DRIVERS

Craig Dollansky

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 All-HammerDown! Team Member

Dollansky again at Huset's - By Tony Veneziano - Brandon, SD— July 3, 2008—The last time that Craig Dollansky visited Huset’s Speedway on June 13 with the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, he picked up a win over Donny Schatz, snapping a three-race win streak by the two-time defending series champion. On Thursday night, it was déjà vu, as Dollansky won for the second time this season at the high-banked 3/8-mile and again snapped a three race win streak that Schatz had going. Dollansky led all 35 laps after starting on the outside of the front row to earn his fifth Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature win of the season and his sixth career victory at Huset’s Speedway. The triumph was worth $10,000 for the native of Elk River, Minnesota. (read it all)

Eagle Nationals to Dollansky - HD Staff - June 14, 2008 - Craig Dollansky backed up his Huset's Speedway World of Outlaws win with another victory in the Eagle Nationals at Eagle Raceway Saturday night. The event was one of 60 points earning races in the Racer's Racing Series. Dollansky started from the pole and drove away in traffic to win the non-stop 40-lap feature. Dollansky took the lead from Steve Kinser on lap four to cap a night that saw him win his heat race, and the dash. Kinser finished second, with Jason Meyers third, Donny Schatz fourth, and Shane Stewart fifth. The top ten was completed by Joey Saldana, Jac Haudenschild, Terry McCarl, Sam Hafertepe Jr., and Kerry Madsen.

Dollansky Wins Big at Skagit - Alger, WA—Aug. 25, 2007--By: Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director. - It not only takes a fast car, but also a little luck to win a World of Outlaws event. Craig Dollansky experienced a little bit of both on Saturday night, to earn his third A-Feature win of the season and the healthy $25,000 pay check that went along with it.After running in the Top-Three for the entire race, he took advantage of Steve Kinser’s misfortune, as the 20-time World of Outlaws champion suffered a mechanical failure in the driveline of his car. At this time, Dollansky was right behind Joey Saldana and quickly powered his way to the lead on the high side of the track as Saldana momentarily lifted off the throttle.“It’s great to win a race like that,” said Dollansky, driver of the Karavan Trailers Maxim. “This is a great effort by the entire team. My crew chief Mike Woodring, Matt Hill and Lester (Groves) have been working hard and it’s great to get a win.” (Read it all)

Dollansky opens 53rd Gold Cup with win. Schatz suffers minor burns in major fire - By Bobby Gerould - Chico, CA. September 7, 2006 - Craig Dollansky's preliminary night win in the opening round of the 53rd Gold Cup Race of Champions was overshadowed by a scary heat four crash involving World of Outlaws points leader Donny Schatz. Andy Forsberg and Schatz were racing for the final transfer spot, into the feature event, off of turn two, when their cars touched and Schatz's #15 smacked the concrete wall. The contact compressed the fuel cell (tail tank) and it immediately ignited as Schatz was flipping. The car landed upright in a huge ball of flame with the North Dakota Knoxville Nationals winner scrambling out of the car and into a pool of blazing methanol. Fire crews and other drivers watching from the pits came to Schatz's rescue - dousing the flames with fire extinguishers. The frightening event earned Schatz a trip to a local Chico hospital. It was announced at the track that Schatz was treated for minor burns and released. ...Dollansky won the race in traffic after he had lost the lead to Danny Lasoski. Lasoski held on for second place and Forsberg, the 2006 Silver Dollar Speedway track champion, thrilled the local fans with a third place run. Paul McMahan passed Mike Henry late for fourth. Henry completed the top-five. ...McMahan set quick time. (Summary)

Dollansky conquers Calistoga - September 3, 2006 - Calistoga, CA. - By Bobby Gerould - Craig Dollansky won $12,000 for his drive in the Harvest Classic Sunday night at Calistoga Speedway. The World of Outlaws sanctioned win marked the first time in his career that Dollansky won at the legendary Napa Valley half-mile dirt track. Danny Lasoski finished second, followed by Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, and Jeremy Campbell who started 21st. (Summary)

Dollansky wins 'Knight before Kings Royal' - New Weston, OH—July 14, 2006—By: Tony Veneziano, WoO Sprint Series PR Director ...Craig Dollansky showed he is one of the favorites for the 23rd Annual Kings Royal Presented by Crown Royal, after picking up the Feature win on Friday night. He took the lead on the fifth lap of the 30-lap Knight Before the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway. He started third in the Karavan Trailers Maxim and moved to the lead after Kevin Swindell flipped while leading in the York Excavating Maxim. Dollansky then withstood a late charge by Terry McCarl in the Big Game Treestands Eagle to pick up his third win of the year and second at Eldora. McCarl closed within a couple of car lengths on a late restart and showed he too will be a contender on Saturday night. “It definitely feels good to get a few wins here this year,” said Dollansky. “We’ve been close a few times, and didn’t get it done. This team is a work in progress, and just keep at it every night. The car felt really good, and it felt good last time we were here too. We have a good package here. Hopefully we can put together again tomorrow.” (Read it all)

Dollansky WoO winner at Eldora, conquers track where he broke his leg - Rossburg, Ohio — June 3, 2006 — By Tony Veneziano, WoO Sprint Series PR Director ...Dominating was the only way to describe Craig Dollansky’s performance on Saturday night in the World of Outlaws Sprint Series feature at Eldora Speedway. The driver of the Karavan Trailers Maxim won the dash in convincing form to earn the pole for the 30-lap A-Main, after turning the third-fastest qualifying lap. At the outset of the feature, Dollansky jumped out to the lead but was hounded by Joey Saldana in the Dodge/Curb Records JEI. Saldana went high and low, lap after lap. The Brownsburg, Ind., native looked for any opening he could, but Dollansky held him at bay. Saldana was the second-fastest qualifier of the night in addition to winning a heat, but he had a tire go down during a Lap 10 caution and was forced to the work area for a new Hoosier tire, also forcing him to restart at the back of the field. Dollansky withstood a couple of late cautions and pulled away from second-place finisher Jason Solwold’s in the City Wide Insulation Maxim. When the checkered flag fell on Dollansky’s second win of the season, he had led all 30 laps. A native of Elk River, Minn., Dollansky now has 14 career World of Outlaws feature wins. It was his second win at Eldora, as he scored a win at the legendary track in 2002. The win was worth $10,000 for the driver known as “The Crowd Pleaser.” (More)

Dollansky wins WoO event - Haubstadt, IN — April 15, 2006 — By Tony Veneziano, WoO Sprint Series PR Director ...Craig Dollansky has been one of the strong racers on the World of Outlaws Sprint Series circuit during the past three weeks, surging through the ranks and back into contention for a championship. On Saturday night, he took another major leap toward a title when he dominated the feature at Tri-State Speedway and powered his Karavan Trailers Maxim into the RacinSoles Victory Lane for his first win this season and the 13th A-feature victory of his career. (Read the whole deal)

Gold Cup night one to Dollansky - By Bobby Gerould - Chico, CA. 09/08/05 ...Craig Dollansky of Elk River, MN turned in a near flawless night of racing at Silver Dollar Speedway Thursday night. His feature win, dash win, and track record were a third place run in his heat away from being called a clean sweep. Dollansky said the crew put together a new car after recent struggles. "We built a new car and changed a lot of stuff around. Hopefully we can keep our momentum up now." Dollansky started on the pole and was never too seriously challenged. Tim Shaffer ran a strong second the majority of the 30-lap Gold Cup preliminary feature on the quarter-mile highly-banked dirt oval. Shaffer closed on Dollansky at different times but was not able to overtake him. Shaffer finished second ahead of Jason Meyers. Donny Schatz hopped the steep cushion on the opening lap of the feature and then charged from the rear to a fourth place finish; nipping Brooke Tatnell at the checkered flag. Paul McMahan was sixth, with Roger Crockett seventh. The top ten was filled out by Jason Statler, Shane Stewart, and Brent Kaeding. 2005 Knoxville Nationals winner Kraig Kinser failed to qualify for the preliminary A-Main. He crashed in his heat race, and then spun out while in a transfer spot in the B-Main. Two-time SDS Champion Tim Kaeding had a forgettable night. Two separate incidents in the feature led to a DNF. Dollansky's track record run in time-trials was a single lap at 11.281 seconds. ...The total field is split for the two preliminary races. Friday night runners scheduled are Steve Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Joey Saldana, Jac Haudenschild, Jon Allard, Sean Becker, Brandon Wimmer, Kyle Hirst, Robert Ballou, Terry McCarl, Jason Solwold, Jason Sides, and Brian Paulus plus many more.

Dollansky continues early season speed, wins Manzanita prelim - HD Staff - 03/04/05 - Phoenix, AZ. ...Craig Dollansky won his second straight World of Outaws feature event Friday night at Manzanita Speedway. Driving his own Karavan MotorSports #7, Dollansky beat Danny Lasoski to the checkered. Dollansky, the Elk River, MN. driver, won the Bakersfield Speedway event last Saturday night. Finishing third at Manzy was defending WoO champion Steve Kinser. Shane Stewart ran a strong fourth, and Brooke Tatnell was fifth in his first USA race of 2005. Sixth through tenth fell to Sammy Swindell, Kraig Kinser, Daryn Pittman, Tim Kaeding, and Donny Schatz. ...Kevin Swindell, the sixteen year-old son of Sammy Swindell, set quick time vs. the 34 car field. The event concludes Saturday night.

Cold 'Bakerspatch' to the Crowd Pleaser - Oildale, CA - February 26, 2005 - By Chris Dolack, World of Outlaws Senior Writer ...It took 10 years for the World of Outlaws Sprint Series to return to Bakersfield Speedway, but it was worth the wait. On a night where the track speed record seemed to drop with every qualifying run, Craig Dollansky slipped past Joey Saldana to collect $10,000 as he became the fifth different winner in five Outlaws feature events this season. Dollansky started the 35-lap A-Main in third, directly behind the pole-sitter Saldana. In heavy traffic on the tacky 1/3-mile dirt oval, Dollansky methodically worked his way past second-place starter Brian Paulus and sized up Saldana. (Read it all)

Dollansky Wins After Mark Kinser too light at scales - HD Staff - Knoxville, IA. 06/26/04 ...Mark Kinser was the first to the checkered flag but lost the race at the scales Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway. Kinser driving the Beef Packers #83, tuned by father Karl, took the lead from Craig Dollansky low exiting turn 2 on a final lap restart. The #83 was found to be too light at the scales, handing the win to Craig Dollansky. Sammy Swindell was also light at the scales wiping away a fifth place run. (More)

‘Crowd Pleaser’ Completes Princeton National Sweep By Richard Day PRINCETON, MN (May 22) – Craig Dollansky passed Kraig Kinser following a 37th-lap restart and led the final 3 1/3 laps to complete his sweep of the Inaugural Polydome Princeton National Saturday at Princeton Speedway. “The Crowd Pleaser,” who also won Friday’s Preliminary Feature, collided with the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year points leader while executing the winning pass, drawing the ire of the Kinser family. “It’s been a great week,” Dollansky yelled to the sellout crowd. “‘The King’ (Steve Kinser) is a little upset, and so is his kid (Kraig). I’ve braked for him a lot of times in the past and I had the run on Kraig, and that’s the way it goes. He’s got a brake on that car; I guess he just needs to learn to use it. I know I got into Kraig’s left front a little bit and Steve’s upset, but he’d better get used to it because I’m getting ready to go dethrone him. (more)

Craig Dollansky is all the Way Back , Wins I-55. Kinser Flips - HD Staff, - Pevely, MO. 04/17/04 - "I came back from a pretty tough injury last year, and I have to thank my family, and Dr. (Terry) Trammell for all of their support. It’s great to get back to victory lane." The quotes were from feature winner Craig Dollansky who missed the second half of 2003 with a severe injury. Saturday night Dollansky proved that he is healthy again with a wire-to-wire 40 lap win at I-55 Speedway. Driving the VMAC Racing #7, Dollansky won handily on the tight quarter-mile. Following Dollansky to the checkered flag were Daryn Pittman, Tim Shaffer, Tyler Walker, and Jason Sides. “This definitely helps", said the winner. "We had the fastest car last night before we got taken out by a lapped car. I think that with D.J. Lindsey and Rod Fauver I’ve got the best crew I’ve ever had, and they gave me a great race car all night, along with everyone else who makes this happen: Scott Boyd, VMAC, Hoosier tires, Charlie Garrett engines, and Maxim Chassis. (More)

Fauver Brings Wrench Skills to Dollansky - By Barry Braun - Elk River, MN (March 10) -- Karavan Dollansky Racing is pleased to announce the addition of veteran wrench Rod Fauver. Fauver, from Chico, California, brings 20 plus years of experience to the Karavan / Dollansky Team. In 1997 Craig raced the number 64 Fauver-owned sprinter during the Outlaws Western swing in the fall of that year. Fauver and Dollansky again teamed up for a short run in 1998. Rod met up with the team at Manzanita Speedway for the World of Outlaws Sprint Series opener on March 20. Since then Craig has been very happy with the progress they have made together. The number 7 sprinter had mechanical failures the first two nights, but since then has finished 2nd in the team's last three outings. "Rod and I have hit it off pretty well since he joined us in Phoenix” said Dollansky. “I'm hoping the chemistry and communication continues to improve as we progress through the season." The addition of Rod Fauver to the Karavan / Dollansky team will add to the proven combination Craig has with 2003 World of Outlaws Crew Chief of the Year - D.J. Lindsey.

Craig Dollansky set to return October 24, 2003 at Kilgore, TX - By Barry Braun - Elk River, MN – October 16, 2003 - When your life is driving and your heart is to race, you burn to return. Five months after a vicious injury that threatened his career, Craig Dollansky, driver of the Karavan Motorsports/Craig Dollansky Racing VMAC sponsored # 7 sprinter, is coming back to the O’ Reillys World of Outlaws circuit. The Elk River, MN, native whose career was sidetracked May 17, 2003, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during an Infiniti Pro Series race, has transferred his drive, determination, and focus to his rehabilitation. October 24, Craig will get strapped back in the VMAC 7 at the Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, TX, his first competition in over five months. “There are no limitations to what I can do now,” said Dollansky. “I’m doing everything that I did before, but better. After spending countless hours in the gym I have my body back to the point I did before the accident. I’m strong, flexible and ready to race.” Dollansky will visit Dr. Trammel in Indianapolis for a final check up on October 21, 2003. The Karavan/Dollansky # 7 returns to the track with Craig as the pilot on October 23, 2003, for testing in preparation for the racing weekend and the rest of the 2003 WoO schedule. “We need this time. I’ve been away and I need to get acclimated with the team again,” said Dollansky. Looking forward, the Karavan/Dollansky team has aspirations to compete for the 2004 O’ Reillys World of Outlaws championship starting in January in Australia. Jason Meyers, fill in driver for the # 7, will return to his co-owned Guy Stockbridge, Elite Landscaping ride for the remainder of the 2003 season and beyond.

...There is a good story on Craig Dollansky in the Indianapolis Star. Check it out.

Dollansky Undergoes Back Surgery Following Indy Crash By Richard Day INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 18) – O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series racer Craig Dollansky underwent surgery on his injured back Sunday and will remain in Methodist Hospital for a week. Dollansky crashed during the Infiniti Pro Series Freedom 100 Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As rain fell on the legendary race track, the #33 VMAC/Karavan Trailers/FattFro Motorsports car Dollansky was driving slid through the second corner, across the grass, back onto the racing surface and into the outside retaining wall. The 2000 World of Outlaws Gumout Series champion suffered a compression fracture to a vertebra in his lower back in the crash. “The surgery went well,” Craig’s wife, Julie, said Sunday. “He’s alert after the 6 ½-hour surgery, but he’s pretty uncomfortable. He will be here at Methodist Hospital for a week and the healing process will take a few months.” Dr. Terry Trammel, who specializes in treating racing related injuries, supervised Dollansky’s surgery. NASCAR Busch Series driver Kasey Kahne will drive Karavan Motorsports’ #7 VMAC Maxim in the upcoming O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series events at Grandview Speedway, Hagerstown Speedway and at Lernerville Speedway. Dollansky ranked third in the point standings, with 15 top-10 finishes – 10 in the top five – through the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series’ first 19 events this season. The O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series and the entire racing community wish “The Crowd Pleaser” a speedy recovery.

The 'Crowd Pleaser' Opens 27th East Bay Winter Nationals with Win - East Bay Raceway Park - Wed. 2/12/03 By Andrew Barman Gibsonton, FL - "I was running the low line in open track, but here at East Bay, lapped traffic usually dictates who the winner will be," a happy Craig Dollansky related after he won the opener of the 27th annual East Bay Winternationals Wednesday night. He also credited Maxim Chassis, Hoosier Tires and his Charlie Fisher engine from victory lane. Dollansky, known as the Crowd Pleaser, is sponsored by Vmac with associate sponsor from FattFro Motorsports. (more)

Craig Dollansky won the first night at East Bay Raceway Park's 27th Annual Winter Nationals. Dollansky was able to catch defending All-Star Champion Chad Kemenah on the 17th lap for the win. (Photo by Jay Parrish)

Fall 2002 ...Craig Dollansky hasn't finished outside of the top-ten in a World of Outlaws Feature since September 1, at Calistoga. The 'Crowd Pleaser' has been a model of consistency lately, running in the top-five in 9 of his last 15 races. That is particularly impressive, considering the level of competition the series has faced at tracks from California to Pennsylvania. Dollansky's Karavan racing #7 has the best average finish in the last 15 races, among all WoO teams.

July 2002 - …Craig Dollansky has been racing with a bad back. The true sprint car ironman proved his mettle two years ago when he broke his leg at Eldora on Friday, and raced Saturday.

Jim Fleming captured Craig after a dash win at Husets in 2002.

Dollansky Takes Eagle Nationals Opener By Richard Day EAGLE, NE (June 20) - Craig Dollansky spoiled Stevie Smith's near-perfect performance Thursday when the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series opened the 19th Annual Eagle Nationals, passing him early in the 17th lap on his way to winning the preliminary feature. Smith, the fastest qualifier in the 38-car field, earned the right to start the 30-lap feature on the pole by winning the First O'Reilly Auto Parts Heat Race. The 1990 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award winner led the first 16 1/3 laps, but was .22 seconds behind Dollansky at the checkered flag. "What a great job by Craig Cormack and his whole crew preparing the race track," Dollansky said. "It was about 100 degrees out here today, but he gave us a perfect race track. This is a first-class facility." (more)

Dollansky Dominates Eldora Speedway Event By Richard Day ROSSBURG, OH (April 13) - With nine straight top-10 finishes, Craig Dollansky has been the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series' most consistent racer lately. Until Saturday, however, the 2000 World of Outlaws Gumout Series champion was unable to put the #7 V-Mac/Polydome Maxim in victory lane. (read the whole story)

Craig is crowd pleasing. (Jim Fisher)

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