate about what we’ve got going on here,” he said. “I wake up in the morning thinking about how we can make this better. It’s not too often you get a chance to be involved in something like this; it’s kind of a dream come true so I’m looking forward to enjoying it along the way.”

To stay up-to-date all season, make sure to check out the track’s social media channels:

FaceBook / Twitter @suskyracing

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Sweet Surges to Victory in Inaugural Outlaws Race at Cotton Bowl Speedway

Beats teammate Daryn Pittman in epic photo finish

PAIGE, Texas — Feb. 26, 2016 — Brad Sweet led just the final lap of the inaugural ATX Rentals Outlaw Shootout feature at Cotton Bowl Speedway Friday night as he outdueled teammate Daryn Pittman on the final turn to capture his third World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series win of the season in a thrilling photo finish.

Sweet, who led the series points coming into the night after he piloted his Razorback/Sage Fruit No. 49 to two victories at the 45th Annual DIRTcar Nationals, posted the sixth fastest time in qualifying then finished second in his heat, putting him in the dash.

The Grass Valley, Calif.-native finished fifth in the dash, while Joey Saldana claimed the top spot in his Roth Enterprises/HR Livestock No. 83, putting him on the pole for the feature event.

Once the green flag fell, Saldana pulled out to an early lead over Daryn Pittman in the Great Clips/Team ASE No. 9. Pittman, who started in the third position, passed the second place starter David Gravel on the initial start.

The race was slowed by three cautions early which gave Pittman the chances he needed to challenge race leader Saldana. Saldana fought Pittman off each time the 2013 series champ tried to muscle his way to the lead. Saldana led the opening 23 laps but was eventually slowed just enough by lapped traffic for Pittman to complete the pass with less than 10 laps remaining.

Pittman enjoyed the top spot for only a few laps as his teammate Sweet applied pressure after he quickly made his way around Saldana for second. Sweet lurked behind Pittman but the leader looked to be the car to beat as the laps winded down.

As the white flag waived, Sweet utilized a run off of turn two to power his way to Pittman’s inside as the leader encountered issues lapped traffic.

Sweet pulled even with Pittman as they entered the final turn. Sweet caught the inside cushion just enough to send his car into Pittman’s as the two made slight contact at the checkered flag.

Sweet bested his teammate by a tenth of a second.

“I just got a really good run off of turn two and I couldn’t really pass it up,” Sweet said. “It’s good that we’re both racing for the win, but I hate to make contact and hopefully there are no hard feelings because I didn’t mean to do that.”

“It’s a long season and we’re off to a good start… (this win) says a lot about Kasey Kahne Racing. It seems like me and Daryn are racing for the win every single night and it’s a testament to our good guys.”

Pittman settled for the runner up position, the second time he has finished second to his teammate with the first coming on the first night of the DIRTcar Nationals.

“We got beat, there’s just no other way to say it,” Pittman said. “Second sucks. There’s too many of these races where our car is good enough to win and I am not finishing the job. I need to figure out what’s wrong and where I am making mistakes to put myself in this position on the last lap.

“This is unacceptable to me. Volusia was unacceptable and here we are two races later letting it happen again. This team deserves better and I am not going to quit or get mad. That’s four races in the last three or four months that I lost off of turn four, leading and being able to see the checkered flag and not getting there first.”

Rounding out the top three was second place starter David Gravel in the Big Game Treestands/JRC No. 5.

“I am so lucky to drive such a good race car,” the native of Watertown, Conn. said. “This early in the year we are running really strong, so I am really looking forward to the rest of the year. We were really close at the end but it’s one of those things where we’ll get a win here shortly.”

Danny Lasoski set the new track record at Cotton Bowl Speedway during time trials with a lap of 13.517 seconds.

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series cap off their Texas double header as they head to Royal Purple Raceway located in Baytown, Texas for the O’Reilly Auto Parts presents the World of Outlaws hosted by Kasey Kahne on Saturday night.

Follow the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws, like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws, or check out the latest videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.

Cotton Bowl Speedway Notebook

RACE NOTES: Brad Sweet picked up his third win in four features so far during the 2016 season. Reigning series champion Donny Schatz has the only other series win… Danny Lasoski set the new track record at Cotton Bowl Speedway during time trials with a lap of 13.517… The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series event at Cotton Bowl Speedway featured the largest ever crowd for the four year old track… Brad Sweet is the only driver so far this season to finish on the podium every night. He is also the season’s laps led leader so far with 47 out front… Paul McMahan has two KSE Racing Hard Charger Awards so far this season.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS – MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): 21T-Ray Kulhanek; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): 49-Brad Sweet; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 cash): N/A; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): 1S-Logan Schuchart; Mobil 1 ($50 cash): 83-Joey Saldana; JE Pistons ($50 cash): 2-Shane Stewart; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): 41-Jason Johnson; Edelbrock ($50 cash): 87-Aaron Reutzel; Comp Cams ($50 cash): 87-Aaron Reutzel; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): 7-Paul McMahan; Super Flow ($50 cash): W20-Greg Wilson; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 product certificate): 49-Brad Sweet; KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): 7-Paul McMahan; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): 49-Brad Sweet; Mobil 1 (20% off Mobil1RacingStore.com): 21T-Ray Kulhanek; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): 7S-Jason Sides; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): 21T-Ray Kulhanek.

SEASON WINNERS: Brad Sweet – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Cotton Bowl Speedway on Feb. 26); Donny Schatz – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14).

World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Cotton Bowl Speedway; Paige, Texas; Feb. 26, 2016

A-Main - (30 Laps) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [5] [$10,000]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [3]; 3. 5-David Gravel [2]; 4. 83-Joey Saldana [1]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [13]; 6. 2-Shane Stewart [9]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4]; 8. 41-Jason Johnson [7]; 9. 33-Danny Lasoski [6]; 10. 87-Aaron Reutzel [8]; 11. 17W-Bryan Clauson [15]; 12. 7-Paul McMahan [22]; 13. 19M-Brent Marks [19]; 14. 1-Sammy Swindell [11]; 15. W20-Greg Wilson [23]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [18]; 17. 2C-Wayne Johnson [12]; 18. 8M-T.J. Michael [20]; 19. 24-Terry McCarl [14]; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser [21]; 21. 21T-Ray Kulhanek [10]; 22. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr [24]; 23. 31B-Sheldon Haudenschild [17]; 24. 82-Dusty Zomer [16]. Lap Leaders: Joey Saldana 1-23, Daryn Pittman 24-29, Brad Sweet 30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 7-Paul McMahan [+10]

Qualifying - 1. 33-Danny Lasoski, 13.517; 2. 5-David Gravel, 13.558; 3. 17W-Bryan Clauson, 13.656; 4. 83-Joey Saldana, 13.678; 5. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.681; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.746; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.788; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 13.792; 9. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.803; 10. 21T-Ray Kulhanek, 13.808; 11. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.852; 12. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 13.881; 13. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.921; 14. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.982; 15. 1-Sammy Swindell, 14.006; 16. 7-Paul McMahan, 14.020; 17. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 14.077; 18. 24-Terry McCarl, 14.096; 19. 19-Klint Angelette, 14.107; 20. 82-Dusty Zomer, 14.173; 21. 31B-Sheldon Haudenschild, 14.219; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen, 14.222; 23. 19M-Brent Marks, 14.340; 24. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.364; 25. 88-Scottie McDonald, 14.370; 26. 45X-Johnny Herrera, 14.371; 27. 17-Josh Baughman, 14.431; 28. 8M-T.J. Michael, 14.482; 29. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 14.517; 30. 33M-Jon Agan, 14.826; 31. 13-Clyde Knipp, 15.257; 32. 17X-Dustin Gates, 16.012

Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 33-Danny Lasoski [1]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [2]; 3. 2-Shane Stewart [3]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 5. 31B-Sheldon Haudenschild [6]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 7. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr [8]; 8. 88-Scottie McDonald [7]

Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 5-David Gravel [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 21T-Ray Kulhanek [3]; 4. 24-Terry McCarl [5]; 5. 7S-Jason Sides [4]; 6. 45X-Johnny Herrera [7]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [6]; 8. 33M-Jon Agan [8]

Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2]; 2. 41-Jason Johnson [3]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 4. 17W-Bryan Clauson [1]; 5. 19M-Brent Marks [6]; 6. 19-Klint Angelette [5]; 7. 13-Clyde Knipp [8]; 8. 17-Josh Baughman [7]

Heat 4 - (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 83-Joey Saldana [1]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel [2]; 3. 2C-Wayne Johnson [3]; 4. 82-Dusty Zomer [5]; 5. 8M-T.J. Michael [7]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson [6]; 7. 7-Paul McMahan [4]; 8. 17X-Dustin Gates [8]

Dash - (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 8 starting positions of A-feature) - 1. 83-Joey Saldana [1]; 2. 5-David Gravel [3]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [5]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [2]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [6]; 6. 33-Danny Lasoski [4]; 7. 41-Jason Johnson [7]; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel [8]

Last Chance Showdown - (12 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser [2]; 2. 7-Paul McMahan [1]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson [5]; 4. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr [9]; 5. 45X-Johnny Herrera [7]; 6. 17-Josh Baughman [8]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [4]; 8. 17X-Dustin Gates [12]; 9. 19-Klint Angelette [3]; 10. 33M-Jon Agan [10]; 11. 13-Clyde Knipp [11]; 12. 88-Scottie McDonald [6]

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Donning a new crown: Ms. Motorsports 2016 dreams big this season


By CATHERINE HOGUE
Arynne Moody is no stranger to a pretty, sparkling tiara. However, she recently donned a new crown when she was announced as Ms. Motorsports 2016.
Moody, of East Berlin, PA, was crowned on January 23, 2016, the second day of the PPB Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show Presented by Insinger Sunoco.
This was Moody’s third time competing in the pageant. She was a previous contestant in 2011 and 2012 but took a three-year hiatus after moving to Pittsburgh. After moving back to the York area, Moody decided she would give the competition another go.
“Several people asked me why I hadn’t run the last few years and suggested that I do the pageant again because they know my love and knowledge of racing and thought I would be a great representative for the sport,” Moody said.

Moody after being crowned Ms. Motorsports 2016 || PC: Bob Yurka Photography


The 30-year-old adds this tiara to a shelf of numerous other titles, including Ms. Dirt Trackin in 2010, which required her to travel throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio to represent dirt track racing. In 2011 she held two titles: Ms. Race 2 a Cure and Ms. TSRS. As Ms. Race 2 a Cure she traveled to local tracks representing the organization to help raise money for those fighting breast cancer. Her duties as Ms. TSRS involved representing the traveling group of 305 Sprint Cars in eastern Pennslvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. Lastly, in 2012 she was crowned as Ms. PA Posse Racing and tasked with representing the local 410 Sprint Car drivers.
Moody has been involved with the sport of racing since she was young. Growing up, her father worked on the 358 Sprint Car of Bill Case Jr. She attended her first race at Susquehanna Speedway at the ripe age of one-year-old.

Her father eventually purchased his own 358 Sprint, traveling with a group called KARS throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. “I always wanted to be in the garage helping,” Moody recalls. “He [her father] nicknamed me Gear Girl because my favorite task was to change the gears in the car. He joked that if he lost me at a race track, I was probably somewhere in the pits changing gears for someone else.”

Moody has been involved in racing ever since and currently helps work on her boyfriend, Jordan Givler’s 358 Sprint Car. “I still love being in the shop, getting dirty and greasy,” she said.

“I WANT TO SHARE MY PASSION AND LOVE FOR THIS SPORT WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN THIS YEAR.” –ARYNNE MOODY

Preparation for this year’s pageant began months prior with shopping for outfits and then making sure she could walk comfortably in them and in heels. She also brainstormed possible interview questions and even admitted that she would drive to work, talking to herself, asking and answering those questions.
Although she loves to talk, Moody said that the interview portion of the competition was the most intimidating for her. “I am not afraid to talk,” she said. “I am also very confident in my racing knowledge, so those things weren’t the issue. I was just nervous that I might be blindsided by a question, be asked something that I hadn’t prepared for and be caught off guard.”
Moody poses with other pageant contestants || PC: Jim Smith


However, her worries were unwarranted as she would be awarded best interview, which she acknowledged as her best personal category as well. And although the competition was tough, it was ultimately Moody’s year.

“I initially could not believe it and figured I heard wrong,” she said of hearing her name called as the winner. “Then I started shaking” – which she also attributes to not eating all day in anticipation of the swimwear portion – “then I became very excited thinking about the amazing year I would have ahead of me.”

And her reign as Ms. Motorsports 2016 has already begun with the NAPA Know How Racing Weekend inside Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall for the Len Sammons Motorsports Productions Indoor auto races the last weekend of January.
“That was a blast,” Moody said. “That was the first indoor race I have ever been to and I was so surprised. I was surprised by the speed and the excitement. I was also overwhelmed by the support provided to me there by the entire Area Auto Racing News staff. They are an amazing group of people.”

Waving the green flags at the Atlantic City indoor races in January || PC: FFN Photos


Next on her schedule are the indoor races in Trenton the final weekend of February. At this point in time she is still unsure how many events she will make an appearance at throughout the course of the season but said she hopes to make a lot as she usually attends between 40-50 races a year. “I am looking forward to my first trip to Knoxville and going to the World Finals in Charlotte the most,” she said.

And the duties of Ms. Motorsports, you may ask? It’s not just to sit around in a tiara and sash and look pretty, although she certainly has no trouble looking the part. “First and foremost, I will be a representative of AARN and an ambassador to the sport of racing,” Moody explained. “I will serve as a role model to young fans and help grow the sport I love. I will be able to assist tracks, promoters, and sponsors with anything they may need on race day.”

In addition to working full-time as a physical therapist, spending time with her family, friends, and boyfriend, training for her third full marathon in Pittsburgh this May, reading, drawing, and watching the Eagles (which we’ll forgive her for) and Phillies, Moody also sings and can perform the National Anthem for any tracks that have the need.

But Moody also has bigger goals for 2016, and they’re aimed toward the younger generation racing fans.
“I have a nine-year-old sister who I took to Williams Grove last year and by the time the heats were over, she began to lose interest, and I think that’s an issue for other kids as well,” she said.

Moody with her boyfriend, Jordan Givler, following the pageant || PC: Jordan Givler


Perhaps an issue that not many have considered before, but Moody hopes to get kids more involved in the sport by starting a coloring contest at the tracks she will visit that will hopefully hold their attention longer into the racing event. She would like to begin gathering sponsors to provide prizes for the winners of the contests, which could possibly be announced just before the features begin so that kids have something to look forward to throughout the night. Moody also hopes to get involved with the RAACE organization this year, a non-profit group whose mission is to raise awareness of the all-too-silent subject of child sexual abuse.

Moody is excited to work toward her goals this season as Ms. Motorsports and said it means the world to her to hold this title. She hopes to use her newly-acquired tiara and sash to spread her love of racing to a greater audience, and her desire to do so is pretty evident.

“I want to share my passion and love for this sport with as many people as I can this year,” she said. “One thing that was always there for me to look forward to was racing. I say sometimes that it saved my life. I truly love getting dirty and greasy and the smells of dirt, methanol, burning rubber, and gear oil. I’d honestly hate to know where my life would have gone had I not grown up at the race track!”

'THE MOST FUN YOU HAVE IS WHEN YOU'RE LEARNING'


By PA Sprint Car News :
Hanover, PA | February 19, 2016
Thousands of drivers across America will strap into a race car this year and contend as a rookie. No different for this young Littlestown, PA born driver. Kody Hartlaub sets his eyes on a full season of 358 sprints at Lincoln Speedway. Hartlaub and company plan on running for the Lincoln Speedway 358 Rookie of The Year award. It will be a tall feet for sure. Hartlaub feels confident and morale is high.
As PA legend and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame driver Fred Rahmer once said "The most fun you have is when you're learning."
This will be the main objective for the 20 year old who now resides in Hanover, PA. Hartlaub has over 70 wins to his name during his karting days at several central PA tracks, along with multiple 600 sprint starts. Last year he made his 358 sprint car debut at Lincoln Speedway in October.
"Our goal is to go out and log laps, you only get one first chance so I need to make a name for myself. It's a tough sport and these opportunities don't come by to often so when they do come you have to jump on them and give it your everything" Kody explained.
Seat time is valuable for any young driver. During the winter months Hartlaub has practiced extensively using a sim model to sharpen his skills. The team has decided to use a proven winning combination for their 2016 campaign, Triple X chassis with a Don Ott powerplant.
The team is realistic in their 2016 goals but will always stride for more, heart and passion is certainly there.
"I don't want to be just a normal race car driver I want to make a name and be remembered. I want to be here for a long time and never want to quit. My idol was Kevin Gobrecht and I'm taking the same path he did, karts to micros to sprint cars. I want to be a outlaw driver."
Along with a full 358 sprint season at Lincoln Speedway the team will also turn their attention to Susquehanna Speedway during their 5 scheduled races. Pending resources Hartlaub would also like to run select shows at Williams Grove Speedway and the full Nouse Signs & Graphics Summer Series.
Hartlaub Racing has teamed with J&M Construction, Barbie Miller - Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Mentzer's Remodeling, Mirfin Excavating & Paving along with Pretzel Boy as major sponsors. Contingency sponsors are PA Sprint Car News, 4Four Graphics, Rudisill Trucking, GBIR and Stringy's Speed Shop.
Kody will have his car on show at the weekends Motorama show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA this weekend. The car can be found at the Trail-Way Speedway booth.
Announced earlier this month was the partnership between PA Sprint Car News and Kody Hartlaub Racing for the 2016 season.
"I was given the opportunity to partner with PA Sprint Car News this racing season and I quickly jumped on the deal! I am glad to be working with Mike and all the guys there. I am looking to get my name out there as many ways that I can and with this opportunity it's giving me everything I could ever ask for. While being able to help Mike and his company grow they are also helping me grow and get noticed as a new sprintcar driver." Hartlaub said.
The partnership will include exclusive articles, pictures, videos and interviews. The fans will see first hand in what goes into start up 358 sprint car team and Kody's rookie season.
"When Kody approached myself about the possibility of doing something like this, it was really a no brainier." Mike Baker of PA Sprint Car News expressed, "The fans don't have the chance to see what these teams go through during the week and such. The most they'll see is the car getting unloaded, on track and loaded back up. We wanted to bring the fan in and have them experience first hand at what these teams go through. I'm personally excited to see Kody grow as a driver this year and I hope the fans can get behind and support him as well."
Stay up to date on everything Kody Hartlaub Racing - Facebook.com/KodyHartlaubRacing | Twitter @KodyHartlaub and PA Sprint Car News - Facebook.com/PASprintCarNews | Twitter @PASprintCarNews



Monday, February 15, 2016

Brad Sweet Claims Win, Big Gator at DCN

Gator Love: Brad Sweet Claims Victory, Big Gator Trophy

Rolls west with the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series championship points lead

BARBERVILLE, Fla. - Feb. 14, 2016 - Brad Sweet continued his DIRTcar Nationals dominance Sunday night as he scored his second World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series feature victory of the season and claimed the coveted 'Big Gator' trophy by winning the Sprint Week championship.

"It's unbelievable," Sweet said. "The competition is so stiff that you have to put yourself in position each and every time you're on the race track and it's not easy, one mistake and you're behind the eight ball. Tonight we did pretty much everything right, and luckily the dash draw helped us there because it was going to be a tough track to pass on."

Sweet, who won the season opening series event at Volusia Speedway Park on Friday night, edged Greg Hodnett, who had been the picture of consistency all week, by just four points to win the 'Big Gator.' With Daryn Pittman's 2015 Sprint Week championship, it is the second year in a row Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb has claimed the 'Big Gator' trophy.

The win rounded out a good night for Sweet who kicked it off by scoring the quick time in his No. 49 Razorback Professional Tools car. It was a DIRTcar Nationals quick time sweep for KKR after Sweet's teammate, Pittman, picked up the award the first two nights.

Joey Saldana, in his opening week with new team Roth Motorsports, led the field to the green flag. Before a lap could be completed there was a yellow flag for a crash and when the 30-lap feature got underway again a red flag flew.

As the feature got underway, Saldana led early with Sweet on his heels. Saldana caught traffic in his No. 83 car on lap eight. A caution again flew, this time on lap nine. The moment proved pivotal for Sweet as he battled past Saldana when the race returned to green. Through the next 20 laps, Sweet was the class of the field, adeptly maneuvering through the field and building distance between he and Saldana.

As the laps wound down, Saldana had his hands full with the No. 1Z of Lucas Wolfe. After a multi-lap battle, Wolfe, the 2008 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, got side-by-side with Saldana in turn one and completed the pass on the back straight.

Through the closing laps Saldana worked to hold off David Gravel, as Wolfe tried to run down Sweet. When the final checkered flag fell on sprint week, it was another Sweet victory.

"Hats off to these guys, it's an unbelievable car to driver," Sweet said. "To show up down here like that, and we had a chance to win every single night, and all three of the Outlaw nights. Tonight going fast time, winning the heat and the main event, the only thing we didn't do is win the dash, so it's a hat off to [my crew]."

Through the first three features of the very young 2016 season, Sweet leads the championship standings by 27 points over Hodnett.

For Wolfe, a second place showing Sunday night was a rebound over Saturday where he failed to make the feature.

"It was a great way to end the whole week for all of us at Zemco racing," Wolfe said. "It was a good race for us, we were able to catch a few breaks there at the start moving us up a row, and I was competitive the whole race which was good. I was able to get by Joey and Brad getting caught behind the lapped car there allowed me to catch up, but once he got around him I was faced with the same thing and never got quite clear of him. It was a good result for us, I think we were strong enough to challenge Brad at the end there just could never get to him. So we're going to go back home and get everything ready for our season back down there."

Wolfe finished Sprint Week 11th in the overall standings.

Saldana, who closed out Sprint Week fifth overall in the standings, worked through the week to find a rhythm with his new team and build toward the season ahead.

"Tonight we put the whole night together, we qualified well and did everything right, we just got a little free and messed up on a restart," Saldana said. "I think even if I choose the outside, I would get beat on the bottom. But hats off to Brad, he had the speed. When we got to the lapped cars at the end I could hang with him, but when we had to move around I couldn't move, I was kinda stuck on the cushion. It was a great effort by the whole Roth team, I can't thank Theresa and Dennis enough for the opportunity and their commitment to the Outlaws. Hopefully we can do better than we did tonight in a couple of weeks."

Jason Johnson was the night's KSE Racing Hard Charger, advancing six positions to finish 12th.

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series begins the march west with a stop at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas on Feb. 26 and Royal Purple Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas on Feb. 27.

Follow the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws, like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws, or check out the latest videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.

Volusia Speedway Park Notebook

RACE NOTES: Brad Sweet picked up two wins during DIRTcar Nationals. The first came on the opening night for the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series on Friday… This is the second year in a row Kasey Kahne Racing has picked up the Sprint Week championship at DIRTcar Nationals… Jason Johnson was the night's KSE Racing Hard Charger, advancing six positions to finish in 12th… Kasey Kahne Racing swept the qualifying quick times all three Outlaws nights. Daryn Pittman won the first two and Brad Sweet won tonight.

SPRINT WEEK FINAL POINTS: 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 2572; 2. 27-Greg Hodnett, 2568; 3. 15-Donny Schatz,2550; 4. 1B-Dale Blaney, 2538; 5. 83-Joey Saldana, 2503; 6. 9-Daryn Pittman, 2461; 7. 1-Sammy Swindell, 2444; 8. 5-David Gravel, 2410; 9. 71M-Dave Blaney, 2387; 10. 10H-Chad Kemenah, 2371; 11. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe, 2328; 12. 29-Kerry Madsen, 2319; 13. 41-Jason Johnson, 2316; 14. 2-Shane Stewart, 2300; 15. 17W-Bryan Clauson, 2253; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 2249; 17. 7-Paul McMahan, 2247; 18. 2L-Danny Lasoski, 2225; 19. O7-Doug Esh, 2089; 20. 7S-Jason Sides, 1874; 21. 4-Danny Smith, 1841; 22. 71MX-Paul May, 1815; 23. 70-Danny Holtgraver, 1750; 24. 1A-Jacob Allen, 1729; 25. 45-Tim Shaffer, 1653; 26. 59-Austin McCarl, 1637; 27. 71A-R.J. Johnson, 1611; 28. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 1601; 29. 24-Terry McCarl, 1600; 30. W20-Greg Wilson, 1290; 31. 13-Clyde Knipp, 1051; 32. 7C-Caleb Armstrong, 825; 33. 8M-T.J. Michael, 778; 34. 11-Steve Kinser, 471; 35. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 146.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS - MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Chad Kemenah; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Brad Sweet; Sweet Manufacturing ($50 cash): Brad Sweet; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Mobil 1 ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Super Flow ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart;Sweet Manufacturing ($50 product certificate): Lucas Wolfe; KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): Brad Sweet;Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Brad Sweet; Mobil 1 (20% off Mobil1RacingStore.com): Greg Wilson; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Terry McCarl; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Greg Wilson.

SEASON WINNERS: Brad Sweet - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14); Donny Schatz - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14).

World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.; Feb. 14, 2016

A-Main - (30 Laps) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 2. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe [5]; 3. 83-Joey Saldana [1]; 4. 5-David Gravel [4]; 5. 27-Greg Hodnett [8]; 6. 1-Sammy Swindell [9]; 7. 2-Shane Stewart [10]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [12]; 9. 71M-Dave Blaney [6]; 10. 1B-Dale Blaney [7]; 11. 29-Kerry Madsen [11]; 12. 41-Jason Johnson [18]; 13. 7-Paul McMahan [13]; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart [14]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [15]; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser [17]; 17. 24-Terry McCarl [23]; 18. 9-Daryn Pittman [3]; 19. 59-Austin McCarl [19]; 20. 2L-Danny Lasoski [20]; 21. W20-Greg Wilson [24]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [16]; 23. 10H-Chad Kemenah [21]; 24. O7-Doug Esh [22]. Lap Leaders: Joey Saldana 1-9, Brad Sweet 10-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 41-Jason Johnson [+6]

Qualifying - 1. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.913; 2. 83-Joey Saldana, 13.020; 3. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe, 13.040; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.049; 5. 71M-Dave Blaney, 13.065; 6. 5-David Gravel, 13.076; 7. 1B-Dale Blaney, 13.138; 8. 27-Greg Hodnett, 13.139; 9. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.145; 10. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.151; 11. 29-Kerry Madsen, 13.155; 12. 1-Sammy Swindell, 13.167; 13. 7-Paul McMahan, 13.178; 14. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.213; 15. 2L-Danny Lasoski, 13.254; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.272; 17. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.281; 18. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.297; 19. 71MX-Paul May, 13.332; 20. 59-Austin McCarl, 13.350; 21. O7-Doug Esh, 13.354; 22. 10H-Chad Kemenah, 13.369; 23. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.375; 24. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.384; 25. 24-Terry McCarl, 13.451; 26. 45-Tim Shaffer, 13.506; 27. 71A-R.J. Johnson, 13.666; 28. 4-Danny Smith, 13.957; 29. 13-Clyde Knipp, 14.194; 30. 17W-Bryan Clauson, nt

Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [2]; 3. 1B-Dale Blaney [3]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [4]; 5. 7-Paul McMahan [5]; 6. 1A-Jacob Allen [6]; 7. 10H-Chad Kemenah [8]; 8. 4-Danny Smith [10]; 9. 71MX-Paul May [7]; 10. 24-Terry McCarl [9]

Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 83-Joey Saldana [1]; 2. 71M-Dave Blaney [2]; 3. 27-Greg Hodnett [3]; 4. 29-Kerry Madsen [4]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 7. 59-Austin McCarl [7]; 8. 45-Tim Shaffer [9]; 9. W20-Greg Wilson [8]; 10. 13-Clyde Knipp [10]

Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 5-David Gravel [2]; 2. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe [1]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [3]; 5. 7S-Jason Sides [6]; 6. 41-Jason Johnson [8]; 7. O7-Doug Esh [7]; 8. 2L-Danny Lasoski [5]; 9. 71A-R.J. Johnson [9]; 10. 17W-Bryan Clauson [10]

Dash - (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature) - 1. 83-Joey Saldana [2]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [4]; 4. 5-David Gravel [3]; 5. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe [6]; 6. 71M-Dave Blaney [5]

Last Chance Showdown - (12 Laps - Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 59-Austin McCarl [2]; 2. 2L-Danny Lasoski [1]; 3. 10H-Chad Kemenah [4]; 4. O7-Doug Esh [3]; 5. 24-Terry McCarl [6]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson [5]; 7. 45-Tim Shaffer [7]; 8. 71A-R.J. Johnson [8]; 9. 13-Clyde Knipp [10]; 10. 4-Danny Smith [9]; 11. 17W-Bryan Clauson [11]; 12. 71MX-Paul May [12]

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Donny Schatz Rebounds, Picks Up Second Win at DIRTcar Nationals



Brad Sweet continues his DCN roll with second place run

BARBERVILLE, Fla. - Feb. 13, 2016 - One night after his first did-not-finish result since September 2013, Donny Schatz rebounded at DIRTcar Nationals as he battled with Brad Sweet on Saturday night to score his first World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series win of the 2016 season.

"It's kind of a relief to be over that hill of having that DNF that's been haunting us for I guess 180 races or whatever," Schatz said. "Now we can just focus on trying to win races."

The win is Schatz's second of DIRTcar Nationals after he won the second All Star Circuit of Champions night.

Schatz started the night by being second quick in qualifying but it was Daryn Pittman who took the quick time for the second straight night.

Chad Kemenah led the field to the green flag in but Sweet quickly overpowered him, taking over the lead after a short battle on lap four.

As Sweet built a several second lead in front of the field, the fight was on for the second, third and fourth positions. Kemenah, in second had Pittman behind him and Schatz in fourth. The three drivers engaged in a multi-lap fight, with Pittman taking over second on lap 11.

With lapped traffic in play, Schatz got around Kemenah for third and then Pittman in second.

The caution flag flew for the first time on lap 16 and when the field returned to green, Schatz and Sweet raced wheel-to-wheel for the lead. With the inside advantage, Sweet held off Schatz. When the caution flag flew again five laps later, Sweet was not as lucky. As the two drivers worked to complete lap 22, Schatz entered the front straight off turn four and dove to the low side, cutting off the line for Sweet and propelling his No. 15 Bad Boy Buggies/Chevrolet Performance car to the lead.

"I beat him to the line. He stepped outside on me there," Sweet said. "I knew he was going to be tough."

The final restart proved pivotal for Dale Blaney, the reigning All Star Circuit of Champions champion. After running much of the night in the top-five, Blaney had Pittman in sight. He passed Pittman on lap 27 but lost the position the next time by. As the two drivers made the final circuit, Blaney battled past Pittman for the third position.

Schatz cruised to victory with Sweet in second.

"I'd be even better if we could win all of them," Schatz said. "That's what this team shoots for, that's what they aim for, and that's what they work hard for. We're here tonight and that's all that matters… Another good night, lots of people in the stands, glad to see everybody."

Sweet, who won Friday night's season opening World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series feature at Volusia Speedway Park, was disappointed with the finish but said he was pleased with his team's performance.

"You know there's a few things on our car that we can maybe get a little bit better and hopefully this is a sign for things to come throughout the season," Sweet said. "It's not bad losing to the best in the world. As long as we can keep giving him a run for his money you know we'll win some of these."

Blaney, who along with Schatz, Sweet and Greg Hodnett has been consistent throughout the five nights said he struggled early with the restarts but was able by the end of the night to get the run he needed to put his No. 1B GoMuddy.com car in position.

As the series heads into the final night of sprint week at DIRTcar Nationals, Greg Hodnett leads Schatz by one point in the championship standings. Blaney is in third, 12 points out of the lead and Sweet is in fourth, 32 points out of the lead. The winner will hoist the coveted 'Big Gator' on Sunday night.

Kerry Madsen was the night's KSE Racing Hard Charger, advancing nine positions to finish in ninth.

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns action Sunday night at DIRTcar Nationals for the final night of sprint week.



Volusia Speedway Park Notebook

RACE NOTES: Daryn Pittman picked up his second quick time of the season. He is the only driver so far this season to have a quick time… Greg Hodnett leads Donny Schatz in the DIRTcar Nationals Sprint Week championship standings by one point… Donny Schatz now has two wins during DIRTcar Nationals. He picked up his first win on the second All Star Circuit of Champions night… Kerry Madsen was the night's KSE Racing Hard Charger, advancing nine positions to finish in ninth… Brad Sweet leads his teammate Daryn Pittman in the championship standings after two features.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS - MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Logan Schuchart; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Donny Schatz;Sweet Manufacturing ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Greg Wilson; Mobil 1 ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Comp Cams ($50 cash): David Gravel; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Super Flow ($50 cash): Jason Sides;Sweet Manufacturing ($50 product certificate): Brad Sweet; KSE Racing Products ($100 product certificate): Kerry Madsen;Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Donny Schatz; Mobil 1 (20% off Mobil1RacingStore.com): Jacob Allen; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jason Sides; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jacob Allen.

SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14); Brad Sweet - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13)

World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Volusia Speedway Park; Barberville, Fla.; Feb. 13, 2016

A-Main - (30 Laps) - 1. 15-Donny Schatz [5] [$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 1B-Dale Blaney [6]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [4]; 5. 2-Shane Stewart [10]; 6. 27-Greg Hodnett [9]; 7. 10H-Chad Kemenah [1]; 8. 83-Joey Saldana [8]; 9. 29-Kerry Madsen [18]; 10. 5-David Gravel [3]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson [20]; 12. 41-Jason Johnson [17]; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser [22]; 14. 70-Danny Holtgraver [21]; 15. 71M-Dave Blaney [14]; 16. 1-Sammy Swindell [12]; 17. 17W-Bryan Clauson [23]; 18. 2L-Danny Lasoski [24]; 19. 7S-Jason Sides [13]; 20. 7-Paul McMahan [15]; 21. O7-Doug Esh [16]; 22. 1A-Jacob Allen [19]; 23. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11]; 24. 45-Tim Shaffer [7]. Lap Leaders: Chad Kemenah 1-4, Brad Sweet 5-21, Donny Schatz 22-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 29-Kerry Madsen [+9]

Qualifying - 1. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.197; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.226; 3. 5-David Gravel, 13.261; 4. 10H-Chad Kemenah, 13.286; 5. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.303; 6. 1B-Dale Blaney, 13.349; 7. 45-Tim Shaffer, 13.377; 8. 83-Joey Saldana, 13.402; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.473; 10. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.489; 11. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe, 13.499; 12. 1-Sammy Swindell, 13.517; 13. O7-Doug Esh, 13.518; 14. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.527; 15. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.534; 16. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.538; 17. 71M-Dave Blaney, 13.550; 18. 27-Greg Hodnett, 13.555; 19. 70-Danny Holtgraver, 13.585; 20. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.591; 21. 29-Kerry Madsen, 13.595; 22. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.601; 23. 2L-Danny Lasoski, 13.607; 24. 7-Paul McMahan, 13.640; 25. 17W-Bryan Clauson, 13.674; 26. 24-Terry McCarl, 13.722; 27. 71MX-Paul May, 13.902; 28. 4-Danny Smith, 13.946; 29. 71A-R.J. Johnson, 14.038; 30. 13-Clyde Knipp, 14.612

Heat 1 - (8 Laps - Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [1]; 2. 10H-Chad Kemenah [2]; 3. 45-Tim Shaffer [3]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [6]; 5. 7S-Jason Sides [4]; 6. O7-Doug Esh [5]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [8]; 8. 17W-Bryan Clauson [9]; 9. 70-Danny Holtgraver [7]; 10. 4-Danny Smith [10]

Heat 2 - (8 Laps - Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 3. 83-Joey Saldana [3]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [5]; 5. 71M-Dave Blaney [6]; 6. 41-Jason Johnson [7]; 7. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe [4]; 8. 2L-Danny Lasoski [8]; 9. 24-Terry McCarl [9]; 10. 71A-R.J. Johnson [10]

Heat 3 - (8 Laps - Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 5-David Gravel [1]; 2. 1B-Dale Blaney [2]; 3. 27-Greg Hodnett [6]; 4. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 5. 7-Paul McMahan [8]; 6. 29-Kerry Madsen [7]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [3]; 8. W20-Greg Wilson [5]; 9. 71MX-Paul May [9]; 10. 13-Clyde Knipp [10]

Dash - (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature) - 1. 10H-Chad Kemenah [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [3]; 3. 5-David Gravel [2]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [4]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [5]; 6. 1B-Dale Blaney [6]

Last Chance Showdown - (12 Laps - Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) - 1. 1A-Jacob Allen [1]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson [3]; 3. 70-Danny Holtgraver [4]; 4. 11K-Kraig Kinser [5]; 5. 17W-Bryan Clauson [7]; 6. 2L-Danny Lasoski [6]; 7. 24-Terry McCarl [8]; 8. 1Z-Lucas Wolfe [2]; 9. 71MX-Paul May [9]; 10. 4-Danny Smith [10]; 11. 71A-R.J. Johnson [11]; 12. 13-Clyde Knipp [12]