The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series takes on Ocean Speedway on Friday for the Ocean Outlaw Showdown presented by Budweiser and the Mini Gold Cup at Ocean Speedway
Story By: AARON FIEDLER / WoO SERIES MEDIA Photos By: PAUL ARCH / RACERSGUIDE.COM
CONCORD, NC- March 31, 2016- The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series continues its western swing through the Golden State as the series gears up for racing along the coast at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. for the Ocean Outlaw Showdown presented by Budweiser on Friday.
Leading rookie of the year contender Greg Wilson has his sights set on the 1/4-mile track located just south of the Bay Area, after scoring his first top-10 of the season at Placerville Speedway on March 23.
“We have struggled pretty badly up until Placerville,” Wilson said. “We just finally got to a shop, we met someone through Jason and Paul Sides…we were able to strip our racecar and found some things.
“We kind of got our baseline back I think, but it was pretty cool because we timed pretty good and ran well in the heat race and ran really well in the feature. Obviously as bad as we were running, a top 10 of any kind felt like a feature win.”
Following action on Friday, the World of Outlaws travel over 250 miles north for the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. on Saturday night.
A 1/4-mile track located 80 miles north of Sacramento, Wilson last raced at Silver Dollar in 2013, in which he missed the feature race.
This season, the Benton Ridge, Ohio native has experienced an up-and-down first full-time season so far. Wilson’s season can be summed up in recent weeks as he missed the feature at Stockton Dirt Track on March 19, then rebounded with a sixth place finish at Placerville just four days later.
“It’s been a huge learning curve,” Wilson said. “We ran into some challenges early in the season that are going to help us later in the season because we changed our approach a little bit and seen some things we need to concentrate on and some things that maybe aren’t as important.
“The neat part about it is we are racing with some really good people and we have met some great fans. With the Outlaws and the other race teams, they reached out and have helped us along a little bit. This is all knew territory, you don’t know what you’re going to get. I have travelled a lot through my career but nothing at this level.”
The driver of the Hercules Tires/Ohio Logistics No. W20 has competed in years past but never as a series driver running the full season.
Wilson earned his first World of Outlaws victory last September at the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway, to go along with his five top-five’s and 16 top-10’s since 2012.
Wilson, an All Star Circuit of Champions title winner in 2006 and 2007, started the season off strong at the 45th Annual DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, making the feature all three nights with a best finish of 11th on the second night.
As the series travelled west, Wilson started to encounter the growing pains that come with racing the full schedule. Over the next seven races, Wilson raced his way into three features and missed four, with his best finish being a 15th at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas on Feb. 26.
With the California portion of the western swing nearing its conclusion, the 2016 season is still in the beginning phase. With seven months remaining, Wilson envisions a lot of improving and growing still left to accomplish for himself and his team.
“We just need to continue to nail down some top 10s and get some consistency,” Wilson said. “This California swing, we knew, was going to be the toughest part of the schedule for us – or I hope that’s the case.
“Our goals are if we can creep our way back up into the top 10 in points and hopefully by the middle of the season we can compete for wins. At the beginning of the year we hoped to be top 10 in points, around seventh to tenth would be reasonable goal, and three to five feature wins. Obviously, we want to make shows and be competitive”
Tickets remain for both the Ocean Outlaw Showdown and Mini Gold Cup and are available by calling 844-DIRT-TIX (347-8849), or by visiting WorldofOutlaws.com/Tickets.com.
ABOUT THE TRACKS
OCEAN SPEEDWAY is a 1/4 mile, slightly-banked dirt oval. The track record of 10.949 seconds was established by Mark Kinser on Sept. 1, 2000
Previous A-Feature winners:
2008 – Steve Kinser on October 17
2002 – Brad Furr on September 3
2001 – Andy Hillenburg on August 29
2000 – Joey Saldana on September 9
SILVER DOLLAR SPEEDWAY is a high-banked, quarter-mile oval. The track record of 10.918 seconds was established by Daryn Pittman on March 22, 2013.
Previous A-Feature winners:
2015 – Donny Schatz on March 28, Shane Stewart on Sept. 11, Donny Schatz on Sept. 12
2014 – Carson Macedo on Sept. 5, Jonathan Allard on Sept. 6
2013 – Paul McMahan on March 23, Joey Saldana on Sept. 6, Jason Meyers on Sept. 7
2012 – Donny Schatz on March 23, Donny Schatz on Sept. 6, Sean Becker on Sept. 7, Kyle Larson on Sept. 8
2011 – Craig Dollansky on March 12, Paul McMahan on Sept. 9, Kyle Larson on Sept. 10
2010 – Jason Meyers on Sept. 11
2009 – Joey Saldana on March 13, Jason Meyers on March 14, Joey Saldana on Sept. 12
2008 – Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 6
2007 – Joey Saldana on Sept. 8
2006 – Daryn Pittman on Sept. 9
2005 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 10
2004 – Donny Schatz on Sept. 11
2003 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 6
2002 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 7
2001 – Mark Kinser on Sept. 8
2000 – Danny Lasoski on Sept. 16
1999 – Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 18
1998 – Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 19
1997 – Dave Blaney on Sept. 20
1996 – Jeff Swindell on Sept. 21
1995 – Andy Hillenburg on Sept. 16
1994 – Andy Hillenburg on Sept. 17
1993 – Stevie Smith on Sept. 18
1992 – Steve Kinser on March 13, Steve Kinser on Sept. 19
1991 – Brent Kaeding on March 16, Joe Gaerte on Sept. 14
1990 – Bobby Davis, Jr., on March 11, Steve Kinser on Sept. 15
1989 – Jac Haudenschild on March 11, Darrell Hanestad on Sept. 20
1988 – Jimmy Sills on March 5, Steve Kinser on Sept. 17
1987 – Jac Haudenschild on March 7, Steve Kinser on Sept. 19
1986 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 21
1985 – Danny Smith on Sept. 21
1984 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 22
1983 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 24
1982 – Doug Wolfgang on Sept. 25
1981 – Sammy Swindell on Sept. 25, Sammy Swindell on Sept. 26
1980 – Steve Kinser on June 8, Wayne Sue on Sept. 25, Johnny Anderson on Sept. 26, Johnny Anderson on Sept. 27
1979 – Steve Kinser on June 10
DRIVER INFO
The following World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series drivers maintain websites:
Jacob Allen – Shark1s1a.com
David Gravel – DavidGravel89.com
Jason Johnson – JasonJohnsonRacing.com
Kerry Madsen – KenericRacing.com
Terry McCarl – TerryMcCarl.com
Paul McMahan – PaulMcMahanRacing.com
Daryn Pittman – DarynPittman.com
Joey Saldana – JoeySaldanaRacing.com
Donny Schatz – DonnySchatz.com
Logan Schuchart – Shark1s1a.com
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com
Shane Stewart – ShaneStewart.com
Brad Sweet – Bradsweetracing.com
Greg Wilson – GregWilsonRacing.com
For more driver information, visit: WoOsprint.com
SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz – 4 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 4, Stockton Dirt Track on March 18, Stockton Dirt Track on March 19); Brad Sweet – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Cotton Bowl Speedway on Feb. 26);David Gravel – 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 12); Jason Johnson – 1 (Placerville Speedway on March 24); Daryn Pittman – 1 (Royal Purple Raceway on Feb. 27); Joey Saldana – 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 3); Shane Stewart – 1 (Arizona Speedway on March 6).
LIVE ONLINE UPDATES: Listen live for free to the Ocean Outlaw Showdown presented by Budweiser at Ocean Speedway on Friday, April 1 and the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway on Saturday, April 2 on the DIRTVision Radio Network at DIRTVision.com.
GET SOCIAL: 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, follow on Instagram at @WoOSprint or check out the latest videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws. The official hashtag is #WoOCraftSCS.
COMING UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series returns to action at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway on Saturday and Sunday, April 8 and 9 for the Wine Country Outlaw Showdown.
2016 STAT ATTACK
There have been 12 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series features this season.
Winners (7 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins
1. – DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 4
2. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
3. – DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – 1
– DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – 1
Total Laps Led (10 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Laps
1. – JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 84
2. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 67
3. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 64
4. – BRIAN BROWN, Higginsville, Mo. – 35
– DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – 35
6. – DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 33
7. – JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – 27
8. – SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – 22
9. – ANDY FORSBERG, Auburn, Calif. – 13
10. – CHAD KEMENAH, Findlay, Ohio – 4
Pole Positions (7 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Poles
1. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 4
2. – BRIAN BROWN, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 2
4. – WILLIE CROFT, Roseville, Calif. – 1
– DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– CHAD KEMENAH, Findlay, Ohio – 1
– BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1
Hard Charger Award (8 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards
1. – JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – 3
2. – PAUL MCMAHAN, Nashville, Tenn. – 2
– SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – 2
4. – JOSH BAUGHMAN, Odessa, Texas – 1
– KERRY MADSEN, St. Marys, New South Wales, Australia – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– DOMINIC SCELZI, Fresno, Calif. – 1
– DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 1
Feature Winnings (Platinum Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Winnings
1. – DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – $58,050
2. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – $57,400
3. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – $46,800
4. – SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – $38,500
5. – JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – $35,300
6. – DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – $32,700
7. – JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – $29,150
8. – KERRY MADSEN, St. Marys, New South Wales, Australia – $15,950
9. – LOGAN SCHUCHART, Hanover, Pa. – $15,700
10.– JASON SIDES, Bartlett, Tenn. – $15,050
11.– PAUL McMAHAN, Nashville, Tenn. – $12,900
12.– TERRY MCCARL, Altoona, Iowa – $10,400
13.– GREG WILSON, Benton Ridge, Ohio – $9,050
14.– JACOB ALLEN, Hanover, Pa. – $5,925
2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Number of Wins in 2016)
1. Friday, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Brad Sweet (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Donny Schatz (1)
3. Sunday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Brad Sweet (2)
4. Friday, Feb. 26 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Tex. / Brad Sweet (3)
5. Saturday, Feb. 27 / Royal Purple Raceway Park / Baytown, Tex. / Daryn Pittman (1)
6. Thursday, March 3 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Joey Saldana (1)
7. Friday, March 4 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (2)
8. Sunday, March 6 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Shane Stewart (1)
9. Saturday, March 12 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, Calif. / David Gravel (1)
10. Friday, March 18 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Donny Schatz (3)
11. Saturday, March 19 / Stockton Dirt Track / Stockton, Calif. / Donny Schatz (4)
12. Wednesday, March 23 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, Calif. / Jason Johnson (1)
The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Bad Boy Buggies (Official Side-by-Side Vehicle), Craftsman (Official Tool), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Morton Buildings (Official Building), Sears (Official Home Store), The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience (Official Racing Experience) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products, MSD, Penske Shocks, Sweet Manufacturing and Superflow Dynos; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo and TNT Rescue.
