World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Heading to The Shootout
Story By: TONY VENEZIANO / WOO SERIES MEDIA
Photos By: RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO STAFF
SPENCER, Iowa — September 13, 2016 — It’s getting down to crunch time for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, as they return to the Midwest, following their second and final West Coast swing of the season. With less than 20 race nights remaining on the 2016 calendar, the intensity level has ratcheted up, as every point is important down the stretch. The battle for the second position in points has been torrid, between David Gravel, Brad Sweet and Daryn Pittman. Currently, Gravel is three points ahead of Pittman, with Sweet, 18 markers out of third. That battle will rage on this week, as the Outlaws have three races on the docket.
This edition of Quick Hits sets the stage for the Arnold Motor Supply Shootout Presented by Bob’s Bike Shop, Vanderhaag’s Inc., H&N Chevrolet and Gillund Enterprises at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, Iowa on Friday, September 16, which features both the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and the National Sprint League.
One to remember
Brad Sweet will always remember his third start at Clay County Fair Speedway, which came in June of 2012, because that is when he claimed his first career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series win. He had come close to winning on a number of occasions in the seasons leading up to that. In that race, Sweet took the lead from Jason Sides on lap-16 and was out front for the remainder of the 30-lapper. Sweet, who is currently fourth in points, just 21 markers out of second, finished fourth in his most recent start at Clay County Fair Speedway in 2014.
Four score
Donny Schatz has a pretty amazing track record with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Clay County Fair Speedway. The seven-time and defending series champion has four wins at the three-eights-mile to go along with nine top-10 finishes in nine races. Schatz has finished eighth or better in all his starts at Clay County with six of those being top-five performances. In 2014, he finished sixth, which snapped a two-race win streak for the North Dakota native at the track. Schatz also carried a two-race win streak, following the first pair of World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series events at the track in 2007 and 2008. He leads the series with 21 A-Feature wins this season.
Oh, so close
Joey Saldana, who is currently fifth in points, has finished second, three separate times with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Clay County Fair Speedway in his career. The veteran driver finished second to Donny Schatz in the inaugural series event at the track in 2007. Saldana was also the runner-up in 2009 and 2013. In eight starts at Clay County, the native of Brownsburg, Indiana has six top-10 finishes, with five being top-five showings. Along with the trio of runner-up finishes, Saldana finished on the podium in third in his most recent start at Clay County Fair Speedway in 2014.
Six for six
Paul McMahan has six top-10 finishes in the same number of starts in his career with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Clay County Fair Speedway. The Californian, who now calls the Nashville area home, finished fifth in the inaugural event for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at the track in 2007 and matched that finish in 2010. In his most recent start in 2014, McMahan ran ninth.
Perfect attendance
Jason Sides has competed in each of the first nine events that the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series has contested at Clay County Fair Speedway. In that span, he has five top-10 finishes, with four of those being top-five performances. Sides finished a career-best second at the track in June of 2012, leading the first 15 laps of that 30-lap race, before eventual winner Brad Sweet got around him. In the series second visit of 2012 to Clay County Fair Speedway, Sides finished fourth.
Getting more laps
Daryn Pittman has only made four starts with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Clay County Fair Speedway. The 2013 series champion finished a career-best fourth in 2013. This season, Pittman has seven wins for his Kasey Kahne Racing team and is locked in a great battle for the second spot in points with his teammate Brad Sweet and David Gravel. Pittman is currently just three points behind Gravel, who holds down the second spot.
The next generation
A trio of drivers under the age of 25 have been competing with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series for the last few years. Led by David Gravel, along with Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen, the trio continues to gain experience at the tracks on the circuit. Gravel has made a pair of starts at Clay County Fair Speedway, with a best finish of eighth in 2014. Allen and Schuchart have each made one appearance at the three-eighths-mile in their young careers.
First time visitors
Shane Stewart, Jason Johnson, Greg Wilson and Clyde Knipp will all be making their first visit with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series to Clay County Fair Speedway. Stewart won earlier this season in Iowa, on a preliminary night for the Knoxville Nationals. The veteran driver has six A-Feature wins this season and seven overall victories. Johnson, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner, scored the biggest win of his career last month in the $150,000-to-win Knoxville Nationals. Wilson, an Ohio native, and Knipp, who hails from Missouri, are both battling for top rookie honors this season.
Looking at the NSL
Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion, is the current point leader with the National Sprint League. The defending NSL champion has three wins on the season. Craig Dollansky, who is a past winner with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Clay County Fair Speedway, is second in points, and also has three wins. Brian Brown is third in the standings and has three wins as well, with Ian Madsen fourth and Brooke Tatnell fifth.
Tickets for the Arnold Motor Supply Shootout Presented by Bob’s Bike Shop, Vanderhaag’s Inc., H&N Chevrolet and Gillund Enterprises for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series and FVP National Sprint League at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, Iowa on Friday, September 16 can purchased online at https://midwestix.securemytix.com/event/ams-shootout-2016 or by calling 515-244-2721 and at the track on race day.
