WoO, Grays Harbor, WA. 08/17/02

Shaffer Stops Slump with Grays Harbor Victory By Richard Day ELMA, WA (August 17) – Not only does Grays Harbor Raceway Park host the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series’ only double-feature event during its Wild, Wild Northwest Tour, it is also becoming a facility of hope for drivers looking to salvage their seasons. Tim Shaffer became the second driver in two nights to end a lengthy slump Saturday, winning his first “A” Feature of the season. The 1999 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year passed Steve Kinser late in the 11th lap on his way to claiming the $12,000 first prize. Shaffer is the 15th driver to win a Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series main event this year. “I’m just glad to finally get a win,” Shaffer told the capacity crowd. “We’ve been close a few times this year, but things just haven’t gone our way. We haven’t had a week off in a long time, so I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do, but it’ll be a lot better after tonight.”

Shaffer was dominant throughout the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series’ 50th feature program of the season, setting quick time and winning the First Heat Race. He earned the right to start the 40-lap main event inside the second row by passing Danny Lasoski and Jac Haudenschild during the O’Reilly Auto Parts Dash. Cousins Mark and Steve Kinser started out the front row and raced wheel-to-wheel down the front straightaway as the green flag fell in the “A” Feature. Steve drove his #11 Quaker State Maxim into the lead in the low groove between the first and second corners. Shaffer chased Mark Kinser for a lap before passing him deep in turn three. Lasoski used an inside move in the first corner to pass “The Wild Child” for third place late in lap three.

The Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series points leader was 1.2 seconds ahead of Shaffer when he entered lapped traffic six laps into the race. Shaffer caught “The King of the Outlaws” early in lap 11 and passed him in dense lapped traffic high in the fourth corner several seconds later. Glenn Borden, Jr., knocked Mark Kinser out of third place three laps later, spinning into him in turn one. Kinser restarted at the back of the pack after his crew repaired a damaged header on the #5M Mopar Maxim. Third Heat Race winner Toni Lutar stopped in the fourth corner with a flat right rear tire late in the 16th lap. Donny Schatz surrendered eighth place when he coasted into the pits with steering problems. Schatz’ crew was unable to repair the #15 Parker Stores J&J in time for him to restart the race, so the 1997 Rookie of the Year had to settle for a 23rd-place finish. Mark Kinser also pitted replace his flat right rear tire.

Shaffer controlled the final restart and opened a 1.9-second advantage within four laps. Steve Kinser raced with Shaffer through turns one and two during lap 25, but was unable to surge ahead. Haudenschild challenged “The Dude” for seven laps before driving the #5 Wirtgen Maxim past him high in the second corner to claim third place early in lap 19. Although Shaffer saw his advantage shrink to .3 seconds in lapped traffic with nine laps remaining, he was 1.4 seconds ahead of Kinser when he took the checkered flag. “We hit traffic in just the right spots tonight and my crew did a great job,” Shaffer said. “We had a great car all night long from beginning to end. Steve and I got pretty close a couple of times, but that’s just racing. This race track was awesome and things worked out great for us.”

Haudenschild finished in third place, while Lasoski finished fourth in his third straight race since returning from injuries suffered in a crash July 26th at Williams Grove Speedway. Stevie Smith finished in fifth place, ahead of Brad Furr, Daryn Pittman, Joey Saldana, P.J. Chesson and 15th-starting Randy Hannagan. Lasoski, who led the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series standings when he suffered the injury, passed Craig Dollansky for third place in the points race. Chesson’s ninth-place finish pushed him into 14th place in the point standings. Shaffer paced the qualifying session for the seventh time this year, circling the semi-banked, 3/10-mile oval in 12.203 seconds. Saldana was also clocked at 88.503 M.P.H., but Shaffer posted the time earlier.

The Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series will run $51,600 events at Skagit Speedway Friday and Central Washington State Fair Speedway Saturday. WoO 2002 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series Gray’s Harbor Raceway Park, Elma, WA Saturday, August 17, Feature Program #50

Qualifications: 1. Tim Shaffer, Roth 83, 12.203; 2. Joey Saldana, Saldana 17, 12.203; 3. Stevie Smith, Helm 11H, 12.252; 4. Brad Furr, Furr 2, 12.311; 5. Craig Dollansky, Karavan Racing 7, 12.358; 6. Donny Schatz, Schatz 15, 12.483; 7. Daryn Pittman, Sher-Don Motorsports 21, 12.492; 8. Danny Wood, Parsons 6, 12.527; 9. P.J. Chesson, Chesson 76, 12.581; 10. Shawna Wilskey, Pierce 5SP, 12.650; 11. Randy Hannagan, TH Racing 1x, 12.660; 12. Roger Crockett, Doyle 11C, 12.738; 13. Jason Meyers, Carter 14, 12.782; 14. Toni Lutar, Lutar 4x, 12.871; 15. Jayme Barnes, Dewitt 9, 12.922; 16. Chad Hillier, Hillier 24C, 13.059; 17. Jason Solwold, Huson 3S, 13.103; 18. Shannon Wheatley, Wheatley 45, 13.113; 19. Rick Fauver, Reynolds 4, 13.346; 20. Jeff Thompson, Thompson 7T, 13.511; 21. Scott Aumen, Menard 2A, 13.646; 22. Glenn Borden, Jr., Borden 72, 13.675; 23. Tony Menard, Menard 12, 13.990; 24. Geoff Beck, Beck 22, 14.041; 25. Randy Van Agton, Glick 20V, 14.072; 26. Tyler Pinceman, Beck 99, 14.111; 27. Dan Dunlap, Dunlap 21D, 14.230; 28. Ron Reed, Reed 97C, 14.238; 29. Mike Sellers, Sellers 19M, 14.296; 30. Dawn L. Morrison, Beck 49, 14.361; 31. Lance Sponberg, Sponberg 56W, 14.444; 32. Jay Cole, Cole 0J, 14.608; 33. Rich Kelly, Kelly 91, 16.001; 34. Mark Hinkle, Hinkle 9H, no time; 3. Mike Dunham, Dunham 11D, no time. Finshing 1-4 in Friday’s Preliminary Feature qualified Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M; Steve Kinser, Kinser 11; Jac Haudenschild, Forbrook 5; Danny Lasoski, Stewart 20, for the first four starting positions in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Dash.

First Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Tim Shaffer, 2. Chad Hillier, 3. P.J. Chesson, 4. Danny Wood, 5. Jason Solwold, 6. Scott Aumen, 7. Randy Van Agton, 8. Mike Sellers, 9. Rich Kelly. (first four qualified for the “A” Feature)

Second Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Shawna Wilskey, 2. Daryn Pittman, 3. Joey Saldana, 4. Jayme Barnes, 5. Glenn Borden, Jr., 6. Tyler Pinceman, 7. Dawn L. Morrison, 8. Shannon Wheatley. (first four qualified for the “A” Feature)

Third Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Toni Lutar, 2. Donny Schatz, 3. Randy Hannagan, 4. Stevie Smith, 5. Rick Fauver, 6. Tony Menard, 7. Dan Dunlap, 8. Lance Sponberg. (first four qualified for the “A” Feature)

Fourth Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Jason Meyers, 2. Craig Dollansky, 3. Brad Furr, 4. Jeff Thompson, 5. Roger Crockett, 6. Ron Reed, 7. Jay Cole, 8. Geoff Beck. (first four qualified for the “A” Feature)

O'Reilly Auto Parts Dash (seven laps): 1. Mark Kinser, 2. Steve Kinser, 3. Tim Shaffer, 4. Jac Haudenschild, 5. Danny Lasoski, 6. Stevie Smith, 7. Brad Furr, 8. Joey Saldana. (finish determined the first eight starting positions in the “A” Feature)

B Feature (15 laps): 1. Rick Fauver, 2. Jay Cole, 3. Roger Crockett, 4. Glenn Borden Jr., 5. Ron Reed ($200); 6. Scott Aumen ($175); 7. Dawn L Morrison ($150); 8. Tyler Pinceman ($100); 9. Dan Dunlap ($90); 10. Randy Van Agton ($80); 11. Lance Sponberg ($60); 12. Mike Sellers ($50); 13. Shannon Wheatley ($50); 14. Jason Solwold ($50); 15. Geoff Beck ($50); 16. Rich Kelly ($50); 17. Tony Menard ($50). (first four qualified for the “A” Feature)

A Feature (40 laps): 1. Tim Shaffer [3] ($12,000); 2. Steve Kinser [2] ($6,000); 3. Jac Haudenschild [4] ($4,000); 4. Danny Lasoski [5] ($2,500); 5. Stevie Smith [6] ($3,300); 6. Brad Furr [7] ($3,100); 7. Daryn Pittman [11] ($3,000); 8. Joey Saldana [8] ($2,500); 9. P.J. Chesson [13] ($2,100); 10. Randy Hannagan [15] ($2,050); 11. Craig Dollansky [9] ($2,000); 12. Jason Meyers [17] ($1,600); 13. Mark Kinser [1] ($1,500); 14. Shawna Wilskey [14] ($1,200); 15. Chad Hillier [20] ($1,100); 16. Rick Fauver [21] ($1,020); 17. Jeff Thompson [22] ($900); 18. Toni Lutar [18] ($800); 19. Jayme Barnes [19] ($800); 20. Jay Cole [24] ($820); 21. Roger Crockett [16] ($820); 22. Glenn Borden, Jr. [23] ($820); 23. Donny Schatz [10] ($800); 24. Danny Wood [12] ($800).

Lap leaders: Steve Kinser 1-10, Tim Shaffer 11-40

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