Up to Speed: World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Beaver Dam Raceway
BEAVER DAM, WI. — June 19, 2018 —The 9th Annual Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial presented by Karavan Trailers for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series takes the green flag at Beaver Dam Raceway on Saturday, June 23. Shane Stewart was victorious at Beaver Dam last year, picking up the win over a hard-charging Kerry Madsen. This year will mark the 20th season in which the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series have visited Beaver Dam. This edition of the Up to Speed sets the stage for the event.
The track
Beaver Dam Raceway is a high-banked, third-mile. The track record 11.071 seconds was established by Daryn Pittman on June 24, 2017.
Past Winners
Shane Stewart won the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial last year for the first time. The veteran driver started fourth and took the lead from Greg Wilson on the 25thlap and held off Kerry Madsen, who powered his way from the 21ststarting spot to finish second. Bill Balog scored a popular win in the 2016 edition of the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial. That win marked the first time an IRA driver had defeated the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series. Balog claimed his eighth IRA title in 2017. Daryn Pittman was victorious at Beaver Dam in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Brad Sweet, who is Pittman’s teammate at Kasey Kahne Racing won the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial in 2014. Donny Schatz, the nine-time and defending World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion, won the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial in 2015 and also was victorious at the high-banked, third-mile in 2002. Kraig Kinser took the checkered flag first in the 2012 edition of the Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial.
More starts than anyone
Donny Schatz has made the most starts of any active full-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Beaver Dam Raceway. The nine-time series champion has taken the green flag 23 times at the track, racking up 17 top-10 finishes along the way, of which 12 have been top-five performances.
Triple threat
Daryn Pittman is the winningest active full-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series driver at Beaver Dam Raceway with three triumphs. The 2013 series champion won his first race at Beaver Dam in 2003, then returned to victory lane in 2005 and again in 2007. Pittman set a new track record at the third-mile last year, breaking the previous mark, which he had set in 2001 at a Gumout Series race.
Running up front
Shane Stewart came close to winning in his debut at Beaver Dam Raceway in 2003, finishing second to Pittman. The Oklahoma native finally broke through at the third-mile last year, picking up his first win at the track and his first in the state of Wisconsin. In his career at Beaver Dam, Stewart has six top-10 finishes in eight starts.
One to remember
Brad Sweet scored an emotional win at Beaver Dam Raceway in the 2014 Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial. The night prior to the race he was involved in a vicious crash in Iowa, which ripped his car in half. After spending some time at the hospital for treatment on an injured ankle, the Californian was back in the car and celebrating in victory lane. Sweet has three top-five finishes in five career starts at Beaver Dam.
Plenty of laps
Jason Sides made his first trip to Beaver Dam Raceway in 2003. Sides has the second-most number of starts with the series at the track of all active drivers, trailing only Donny Schatz. Sides has competed 17 times at Beaver Dam, accumulating nine top-10 finishes, including a runner-up performance in just his second start at the track.
Short track prowess
Kraig Kinser and Jason Johnson are two drivers who tend to excel on smaller tracks like Beaver Dam Raceway. Kinser won at the track in 2012 and has six top-10 finishes at the facility in his career. Johnson, who has only raced twice at the track, ran third last year at Beaver Dam.
Honorary Wisconsinite
The state of Wisconsin has been very good to Connecticut native David Gravel. The 25-year-old has three wins at Wilmot Raceway and has been among the top-10 in five of his starts at Beaver Dam. Gravel finished a career-best fifth at the track in 2016.
Leading laps
Greg Wilson paced the first 24 laps of the 40-lap Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial at Beaver Dam Raceway last year. The Ohio native ended up finishing fourth, which was his second top-10 finish at the track. Wilson ran seventh in his Beaver Dam debut in 2006.
Carrying the torch
A handful of the next generation of sprint car drivers are on the road with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series this season. Leading the way is Sheldon Haudenschild, who has four wins this season. Young drivers on the road also include Logan Schuchart, Brent Marks, Jacob Allen and Clyde Knipp.
First timer
Ian Madsen, who is in the midst of his first full season on the road with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, will be making his Beaver Dam debut. The Australian, who calls the Des Moines, Iowa area home, cut his teeth on similar bullrings in his home land.
Invaders
A strong contingent of drivers that follow the Bumper to Bumper Interstate Racing Association (IRA) full-time, are tentatively expected to be in attendance, including Bill Balog, who won at the track in 2016 with the Outlaws. Scotty Thiel, the current IRA point leader won at Beaver Dam Raceway in May and will take on the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series. Jeremy Schultz, a past IRA champion, who hails from Beaver Dam, is also expected.
Tickets for the 9th Annual Jim “JB” Boyd Memorial presented by Karavan Trailers, featuring the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Beaver Dam Raceway in Wisconsin on Saturday, June 23 and can be purchased online at slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by calling SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023 and at the track on race day.
