Pittman Powers to Riverside Win
West Memphis, AR-May 5 2007--By: Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas will always be a very
special place to Daryn Pittman. He met his wife (Mandy) there 10 years ago, and
on Saturday got to celebrate in the winner's circle with her after claiming a
very emotional win in the World of Outlaws return to the ¼-mile for the first
time in 26 years, before a capacity crowd.
Racing near his wife's hometown in an event that featured side-by-side heat race
action with his father-in-law Mike Ward, Pittman took his second checkered flag
of the season in the 40-lap main event to earn the $10,000 payday, with much of
his wife's family and many friends in attendance.
"This is a huge to win in front of my wife and her whole family," said
Pittman, driver of the Titan Garages & Carports Maxim. "With all the
tradition of her and me at this race track, this is pretty special. There are
so many things that make this so meaningful. Her stepfather is really sick and
he was able to be here and watch it. I'm really happy to get a win for
them."
Pittman took the lead from Jason Solwold on the 10th lap, as he charged to the
high side of the track entering the first turn. He started fourth in the event
and gained two spots on the opening lap as he rode the high side of the track.
After winning the finale of the Florida DIRTcar Nationals in early February,
Pittman had racked up 12 Top-10 finishes as he sat third in championship points
heading into Saturday night's event.
"Our team really needed another win," he said. "We got off to such a good
start this season, and we have been steady and right there each night. Our car
has definitely been good enough to win. This is for my crew. They work so hard
and it is good to get another win. We'll try to go out next week and get win
number three."
Solwold began the night by shattering the track record by nearly a second. He
followed that up by winning the first heat, as well as the Crane Cams Dash, to
earn his first pole position of the season. He shot to the early lead as he
dove low in turn one with Steve Kinser in-toe on the opening lap. The native of
Mt. Vernon, Washington was able to make up ground in traffic late in the race,
as he earned his ninth Top-10 finish of the year, with his second-place effort.
"Anytime you can lead laps and finish in the Top-Three it is a good night,"
said Solwold, driver of the City Wide Insulation Maxim. "We had never been
here and Daryn (Pittman) had been here a few times, and he had a good car. I
felt like we had the fastest car and it's too bad we didn?t have more
lapped traffic there towards the end. The crew has been doing a great job all
year. We've had good cars here and there, and we just have to get a little
more consistent."
Kinser battled Solwold early in the race for the lead, and then had an
entertaining duel with Paul McMahan for the third spot in the late going.
McMahan got around the 20-time World of Outlaws Champion, but Kinser powered
back around him to finish in the third position. The native of Bloomington,
Indiana won in the World of Outlaws second visit to Riverside International
Speedway in 1979. He also won in 1981 to become the only repeat winner with the
series at the ¼-mile.
"We had a pretty good car," said Kinser, driver of the Q Oil Maxim. "I
just getting tighter and tighter. I probably should have changed some air
pressures (on the tires) on the first red (flag), but didn't do it. With all
the rain they had here and with how rough the track was, you have to be happy
with a Top-Five finish."
Pittman found himself in traffic a number of times on the quarter-mile, and was
able to masterfully weave his way through it each time. After taking the lead,
he had to endure two red flags along with two yellow flags. Strong restarts
each time helped propel him to a healthy advantage as Solwold and Kinser chased
him.
"Our car was so good that I was not really worried about the yellows,"
explained Pittman. "Once I got into lapped traffic I wanted it to stay green
because, it seemed like we were getting through traffic good enough that
(Jason) Solwold would not be right behind us, but he was. Our car was so good
that I could go anywhere I wanted. It shows how good our car was and how easy
my crew made my job."
The fans, who were on their feet for most of the feature cheering Pittman on,
began lining up for tickets in the late morning and a steady stream of
spectators continued to file through the gates well into the heat races.
"It was great to be back here," Pittman said. "West Memphis, as well as
the Tennessee area and Arkansas are such sprint car hotbeds. The fans are
diehards around this area. It's a shame we only get down here once a year,
because if they had 10,000 seats they would fill every one of them."
Paul McMahan had a very solid night in the Bass Pro Shops Eagle, as he lined up
sixth for the A-Feature and quickly worked his way into the Top-Five. He made
it up to third before contact he received from another car forced him up the
track and back to the fourth spot. The native of Nashville now has six Top-10
finishes on the season.
Tim Shaffer earned his sixth Top-Five finish of the season as he finished in the
fifth spot on Saturday night in his first visit to Riverside. The 1999 World of
Outlaws Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year won the fourth heat to earn a spot in
the Crane Cams Dash.
Jason Meyers finished sixth in the Primerica Financial Maxim, with Terry McCarl
in the Big Game Treestands Eagle in seventh. Chad Kemenah was eight in the
Arizonatools.com Maxim. Craig Dollansky passed more cars than anyone on the
track as he lined up 27th after taking a provisional, due to engine trouble
earlier in the night. He cane home ninth in the Karavan Trailers Maxim. Tim
Kaeding finished a very solid 10th as he filled in for Brooke Tatnell in the
Volcano Joes Coffee Schnee.
Donny Schatz the current World of Outlaws championship point leader overcame a
flip in the second heat and a flat tire in the A-Feature to finish 14th in the
ParkerStore J&J. He raced his way into the 40-lap contest by virtue of winning
the B-Main.
Joey Saldana who is currently second in points, driving the Open Joist
Mopar-powered JEI used a provisional to start the A-Feature and finished one
spot behind Schatz in 15th.
The World of Outlaws return to action on Friday, May 11 at US 36 Raceway in
Osborn, Missouri for the Second Annual Missouri High Banked Nationals. On
Saturday, May 12 the series travels to Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri.
RIVERSIDE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY NOTEBOOK
* FAST QUALIFIER: Jason Solwold paced the 38 cars that took time with a
record setting AMB i.t. timed lap around the semi-banked 1/4-mile oval in
11.060 seconds at 81.374 mph. For his qualifying effort, Solwold eared five
bonus points. The next four fastest qualifiers also earned bonus points,
including: Danny Lasoski (4), Chad Kemenah (3), Jason Meyers (2), and Justin
Henderson (1).
* QUALIFYING WINNERS: Jason Solwold, Jason Sides, Steve Kinser and Tim
Shaffer won heat races. Joey Saldana won the C-Main. Donny Schatz won the
B-Main. Jason Solwold won the Crane Cams dash.
* FEATURE WINNERS: There have been 17 World of Outlaws A-Feature events held
in 2007. The win list includes: Joey Saldana (February 23 at Thunderbowl
Raceway, March 17 at Pike County Speedway, March 24 at Volunteer Speedway,
March 31 at Dixie Speedway, and April 20 at Attica Raceway Park), Donny Schatz
(February 9 at Volusia Speedway Park, March 3 at Manzanita Speedway, March 16
at Houston Raceway Park, and April 28 at Knoxville Raceway), Steve Kinser
(March 2 at USA Race Park and April 21 at Tri-State Speedway), Daryn Pittman
(February 11 at Volusia Speedway Park and May 5 at Riverside International
Speedway), Tim Kaeding (February 24 at Thunderbowl Raceway), Danny Lasoski
(April 6 at Paducah International Raceway), Kerry Madsen (February 10 at
Volusia Speedway Park), and Jason Meyers (April 13 at Eldora Speedway).
* ¼-MILE WINNERS: Riverside International Speedway is a ¼-mile semi-banked
oval. The World of Outlaws have raced three times this season on a track that
size. The winners include: Steve Kinser (Tri-State Speedway), Daryn Pittman
(Riverside International Speedway), and Donny Schatz (Houston Raceway Park).
ON TELEVISION
* The World of Outlaws return to television on May 13 at 2 p.m. Eastern. The
Sprint Car stars from the World of Outlaws return to SPEED at 2 p.m. on Sunday,
May 13, with the warriors from the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series
making their 2007 SPEED debut on Sunday, May 20.
The World of Outlaws will be televised 20 times this season on ESPN2 and SPEED
while the World of Outlaws Late Model Series is set for six appearances on
SPEED. The one-hour broadcasts will air on Sundays from May 13 to Nov. 4, when
the series champions will be crowned during the World Finals from The Dirt
Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway.
* ON THE WEB: The Official World of Outlaws Web site is at
http://www.worldofoutlaws.com. Among the features are updated driver
biographies with individual statistics and pictures, race-by-race statistics,
detailed track information and race coverage, series news and team press
releases. Also, links to the Media Guide and 2007 Official Rulebook can be
found at the bottom of the home page.
* LISTEN ONLINE: If fans can't get to a track to see the series, they can
experience the excitement of the World of Outlaws live on DIRTVision.com
through the DIRT Radio Network. To listen to the audio broadcasts, log on to
www.DIRTVision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo. Listeners will
need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For
technical support or questions, e-mail webmaster@DIRTVision.com.
* UP NEXT: A pair of events in the Show-Me State of Missouri dot the schedule
on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12. First up is a visit to US 36 Raceway
for the Second Annual Missouri High Banked Nationals, followed by a visit to
Lake Ozark Speedway.
* UPCOMING EVENTS: The Commonwealth Clash is set for Tuesday, May 15 at
Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania. The first pair of events at the famed
Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania are on tap for Thursday,
May 17 and Friday, May 18. A trip the sprawling 5/8-mile Orange County Speedway
in New York is set for Saturday, May 19. A return to New Egypt Speedway in New
Jersey dots the schedule the following night, Sunday, May 20.
World of Outlaws Sprint Series Statistical Report; Riverside International
Speedway; May 5, 2007
Qualifying
1) R19-Jason Solwold 11.060 (New Track Record)
2) 83-Danny Lasoski 11.064
3) 3X-Chad Kemenah 11.065
4) 14-Jason Meyers 11.102
5) D1-Justin Henderson 11.176
6) 20-Paul McMahan 11.177
7) 24-Terry McCarl 11.185
8) 6-Tim Shaffer 11.218
9) 51-Lee Sowell 11.240
10) 7S-Jason Sides 11.242
11) 11-Steve Kinser 11.272
12) 21-Daryn Pittman 11.277
13) 8K-Zach Chappell 11.303
14) 40R-Tim Crawley 11.309
15) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr. 11.322
16) 88-Mike Ward 11.330
17) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr. 11.330
18) 15-Donny Schatz 11.330
19) 4X-Jan Howard 11.339
20) 2-Tim Kaeding 11.391
21) 18-Brian Carlson 11.403
22) 11D-Dion Hindi 11.417
23) 9JR-Derek Hager 11.418
24) 35-Jac Haudenschild 11.420
25) 11T-Tyler Thompson 11.437
26) 1X Randy Hannagan 11.456
27) 36-Jason Martin 11.463
28) 47-Dale Howard 11.467
29) 26-Marshall Skinner 11.484
30) 5C-Chad Hillier 11.488
31) 11H-Kerry Madsen 11.545
32) 9-Joey Saldana 11.601
33) 10C-Jeremy Campbell 11.607
34) 12M-Greg Mettitt 11.678
35) 44-Ronny Howard 11.783
36) D12-Doc Sloan 11.843
37) 78-Henry Gustavus 11.946
38) 24W-Kenny Coke 12.004
39) 7-Craig Dollansky -.---
Heat 1 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) R19-Jason Solwold
2) D1-Justin Henderson
3) 51-Lee Sowell
4) 18-Brian Carlson
5) 8K-Zach Chappell
6) 26-Marshall Skinner
7) 10C-Jeremy Campbell
8) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.
9) 78-Henry Gustavus
10) 11T-Tyler Thompson
Heat 2 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 7S-Jason Sides
2) 20-Paul McMahan
3) 5C-Chad Hillier
4) 11D-Dion Hindi
5) 1X-Randy Hannagan
6) 83-Danny Lasoski
7) 12M-Greg Mettitt
8) 24W-Kenny Coke
9) 40R-Tim Crawley
10) 15-Donny Schatz
Heat 3 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 11-Steve Kinser
2) 3X-Chad Kemenah
3) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.
4) 24-Terry McCarl
5) 11H-Kerry Madsen
6) 7-Craig Dollansky
7) 44-Ronny Howard
8) 9JR-Derek Hager
9) 4X-Jan Howard
10) 36-Jason Martin
Heat 4 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 6-Tim Shaffer
2) 21-Daryn Pittman
3) 14-Jason Meyers
4) 88-Mike Ward
5) 2-Tim Kaeding
6) 35-Jac Haudenschild
7) 9-Joey Saldana
8) 47-Dale Howard
9) D12-Doc Sloan
Crane Cams Dash (8 laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions
of A-feature)
1) R19-Jason Solwold
2) 11-Steve Kinser
3) D1-Justin Henderson
4) 21-Daryn Pittman
5) 6-Tim Shaffer
6) 20-Paul McMahan
7) 3X-Chad Kemenah
8) 14-Jason Meyers
9) 24-Terry McCarl
10) 7S-Jason Sides
C-main (8 laps, top 2 finishers transferred to B-main)
1) 9-Joey Saldana
2) 10C-Jeremy Campbell
3) 26-Marshall Skinner [$125]
4) 44-Ronny Howard [$125]
5) 78-Henry Gustavus [$125]
6) 12M-Greg Mettitt [$100]
7) 24W-Kenny Coke [$100]
8) D12-Doc Sloan [$100]
9) 7-Craig Dollansky [$100]
B-main (12 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 15-Donny Schatz
2) 83-Danny Lasoski
3) 35-Jac Haudenschild
4) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.
5) 10C-Jeremy Campbell [$200]
6) 9JR-Derek Hager [$180]
7) 9-Joey Saldana [$175]
8) 47-Dale Howard [$160]
9) 36-Jason Martin [$150]
10) 11T-Tyler Thompson [$150]
11) 4X-Jan Howard [$150]
12) 40R-Tim Crawley [$150]
A-main (40 laps) - Starting Position [#]
1) 21-Daryn Pittman[4] [$10,000]
2) R19-Jason Solwold[1] [$5,500]
3) 11-Steve Kinser[2] [$3,200]
4) 20-Paul McMahan[6] [$2,800]
5) 6-Tim Shaffer[5] [$2,500]
6) 14-Jason Meyers[8] [$2,300]
7) 24-Terry McCarl[9] [$2,200]
8) 3X-Chad Kemenah[7] [$2,100]
9) 7-Craig Dollansky[27] [$1,150]
10) 2-Tim Kaeding[18] [$2,000]
11) 83-Danny Lasoski[11] [$1,500]
12) 7S-Jason Sides[10] [$1,200]
13) 11D-Dion Hindi[20] [$1,100]
14) 15-Donny Schatz[17] [$1,050]
15) 9-Joey Saldana[25] [$200]
16) 5C-Chad Hillier[23] [$900]
17) D1-Justin Henderson[3] [$800]
18) 9JR-Derek Hager[26] [$0]
19) 51-Lee Sowell[12] [$800]
20) 18-Brian Carlson[19] [$800]
21) 1X-Randy Hannagan[22] [$800]
22) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[16] [$800]
23) 88-Mike Ward[15] [$800]
24) 8K-Zach Chappell[13] [$800]
25) 35-Jac Haudenschild[21] [$800]
26) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.[14] [$800]
27) 11H-Kerry Madsen[24] [$800]
Lap Leaders: Jason Solwold, 1-9; Daryn Pittman 10-40
Note: Joey Saldana and Craig Dollansky used World of Outlaws provisionals to
start the A-Feature. Derek Hagar used a track provisional to start the
A-Feature.
2007 STAT ATTACK
There have been 17 World of Outlaws A-Feature events this season.
A-Feature winners (8 different drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Wins
1- #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN - 5
2- #15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND - 4
3- #11 Steve Kinser, Bloomington, IN - 2
#21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK - 2
5- #11K Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA - 1
#83 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO - 1
#11H Kerry Madsen, St. Mary's NSW - 1
#14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA - 1
Lap leaders, including A-features and preliminary features Car, driver, hometown
-Total laps led (13 different drivers have led a lap)
#9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN. - 153 laps
#15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. - 87 laps
#21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK - 65 laps
#11 Steve Kinser, Bloomington, IN - 64 laps
#35 Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH - 46 laps
#11K Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA - 40 laps
#7 Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN - 39 laps
#14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA - 23 laps
#11H Kerry Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW - 22 laps
#D1 Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls, SD - 14 laps
#R19 Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon, WA - 9 laps
#83 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO - 7 laps
#7S Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN - 6 laps
Time trial leaders (11 different drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Quick times
1 - #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN - 4
2 - #14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA - 3
3 - #R19 Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon, WA - 2
4 - #18T Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, KS - 1
#89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA - 1
#7 Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN - 1
#5C Chad Hillier, Burlington, WA - 1
#11H Kerry Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW - 1
#20 Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN - 1
#15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND - 1
#6T Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA - 1
Track records established during 2007 World of Outlaws events (5)
* Craig Dollansky, March 2, United Sports Arizona Race Park (3/8-mile), Tucson,
AZ, 12.624 seconds at 106.939 mph.
* Kerry Madsen, March 3, Manzanita Speedway (1/2-mile), Phoenix, AZ, 15.255
seconds at 118.149 mph.
* Joey Saldana, March 16, Houston Raceway Park (1/4-mile) Baytown, TX, 11.996
seconds at 75.025 mph.
* Joey Saldana, March 24, Volunteer Speedway (4/10-mile) Bulls Gap, TN, 11.696
second at 123.119 mph.
* Jason Solwold, May 5, Riverside International Speedway (1/4-mile) West
Memphis, AR, 11.060 seconds at 81.374 mph.
Crane Cams Dash Winners (13 different winners) Rank - Driver, Hometown -Dash Wins
1- #15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND - 3
2-#14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA - 2
#21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK - 2
4 - #7 Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN - 1
#15H Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX - 1
#35 Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH - 1
#83 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO - 1
#20 Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN - 1
#9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN - 1
#6 Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA - 1
#7S Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN - 1
#4 Danny Smith, Danville, IN - 1
#R19 Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon, WA - 1
Pole Positions (13 different drivers) Rank - Driver, Hometown - Poles
1 - #15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND - 3
2- #14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA - 2
#21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK - 2
4 - #7 Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN - 1
#15H Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX - 1
#35 Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH - 1
#83 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO - 1
#20 Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN - 1
#9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN - 1
#6 Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA - 1
#7S Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN - 1
#4 Danny Smith, Danville, IN - 1
#R19 Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon, WA - 1
B-main Winners (15 different winners) Rank - Driver, Hometown - "B" Wins
1 -#11D Dion Hindi, Albuquerque, NM - 2
2 -#18T Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, KS - 1
#24H- Rob Chaney, Wooster, OH - 1
#15H Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX -1
#1X Randy Hannagan, San Jose - 1
#11K Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 1
#11H Kerry Madsen, St. Mary's NSW - 1
#24 Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA - 1
#20 Paul McMahan, Nashville, TN - 1
#9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN - 1
#15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND - 1
#6 Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, PA - 1
#7S Jason Sides, Bartlett, TN - 1
#4 Danny Smith, Danville, IN - 1
#R19 Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon, WA - 1
#2 Brooke Tatnell, San Souci, NSW - 1