By Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
There was plenty of uncertainty on Friday as the World of Outlaws took to Eldora Speedway for the first event since the half-mile was resurfaced and reshaped. Chilly conditions greeted the drivers, leading to uncertainty when looking for that perfect set-up. One thing that was certain though, was that Jason Meyers was the fastest car at the track.
He began the night by stopping the clocks first in time trials, recording the only sub-13 second lap, and wrapped the evening up in victory lane with the camera from SPEED shining on him, as he earned his first win of the season.
(Click to hear Jason Meyers following his victory on April 13 at Eldora Speedway.)
Meyers used a textbook slide job on Jac Haudenschild on the 28th lap in traffic to take the lead. He then held off a furious charge by Donny Schatz and Jason Sides, on the final lap to take the $10,000 winner’s share of the purse in the FedEx Outlaw Thunder event.
“The car was just incredible,” said Meyers, driver of the Primerica Financial Maxim. “To go out and drive a car like that on a race track like that makes me look good. Everybody on this team and all of our sponsors have stood behind us. We haven’t had the start to the year that we wanted, but everyone kept their heads up and kept working hard. We had a brand new car this week and it worked great.”
The win was the second at Eldora for Meyers, who was also was victorious in 2003 at the track owned by two-time NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart. Meyers, a native of Clovis, California now has 14 career World of Outlaws A-Feature triumphs.
“The most changes we made on the car were for the dash and we wound up going back the other way, because we really didn’t like it,” he explained. “The car rolled around the bottom very well, and anytime you can do that, it is a set-up for a good night.”
The event will be broadcast on SPEED Sunday, May 13 at 2 p.m. Eastern. While the World of Outlaws will be on television 19 more times this season, winning in the World of Outlaws return to SPEED, is something that Meyers will always remember.
“To win on TV for our sponsors, that is what’s its all about,” he said. “I am very thankful that the Outlaws went out and got us such a great TV package this year. We plan to take advantage of it all year long.”
Meyers started in the fifth spot and by the second lap of the 30-lap contest, was up to third. On the sixth circuit, he powered his way into the runner-up spot, setting his sights on Haudenschild, who had taken the lead from Daryn Pittman on the fifth lap. For most of the race, Meyers kept his car glued to the bottom of the track, as did a majority of competitors on Friday night.
“I think the bottom was the fastest until the end. Donny (Schatz) peeked to the outside of me,” he said. “I think we burned the left rear tire off a little bit, it was starting to hang. He peeked to the outside of me and showed me that there was a little momentum to be had there. We moved up there and got a run on Jac (Haudenschild).”
The only hiccup that Meyers had on the night came after the checkered flag flew. Terry McCarl who was running in front of him shredded a tire, causing Meyers to make contact with him and come to a stop. After receiving a push from Speedway Motors Work’ N Woody, Meyers was able to take a victory lap and even did a half-donut for the crowd before climbing out the car in a shower of confetti while being sprayed with champagne by his crew.
Haudenschild, aboard the Wright One Construction Maxim pulled away in the middle portions of the race, and ran into heavy traffic on lap 23 that allowed Meyers to close the gap. The native of Wooster, Ohio, who has won five World of Outlaws events at Eldora lost a couple spots later and settled for the fourth stop, to earn his sixth Top-10 finish of the season.
Donny Schatz recorded his third straight runner-up finish at Eldora dating back to last season. The 2002 winner of the Historical Big One earned his 12th Top-10 finish in the first 13 events of the year as he chases his second straight series title.
“We were glad to get back to Eldora,” said Schatz, driver of the ParkerStore J&J. “We have been pretty consistent here. Hopefully we can come back tomorrow and get a victory.”
Schatz was one of a few drivers that utilized the middle of the track, as well as drifting high to the line right next to the wall, that has customarily been the fastest way around the track. With the cold temperatures on Friday night, in addition to the tough weather Speedway Officials had battled the last few weeks, the native of Fargo, North Dakota was pleased with all the improvements that have been implemented at the storied track.
“It’s a lot different,” said the 1997 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year. “They have the banking consistent from the bottom to the top. I think that makes the bottom a little bit faster. You probably have to be down on the track a little. Right now, there is no reason to get up the hill because your car is stuck down off it, but that may change. This was really the first time they have had anything on here since they put the new surface down. It’s definitely smooth.”
Jason Sides earned his best finish of the season on Friday night at Eldora, as he came home third. The native of Bartlett, Tennessee lined up seventh for the 30-lap event and quickly worked his way into the Top-Five. He used a last lap pass of Jac Haudenschild to nab the final podium position.
“The car was really good tonight,” said Sides, driver of the Wetherington Tractor Services Maxim. “I think the track surface and configuration fits my style as far as running around the bottom. It seemed like it worked out pretty well for us. Usually the bottom goes away a lot quicker, but tonight it seemed to stay moist longer. That may have been due to the cold or the amount of rain they have had, but I thought it was pretty good.”
For Sides, it was his seventh Top-10 finish of the season, and his second in the Top-Five, as he continues to close in on the Top-10 in the championship points. He began the night by turning the third fastest lap in time trials, and followed that up with a win in the third heat to earn a spot in the dash.
“Like I have said before, anytime you get a Top-10 or a Top-Five it’s a good night,” he said. “Tonight getting a Top-three is an added bonus, especially with the television coverage. We have some new sponsors and that should help them out.”
Daryn Pittman who led the opening four laps came home a very solid fifth in the Titan Garages Maxim, after winning the second heat to earn a spot in the dash. He won the second dash for the second time this season to earn his second pole position. The native of Owasso, Oklahoma now has 10 Top-10 finishes on the year, as he is third in championship points.
Joey Saldana, the current World of Outlaws championship point leader finished sixth aboard the Open Joist Mopar-powered JEI, to retain a slim margin in the standings over Schatz. Danny Lasoski, who earned his first victory of the season last weekend, came home in the seventh spot in the Roth Motorsports Eagle. Jason Solwold was eighth in the City Wide Insulation Maxim, with Paul McMahan in ninth in the Bass Pro Shops Eagle, and Steve Kinser was 10th in the Q Oil Maxim.
The World of Outlaws return to action on Saturday night at the famed Eldora Speedway with another complete night of racing.
ELDORA SPEEDWAY NOTEBOOK
• FAST QUALIFIER: Jason Meyers paced the 41 cars that took time with an AMB i.t. timed lap around the high-banked half-mile oval at 12.972 seconds. For his qualifying effort, Meyers eared five bonus points. The next four fastest qualifiers also earned bonus points, including: Jason Solwold (4), Jason Sides (3), Paul McMahan (2), and Steve Kinser (1).
• QUALIFYING WINNERS: Jason Meyers, Daryn Pittman, Jason Sides, and Danny Lasoski won heat races… Rob Chaney won the B-Main… Jason Martin won the C-Main… Daryn Pittman won the dash.
• FEATURE WINNERS: There have been 13 World of Outlaws A-Feature events held in 2007. The win list includes: Joey Saldana (February 23 at Thunderbowl Raceway, March 17 at Pike County Speedway, March 24 at Volunteer Speedway, and March 31 at Dixie Speedway), Donny Schatz (February 9 at Volusia Speedway Park, March 3 at Manzanita Speedway, and March 16 at Houston Raceway Park), Tim Kaeding (February 24 at Thunderbowl Raceway), Steve Kinser (March 2 at USA Race Park), Danny Lasoski (April 6 at Paducah International Raceway), Kerry Madsen (February 10 at Volusia Speedway Park), Jason Meyers (April 13 at Eldora Speedway), and Daryn Pittman (February 11 at Volusia Speedway Park).
• HALF-MILE WINNERS: Eldora Speedway is a high-banked half-mile. The World of Outlaws have raced five times this season on a track that size. The winners include: Donny Schatz (February 9 at Volusia Speedway Park and March 3 at Manzanita Speedway), Kerry Madsen (February 10 at Volusia Speedway Park), Jason Meyers (April 13 at Eldora Speedway), and Daryn Pittman (February 11 at Volusia Speedway Park).
ON TELEVISION
• The World of Outlaws return to television on May 13 at 2 p.m. Eastern. The Sprint Car stars from the World of Outlaws return to SPEED at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 13, with the warriors from the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series making their 2007 SPEED debut on Sunday, May 20.
The World of Outlaws will be televised 20 times this season on ESPN2 and SPEED while the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series is set for six appearances on SPEED. The one-hour broadcasts will air on Sundays from May 13 to Nov. 4, when the series champions will be crowned during the World Finals from The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
The Official World of Outlaws Web site is at http://www.worldofoutlaws.com. Among the features are updated driver biographies with individual statistics and pictures, race-by-race statistics, detailed track information and race coverage, series news and team press releases. Also, links to the Media Guide and 2007 Official Rulebook can be found at the bottom of the home page.
• UPCOMING EVENTS: The world’s best sprint car drivers take to the track at Attica Raceway Park in Ohio on Friday, April 20, and then head to the high-banked ¼-mile at Tri-State Speedway in Indiana on Saturday, April 21. The month wraps up at the storied Knoxville Raceway in Iowa on Saturday, April 28.
World of Outlaws Sprint Series Statistical Report; Eldora Speedway; April 13, 2007
Qualifying
1) 14-Jason Meyers 12.972
2) R19-Jason Solwold 13.161
3) 7S-Jason Sides 13.202
4) 20-Paul McMahan 13.215
5) 11-Steve Kinser 13.217
6) 3X-Chad Kemenah 13.237
7) 2M-Dustin Daggett 13.262
8) 15-Donny Schatz 13.263
9) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr. 13.272
10) 9-Joey Saldana 13.279
11) 28-Brian Paulus 13.313
12) 83-Danny Lasoski 13.322
13) 7K-Butch Schroeder 13.322
14) 21-Daryn Pittman 13.324
15) 11H-Kerry Madsen 13.349
16) 11M-Brandon Martin 13.368
17) 24H-Rob Chaney 13.390
18) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr. 13.392
19) 35-Jac Haudenschild 13.398
20) 7-Craig Dollansky 13.411
21) 8K-Zach Chappell 13.425
22) 11D-Dion Hindi 13.426
23) 8H-Shane Stewart 13.438
24) W20-Greg Wilson 13.477
25) D1-Justin Henderson 13.482
26) 10C-Jeremy Campbell 13.485
27) 11B-Brock Mayes 13.486
28) 6-Tim Shaffer 13.496
29) 2-Brooke Tatnell 13.511
30) 5C-Chad Hillier 13.513
31) 1-Sammy Swindell 13.524
32) 4-Danny Smith 13.542
33) 18-Brian Carlson 13.559
34) 36-Jason Martin 13.571
35) 1X-Randy Hannagan 13.610
36) 12M-James Mosher 13.676
37) 11K-Tim Kaeding 13.765
38) 16-Lee Stark 13.831
39) 4N-Neil Shepherd 13.889
40) 97-Todd King 14.059
41) 24-Terry McCarl 15.392
Heat 1 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 14-Jason Meyers
2) 7K-Butch Schroeder
3) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.
4) 11-Steve Kinser
5) D1-Justin Henderson
6) 2-Brooke Tatnell
7) 24H-Rob Chaney
8) 11K-Tim Kaeding
9) 18-Brian Carlson
10) 8K-Zach Chappell
Heat 2 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 21-Daryn Pittman
2) 9-Joey Saldana
3) 3X-Chad Kemenah
4) R19-Jason Solwold
5) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.
6) 11D-Dion Hindi
7) 5C-Chad Hillier
8) 36-Jason Martin
9) 10C-Jeremy Campbell
10) 16-Lee Stark
Heat 3 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 7S-Jason Sides
2) 35-Jac Haudenschild
3) 28-Brian Paulus
4) 11H-Kerry Madsen
5) 8H-Shane Stewart
6) 11B-Brock Mayes
7) 1X-Randy Hannagan
8) 4N-Neil Shepherd
9) 2M-Dustin Daggett
Heat 4 (8 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 83-Danny Lasoski
2) 15-Donny Schatz
3) 11M-Brandon Martin
4) 20-Paul McMahan
5) 7-Craig Dollansky
6) W20-Greg Wilson
7) 6-Tim Shaffer
8) 24-Terry McCarl
9) 12M-James Mosher
10) 4-Danny Smith
Dash (6 laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature)
1) 21-Daryn Pittman
2) 15-Donny Schatz
3) 35-Jac Haudenschild
4) 9-Joey Saldana
5) 14-Jason Meyers
6) 7K-Butch Schroeder
7) 7S-Jason Sides
8) R19-Jason Solwold
9) 83-Danny Lasoski
10) 20-Paul McMahan
C-main (8 laps, top 2 finishers transferred to B-main)
1) 36-Jason Martin
2) 1X-Randy Hannagan
3) 12M-James Mosher [$125]
4) 4N-Neil Shepherd [$125]
5) 16-Lee Stark [$125]
6) 97-Todd King [$100]
7) 24-Terry McCarl [$100]
8) 11K-Tim Kaeding [$100]
9) 1-Sammy Swindell [$150]
B-main (12 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 24H-Rob Chaney
2) 11D-Dion Hindi
3) 2M-Dustin Daggett
4) W20-Greg Wilson
5) 10C-Jeremy Campbell [$200]
6) 2-Brooke Tatnell [$180]
7) 4-Danny Smith [$175]
8) 1X-Randy Hannagan [$160]
9) 36-Jason Martin [$150]
10) 5C-Chad Hillier [$150]
11) 11B-Brock Mayes [$150]
12) 6-Tim Shaffer [$150]
13) 18-Brian Carlson [$150]
14) 8K-Zach Chappell [$150]
A-main (30 laps) – Starting Position [#]
1) 14-Jason Meyers[5] [$10,000]
2) 15-Donny Schatz[2] [$5,000]
3) 7S-Jason Sides[7] [$3,000]
4) 35-Jac Haudenschild[3] [$2,700]
5) 21-Daryn Pittman[1] [$2,500]
6) 9-Joey Saldana[4] [$2,200]
7) 83-Danny Lasoski[9] [$2,000]
8) R19-Jason Solwold[8] [$1,800]
9) 20-Paul McMahan[10] [$1,600]
10) 11-Steve Kinser[11] [$1,450]
11) 7-Craig Dollansky[20] [$1,300]
12) 11H-Kerry Madsen[16] [$1,200]
13) 24H-Rob Chaney[18] [$1,100]
14) 3X-Chad Kemenah[12] [$1,000]
15) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[19] [$950]
16) 7K-Butch Schroeder[6] [$900]
17) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.[14] [$850]
18) D1-Justin Henderson[24] [$750]
19) 1X-Randy Hannagan[26] [$25]
20) 24-Terry McCarl[25] [$0]
21) 11M-Brandon Martin[17] [$700]
22) 8H-Shane Stewart[22] [$700]
23) 11D-Dion Hindi[21] [$700]
24) 2M-Dustin Daggett[13] [$700]
25) W20-Greg Wilson[23] [$700]
26) 28-Brian Paulus[15] [$700]
Lap Leaders: Daryn Pittman, 1-4; Jac Haudenschild, 5-27; Jason Meyers, 28-30
Note: Terry McCarl and Randy Hannagan used provisionals to start the A-Feature.
2007 STAT ATTACK
There have been 13 World of Outlaws A-Feature events this season.
A-Feature winners (7 different drivers) Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins
1- #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN – 4
2- #15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND – 3
3- #11K Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA – 1
#11 Steve Kinser, Bloomington, IN – 1
#83 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO – 1
#11H Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s NSW – 1
#14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA – 1
#21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK – 1
Lap leaders, including A-features and preliminary features Car, driver, hometown – Total laps led (12 different drivers have led a lap)
#9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN. – 122 laps
#15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 68 laps
#35 Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH – 46 laps
#11K Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA – 40 laps
#21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK – 34 laps
#11 Steve Kinser, Bloomington, IN – 24 laps
#14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA – 23 laps
#11H Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW – 21 laps
#D1 Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls, SD – 14 laps
#7 Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN – 13 laps
#83 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO – 7 laps
#7S Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN – 6 laps
Time trial leaders (10 different drivers) Rank – Driver, Hometown – Quick times
1 – #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN – 4
2 – #18T Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, KS – 1
#89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA – 1
#7 Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN – 1
#5C Chad Hillier, Burlington, WA – 1
#11H Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW – 1
#20 Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN – 1
#14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA – 1
#15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND – 1
#6T Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA – 1
Track records established during 2007 World of Outlaws events (4)
* Craig Dollansky, March 2, United Sports Arizona Race Park (3/8-mile), Tucson, AZ, 12.624 seconds at 106.939 mph.
* Kerry Madsen, March 3, Manzanita Speedway (1/2-mile), Phoenix, AZ, 15.255 seconds at 118.149 mph.
* Joey Saldana, March 16, Houston Raceway Park (1/4-mile) Baytown, TX, 11.996 seconds at 75.025 mph.
* Joey Saldana, March 24, Volunteer Speedway (4/10-mile) Bulls Gap, TN, 11.696 second at 123.119 mph.
Dash Winners (10 different winners) Rank – Driver, Hometown – Dash Wins
1 – #14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA – 2
#21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK – 2
#15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND – 2
4 – #15T Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX – 1
#35 Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH – 1
#20 Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN – 1
#9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN – 1
#6 Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA – 1
#7S Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN – 1
#4 Danny Smith, Danville, IN – 1
Pole Positions (10 different drivers) Rank – Driver, Hometown – Poles
1 – #14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA – 2
#21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK – 2
#15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND – 2
4 – #15T Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX – 1
#35 Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH – 1
#20 Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN – 1
#9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN – 1
#6 Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA – 1
#7S Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN – 1
#4 Danny Smith, Danville, IN – 1
B-main Winners (13 different winners) Rank – Driver, Hometown – “B” Wins
1 –#18T Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, KS – 1
#24H- Rob Chaney, Wooster, OH – 1
#15H Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX -1
#1X Randy Hannagan, San Jose – 1
#11D Dion Hindi, Albuquerque, NM – 1
#11K Tim Kaeding, San Jose – 1
#11H Kerry Madsen, St. Mary’s NSW – 1
#24 Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA – 1
#20 Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN – 1
#9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN – 1
#7S Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN – 1
#4 Danny Smith, Danville, IN – 1
#2 Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW – 1
