‘YANKS’ PITTMAN & SALDANA RANKED 1-2 IN AUSSIE “SALUTE TO GRAND ANNUAL SPRINTCAR CLASSIC” POLL KNOXVILLE, IOWA (January 16, 2003) - World Series Sprintcars (WSS) point leader Daryn Pittman of Oklahoma and Parramatta City Raceway Parts Plus $50,000 winner Joey Saldana of Indiana are ranked first and second, respectively, in the 2003 “Salute to the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic” poll, as selected by the voting panel of the Australian National Sprintcar Poll. The two American World of Outlaws (WoO) stars garnered nine first-place votes each from the nineteen cast by the select panel of Australian manufacturers, media members, promoters and sanctioning officials. Pittman outpointed Saldana 1400 to 1150, though, in the overall balloting. Two-time defending Aussie “Driver of the Year” Max Dumesny of Victoria received the only other first-place ballot cast.

Pittman and Saldana are clearly the two favorites entering the January 25-26 The Standard-sponsored Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic (GASC) at the Premier Speedway in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia. The GASC is Australia’s oldest and most prestigious international sprintcar racing event of their September through April season, comparable in many ways to the mid-August Knoxville Nationals in the United States. In fact, the Classic is Australia’s exclusive international qualifier for Knoxville’s Kele World Challenge to be run on Friday, August 15.

Ranked third in the seasonal voting is Pittman’s WSS challenger, Robbie Farr of New South Wales, while Dumesny is ranked fourth. Rounding out the top ten drivers at the mid-way point in the Down Under season are Australian Brooke Tatnell, American Brad Furr, and Aussies Kerry Madsen, Stephen Bell, Garry Brazier and Ryan Farrell, respectively.

The Australian National Sprintcar Poll is an official awards program of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum Foundation of Knoxville, Iowa. The 2002/03 Australian National Sprintcar Poll post-season awards will be presented on Friday, August 15, during the Knoxville Nationals.

“Salute to the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic” 2002/2003 Australian National Sprintcar Poll

Rank/ Driver (First Place Votes)/ State/Country /Points

• 1. Daryn Pittman (9) Oklahoma, USA 1400
• 2. Joey Saldana (9) Indiana, USA 1150
• 3. Robbie Farr New South Wales, AUS 720
• 4. Max Dumesny (1) Victoria, AUS 567
• 5. Brooke Tatnell New South Wales, AUS 307
• 6. Brad Furr California, USA 272
• 7. Kerry Madsen New South Wales, AUS 250
• 8. Stephen Bell Victoria, AUS 169
• 9. Garry Brazier New South Wales, AUS 164
• 10. Ryan Farrell Western Australia, AUS 149
• 11. Trevor Green South Australia, AUS 138
• 12. Cameron Gessner Queensland, AUS 120
• tie Jeff Shepard Maryland, USA 120
• 14. Andrew Scheuerle Queensland, AUS 85
• 15. David Murcott Tasmania, AUS 66
• 16. Ian Lewis Victoria, AUS 63
• 17. Darrell Hodges Queensland, AUS 41
• tie Darren Jensen Queensland, AUS 41
• 19. Steven Graham New South Wales, AUS 36
• 20. Matthew Reed Victoria, AUS 27
• 21. Skip Jackson New South Wales, AUS 16
• tie Troy Little New South Wales, AUS 16
• 23. Jason Johnson Louisiana, USA 15
• 24. Kurt Winker Wisconsin, USA 10
• 25. Mike Figliomeni Western Australia, AUS 8
• tie Phil March South Australia, AUS 8

Also receiving multiple votes: Luke Dillon, Rob Rankin, Ken Sartori, Donny Schatz.

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