Top Story: McCarl wins Knoxville WoO - By Tony Veneziano - June 27, 2009 ...Knoxville, IA. ...Terry McCarl had been in contention a number of times for wins this season with the World of Outlaws and came up just short in each of those bids. He entered Saturday night's event at his home track of Knoxville Raceway with three runner-up finishes with the series in 2009 and also had three second-place finishes at the legendary half-mile. McCarl put all of those near misses behind him with a dominating performance in the World of Outlaws final stop of the season and the famed track on Saturday night leading flag to flag to pick up his eighth career A-Feature win with the series in a race that was completed in less than seven minutes and ran caution free. “It felt good to come home and win tonight and to hold off Donny Schatz,” said McCarl. “I always feel like these are good tune-ups for the (Knoxville) Nationals. We almost won this race last time and he got us late in the race. I feel like we are a contender if we keep our stuff together.” McCarl started on the pole for the 25-lap A-Feature for the second consecutive night in the Big Game Treestands Maxim and the fourth time on the season as he chased his first World of Outlaws win since last fall. After starting first on Friday night at U.S. 36 Raceway, and falling to sixth by the end of that race, he was determined on Saturday night to stay at the front of the field. McCarl set a blistering pace, lapping all the way up to the eighth-place finisher. “I couldn't sleep last night, I was so disappointed in myself,” admitted the winner. “We were really fast last night at U.S. 36 (Raceway). What a great race track it was. I just misread the track and we backed her up last (Friday) night.” ...Donny Schatz finished second at Knoxville - and overtook Sammy Swindell for the lead in the Racer's Racing Series point standings. Kraig Kinser was third, with Steve Kinser, and Jason Sides next in line.

Feature Photo:

Jesse Hockett's VKCC Motorsports / Tom Buch No. 13 entry carried a special look in tribute to Daniel McMillin at Saturday night's event at Missouri's Lake Ozark Speedway (Lonnie Wheatley photo)

Calistoga Speedway Winners List	Chico Winners List
Images (See 2008 Gold Cup photos here)	Yearbook Headlines

Positivity - By Bobby Gerould -...Condolences to the family. friends, and loved ones of Brian Healey who passed away Thursday after suffering a heart attack. "Healeyman" was an Australian that lived and worked in Sacramento, CA. while still promoting races 'down under' as co-owner of Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway. He is widely recognized as the man who brought 410 sprint car racing to Australia. Healey was also famously known as one of Steve Kinser's closest friends, and confidants. It won't be the same not seeing him around the #11 when Kinser rolls through California in September. (More Positivity)

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Barnes back-to-back Dirt Cup winner. Wild race includes bad luck for Walker and Crockett - HD Staff - Alger, WA. June 20, 2009 - Jayme Barnes of Everett, WA scored $25,000 Saturday night at Skagit Speedway by winning his second consecutive Jim Raper Memorial Super Dirt Cup. Barnes started outside row one in the Law Motorsports #33b - getting the jump on polesitter Tyler Walker. Walker got past Barnes coming out of turn four on lap eight of 40. Roger Crockett, looking for his first Dirt Cup win, eventually got around Barnes to take second place. The race climaxed on lap 35 when Crockett's car overheated and slowed and Tommy Tarlton also stopped to bring out the yellow flag. During the caution, Walker's car lost all of its water due to a punctured hose. Walker stopped on the front stretch and was pushed to the pit area. Barnes inherited the lead and handled the restart and final five laps to score the popular victory. Tim Kaeding finished second in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. His brother Bud, who started right alongside him in the fourth row, ended up third in his No. 29. The run of the night belonged to three-time Dirt Cup champion Brent Kaeding. "BK" started sixth in the B-Main, transferred to the A-Main and came from the 21st starting position to finish fourth in his own No. 69.

Walker, Allard in Dirt Cup prelims - June 20, 2009 - Alger, WA. HD Staff - Tyler Walker and Jon Allard were the winners of preliminary main events on Thursday and Friday night at Skagit Speedway. The Jim Raper Memorial Super Dirt Cup tonight features the top six in event points in a scramble race to determine the polesitter in the A-Main. Walker and Allard will be joined in the scramble by Peter Murphy, Jayme Barnes, Tommy Tarlton, and Roger Crockett. The rest of the drivers that have already qualified for the A-Main are: Bud Kaeding, Tim Kaeding, Rick Fauver, Shane Stewart, Kyle Hirst, Chad Hillier, Jason Solwold, Brock Lemley, Jesse Whitney, and Travis Rutz.

Saldana sweeps Dodge City weekend - HD Staff - Dodge City, KS. June 13, 2009 - ...Joey Saldana won his series best tenth feature event Saturday night in World of Outlaws action at Dodge City Raceway Park. The teams endured a three hour rain delay before Saldana was able to lead every lap of the feature. Donny Schatz finished second with Sam Hafertepe Jr. third.

Schatz Wins at Lawrenceburg to Pick up First Career Win in Indiana - Lawrenceburg, IN— June 6, 2009—Donny Schatz competed in the state of Indiana for the first time back in 1997 during his rookie season with the World of Outlaws. In nearly 40 career starts in the Hoosier State leading into Saturday night's finale at Lawrenceburg Speedway, the three-time and defending series champion had finished second or third six times in the state, but was still looking for that elusive first victory. He changed that all on Saturday night as he battled Jason Meyers and Joey Saldana to pick up the win at the pristine high-banked 3/8-mile located in Southeastern Indiana. Schatz was trailed at the checkered flag by Meyers, Danny Lasoski, Steve Kinser, and Jason Sides. ...Saldana did not finish due to a broken U-joint.

McDaniel killed at Knoxville - HD Staff - May 30, 2009 - Knoxville, IA. ...Chad McDaniel of Concordia, KS died Saturday morning due to injuries suffered in a midget crash Friday night at Knoxville Raceway. According to the Des Moines Register, McDaniel’s car struck another driven by Davey Ray on the 18th lap of the 20-lap USAC King Doodlebug Classic feature race. Ray’s car flipped in the fourth turn before being hit by McDaniel. McDaniel, 34, was taken by ambulance to Knoxville Area Community Hospital before being transported by helicopter to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. ...McDaniel is survived by his wife Trish and their two children Trevor and Taylor. ...McDaniel is the 16th racing-related death at Knoxville, according to Des Moines Register research. The most recent fatality came in 2006, when Steve King of Jetmore, Kan., died from injuries suffered in a crash.

Saldana stars in Charlotte - By Bobby Gerould - Concord, NC. May 22, 2009 - Joey Saldana stole the lead from Donny Schatz, in traffic on lap 20 of 30, Friday night at the Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway, to win an exciting World of Outlaws feature event. The race was televised on Speed TV. Jason Sides also passed Schatz to earn a runner-up finish. Schatz came home third with daryn Pittman, and Steve Kinser completing the top-five. The race was a points earning event in the Racer's Racing Series.

Hodnett beats WoO at the Grove - HD Staff - May 15, 2009 - Mechanicsburg, PA. ...Greg Hodnett and the Pennsylvania Posse put a hurtin' on the World of Outlaws Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway. Only three WoO regulars finished in the top 15 positions in the A-Main at the legendary half-mile dirt track. Hodnett led a top five that included Cody Darrah, Stevie Smith, Dave Ely, and Donny Schatz. Sixth through tenth were: Daryn Pittman, Todd Shaffer, Brian Montieth, Fred Rahmer, and Keith Kauffman. The tough race drew 45 teams. It was a points earning event in the season long HammerDownUSA.com Racer's Racing Series.

Déjà Vu: Schatz Wins at Eldora & Takes WoO Point Lead - Rossburg, OH— May 9, 2009 - By Tony Veneziano. ...For the second consecutive year, Donny Schatz won a race at Eldora Speedway in the month of May and took the lead in the World of Outlaws championship standings in the process. The three-time and defending series champion used a very fast race car and a little luck when 20-time series champion Steve Kinser broke with just two laps remaining to inherit the lead and ultimately the $10,000 win and take the point lead in the process. The win for Schatz was the fifth of his career at Eldora Speedway, which is owned by his car owner, two-time NASCAR champions Tony Stewart. For the North Dakota native, it was his 93rd career A-Feature win with the World of Outlaws. He has won five times this season, all on half-mile tracks aboard the Armor All J&J. “It was a great night,” said Schatz. “This is what we needed here. We learned so much tonight. The car was just great. When you can come from fifth up there and pass those guys like that is a good night. Sometimes you have to be lucky also and we got a little luck tonight as well. I'm very happy to pick up a win here at Eldora.” Sammy Swindell finished second and maintained his lead in the HammerDownUSA.com Racer's Racing Series. Third through fifth fell to Danny Lasoski, Craig Dollansky, and Randy Hannagan.

It's still Schatzville. WoO champ wins at Knoxville - By Tony Veneziano - Knoxville, IA., May 2, 2009. ...After enduring more than his fair share of bad luck last weekend, Donny Schatz was bound and determined to get back on track at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa on Saturday night. The three-time and defending World of Outlaws champion showed he would be the man to beat, setting fast time and then charging from the fourth starting spot in the first heat race to win that heat and earn a spot in the dash. He wrapped up the night by winning the 25-lap A-Feature, taking the lead from Terry McCarl with five laps to go. For Schatz, it was his second consecutive win at Knoxville aboard the Armor All J&J for Tony Stewart Racing and his fifth in his last seven starts at the famed half-mile. The victory worth $10,000 on Saturday night was his fourth of the season and the 92nd of his World of Outlaws career. “To get a victory is all you can ask for, especially after the weekend we had last week and we're going to have them, but we're not going to stay down long,” said Schatz in Victory Lane. “We come back kicking.” ...McCarl was second, followed by Steve Kinser, Brian Brown, and Jac Haudenschild. There were 47 cars on hand.

On Top of the World: Kinser Wins at Tri-State Speedway & Takes Over World of Outlaws Point Lead - Haubstadt, IN— April 25, 2009 - By Tony Veneziano ... It's hard to believe that 2005 was the last time that Steve Kinser was on top of the World of Outlaws championship standings. The 20-time series title winner changed that on Saturday night as he won at Tri-State Speedway in his home state of Indiana and in the process took over the point lead from three-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz. Kinser started on the pole and actually fell back to fourth early in the race, before moving back into third and then the runner-up spot, as he battled Terry McCarl tooth and nail down the stretch for the win. Kinser got under McCarl exiting turns three and four on the 38th lap which would ultimately be the pass for the lead and the win, after he looked high on McCarl in turns one and two and again in turns three and four for two consecutive laps. The $10,000 triumph was Kinser's first win of the season and the 551st of his World of Outlaws career. “I'm just glad to win a race,” said a relieved Kinser in Victory Lane. “We have been around the Top-Five all year and hadn't won one. I'm just darn glad to win a race.”

Tim Kaeding wins WoO West Memphis - HD Staff - April 24, 2009 - W. Memphis, AR. - Tim Kaeding drove the Roth Motorsports #83 to victory at Riverside International Speedway Friday night. The World of Outlaws triumph was worth $10,000. Tony Bruce Jr. finished second followed by Brooke Tatnell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Randy Hannagan. The race was a points earning event in the Racer's Racing Series.

Meyers paces Pacducah - By Tony Veneziano - Paducah, KY. April 17, 2009 - ...Jason Meyers felt like a win slipped away from him and his team last season at Paducah International Raceway as he had just taken the lead when a caution flag flew prior to the lap being completed, placing him back in the second spot, where he would eventually finish. He made up for the near miss in impressive fashion on Friday night, leading all 30 laps to pick up his first career win at the high-banked 3/8-mile in the Bluegrass State. Meyers started on the pole and never looked back en route to the $10,000 triumph, which was the 29th of his World of Outlaws career, which ties him for 14th on the all-time win list. It was his second win of 2009 and helped him move into the third spot in the series championship standings, just 12 markers out of second. “To be able to get our second win of the season is very special to us,” said Meyers. “We have had some new additions to the team recently and everyone is working hard and it is paying off." This team has been working very hard and they never quit. They keep digging. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come, that both races we have won, we qualified outside of the (heat race) inversion and had to do it the hard way.” After turning in the 22nd fastest lap in time trials, Meyers started sixth in the second heat race and powered his way to a runner-up finish to earn a spot in the Crane Cams Dash, in which he started second and would win to earn the pole position for the 30-lap main event aboard the GLR Investments KPC. Donny Schatz finished second, followed by tenth starting Randy Hannagan, Steve Kinser and Chad Kemenah.

Saldana sweeps Texas weekend - HD Staff - April 11, 2009. ...Joey Saldana won both World of Outlaws feature events this weekend at Lone Star Speedway and Houston Raceway Park. That makes it five feature wins already this season for the Kasey Kahne Racing #9. Saldana now has 44 career World of Outlaws A-Feature wins and is just two shy of Bobby Davis Jr., who is 10th on the all-time win list. Saturday's top-five finishers were: Saldana, Donny Schatz (from 14th), Craig Dollansky, Danny Lasoski, and Steve Kinser. ...Friday night at Lone Star Speedway, Saldana beat Schatz, Kinser, Jason Meyers, and Lasoski.

Kemenah closes out WoO at Manzy - By Tony Veneziano - Phoenix, AZ. March 28, 2009 - Chad Kemenah put his name in the history books on Saturday night, as he led all 30 laps en route to winning the final World of Outlaws event at the legendary Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix. The victory also marked the first World of Outlaws win for his car owner Jon Kantor of Oklahoma. Kemenah earned $10,000 for the third victory of his World of Outlaws career and the first since 2006. He battled the two winningest drivers in World of Outlaws history for the victory, with Sammy Swindell challenging him early in the race and Steve Kinser in the later going. “This is really special,” said Kemenah. “I wanted to get the first win for the race team and I wanted to get it for Jon Kantor. He has given me the opportunity to come out here and compete against these guys every night. I told him we would get one and now hopefully we can one after another. That would be very nice. We need to consistently run up front.” Kemenah added his name to a legendary list of drivers that have won at Manzanita Speedway over the 50-plus years the track located at the corner of 35th and Broadway has been in existence. He became the 12th driver to win an A-Feature with the World of Outlaws at the half-mile, as he piloted the Kantor Oil Company Maxim to a win in the second heat race and a win in the Crane Cams Dash to earn the pole position for the 30-lap main event. Kinser, who had 21 career wins at Manzanita Speedway, dating back to 1979, battled his longtime rival Swindell for a number of laps for the second spot a couple of different times over the course of the race. The native of Bloomington, Indiana was running second in the early going and looked to the inside of Kemenah on a lap-8 restart. He kept pace with Kemenah for a number of laps in lapped traffic, en route to a second-place performance, which moved him to within 11 points of three-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz in the standings. “We were pretty good,” said Kinser. “I got a little loose and with the rubber coming in, I was afraid to burn the tire off, so I went a little conservative.” Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, battled second-year driver Lucas Wolfe for a majority of Saturday night's event, eventually coming home third in the Casey's General Stores JEI to earn his fourth Top-Five finish of the season. Kraig Kinser started ninth and finished fourth in the Bass Pro Shops Maxim He got around Jason Meyers on the opening lap, before working on Terry McCarl and Lucas Wolfe. Wolfe wound up fifth in the Allebach Racing Maxim to earn his best finish of the season. Jason Meyers was sixth in the GLR Investments KPC, with Terry McCarl seventh in the Big Game Treestands Maxim. Jason Sides was eighth in the Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim, with Johnny Herrera finishing ninth to earn the KSE Race Products Hard Charger Award. Craig Dollansky rounded out the Top-10 in the Direct TV Maxim for Kasey Kahne Racing.

Saldana, Hannagan top Tulare - By Bobby Gerould - Tulare, CA. March 21, 2009 - ...Joey Saldana and Randy Hannagan headlined the World of Outlaws action at Thunderbowl Raceway this weekend. Hannagan won the Friday A-Main while Saldana won a non-stop 35 lapper Saturday to earn the $10,000 winner's share of the purse. ...Friday's race was entertaining as Hannagan moved to the front of the pack and then withheld challenges from Sammy Swindell to secure the popular victory. Saturday's feature was contested on a slippery Thunderbowl track surface that saw slower lap times but an up tick in slide jobs. Saldana won the points earning event in the Racer's Racing Series over Terry McCarl, and Swindell. ...McCarl established a new single lap track record for the high-banked 1/3-mile clay oval with a 12.713 clocking Friday night.

Meyers win his third Mini Gold Cup - By Bobby Gerould - Chico, CA. March 14, 2009 ...Jason Meyers was never headed in a 40-lap romp Saturday night at Silver Dollar Speedway. The Clovis, CA. veteran drove the Elite Racing/GLR #14 to the winner's circle on a chilly night at the quarter-mile clay oval. Danny Lasoski made the race interesting as he closed in on Meyers late in the action. However, Lasoski's rim-riding efforts fell short and he settled for the runner up position. Kraig Kinser rebounded from a tough opening night to finish third. Craig Dollansky and Steve Kinser completed the top-five. Jason Sides, Kerry Madsen, Jac Haudenschild, Jesse Hockett, and Jon Allard were sixth through tenth at the checkered flag. ...Lasoski paced 54 cars in time trials.

Saldana: track record and feature win in night one of Mini - By Bobby Gerould - Chico, CA. March 13, 2009. ...Friday the 13th was not a problem for Joey Saldana. The Indiana driver owned the opening night of action in Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway. Saldana, driving the Kasey Kahne Racing #9 Maxim, made the feature winning pass by using a "screen" by a lapped car to pass Kahne stablemate Craig Dollansky in traffic. Saldana then ran away to win comfortably over Jason Meyers, and Terry McCarl. B-Main winner Danny Lasoski finished fourth. ...Saldana opened the night with an ultra-fast 10.918 second clocking on the quarter-mile. The single lap was the first ever in the ten second bracket at the track. ...Steve Kinser's #11 suffered a broken frame rail on the left rear, in the dash, after he got into the concrete wall outside turn four. Kinser brought out a spare car and then raced from 24th starting, in the feature field, to a fifth place finish. ...Sixth through tenth in the 40 lapper were Chad Kemenah, Sammy Swindell, Randy Hannagan, Kerry Madsen, and Donny Schatz. Schatz rallied from an early mechanical problem that sent him to the rear of the pack. ...Drivers that endured flips on the night included Kraig Kinser, Chad Groves, and Brad Furr. ...54 cars were in the pits.

Mini Gold Cup ready for green - By Bobby Gerould - Chico, CA. March 12, 2009 ...The Mini Gold Cup returns to a World of Outlaws sanctioned event Friday and Saturday night at Silver Dollar Speedway. Not since 1992 has the popular race been a points earner in the rugged WoO winged sprint car series. Established as a 'must-see' event, the Mini Gold Cup offers a chance to witness the wild 800+ horsepower, 1200 lb. race cars on a surface deep with moisture. Spring rains traditionally saturate Northern California leaving the quarter-mile clay oval "heavy", and often softer than normal. The result is controlled mayhem with drivers doing all they can to keep their front wheels on the track. Favorites heading into the weekend include 2008 Gold Cup winner Jac Haudenschild of Wooster, OH., Tim Kaeding from San Jose, CA., 2008 Mini Gold Cup winner Jason Meyers of Clovis, CA., and defending WoO champion Donny Schatz from Fargo, ND. Also expected to contend for $10,000 feature wins are Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN.), Craig Dollansky (Elk River, MN.), Sammy Swindell (Germantown, TN.), Jon Allard (Chico), Steve Kinser (Bloomington, IN.), Brent Kaeding (Campbell, CA.), Joey Saldana (Brownsburg, IN.), Terry McCarl (Altoona, IA.), Danny Lasoski (Dover, MO.), Kerry Madsen (Australia), Randy Hannagan (Pittsboro, IN.), Andy Forsberg (Auburn, CA.), Tyler Walker (Los Angeles, CA.), and Kraig Kinser (Bloomington, IN.). Track event ticket information can be found by calling the track office at (916) 969-7484. ...The Mini Gold Cup can be seen on DIRTVision.com with live streaming video and audio for both nights of the event. Visit http://www.DIRTVision.com.

Schatz has hot hand, wins Vegas WoO - By Tony Veneziano - Las Vegas, NV— February 26, 2009—For Donny Schatz, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has always been a special place. He won the final World of Outlaws race of the millennium at the half-mile in 1999 and also was victorious in the series last visit to the track in 2006 when he capped his first series title with a victory. The three-time and defending series champion continued to add to his impressive resume at the track on Thursday night, picking up the win in the World of Outlaws return to Las Vegas before a packed grandstand. Schatz lined up third in the Armor All J&J and fell back to fourth early in the race before getting around Jason Sides and Craig Dollansky to move into second. He then used heavy lapped traffic to his advantage to pass three-time series champion Sammy Swindell on the low side of turns one and two on the 16th lap. He endured three cautions over the final 15 laps. The win for Schatz was his third of the season in World of Outlaws action. He now has 91 career A-Feature victories, which is fifth best all-time. He also extended his lead in the series championship standings to 37 over Jason Sides who moved back into the second spot. Swindell finished second followed by Dollansky, Sides, and Danny Lasoski. The race counted as a points earning event in the Racer's Racing Series.

Bud Kaeding, Hagen, Sweet capture features at Copper on Dirt - HD Staff - Phoenix, AZ. Feb. 21, 2009. ...Bud Kaeding, Darren Hagen, and Brad Sweet were the winners across the USAC Silver Crown, National Sprint Car, and National Midget divisions at the 2009 Copper on Dirt. Held Staurday at Manzanita Speedway - the Silver Crown feature awarded points in the Racer's Racing Series. The third annual event was highlighted by 25-lap Midget, 40-lap Sprint and 50-lap Silver Crown A-Mains on the half-mile dirt track. Kaeding's "Champ Car" win came over a top-five that included runner up Jesse Hockett, followed by Levi Jones, Tracy Hines, and Derek Hagar. ...The Sprint Cars drew 55 entries while there were 40 Midgets on hand.

Saldana nips Sides for WoO night two win at Volusia - By Tony Veneziano. February 7, 2009. Barberville, FL. ...Joey Saldana did not lead the most laps on Saturday night during at Volusia Speedway Park, but he led the last few hundred feet of the most important one, the last one to edge Jason Sides by just 0.138 seconds to earn his 40th career World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature win. Saldana led four times for seven laps in a race that saw him, Sides and Cody Darrah trade the top spot on six occasions. The win for the second generation driver was worth $10,000 and was his second with the World of Outlaws at Volusia Speedway Park. “It feels great to win this early in the season,” said Saldana. “We put ourselves in position to win. That is what you have to do with these guys to win races. Tonight we did it. We could have given up after a 24th place qualifying effort, but we stuck with it and got the win.” For Sides, it was his second consecutive runner-up finish at Volusia Speedway Park and in three races this week at the half-mile he has finished on the podium in each and every one of them aboard the Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim. He has finished sixth or better in all six of his starts this season in North America. “To start eighth and get to second and finish second would be great, but when you get to the lead and lead that many laps and have the caution come out and for him to drive back by on the last lap hurts,” Sides said. “Maybe we can keep this momentum going and have another good run tomorrow night and hopefully keep that going all year.” Jac Haudenschild picked up a third-place finish in the Owens-Corning Fiberglass Maxim after winning the third heat race. For the native of Wooster, Ohio, it was his third consecutive Top-10 finish this week. Greg Hodnett was fourth in the Macri Concrete JEI, with Stevie Smith in the Zemco Speed Equipment Maxim rounding out the Top-Five. Steve Kinser was sixth in the Quaker State Maxim, followed by Daryn Pittman in the Pete’s Bridge Street Motors Maxim, Donny Schatz in the Armor All J&J, Sammy Swindell in the Tom Rolfe Trucking Maxim and Jason Meyers in the GLR Investments KPC.

Strong Start for Schatz: Wins World of Outlaws Season Opener - Barberville, FL— February 6, 2009 - By Tony Veneziano —Donny Schatz picked up exactly where he left off last season on Friday night and that was in Victory Lane in the season opening World of Outlaws event at Volusia Speedway Park. The three-time and defending World of Outlaws champion tracked down Jason Sides in heavy lapped traffic on the 11th lap and led the remainder of the 30-lap contest that went nonstop to earn the $10,000 top prize, which was the 89th A-Feature win of his World of Outlaws career. It was the third win in the last four days of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH for Schatz, who now has seven wins in his career at the half-mile. “This is where we want to be,” said Schatz. “We wanted to get the first one under our belts and keep at it. We have this thing rolling very well and the guys are communicating very well. We are all doing what we are supposed to do and having fun.” ... Sides wound up second in the Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim. Dating back to the end of last season, Sides has finished sixth or better in seven of his last eight starts in a sprint car. The 2003 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, charged by Greg Hodnett on the final lap to earn the runner-up finish. Hodnett battled Sides for a number of laps in the middle of the race taking the second spot on the 12th lap and setting his sights on Schatz. He wound up third in the Macri Concrete JEI. Kraig Kinser finished fourth in the Bass Pro Shops Maxim, with three-time World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell rounding out the Top-Five in the Tom Rolfe Trucking Maxim.

Hockett scores Ronald Laney Memorial cash - Lonnie Wheatley, TAMPA, Fla. (January 31, 2009) – Missouri's Jesse Hockett added his name to the prestigious list of Ronald Laney Memorial feature winners by topping the eighth edition of the event that capped the opening weekend of East Bay Raceway Park's 33rd Annual Winter Nationals on Saturday night. Hockett's first American Sprint Car Series Rebel Region triumph was worth a hefty $12,500 and served notice that he'll be among this year's top title contenders with the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series, which kicks off the season with the Devil's Bowl Spring Nationals in March. A third-place finisher in 2006 ASCS National points, Hockett gridded Saturday night's feature field inside the fourth row aboard the VKCC Motorsports/Tom Buch No. 13 JEI and needed only nine rounds to take over the top position before leading the balance of the 40-lap distance. "Everything is new, from the ground up," Hockett explained in victory lane.  "The car was great, I don't think I turned the steering wheel more than two inches over those last eight laps." Jason Sides made a late move to snare the runner-up position.  Gene Lasker nipped Danny Martin, Jr., at the line for the show position, with Tony Bruce, Jr., rounding out the top five.

Racing Community Mourns Passing of Lou Blaney - By Chris Dolack - CONCORD, N.C. — Jan. 26, 2009 — The racing community is saddened to learn of Lou Blaney’s passing on Sunday, Jan. 25. Blaney was an incredible competitor on the track, piling up more than 600 victories and more championships than he could count in Sprint Cars and Modifieds during a legendary career that ultimately earned him a Hall of Fame induction in 2000. Few men have represented the racing community with such grace and elegance as Lou Blaney, who called Hartford, Ohio, his home. His feats at Lernerville Speedway are matched only by the elite drivers in the track’s 41-year history. He is second to only Bob Wearing Sr. in career feature wins (118) and track championships (seven). In one incredible stretch from 1972 to 1975, Blaney captured 49 wins and four consecutive track titles in Sprint Cars. He then moved into a Modified and reeled off championships in 1980, 1991 and 1996, along with a division-leading 69 feature wins. He also drove a Modified to a career-best second-place finish in 1981 at the New York State Fairgrounds during Super DIRT Week events. Blaney was athletic and passed his competitiveness on to his sons, Dave and Dale, each of whom has achieved success behind the wheel of a race car. In recent years, the Blaney family, including Lou’s wife Kate, has owned and operated the legendary Sharon Speedway, site of several World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events. “It’s honestly difficult to find the words to express what Lou Blaney meant to Lernerville Speedway and the local racing community in general,” said Lernerville PR Director Eric Westendorf. “It sounds cliché, but he truly transcended the sport. He was a rival, a mentor, a hero for multiple generations of drivers and fans. He made everyone around him want to be better — a better driver, a better promoter, a better person. He will be sorely missed for a very long time.” Visitation is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Hartford United Methodist Presbyterian Church on State Route 305 in Hartford, Ohio. A funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. Cards can be sent to the Blaney family at P.O. Box 159, Hartford, OH 44424.

Sammy wins his fifth Chili Bowl, Tim McCreadie injured - By Bobby Gerould - January 19, 2009. Tulsa, OK. ...The 23rd annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals were dominated by Sammy Swindell. The Tennessee legend won every time he hit the 1/5-mile, clay oval, indoor track, driving a radical looking Spike/Esslinger #1. Jerry Coons Jr., and Tracy Hines led early in the 50-lap A-Main Saturday night but Swindell, who had dropped to fourth position on lap 27, went to the high side of the racetrack and proceeded to drive by the top three of Brad Kuhn, Coons, and Hines en route to a runaway victory. The $10,000 triumph marked the fifth time that Swindell has won the superstar laden event. Swindell's last win in the Chili Bowl final came eleven years ago in 1998. Hines settled for second with Kuhn third, followed by Coons Jr, and J.J. Yeley. Dave Darland was sixth and Chris Windom came from 23rd starting to finish seventh. ...2006 Chili Bowl champion Tim McCreadie was injured during preliminary action. The late-model shoe suffered a shattered T3 vertebrae in a violent high flying flip after suffering a broken axle upon entry to turn one. McCreadie was released from a Tulsa hospital and is expected to be re-evaluated by noted doctor Terry Trammell of Indianapolis. ...Look for more Chili Bowl notes in the Positivity column (below) after I rest up a bit from a LONG week.

Bowl season means midgets indoors in Tulsa - By Bobby Gerould - January 11, 2009 - Terry McCarl calls it "the modern day International Race of Champions" (IROC). And that may be the best description for what takes place in Tulsa this week as 293 pre-entered cars and drivers compete in the Chili Bowl. The indoor event is held at the Quik-Trip Center in Tulsa. A one-fifth mile dirt track that is plenty racy and ever-changing, challenges the pilots. This year - 21 of the top 40 drivers in the 2008 Racer's Racing Series points are among the entrants. Defending champion Damion Gardner will try to become the first driver to score consecutive Chili Bowl A-Main wins. He figures to be challenged by the likes of fellow Indiana sprint car aces Dave Darland, Jon Stanbrough, and Shane Cottle. Young stars such as Brad Sweet, Bryan Clauson, Kevin Swindell, Brady Bacon, and Cole Whitt should also contend. Past champions entered include Sammy Swindell, Tracy Hines, Tim McCreadie, Cory Kruseman, Jay Drake, and Scott Hatton. Past USAC National Midget champions entered that will dice for the famous Golden Driller trophy include J.J. Yeley, Jerry Coons Jr. Jason Leffler, and Kasey Kahne. Brad Kuhn - a former National Midget Driver of the Year, along with "The Rocket" Jesse Hockett will also look to generate headlines. ...World of Outlaws drivers entered include Jason Meyers, Terry McCarl, Joey Saldana, Danny Lasoski, Paul McMahan, Daryn Pittman, Chad Kemenah, and Sam Hafertepe Jr. ...There are 67 rookies entered. Follow the action at any of these sites: www.ChiliBowl.com, www.JackSlash.com, www.motorsportslife.com, or www.RacinBoys.com.

Steve Kinser ends Schatz streak, wins Aussie 50 grand at Parramatta HD Staff - Australia. Jan. 3, 2009 ...Steve Kinser beat Donny Schatz to earn a $50,000 (AU.) win Saturday at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway. Schatz had won the race five years in-a-row but could not finish in front of "The King" on this night. Schatz took the lead one lap prior to the white flag but Kinser raced by inside of Schatz in turn three later in the same lap. The two mirrored each other for the final circuit with Kinser edging Schatz. ...Kinser's car was being tuned by Peter Murphy. Robbie Farr finished third followed by Kerry Madsen.

HammerDown! Popularity Contest reaches final 30 drivers - By Bobby Gerould - Rocklin, CA. December 19, 2008. ...After months of voting and narrowing from 200 drivers to 70 drivers - we have now cut it to a top 30 in the HammerDown! Popularity Contest. Four polls remain (listing ten drivers at a time). The next three polls will list the 30 remaining with 10 of those drivers making the final poll. Not surprisingly - due to our site being based in the Golden State, California drivers have dominated the voting. Those still alive in the contest include: Jon Allard (CA.), Robert Ballou (IN.), Sean Becker (CA.), Dave Blaney (OH.), Bryan Clauson (IN.), Roger Crockett (OR.), Andy Forsberg (CA.), Rickie Gaunt (CA.), Alissa Geving (CA.), Shane Golobic (CA.), Jac Haudenschild (OH.), Kyle Hirst (CA.), Jesse Hockett (MO.), Danielle Huson (WA.), Brent Kaeding (CA.), Bud Kaeding (CA.), Tim Kaeding (CA.), Kasey Kahne (WA.), Steve Kinser (IN.), Kyle Larson (CA.), Paul McMahan (TN.), Jason Meyers (CA.), Joey Saldana (IN.), Jason Statler (CA.), Shane Stewart (OK.), Tony Stewart (IN.), Brad Sweet (CA.), Sammy Swindell (TN.), Gary Taylor (OK.), and Tyler Walker (CA.).

2008 All-HammerDown! Team announced – December 7, 2008. …Rocklin, CA. …The sixth annual All-HammerDown! Team was announced today by internet site HammerDownUSA.com. 40 drivers are honored yearly as the best in sprint car, midget, and champ-dirt car racing. “The All-HammerDown! Team simply acknowledges 40 outstanding racers for their driving exploits on American soil during the calendar year”, said Bobby Gerould – editor of HammerDownUSA.com. “Making the All-HammerDown! Team means you are a driver that traveled off the front porch and performed well at the big National races.”  Six drivers made the All-HammerDown! Team for the first time in their career.  The talented half-dozen includes Tony Bruce Jr., Cody Darrah, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Wayne Johnson, Kevin Swindell, and Cole Whitt. Meanwhile, 12 racers own the distinction of being on the All-HammerDown! Team since its inception in 2003. That elite group of drivers includes Donny Schatz (winner of the Racer’s Racing Series points championship in 2008), Jason Meyers, Steve Kinser, Jac Haudenschild, Terry McCarl, Joey Saldana, Daryn Pittman, Danny Lasoski, Dave Darland, Chad Kemenah, Paul McMahan, and Tim Kaeding. (Read the whole deal)

Turkey Night to Santos - HD Staff - November 28, 2008. ...Irwindale, CA. ...Bobby Santos III passed Indy 500 veteran Davey Hamilton on lap 90 of 98 to win the 68th Turkey Night Grand Prix for midgets at Irwindale Speedway Thursday night. Driving the Western Speed #45, Santos led the final eight laps and beat Hamilton, Darren Hagen, Ryan Kaplan, and Jason Leffler to the checkered flag. ...Cole Whitt finished eleventh and wrestled the USAC National Midget points championship from Tracy Hines by one point! ...59 midgets attempted to qualify. ...Hines won the sprint car feature event Thursday night.

Cameron Dodson critically injured in auto accident - HD Staff - November 23, 2008 - Last Tuesday, 20 year-old Cameron Dodson was critically injured in a single car crash on a highway in Indiana. According to his web-site, CameronDodson.com, he is "showing signs of progress." ... The young charger from Greenfield, IN. was a winner this season at Iowa Speedway in the 100 mile USAC Silver Crown event. Last November - he won in the same division at Phoenix International Raceway. ... For more on Dodson please read this well written piece by Casey Temple.

Western World to Kevin Swindell - HD Staff - November 8, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ. - Kevin Swindell drove the Tom Rolfe #10 to victory in the Western World Championships Saturday night at Manzanita Speedway. Kevin's father Sammy won the 1980 Western World title at the famous half-mile. Jerry Coons Jr. finished second and wrapped up the 2008 USAC National Sprint Car championship. Levi Jones was third with Dave Darland, and Jeremy Sherman next in line.

USAC National Midgets at P.I.R. to East - HD Staff - Avondale, AZ. November 6, 2008 ...Bobby East won the midget portion of the Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway Thursday night. 45 cars were on hand to tackle the ultra fast one-mile paved oval. East was followed to the checkered flag by Brad Kuhn, Cole Carter, Kasey Kahne, and Jason Leffler. Chuck Gurney Jr was sixth with Darren Hagen, Cole Whitt, Billy Wease, and Shane Hmiel next in line.

Advance Auto Parts Budget Reduction Affects World of Outlaws - CONCORD, N.C. — Nov. 7, 2008 — World Racing Group officials announced today that Advance Auto Parts will not return as title sponsor of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series for the 2009 season. Advance has reduced advertising and marketing budgets for 2009 and realigned its business priorities. Advance Auto Parts exercised an opt-out provision in the three-year agreement. “It is an unfortunate decision for the Series, our Promoters, Competitors and all of the Team Members at Advance who worked so hard to make the partnership the success that it was. The budget cuts came as a surprise to us and are impacting other sports properties as well, but we remain confident in the value of our Series and the sponsorship experience that we delivered,” said World Racing Group CMO Ben Geisler. “I would also like to thank our fiercely loyal fans who so warmly welcomed Advance to our sport by visiting their stores, participating in promotions and sending them messages of support.”The marketing team at World Racing Group is in conversations with several companies about replacing Advance as Title Sponsor of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and hope to make an announcement before the end of the year. World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter commented, “Advance was an important partner, but just one of our partners. The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series will continue to be ‘The Greatest Show On Dirt’ and this announcement will not affect our 2009 plans with respect to the series.” The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season will kick off the 2009 season at Volusia Speedway Park as the headliner for the first week of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH with single-day shows on February 6th, 7th and 8th. Visit www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com for ticket information.

From deep - Perris Oval Nationals to Hockett - HD Staff -November 1, 2008, Perris, CA. - Warsaw Missouri's Jesse Hockett stole the show at Perris Auto Speedway Saturday night in the Oval Nationals. The biggest event of the year at the Southern California half-mile dirt oval came down to the wire with Hockett grabbing the lead from Jerry Coons Jr. on lap 38 of 40. Hockett started 19th on the grid in the McMillen Motorsports #2. Coons wound up second followed by Kevin Swindell, Brad Sweet, and Darren Hagen. Bud Kaeding finished sixth with Chad Boat, Thomas Meseraull, Dave Darland and Mike Spencer rounding out the top-ten.

Capping the year in style: Schatz wins finale of World Finals - Concord, NC— November 1, 2008 - By Tony Veneziano - After wrapping up his third consecutive Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series title on Friday night during the second annual VAULT World Finals, with a runner-up finish, Donny Schatz was determined to return to the track on Saturday and close the season with a win. He did exactly that leading all 30 laps in dominant fashion live on SPEED to pick up his series-best 18th A-Feature win of 2008. Schatz, who won the Crane Cams Dash to earn the pole position, powered his way into turns one and two at the start and never looked back en route to the $10,000 victory, which was the 88th of his career with the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. “We just had an awesome race car for how the track was,” noted Schatz. “There wasn’t a lot of moving around, but man it was fast. It was one of the faster tracks that we have been on in a while. This thing was on a rail. The motor ran great and we had the car working well. We started up front, which was a major bonus and had to be smart for 30 laps.”

Sweet! Trophy Cup for the ages to "The Yam" - By Bobby Gerould - October 25, 2008 - After three nights of exciting, HammerDown! racing, Brad Sweet emerged as the high-point man and winner of the 2008 Trophy Cup (A Tribute to Howard Kaeding) at Thunderbowl Raceway Saturday night. Sweet used a late rush in the 50-lap A-Main to gain enough points to narrowly defeat Sammy Swindell for the title. Randy Hannagan won the A-Main that saw five drivers with a shot at the win in the hectic closing laps. In deep traffic, Hannagan took over the race lead from first-time Trophy Cup entrant Mark Dobmeier of Grand Forks, ND. ...Tyler Walker won both the Thursday and Friday night preliminary feature events. ...Walker, Tim Kaeding, and Brent Kaeding all suffered flips in separate incidents on Saturday night. ...The top 15 in the final Trophy Cup points earned points in the Racer's Racing Series. (Read Ron Rodda's account here)

Short Track Nationals to the "Gangsta from Liberal" - HD Staff - Little Rock, AR. October 25, 2008 - Tony Bruce Jr. of Liberal, KS. took home the top prize at the Short Track Nationals Saturday night at I-30 Speedway. The Racer's Racing Series points earning win paid $15,000 to the 24 year-old. ...Tim Crawley won the Friday night preliminary while Gary Wright won the Thursday show.

WoO weekend dominated by Steve Kinser, and Jac Haudenschild - By Bobby Gerould - Tulare, CA. - October 19, 2008 - ...Jac Haudenschild won the World of Outlaws event at Thunderbowl Raceway Saturday night after a terrific three-way, traffic battle with Steve Kinser and Sam Hafertepe Jr. On a night where 44 cars timed in, Haudenschild was able to drive the Carnahan Motorsports #R19 around Kinser on lap 20 of 35 in the A-Main. “These tracks are really tight and you have to stay away from the lapped cars,” said Haudenschild. “You just go where the other guy isn't.” ...Kinser was the winner in Friday's race at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. Haudenschild finished second in that one.

Coons Jr., and Darrah score big - HD Staff - October 11, 2008 - Jerry Coons Jr. led all 50 laps of the Gold Grown Midget Nationals Saturday night at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL. The win paid $15,000 to Coons. ...Meanwhile, Cody Darrah won the 2008 Williams Grove National Open that was reduced to a local show that paid $12,000 to-win after being originally scheduled as a $50,000 to-win World of Outlaws show. Rain forced the change.

Schatz and Ballou big weekend winners - HD Staff - October 5, 2008. ...There were two points earning events in the Racer's Racing Series this weekend. Donny Schatz won the World of Outlaws sanctioned Princeton National while Robert Ballou captured the $10,000 first prize at Lawrenceburg Speedway. The Lawrenceburg race was sanctioned by the MSCS and it drew 57 non-wing sprint cars.

National Open rained out but re-scheduled as a local event - HD Staff - Mechanicsburg, PA. - September 30, 2008. - Persistent rain left officials no choice but to call off the Morgan Hughes National Open at Williams Grove Speedway over the weekend. The race has been re-scheduled for October 11, 2008 as a local event that will pay $12,000 rather than $50,000. The race will not be sanctioned by the World of Outlaws. "Once again we felt the tradition of the race had to continue," said Williams Grove Speedway, General Manager - Justin Loh.  "And this event will also provide a nice payoff for our weekly racers and anyone else who may come to challenge them." ...The event will be a points earning race in the Racer's Racing Series.

All-time Williams Grove National Open A-Main is a fantasy line-up to dream of - By Bobby Gerould, September 22, 2008. ...In the history of the Williams Grove National Open - who are the 24 drivers that have performed the best? We applied the Racer's Racing Series points format to the finish of each National Open since 1964*. The top 24 in the point standings make up our fictional HammerDownUSA.com All-Time Williams Grove National Open Feature Line-Up! *based on available data. Some early races did not list the entire top 15 finishers. ...Sources: Open Wheel Times, and our own records.

30c Lance Dewease - Fayetteville, PA. 797	19 Steve Smith - New Oxford, PA. 758
69k Don Kreitz Jr. - Sinking Springs, PA. 750	11 Steve Kinser - Bloomington, IN. 724
7 Keith Kauffman - Mifflintown, PA. 683	51 Fred Rahmer - Salfordville, PA. 629
1a Bobby Allen - Hanover, PA. 626	19 Stevie Smith - New Oxford, PA. 624
5m Mark Kinser - Olitic, IN. 592	59 Kenny Jacobs - Holmesville, OH. 560
10 Dave Blaney - Hartford, OH. 523	33 Danny Lasoski - Dover, MO. 488
15 Donny Schatz - Fargo, ND 486	17e Cris Eash - Hanover, PA. 474
22 Greg Hodnett - Thomasville, PA. 474	1 Lynn Paxton - Dillsburg, PA. 461
56 Smokey Snellbaker - Ephreta, PA. 416	R19 Jac Haudenschild - Wooster, OH. 391
77 Bobbie Adamson - Mercer, PA. 383	29 Kenny Weld - York, PA. 358
29 Doug Wolfgang - Sioux Falls, SD. 330	73 Kramer Williamson - Palmyra, PA. 314
26 Barry Camp - Beavertown, PA. 286	45x Johnny Herrera - Albuquerque, NM. 285

See the spreadsheet here.

Weekend winners led by Dale Blaney. Elma to Shane Stewart. Darland, Sweet and Yeley USAC Four Crown stars - HD Staff - September 21, 2008 - The biggest prize of the weekend was snatched by Dale Blaney. $20,000 was the winner's share at Fremont Speedway's Jim Ford Classic Saturday night. Blaney - driving for car-owner George Fisher said, "I'm so happy for George Fisher ....everything this car earns he puts right back into it. That's the only way we can race ...there's not one dog-gone sponsor on this thing. George builds the engines and sets the car up and pays the bills." Stevie Smith ran second to Blaney. The top-five was filled out by Greg Wilson, Tim Shaffer, and Brock Mayes. ...Shane Stewart won the Fred Brownfield Memorial, ASCS Northwest Region, winged sprint car race at Grays Harbor Raceway Park Saturday night. Aboard the Doyle's Harley Davidson #1HD, Stewart won $10.092. Roger Crockett finished second followed by Wayne Johnson, Jason Solwold, and Travis Rutz. ...Finally, at Eldora Speedway - the annual Four-Crown Nationals winners were: Dave Darland (Silver Crown), Brad Sweet (Sprint Cars), and J.J. Yeley (Midgets).

Saldana sweeps Eldora, Dollansky injured. - HD Staff - September 19, 2008. Rossburg, OH. ...Joey Saldana pulled off the first clean sweep of the 2008 World of Outlaws racing season with a spectacular effort at Eldora Speedway Friday night. Driving the Kasey Kahne Racing JEI #9, Saldana set quick-time, won his heat race, won the dash, and the 30-lap feature event. ...The feature included a grinding crash involving Craig Dollansky, Jason Meyers, and Tim Shaffer. Meyers was racing on the low groove when he made contact with Jac Haudenschild causing Meyers' #14 to turn left into the turn one wall. Meyers hit head-on and then flipped back down across the track. Dollansky had nowhere to go and hit Meyers while he was flipping. That contact sent Dollansky flipping. Shaffer also flipped as he tried to avoid the accident. Dollansky was taken to a local hospital with a fracture in his upper right arm. ...Steve Kinser finished second followed by Chad Kemenah, Donny Schatz, and Kraig Kinser. (Read more)

Dale Blaney wins third All-Star championship and Hoosier Fall Classic - HD Staff - Lawrenceburg, IN. - September 13, 2008 - Tim Shaffer put a slide job on Brock Mayes on a lap 23 restart to take the lead and looked like a sure winner Saturday night in the Hoosier Fall Classic. However, coming to the checkered flag, Blake Feese made a desperation attempt to pass Shaffer that came up short knocking both from contention. That gave the lead to Dale Blaney who said afterward, "that's about as lucky as you can get." ...Blaney won the season long All-Star Circuit of Champions title for the third time in his career. The Ohio driver edged out Lance Dewease for the $50,000 season championship. ...Randy Hannagan finished second in the 35 lap feature. Byron Reed was third.

Haudenschild wins Gold Cup for third time - By Bobby Gerould - September 6, 2008 - Chico, CA. ...Jason Meyers' horrible luck was a blessing for Jac Haudenschild Saturday night at Silver Dollar Speedway in the 55th running of the Gold Cup Race of Champions. Meyers was leading in traffic when he was suddenly taken out after trying unsuccessfully to avoid the spinning car of Jesse Hockett. That gave the lead to Haudenschild in the Carnahan Motorsports R19. The "Wild Child" held back Craig Dollansky to win the 40-lap feature and take home the $50,000 top prize. Next at the checkered flag on the high-banked quarter-mile clay oval was third place finisher Jon Allard followed by Brent Kaeding, and Sammy Swindell. Paul McMahan was sixth with Steve Kinser seventh after starting 19th. Jayme Barnes walked away from a nasty flip on lap two after being fed a wheel.

All-time Gold Cup (Chico) A-Main is a fantasy line-up to dream of - By Bobby Gerould, September 3, 2008. ...In the history of the Gold Cup Race of Champions' Chico existence, who are the 24 drivers that have performed the best? We applied the Racer's Racing Series points format to the finish of each Gold Cup A-Main since 1980. The top 24 in the point standings make up our fictional HammerDownUSA.com All-Time Chico Gold Cup Feature Line-Up!

11 Steve Kinser - Bloomington, IN. 1183	R19 Jac Haudenschild - Wooster, OH. 900
11x Jeff Swindell - Memphis, TN. 800	69 Brent Kaeding - Campbell, CA. 763
10 Sammy Swindell - Germantown, TN. 754	1 Danny Lasoski - Dover, MO. 690
01 Jimmy Sills - Elverta, CA. 554	5m Mark Kinser - Olitic, IN. 541
2 Andy Hillenburg - Broken Arrow, OK. 465	10 Dave Blaney - Hartford, OH. 442
83a Tim Shaffer - Alliquippa, PA. 395	15 Donny Schatz - Fargo, ND 395
6 Paul McMahan - Nashville, TN. 389	19 Stevie Smith - New Oxford, PA. 384
14 Tim Green - San Jose, CA. 367	10 Bobby Davis Jr. - Memphis, TN. 294
9 Joey Saldana - Brownsburg, IN. 294	2 Craig Dollansky - Elk River, MN. 290
7TW Joe Gaerte - Rochester, IN. 288	21 Daryn Pittman - Owasso, OK. 274
39 Greg DeCaires - Elk Grove, CA. 270	14 Jason Meyers - Clovis, CA. 261
14P Kevin Pylant - Santa Cruz, CA. 252	45x Johnny Herrera - Albuquerque, NM. 245

(See how the line-up changed after adding in the 2008 results)

Saldana snares Skagit. T. Kaeding, K. Swindell rule Calistoga - By Bobby Gerould - September 1, 2008 - Joey Saldana was the biggest winner this weekend, taking home $25,000 for winning the World of Outlaws rain delayed event at Skagit Speedway Sunday night. Jason Meyers was next at the finish line followed by Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, and Craig Dollansky. ...Meanwhile, at Calistoga Speedway - Tim Kaeding and Kevin Swindell were feature event winners. Kaeding won an epic battle with Jesse Hockett to open the Louie Vermeil Classic Saturday night. Sunday was dominated by Swindell who ran away in a non-stop 30-lapper. Johnny Rodriguez won both midget main events. ...Track records were broken in both the sprint car and midget divisions. Hockett drove the McMillen Motorsports #2 Maxim to a wicked fast 19.530 second lap on the half-mile, while Nic Faas destroyed Tony Stewart's prior midget standard with a 20.723 clocking.

Cajun Jason Johnson earns 50 grand in Ollie's 360 final at the Grove - HD Staff - August 19, 2008. Mechanicsburg, PA. ...Jason Johnson won $56,000 Tuesday night after he won his second feature race of the three-race Ollie's 360 Challenge. At inception of the series - any driver that could win two of the three features was promised a $50,000 bonus. Each individual feature in the series paid $6,000 to win. Only Johnson and Donny Schatz were eligible for the bonus going into the race but Schatz had a conflict and was forced to miss the Grove race. Schatz won the first race at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, and Jason Johnson won the second race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Johnson was followed to the Grove checkered flag by Fred Rahmer, Stevie Smith, Aaron Ott, and Tony Stewart. ... The Williams Grove race benefited the Kasey Kahne Foundation.

Springfield to Tyler. Shuman Classic is Ballou's - HD Staff - August 17, 2008 - The two Racer's Racing Series points earning events this weekend were taken by Brian Tyler and Robert Ballou respectively. Tyler won the Tony Bettenhausen 100 at the Springfield Mile in Illinois Saturday while Ballou notched the $10,000 top prize in the Ron Shuman Classic at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, KS.

Call Schatz a Knoxville master! Third straight Nationals win to North Dakota ace - By Bobby Gerould - August 9, 2008 - Donny Schatz joined Steve Kinser Saturday night as the only driver in the history of the Knoxville Nationals to win three straight championship races. The Fargo, North Dakota driver took the lead from Jason Meyers at the close of lap 25 of the 30-lap A-Main on the half-mile clay oval. Meyers finished a Nationals career best second followed by Craig Dollansky, Danny Lasoski, and Steve Kinser. Schatz earned $150,000 for his win while Meyers cashed in for $75,000. The top 15 finishers earned double points in the Racer's Racer's Series. ...Doug Esh was named Nationals Rookie of the Year. (More)

Shepard injured at Thursday Nationals prelim. Saldana wins - By Bobby Gerould - August 7, 2008. ...Jeff Shepard was injured Thursday night during the start of the B-Main at Knoxville Raceway. The Upperco, MD. pilot known as "The Jet" was involved in a seven car crash in turn one. Shepard was reported to have been unconscious for a matter of minutes before becoming alert as he was cut out of the mangled Zemco #1z. Shepard was taken by ambulance to a local Knoxville hospital and then airlifted to a larger hospital in Des Moines. ...Joey Saldana was the winner of the 20-lap preliminary A-main. Jason Meyers finished second followed by Gary Wright, Billy Alley and Craig Dollansky.

Knoxville Nationals Wednesday prelim to Wayne Johnson- By Bobby Gerould - August 6, 2008. ...Wayne Johnson scored a huge $12,000 victory in the opening night of the Knoxville Nationals. Johnson benefitted from several teams not transferring through their heat race - which put Johnson - the 22nd fastest in time-trials - on the pole for the quick 20 lap preliminary feature. He was challenged on lap 12 by eventual runner-up Danny Lasoski but then Johnson pulled away for the win. Steve Kinser finished third followed by Jac Haudenschild, and Daryn Pittman. Sixth through tenth were Justin Henderson, Shane Stewart, Donny Schatz (transfer from the B-Main), Paul McMahan, and Jason Solwold.

Sweet wins Belleville Midget Nationals - By Bobby Gerould - August 2, 2008, Belleville, KS. - Brad Sweet scored his biggest career victory Saturday night at the Belleville High Banks in the Belleville Midget Nationals. Rim riding in Kasey Kahne's #49 MOPAR midget - Sweet ran away with the 40 lap event. "I just wanted it so bad", said Sweet in the winner's circle. The Cool, CA. driver was followed across the line by Bobby East, Brady Bacon, Cole Whitt, and Tracy Hines. (More) ...Wayne Johnson wins Knoxville 360 Nationals - HD Staff - Knoxville, Iowa. ...Mustang Oklahoma's Wayne Johnson won the Knoxville 360 Nationals Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway. Brian Brown finihsed second followed by Billy Alley, Brooke Tatnell and Tyler Walker. (More) ...Brady Short wins Haubstadt ten grand - HD Staff - Haubstadt, IN. ...Brady Short won the MSCS sanctioned $10,000 to-win Hooiser Sprint nationals at Tri-State Speedway Saturday night. Kyle Cummins was second with Robert Ballou third.

Kinser, Walker, Gurney Jr., and East among recent winners - HD Staff - July 26, 2008. ...Steve Kinser won the World of Outlaws feature event Friday night at I-96 Speedway in Michigan. It was his 547th career WoO victory. ...Tyler Walker led a stout top-five at Silver Dollar Speedway Friday night in Golden State Challenge action. Walker was followed to the checkered flag by Sammy Swindell (in the Tom Rolfe #10), Brent Kaeding, Tim Kaeding, and Sean Becker. ...Bobby East won the Thursday night J.D. Byrider 100 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Ryan Newman finished second. The USAC Silver Crown event was contested side-by-side with a USAC National Midget event which was snared by Chuck Gurney Jr. "Little Rim" also had fast time for the night in perhaps his biggest career score to date. Kasey Kahne finished as runner-up.

Schatz snares Grove Summer Nats 25 grand - HD Staff - July 19, 2008. ...Donny Schatz won the $25,000 top prize Saturday night at in the Williams Grove Summer Nationals sanctioned by the World of Outlaws. The race was a points earning event in the Racer's Racing Series. Craig Dollansky finished second to Schatz. Third through fifth went to Jason Meyers, Fred Rahmer, and Joey Saldana.

Steve Kinser wins Silver Cup 40 grand - HD Staff - July 15, 2008. Sarver, PA. ...The second BIG race in the Month of Money fell to Steve Kinser Tuesday night at Lernerville Speedway. The 20-time World of Outlaws champion led all 40 laps of the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup contested on the fast dirt of the 3/8's mile oval located near Pittsburgh. Donny Schatz finished second with Jason Meyers, Joey Saldana, and Kerry Madsen next in line. Kraig Kinser was the 'hard charger' of the night - coming from 22nd starting position to finish ninth. The race was a points earning event in the Racer's Racing Series. (Read more)

Pittman wins wild Kings Royal - Rossburg, OH— July 13, 2008 - By Tony Veneziano - Daryn Pittman has been searching for a spark all season long, as he has been close a number of times to breaking through for his first win of the campaign. He has had a number of strong runs cut short by bad luck, but that all changed on Sunday night as a fast race car and a little good fortune found him, as he was victorious in the 25th Annual Kings Royal at the famed Eldora Speedway in Ohio, with the cameras from SPEED capturing all of the action. Pittman inherited the lead on the 28th lap after Joey Saldana who was leading came to a stop after making contact with the back straightaway wall due to a flat right rear tire. Pittman would lead on the restart and held off Jason Meyers on the last lap in traffic to pick up his first World of Outlaws win of the season. It was his third career win at Eldora Speedway, and he became the 14th winner of the famed Kings Royal and the fifth different winner in the last five years, as he donned the traditional purple robe, received the crown and held the sceptre as he sat atop the throne with the Kings Court. The $50,000 triumph was his 26th career World of Outlaws win, which moved him into 15th on the all-time list. (Read more)

Meyers use last lap pass to win Brad Doty Classic - July 9, 2008. - Allentown, OH. - HD Staff ...Jason Meyers made a last lap pass of Steve Kinser to win the Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Motorsports Park Wednesday night. The event was one of 60 points earning races in the Racer's Racing Series. The top five included, Meyers, Kinser, Joey Saldana, Shane Stewart, and Donny Schatz.

Schatz has bad luck, Johnson wins Ollie's at Eldora - By Bobby Gerould - July 8, 2008 ...Donny Schatz was chasing a $50,000 bonus Tuesday night at Eldora Speedway. The Ollie's 360 Challenge offers $50,000 to any driver that can win two of the three special races this summer. Schatz won the opening round of the Challenge at Sharon Speedway on June 17th setting up the shot at $50,000. He drew last for his heat race Tuesday night but was leading the heat after just two laps! He started from the pole for the 30 lap feature and was on his way to victory when a mechanical failure forced him to the pits. Jason Johnson inherited the lead and went on to win the $6,000 top prize. (Results)

Double Digits: Schatz Wins 10th Race of Season at Riverside International Speedway - By Tony Veneziano - West Memphis, AR— July 5, 2008—Last season Donny Schatz only finished outside of the Top-10 in four events with the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series en route to his second consecutive series title, and one of those events was at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas, after he got upside down in a heat race and then had a flat tire in the A-Feature. He made up for that in a big way on Saturday night, as he led wire-to-wire in the 40-lap event, to pick up his 10th win of the season and the 80th of his Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series career. He now just one win away from breaking into the Top-Five on the series all-time win list. (Read the whole deal)

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)

Esh opens PA. Speedweek with Gobrecht Memorial win - 18TH ANNUAL CINDY ROWE AUTO GLASS 410 SPRINT PENNSYLVANIA SPEEDWEEK OPENER. 9TH ANNUAL KEVIN GOBRECHT MEMORIAL. Lincoln Speedway. 06/28/08 ...Feature (30 Laps) - 1. 30-Doug Esh ($7,000); 2. 21-Brian Montieth; 3. 51-Fred Rahmer; 4. 25-Chad Layton; 5. 22-Greg Hodnett; 6. 1-Jeff Shepard; 7. 10N-Niki Young; 8. 89-Cody Darrah; 9. 28-Brian Paulus; 10. 71-Brian Leppo; 11. 17E-Cris Eash; 12. 6W-Josh Wells; 13. 59-Jim Siegel; 14. 11C-Cory Haas; 15. 7-Keith Kauffman; 16. 7M-Mark Smith; 17. 38N-Nick Schlauch Jr.; 18. 12-Mike Bittinger; 19. 22Z-Michael Carber; 20. 47J-Jeff Busby; 21. 19-Stevie Smith (DNF); 22. 87-Alan Krimes [alternate] (DNF); 23. 25-Aaron Ott; 24. 4-John Rudisill. DNS-Shawn Weaver. No time. ...Lap Leaders - Doug Esh (1-30).

Barnes owns Dirt Cup - HD Staff - Alger, WA. June 21, 2008. ...Jaime Barnes of Everett, WA. took home top honors at the 2008 Jim Raper Memorial Super Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway Saturday night. The win, worth $25,000, came over Roger Crockett, Tim Kaeding, Travis Rutz, and Brock Lemley. ...Barnes also won the opening night preliminary feature while Jon Allard won Friday's prelim. (Read the Skagit Speedway story)

Ollie's 360 Round One to Schatz - HD Staff - Hartford, OH. June 18, 2008. ...Put up the money for a big race, schedule it right, and the stars will come to play. Such was the case Tuesday night at Sharon Speedway where Donny Schatz captured round one of the three-race Ollie's 360 Challenge. The series offers $50,000 to any driver that can win two of the three events. Last night's victory paid Schatz $6,000. Danny Lasoski finished second in his own #33, followed by Jason Meyers, Bryan Howland, and Jason Johnson. The race was a points earning event in the 60 race Racer's Racing Series.

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.

Stewart and Schatz are WoO weekend winners - By Bobby Gerould - June 8, 2008 - Shane Stewart, and Donny Schatz snared feature event wins under the World of Outlaws sanction this weekend. The Friday and Saturday night shows were contested at Knoxville Raceway (Iowa), while Sunday night's event went off at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL. Schatz won on both Saturday and Sunday while Stewart narrowly edged Schatz Friday night. Racer's Racing Series points were awarded to the top 15 finishers in Saturday's feature.

2008 Hall of Fame class inducted - HD Staff - May 31, 2008 - Knoxville, IA. ...Saturday was the big day for the Class of 2008 of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Inductees this year included Kramer Williamson, Brent Kaeding, Doug Howells, Glenn Fitzcharles, Dick Jordan, Louis "Rusty" Espinoza, Earl Wagner, Bob Hampshire, Johnnie Parsons, Tony Bettenhausen, Gordon Schroeder and John Padjen ...Randy Smith, a six-time Knoxville Raceway track champion won the Friday night Master's Classic.

Throttle Cottle wins Little 500, corner worker killed - May 24, 2008 - HD Staff - Anderson, IN. ...Kokomo Indiana's Shane Cottle won the 60th running of the Little 500 Saturday at Anderson Speedway. Driving the Contos #4, Cottle took the lead for good on lap 378 on the high-banked, quarter-mile, paved oval. Tony Elliott finished second followed by Elk Grove, CA racer Johnny Rodriguez in the Ken Pierson #14. The prestigious race counted as a points earning event in the Racer's Racing Series. ...Tragedy struck on lap 99 when track worker Roy Hiatt - with his back turned to oncoming traffic - was accidentally struck and killed by the car driven by Tyler Underwood. The caution flag had just appeared when Hiatt stepped on to the track to help clean up. Hiatt was dusting the track with oil-dry powder. (Read more)

Tanner Swanson wins USAC National Sprint Car event at Anderson - HD Staff - Anderson, IN. May 21, 2008. ...Kingsburg, CA driver Tanner Swanson upset the USAC National Sprint Car drivers with a win in the 100-lap Glen Niebel Classic Wednesday night at Anderson Speedway. The 17 year-old gained the lead on lap 52 and never looked back. Brad Sweet of Cool, CA finished second followed by Bobby Santos III, Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA.), and Chris Windom.

Tim Kaeding wins Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial - HD Staff - May 17, 2008 ...Tim Kaeding was hotter than the temperature in blazing hot Chico Saturday night. The San Jose California masher took home the top prize in the prestigious Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial at Silver Dollar Speedway. The race on the high-banked quarter-mile clay oval was sanctioned by the Golden State Challenge. Roger Crockett finished second with Tyler Walker third, and the Allard brothers (Stephen 4th, Jon 5th) next in line at the checkered flag.

Hines and Shepard are weekend's big winners - By Bobby Gerould - Rocklin, CA. May 12, 2008. ...Tracy Hines and Jeff Shepard scored the biggest wins in weekend sprint car racing. Hines won the Don Branson-Jud Larson Classic at Eldora Speedway run under the USAC sanction. The Saturday night non-wing show on the high banked half-mile included a top-five of Hines, 18 year-old Brady Bacon, Shane Cottle, Brady Short, and Jesse Hockett. ...Jeff Shepard won the Bob Weikert Memorial race sanctioned by the All-Stars at Port Royal, PA. Shepard headed a top-five of Lance Dewease, Greg Hodnett, Todd Shaffer, and Keith Kauffman.

Historic Night for Schatz at Knoxville: Sets New Track Record & Wins - Knoxville, IA— May 3, 2008— By Tony Veneziano. ... Donny Schatz knows the history of Knoxville Raceway very well and he added his name to that history in three different ways on Saturday night. Not only did he put himself in elite company of drivers that have won on opening night at the famed half-mile in Iowa, but he also set a new track record for a 25-lap event, as the race was completed in just seven minutes and 14 seconds. On top of that, the two-time defending Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion and two-time defending Knoxville Nationals winner, picked up his first A-Feature triumph with the series, driving for Tony Stewart Racing. Schatz took the lead on the 18th lap, powering his way past Steve Kinser on the high-side of the track exiting the fourth turn. One lap earlier he nearly took the lead at the same spot on the track with a similar move. He quickly opened an advantage aboard the Armor All J&J en route to his 71st career Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature win, which moved him into the fifth spot on the all-time win list ahead of 1995 series champion Dave Blaney. He pocketed $10,000 for the win, which was the eighth of his career at Knoxville Raceway. (More)

More rain sends teams scrambling. Saldana wins Eldora All-Star, TK at Tulare - By Bobby Gerould - April 27, 2008 - ...Rain and snow forced postponement of the World of Outlaws date Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway. The race was to be a points earning event in the Racer's Racing Series. It has been re-scheduled for this coming Saturday, May 3, 2008. ...With enough lead time - several teams headed for Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH.) for the Saturday night All-Star sanctioned race. Joey Saldana won the 30-lap feature with Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Steve Kinser, and Paul McMahan completing the top-five. Kasey Kahne made a rare sprint car start and finished eleventh in the feature. ...Tim Kaeding returned to California and promptly won his 35th career Golden State Challenge feature at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare Saturday. "T.K." also won the Friday night points show at Silver Dollar Speedway (Chico).

RRS adds races - By Bobby Gerould - Rocklin, CA. April 24, 2008. ...After losing races to poor weather - the Racer's Racing Series has added three events as points earning features for 2008. In an effort to maintain a 60-race schedule, the RRS will offer points to the top 15 finishers at the World of Outlaws event at Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA.) May 13th, as well as the WoO race at Eagle Raceway (Eagle, NE.) June 14th. The final addition is the MSCS sprint car event September 27th at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN. All of the three races added pay $10,000 to the winner.

Catching up with Karl Kinser - Concord, NC— April 15, 2008--By: Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director. ...As part of the 30th Anniversary of the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series celebration, a number of different individual involved in the inaugural season of 1978 will be highlighted over the course of the 2008 campaign in a series entitled “Catching up with.” Drivers, car owners, promoters and crew members who were instrumental in helping the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series become what it is today will also stop by a number of races and tracks throughout the season, to visit with fans and share their memories of the 1978 season, as they traveled from coast-to-coast with the newly formed series. This week, Hall of Fame car owner and crew chief Karl Kinser will be featured. The native of Oolitic, Indiana won the first Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship in 1978, with Steve Kinser behind the wheel. The pair would go on to win a total of 14 series championships, along with hundreds of races. Karl Kinser also picked up two more titles with his son Mark Kinser behind the wheel in 1996 and 1999. During his career, Karl Kinser was victorious as a car owner/crew chief in the Knoxville Nationals, a record 12 times. He also was victorious as a car owner/chief chief in the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway, the Gold Cup Race of Champions in California, the Williams Grove National Open and even the Little 500 at Anderson Speedway in Indiana among others. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa in 1994. To view the entire “Catching up with Karl Kinser” feature which contains an interview, as well as a number of photos from his career, visit: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint/history.aspx and click on the picture of Kinser.

16 year old Shane Golobic wins Golden State run at Watsonville - By Gary Thomas, Watsonville, CA – April 12, 2008. …16 year-old Shane Golobic put together an impressive night Saturday at the Ocean Speedway and capped it all off with a dominating drive to lead all 30 laps and pick up his first career Golden State Challenge Series main event win. The youngster nearly recorded a clean sweep aboard the Brian Sperry wrenched, Joe Von Schriltz owned No. 121. Golobic was the class of the field all night long as he set fast time, won the dash and proceeded to easily win the 30 lap A-main event. “This is just awesome and it really hasn’t sunk in yet,” the 16 year-old said in the pits following the races. Golobic credited crew chief Sperry for giving him a great car all night long as well as former GSC champ Tim Green for coaching him during the night. Golobic became the third first time winner during the first seven races of the '08 season. Allard held onto the second position the whole way to score his best finish of the early GSC season aboard the Williams Motorsports No. 0 and defending GSC champ Brent Kaeding of Campbell finished third to score his third straight podium. Scotts Valley’s Evan Suggs brought home a fourth place finish for the second straight week in a row in the GLR Investments No. 33e with Campbell’s Bud Kaeding rounding out the top five aboard the Alviso Rock No. 29. (Summary)

Hot Meyers wins WoO, Walker at Antioch - By Bobby Gerould - April 7, 2008 - Jason Meyers is the hottest driver in sprint car racing after winning again Saturday night in World of Outlaws action at I-55 Raceway in Pevely MO. Meyers outlasted a furious charge to the checkered flag by runner-up Craig Dollansky. It was Meyers third win in five WoO starts in 2008. He also won the Mini Gold Cup. ...In Golden State Challenge competition, Tyler Walker of Los Angeles, CA. scored his first career series feature win Saturday night at Antioch Speedway.

Weekend winners share spotlight - HD Staff - March 24, 2008 - ...Louisiana's Jason Johnson, and California's Mike Henry were among the biggest winners this past weekend. Johnson won the ASCS National Tour event headliner in Oklahoma City, OK Saturday night while Henry scored a victory in the Golden State Challenge at Placerville Speedway Saturday night. (P-Ville summary is here) ...Sean Becker was the Saturday night 360 Silver Cup feature winner in Chico, following Shane Stewart's Friday night triumph. ...Danny Lasoski won the Friday ASCS show. ...Craig Dollansky invaded Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA Friday night; winning the main event with Joey Saldana running second. (Read Jerry Reigle's Grove story here) ...In USAC Western Midget action at Bakersfield Speedway Saturday night, Brad Kuhn was the winner followed by Garrett Hansen, and Jason Meyers.

Meyers again in Cali, Wright at Devils Bowl, plus more spring winners - HD Staff - March 17, 2008. ...The weekend past saw Jason Meyers win the Golden State Challenge event at Watsonville Speedway in California, while Gary Wright added another triumph at Devils Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX.) in the Spring Nationals. Wright stole the win from eventual runner-up Tony Bruce Jr, who won the Friday night preliminary. Jason Sides was third in the ASCS National race with Wayne Johnson and Zach Chappell completing the top five. ...At Watsonville - Meyers was followed by Shane Stewart, Tim Kaeding, Jon Allard and Bud Kaeding. 16 year-old Shane Golobic finished sixth in a great drive for car owner Joe Von Schriltz. ...Jeremy Sherman won the USAC-CRA feature at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, AZ. ...Fred Rahmer was the man at Lincoln Speedway (PA.) on Saturday.

Meyers stays hot, wins Mini Gold Cup - By Bobby Gerould - March 8, 2008 - Chico, CA. ...Jason Meyers continued his roll that dates back to November of last year with a convincing win in the 40-lap Mini Gold Cup Saturday night at chilly Silver Dollar Speedway. Meyers passed Paul McMahan in traffic on lap 28 to secure the $6,000 victory aboard his own Elite Racing KPC winged sprint car #14. McMahan held on for second place followed by Tim Kaeding, Brad Sweet, and Greg DeCaires. Sixth through tenth on the quarter-mile clay oval were: Mike Henry, Jon Allard, Andy Gregg, Mark Hall, and Travis Rutz. ...Allard set quick time for the 64-car field with an 11.820 clocking. ...Gregg won the B-Main. Bud Kaeding, Tyler Walker, Brandon Wimmer, and Joey Saldana won heat races. McMahan won the dash with Brent Kaeding capturing the C-Main.

McMahan opens Mini Gold Cup strongly - By Bobby Gerould - March 7, 2008. ...Chico, CA. ...Paul McMahan won in wire-to-wire fashion Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway in the opening race of the Golden State Challenge 2008 season. Serving as a tune-up for Saturday's $6,000 to-win Mini Gold Cup, McMahan's 30 lap Friday win was popular with the Chico fans that watched him 'cut his racing teeth' on the high-banked quarter mile clay oval before McMahan took his skills on the road as a full time traveling outlaw. Driving the Brian Sperry Racing #51, McMahan outgunned fellow front row starter Brad Sweet to take the early lead. On lap 12 - Jon Allard drove the Morrie Williams #0 into second with a low line pass of Sweet in turn one. Meanwhile the battle for fifth was intense with a charging Tim Kaeding (who started 14th in the 22 car field) going three-wide in turn four with Kevin Sharrah and Tyler Walker. The race climaxed on lap 23 when Allard pulled along side McMahan in traffic in turn one. But as the lap was completed - Allard drifted over the edge of the front chute and lost ground, actually surrendering the runner-up spot to Sweet. By lap 25 McMahan was in heavy traffic with Sweet (in Rod Tiner's #83t) and Allard in hot pursuit but a yellow flag for a slowing Brent Kaeding one lap later took away the possibility for a fantastic finish. The lap 26 restart was easily controlled by McMahan and he cruised to the checkered flag to win over Sweet, Allard, Tim Kaeding, and Walker. Sixth through tenth unofficially went to Andy Forsberg, Sharrah, Jason Meyers, Sean Becker, and Shane Stewart. ...61 cars timed-in. ...Joey Saldana was a late addition - driving the Fisher-Main #35a. Saldana finished 15th in the feature. ...Walker, Tim Kaeding, Jason Statler, and Greg DeCaires won heat races. ...McMahan won the Dash. ...Matt Mitchell drove only his second career winged sprint car race and won the C-Main. ...Mark Hall won the B-Main.

Meyers rises in Phoenix - HD Staff - March 1, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ. ...Jason Meyers won the World of Outlaws feature event Saturday night at Manzanita Speedway. The Clovis, CA. driver reached the checkered flag ahead of defending WoO champion Donny Schatz, Shane Stewart, Joey Saldana, and Craig Dollansky. ...Stewart was the night's fastest qualifier - circling the half-mile in 15.569 seconds. Danny Lasoski was involved in a tangle at the start of the feature resulting in a flip.

Vegas USAC CRA mains to Blake Miller and Levi Jones - HD Staff - Las Vegas, NV. - February 29, 2008. ...The non-wing sprint cars of the USAC-CRA series raced two nights at Las vegas Motor Speedway Thursday and Friday with Blake Miller and Levi Jones winning the respective night's main events. The half-mile dirt oval welcomed 23 sprint cars Friday night with Jones being followed at the checkered flag by Jesse Hockett, Cory Kruseman, Danny Sheridan, and Miller. (Friday summary)

Rain washes out Tulare WoO - By Gary Thomas - Tulare, California – February 21, 2008…The World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series event scheduled for this weekend at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway has been cancelled due to the bleak weather forecast.  Track officials spoke with the National Weather Service and based what they had to say, the decision was made to cancel the entire weekend to save everyone from driving down only to get rained out. World of Outlaw officials were also wanting a decision by today, since many of the teams are waiting in Phoenix where the series will compete next weekend.  The next event for the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway will be March 29 when the Golden State Challenge King of California Series and Western States Modifieds share the bill for an exiciting night of action. Fans can contact the Thunderbowl office to arrange for refunds at 559-688-0909 or 559-687-1955.

Fire forces temporary closure of John Padjen Motorsports business office - By Bill Sullivan - Roseville, CA. February 17, 2008 - An early morning structure fire destroyed the offices of John Padjen Motorsports and the home of John Padjen Motorsports Saturday. Nobody was injured in the fire, however, the majority of the contents of both the home and the office were destroyed. Due to the circumstances, the office will remain closed until late Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week when the business will reopen at a nearby commercial location and all communications including internet, email, phone and fax lines are restored at that time. In the wake of this situation, John and Robbie Padjen want to let everyone know they are ok. They sincerely appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers coming from their friends, vendors and members of the auto racing community. If you have any inquiries or business matters regarding the upcoming racing season they ask to please be patient for the next two days until they are back in business and the office phone number of (916) 969-7484 is restored.

Coons biggest winner in Copper on Dirt - HD Staff - February 16, 2008.- Phoenix, AZ. ...Jerry Coons Jr. won the USAC sanctioned Copper on Dirt Silver Crown race Saturday night at Manzanita Speedway. The win paid Coons $10,500. Bud Kaeding finished second followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Shane Cottle, and Tracy Hines. (Summary). ...Companion features for sprint cars and midgets were won by Cottle, and Darren Hagen. (Practice highlights at JackSlash.com).

Lasoski big winner at Volusia - By Tony Veneziano - February 10 , 2008 - Barberville, FL. ...Over the course of the last week, Danny Lasoski was plagued with some bad luck on the track and also was under the weather off the track, battling the flu for a majority of the 37th Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. The 2001 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion received the perfect remedy Sunday night, leading all 30-laps of the finale at Volusia Speedway Park to earn the 81st A-Feature win of his career. For Lasoski, it was his 17th career win at the half-mile, but the first in an Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event. “It’s very gratifying to come down here with my own car and win,” said Lasoski, who piloted the American Compressed Steel JEI. “I couldn’t do it without my friends, Tony Ross at American Compressed Steel and Ron Ditzfeld. They helped pay the way down here. I am very proud of my guys. My dad helped build this car at home and we just had great guys behind us.” (Read the whole deal)

Not to be Outdone: Meyers Wins at Volusia Speedway Park - Barberville, FL— February 9, 2008--By: Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director - Jason Meyers came close to winning on the first night of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park and again on the third night, battling with Donny Schatz in both of those contests. The pair found themselves dueling yet again on Saturday night, and this time Meyers was not about to be outdone, as held off Schatz to earn his first A-Feature win of the 2008 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season. (Read it all)

Dollansky wins WoO season opener - HD Staff - Barberville, FL. - February 8, 2008 - Driving the Larry Woodward owned #2 car, Craig Dollansky won the season opening night of racing for the World of Outlaws. Dollansky had a great Friday night - starting with a quick qualifying effort over a 46 car field at Volusia Speedway Park. He also finished second in his heat and second in the dash. Following Dollansky at the checkered flag was Donny Schatz, Terry McCarl, and 23rd starting Lance Dewease. Jason Meyers finished fifth with Chad Layton, Joey Saldana, Chad Kemenah, Daryn Pittman, and Tim Kaeding completing the top ten. (Read the WoO report)

Wayne Johnson slaps star studded field on low groove - HD Staff - Barberville, FL. February 6, 2008. ...Wayne Johnson used the bottom of Volusia Speedway Park's rubber-down racetrack to steal a victory from Danny Lasoski and Sam Hafertepe Jr in the second night of All-Star winged sprint car action Wednesday. Johnson, from Mustang OK, went from third place to the point on lap 20 with his low groove maneuver. “I was trying to pass Hafertepe but I got such a good run I just drove past them both.  I was kind of shocked myself.  I knew we could run around the bottom when nobody else could, so I was just saving my tires when all those guys were running up in the rubber.” ...Hafertepe finished second and Lasoski was third. 24th starting Craig Dollansky ran all the way up to fourth, with Donny Schatz fifth. (Read the All-Star race report and summary.)

Schatz wins first night Volusia All-Star show - HD Staff - Barberville, FL. 02/05/08 ...Donny Schatz won Tuesday night's All-Star Sprint Car program at Volusia Speedway Park. The Fargo, North Dakota driver started from the pole and won the feature over Jason Meyers, Steve Kinser, Lance Dewease, and Daryn Pittman. Craig Dollansky drove the Larry Woodward owned #2 to a sixth place finish. Completing the top ten were Joey Saldana, Kraig Kinser, Chad Kemenah, and Sam Hafertepe Jr. ...See pictures at Hoseheads.com

Cajun Jason Johnson wins Laney Memorial - HD Staff - Tampa, FL. February 2, 2008 - ...Eunice Louisiana's Jason Johnson took home $10,000 after his win in the Ronald Laney Memorial King of the 360's feature event Saturday night at East Bay Raceway Park. Gary Wright finished second followed by Terry McCarl, Travis Rilat, and Kenny Adams. (Summary)

Racing underway in Florida. Hafertepe, McCarl, Adams already winners - By Bobby Gerould - Rocklin, CA. - February 1, 2008. ...Three nights of winged sprint car racing have been contested in Flordia with Sam Hafertepe Jr., Terry McCarl, and Kenny Adams finding the winner's circle. Hafertepe's win came in the season opener for the All Stars at North Florida Speedway, with McCarl, and Adams picking up up preliminary wins in the ACSC National event - The King of the 360's at East Bay Raceway Park. Saturday's ASCS final is part of the Racer's Racing Series.

Kaeding, Padjen among Sprint Car Hall inductees - KNOXVILLE, IOWA  (January 25, 2008)  -  The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame announced the names of its twelve inductees for 2008.  The individuals will be inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon, May 31st, during the nineteenth annual ceremonies on the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa.  The inductees are: Drivers:  Tony Bettenhausen (Sr.), Glenn Fitzcharles, Brent Kaeding, Johnnie Parsons (Sr.), Earl Wagner, Kramer Williamson. Owners-Mechanics-Builders-Manufacturers-Car Sponsors:  Bob Hampshire, Doug Howells, Gordon Schroeder. Promoters-Officials-Media Members-Event/Series Sponsors:  Louis “Rusty” Espinoza, Dick Jordan, John Padjen. ...According to National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation executive director Thomas J. Schmeh, “Nine of the twelve inductees are living, which presents us with another great opportunity to honor people within their lifetime.  The 72-member National Induction Committee has done another outstanding job of nominating and electing some of the greatest achievers in our sport.  The induction banquet will be a great time to reflect back on the accomplishments of those veterans that have gone before us like drivers Tony Bettenhausen, Sr., and Johnnie Parsons, Sr., and builder/manufacturer Gordon Schroeder.  And then we’ll have the opportunity to honor modern era achievers such as multi-time champion drivers Glenn Fitzcharles (United Racing Club), Brent Kaeding (Northern Auto Racing Club, Golden State Challenge Series), Earl Wagner (Knoxville Raceway), and Kramer Williamson (United Racing Club, Williams Grove Speedway), owner/mechanics Bob Hampshire (All Star Circuit of Champions, United States Auto Club) and Doug Howells (American Sprint Car Series), and promoter/sanctioning officials Louis “Rusty” Espinoza (California Racing Association), Dick Jordan (United States Auto Club), and John Padjen (West Capital Raceway, Silver Dollar Speedway,  Golden State Challenge Series, California Civil War Series).  The induction banquet, to be emceed by Dr. Pat Sullivan on Saturday, May 31, will be a very special event for many people!” Those seeking more information on the 2008 NSCHoF induction weekend, May 30-31-June 1, are encouraged to visit the museum’s web site at www.sprintcarhof.com.  Those seeking more information on the May 30-31 winged sprint car races at the Knoxville Raceway, including the Friday night Masters Classic for drivers age 50-plus, should go to the legendary half-mile dirt track’s web site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.

Gardner star of stars at Chili Bowl - By Bobby Gerould - January 12, 2008, Tulsa, OK. - Damion Gardner scored an impressive 50 lap win in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at the Quik Trip Center Saturday night. The Concord, California racer wound up the best of 274 entrants at the annual race that attracts great drivers from the USA, Canada, and Australia. Lap eleven provided what turned out to be the winning pass as Gardner moved by Josh Ford to take command of the race. "The car was really good when it was pretty tacky all the way across, but it was getting really slick to a curb.  And it was right after a yellow, I got in a little too hot and caught the edge of it and spiked it up.  I just tried to keep it straight, and when we landed Dave (Darland) was alongside me but he was on the slick and probably gonna get no traction.  From then on, I just entered a little lower and tried to put in good smooth laps rather than fast ones." (Quotes courtesy Lonnie Wheatley). Dave Darland finished second with Shane Cottle, Bryan Clauson, and Jon Stanbrough completing the top-five. (Read the official results and story)

Darland tops Turkey Night midgets. Santos drives Toyota to first Sprint Car win - HD Staff - Irwindale, CA. November 22, 2007. ...Dave Darland captured top honors at the Turkey Night Grand Prix Thursday night at Irwindale Speedway. The Indiana driver was followed across the finish line in the 98-lap race by Kasey Kahne, Bobby East, Mike Murgoitio, and Garrett Hansen. ...In the companion Sprint Car race on the paved half-mile - Bobby Santos III wheeled the Western Speed Toyota to victory - marking the first ever feature win for Toyota's new 360 cubic inch engine. Ryan Kaplan finished fifth to wrap up the 2007 USAC Western Sprint Car championship. (Midget summary)

Steele strong at Phoenix International - HD Staff - November 8, 2007 - Avondale, AZ. - Dave Steele proved his pavement prowess again with a win in the USAC National Midget feature on the mile at Phoenix International Raceway Thursday night. The event was a points earning race in the Racer's Racing Series. Billy Wease led from lap three to lap 20 but he was overtaken by Steele on a lap 21 restart. Bobby Santos III finished second with Kody Swanson driving home third in his first start on the mile. Bobby East, and Wease completed the top-five. (Read summary)

Bud Kaeding steals Perris Oval Nationals - HD Staff - November 3, 2007 - Perris, CA. ...Bud Kaeding made a last lap pass of Casey Shuman to earn the $30,000 winner's share at the Perris Oval Nationals Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway. The dramatic, high-side turn two, pass - after the white flag, provided a fantastic finish. It was Kaeding's third career win in the Oval Nationals - making him the only driver to have accomplished such a feat. Shuman finished second, with Brady Bacon third. Bacon was impressive - coming from 15th on the starting grid after transferring through the B-Main. Friday prelim winner - Jesse Hockett was fourth at the stripe with Scotty Weir completing the top-five. (Read Andrew Kunas' report)

Madsen stays hot - wins Perris. HD Staff - Perris, CA. October 21, 2007 ...Kerry Madsen won the World of Outlaws feature event at Perris Auto Speedway Saturday night. The Australian driver of the Selma Shell #11h has been quick of late - scoring a third in the Princeton National, and a fifth at last week's Dave Helm Memorial. At Perris - the "Mad Man" was followed by Friday night Manzanita winner Danny Lasoski, Jason Solwold, Donny Schatz, and Jason Meyers. (more)

Partial Chico All-Time Win List - By Bobby Gerould - September 3, 2007 - For the last couple of years in my spare time I have tried to compile a list of feature winners in the Open-Wheel division at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California (USA). I was curious as to who might be the biggest winner in the history of the quarter-mile clay oval. My goal was to have the list ready for publication the week of the Gold Cup. Here it is - and while not complete - the list is very solid in the modern era of sprint car racing at Chico (which was really my primary concern). I was able to compile this list through the use of old programs from my family collection, and from the collections of Brian Sperry, and the Holtsman Family. Next - I used Kevin Eckert's Open Wheel Times web site to fill in more holes in the list. Finally - I was aided by Steve Turnross, Tom Herseth and Marty Kobata who provided dates and winners from their collection of Racing Wheels newspapers. The list will be updated further as any new results become available. ...The findings? (Click here)

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Disclosure

HammerDownUSA.com is independently owned and operated by HammerDown! Promotions. Editor Bobby Gerould is employed by Winnercomm - which produces telecasts for the World of Outlaws. Gerould is an independent contractor with the following: United States Auto Club - Western Office, Tony Hunt Racing, Thunderbowl Raceway, MotorSport Video, World Racing Group (DIRTcar), and Ron Sutton's Winners Circle Racing Team, Sponsors of this web site include J&J Auto Racing, and Sprint Car & Midget Magazine.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 8:23 PM

Racer's Racing Series

2009 Points / 2009 Schedule