By Tony Venziano

Concord, NC— March 24, 2008--By: Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director

It was a busy weekend for a number of Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series drivers, highlighted by wins for Craig Dollansky, Danny Lasoski and Shane Stewart. The holiday weekend wrapped up with the announcement that the series would be televised exclusively on SPEED in 2008, beginning with a live three-hour event at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Friday, May 23.

Pennsylvania Invasion: Dollansky, the current Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series championship point leader was victorious at the famed Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania on Friday night, over fellow series driver Joey Saldana. Also in action at the half-mile was: Lucas Wolfe, Tony Bruce Jr., Chad Kemenah, Tim Shaffer and also Saldana’s car owner, Kasey Kahne. Dollansky led all 25 laps to pick up his third career win at the Williams Grove, where the World of Outlaws will compete a total of six nights this season.

Dollansky followed that up with a fourth-place finish at Lincoln Speedway in Pennsylvania on Saturday night. He started 12th in just his third career start at the track, earning his seventh overall Top-Five finish of the season. He turned in one of the most impressive drives all night, coming from the ninth starting spot in the first heat to finish second.

Also in action at Lincoln Speedway was current Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year contender Lucas Wolfe who finished 10th, along with Joey Saldana, Chad Kemenah, and Tony Bruce Jr.

OK in Oklahoma: Danny Lasoski won on Friday during the opening night of the Spring Nationals at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For the 2001 World of Outlaws champions, it was his third win at the track in his career. He won a thrilling battle with Garry Lee Maier to earn his first career American Sprint Car Series on Tour National victory. The native of Dover, Missouri followed that up with a runner-up finish in the finale on Saturday night.

Also in action at the Spring Nationals was Daryn Pittman who finished third on Friday night. In the finale, he led a few laps and was battling eventual winner Jason Johnson for the lead, when he clipped an infield tire, damaging his machine. The native of Owasso, Oklahoma finished ninth on Saturday night.

Jason Sides, the 2003 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year finished fifth on Saturday night, after an 11th –place run in the opener.

Sam Hafertepe Jr., who is in his second full season competing with the World of Outlaws rebounded from an accident on Friday night to charge to a fourth-place finish on Saturday night at State Fair Speedway.

Terry McCarl, who is currently fifth in World of Outlaws championship points, also competed in the Spring Nationals.

Winning Out West: Shane Stewart, the 2005 World of Outlaws Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, was victorious on Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California in the Silver Cup Race of Champions for 360-sprint cars. He battled former World of Outlaws winner Paul McMahan for the win at the ¼-mile. The native of Bixby, Oklahoma also competed at Placerville Speedway in California on Saturday night with the Golden State Challenge Series.

Consistency Continues: Jason Meyers earned another podium finish on Saturday night, as he was third at Bakersfield Speedway in his home state of California, behind the wheel of a midget for Cruz Pedregon Racing. Meyers won the first heat race, after turning in the seventh quickest time in time trials. It was the second time in his career that he ran a midget at the high-banked 1/3-mile with the United States Auto Club (USAC). Meyers currently is second in World of Outlaws championship points, just two markers out of the lead and has two A-Feature wins to lead the series.

Clean Sweep Bonus: Officials at Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio announced on Monday that there will be a $10,000 Clean Sweep Bonus from the University of Northwestern Ohio offered during the 20th edition of the Brad Doty Classic at the track on July 9. To earn the bonus, a driver must set fast time, win a heat race, win the Crane Cams Dash and win the 40-lap A-Feature event. The event has been held for the last two seasons at the always racy ¼-mile with Jac Haudenschild winning in 2007 and Joey Saldana claiming the top prize in 2006.

Bonus Bounty: A bounty of $1,000 was recently placed on Donny Schatz for the event at Heartland Park Topeka in Kansas during the 2nd Annual Thunder in the Heartland Shootout on Saturday, September 13. Schatz, the two-time defending Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, won at the track last season and also was the first driver to win at Heartland Park Topeka in the series inaugural visit in 2001. If any driver other than Schatz wins at the track, they will receive the $1,000 bounty. Schatz, in his first season driving for Tony Stewart Racing opened the 2008 campaign with two wins at Volusia Speedway Park during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals with the All Star Circuit of Champions. He also has finished eighth or better in all four World of Outlaws events this season, including three runner-up finishes.

Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts is the second-largest retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, based on store count and sales. As of October 6, 2007, the company operated 3,228 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets.



Have an opinion on this story? E-MAIL KARNAC to send a letter to the editor!