World of Outlaws Sprint cars headed to Houston Raceway Park this Saturday
March 9, 2010
For well over 30 years, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events have been thrilling fans from coast-to-coast with wheel-to-wheel action at breathtaking speeds. Looking to add even more excitement to the ‘Fan Experience’ at the race track in 2010, the series has implemented double file restarts, which they pioneered in the early days of the series, along with a new format for the dash.
Houston Raceway Park will be the first ¼-mile track to witness the thrilling double file restarts in 2010 as the World of Outlaws return to the always racey bullring on Saturday, March 13 as part of the Second Annual Texas Two-Step Weekend.
Texan Sam Hafertepe, Jr. will be among the World of Outlaws stars racing in Texas this weekend.
The new dash format introduced at the season opening events in Florida put the faster cars a couple of rows back and will lead to more passes and battles for position. The Top-2 finishers in each heat race will make it to the dash again in 2010 along with the fastest two drivers from time trials that transferred from the heat race to the A-Feature, who were not first or second in the heat. The dash will then be lined up heads-up according to qualifying times, with a fan then drawing a 4, 6 or 8 pill for the dash inversion. The finish of the dash will then be used to set the first five rows of the A-Feature line-up.
“The tires, the format, the double file restarts, that’s all good for our sport,” said Joey Saldana of the changes implemented in 2010. “The fans will see a great show when they come to Houston Raceway Park for the Outlaws.”
New as well in 2010, is the switch to Goodyear Tires for the World of Outlaws. A number of the veteran drivers competed on rubber from Goodyear in the past, and the event race at Houston Raceway Park will be one of the first short track races for the series on the new tires, which have carried drivers to 19 championships over the years with the series.
Another of the most notable changes in 2010 is that 20-time series champion Steve Kinser, is driving for Tony Stewart Racing. The Hall of Famer is paired with four-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz. The duo has combined to win the last eight World of Outlaws titles and nine of the last 10 and well over 200 races over the last decade.
As has been a tradition at World of Outlaws events since the series inaugural 1978 season, the fans are welcome to visit the pit area after the final checkered flag of the night falls at every event in 2010, to see the cars and stars of the series up close and personal.
On Saturday, March 13 at Houston Raceway Park, Tickets for adults will be $30, with tickets for juniors (ages 6-12) $15. Pit combos will also be available for $38, which includes a grandstand ticket and a pit pass. To purchase tickets online visit http://www.houstonraceway.com or call the track at 281-383-2666.
Gary “The Texan” Wright nails ASCS Gulf South win at Golden Triangle Raceway Park
March 6, 2010
The American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region opened up the 2010 season in much the same way as 2009, with Gary Wright standing in victory lane at Golden Triangle Raceway Park.
For the second year in a row, “The Texan” topped the $3,000-to-win, 25-lap Prelude to the Gulf Coast Nationals to launch the season for the ASCS Gulf South Region atop the Golden Triangle clay.
Gary Wright topped Friday night's ASCS Gulf South Region season opener at Golden Triangle Raceway Park
However, rather than wait for the last lap to make the winning move like last year, Wright gunned into the lead at the outset aboard Scott Brown’s ASI-powered Lubbock Wrecker Service/The Shop No. 9x Maxim and never looked back en route to a third ASCS Gulf South season opening win.
“As heavy as the track was tonight, it was real easy to get in trouble in traffic or really anywhere,” Wright explained. “We got lucky tonight and stayed out of trouble, we’ll get cleaned up and try to get another one tomorrow.”
Gary Wright drove to victory lane in Friday night's season opening ASCS Gulf South Region main event at Beaumont's Golden Triangle Raceway Park.
A move past Tommy Bryant and Bruce Crockett in the final two laps of his heat race landed Wright in the redraw. And when he drew the number one pill, that may have been all the luck the four-time Lucas Oil National Sprint Car champion needed.
Weathering three red flag periods over the initial four circuits, including a pair on the initial two starts, Wright paced the early circuits in front of fellow front row starter Klint Angelette before Travis Rilat, Ricky Logan and Jesse Hockett freight trained the 16-year-old on a lap five restart.
Gary Wright (9x) outgunned 16-year-old Klint Angelette (19) at the outset of Friday night's season-opening ASCS Gulf South Region main event at Beaumont's Golden Triangle Raceway Park and never looked back en route to the $3,000 Prelude to the Gulf Coast Nationals triumph.
After one final caution after nine circuits for Dustin Morgan’s turn four spin, the final 16 rounds ran off in non-stop fashion with Wright distancing himself from the field while lapping well into the top ten.
Rilat held off several challenges from Logan over the latter portion of the race for runner-up honors, with Logan settling for the show position. Hockett advanced from ninth in the early rounds to snare fourth, with Tony Bruce, Jr., rounding out the top five.
Brady Bacon crossed the stripe sixth, making it a sweep of the top six positions by prospective Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters championship contenders.
Brian Brown crossed the stripe in seventh, with two-time ASCS Gulf South champ Brandon Berryman the final car on the lead lap in eighth, just ahead of fellow Gulf South shoes Wes Miller and Scottie McDonald.
The initial attempt to start the main event was waved off for a Jimmy Brooks tumble in turn one, with the second start going red as well when reigning ASCS Gulf South champ Aaron Reutzel launched out of the park in turn two. Four laps later, Tommy Bryant tumbled in turn two as well. There were no injuries.
Brown, Angelette, Brooks, Wright and Morgan topped heat race action for the 37-car field, with Berryman and Reutzel winning the twin “B” Mains.
American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region Results from Golden Triangle Raceway Park:
Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown, 2. 61-Travis Knighton, 3. 93-Chris Sweeney, 4. 31-Brandon Berryman, 5. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 6. 3-Gary Watson, 7. 28-James Cooper, 8. 3T-Tyler King.
Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 19-Klint Angelette, 2. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 3. 75-Jesse Hockett, 4. 15T-Travis Elliott, 5. 74-Brandon Corn, 6. C41-Wayne Johnson, 7. 14-Michael Lang, 8. 35-Greg Rilat.
Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 2. 51w-Wes Miller, 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 4. 99-Brady Bacon, 5. 00-Michael Dupuy, 6. 4m-Michael Miller, 7. 52-Roger Oakes.
Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 9x-Gary Wright, 2. 8-Bruce Crockett, 3. 10-Ricky Logan, 4. 85-Tommy Bryant, 5. 87x-Billy Melton, 6. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 7. 51s-Beau Smith.
Heat Five (8 Laps): 1. 93x-Dustin Morgan, 2. 29-Travis Rilat, 3. 71-Channin Tankersley, 4. 88-Scottie McDonald, 5. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 76-John Ricketts, 7. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek.
First “B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 31-Brandon Berryman, 2. 93-Chris Sweeney, 3. C41-Wayne Johnson, 4. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 5. 87x-Billy Melton, 6. 3-Gary Watson, 7. 35-Greg Rilat, 8. 28-James Cooper, 9. 51s-Beau Smith, 10. 4m-Michael Miller, 11. 15T-Travis Elliott. DNS: 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek.
Second “B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 2. 85-Tommy Bryant, 3. 74-Brandon Corn, 4. 00-Michael Dupuy, 5. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 76-John Ricketts, 7. 14-Michael Lang, 8. 52-Roger Oakes, 9. 3T-Tyler King, 10. 71-Channin Tankersley, 11. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr.
“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 9x-Gary Wright, 2. 29-Travis Rilat, 3. 10-Ricky Logan, 4. 75-Jesse Hockett, 5. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 6. 99-Brady Bacon, 7. 21-Brian Brown, 8. 31-Brandon Berryman, 9. 51w-Wes Miller, 10. 88-Scottie McDonald, 11. 93x-Dustin Morgan, 12. 19-Klint Angelette, 13. 61-Travis Knighton, 14. 74-Brandon Corn, 15. 93-Chris Sweeney, 16. 85-Tommy Bryant, 17. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 18. C41-Wayne Johnson, 19. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 20. 8-Bruce Crockett (DNS).
ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Gary Wright 150, 2. Travis Rilat 142, 3. Ricky Logan 135, 4. Jesse Hockett 130, 5. Tony Bruce, Jr. 125, 6. Brady Bacon 122, 7. Brian Brown 119, 8. Brandon Berryman 116, 9. Wes Miller 113, 10. Scottie McDonald 110.
By Lonnie Wheatley
Photos courtesy ASCS
Live Updates from South Texas Speedway, 3/6/10
March 5, 2010
Lone Star Speedzone is bringing your Live Updates from South Texas Speedway starting at around 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2010.
To enjoy the live updates, just click on the logo below and follow the racing action from the South Texas Speedway quarter-mile, dirt oval.
Feel free to comment or ask questions as we go through the evening, but there may be a delay between the time you post and when your post will show up. Be patient, it will show up sooner or later, hopefully sooner!
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars invade Lone Star Speedway March 12
March 3, 2010
The numbers are nothing short of amazing: 25 World of Outlaws championships accounted for, over 900 A-Feature wins with the series, seven rookies of the year, countless track record holders and list goes on and on. And that’s just the 17 drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws in 2010.
20-time WoO Champ Steve Kinser at speed. This guy has done it all... Paul Arch photo
When the series visits Lone Star Speedway on Friday, March 12 as part of the Second Annual Texas Two-Step Weekend, the best of the best will be on hand to battle for the $10,000 top prize as the world’s top sprint car drivers will do battle on the high-banked half-mile for 30 thrilling laps, with double file restarts in effect in 2010, which will make things even more exciting at the fastest half-mile in Texas.
Sam Hafertepe Jr. whose family owns and operates Lone Star Speedway came very close to winning the first World of Outlaws race of his career last season at the track, finishing second to Joey Saldana, who was victorious both times the series competed at the track in Kilgore. Hafertepe has three runner-up finishes to his credit with the World of Outlaws as he closes in on his first win.
Also in action will be four-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz, along with his Tony Stewart Racing teammate, 20-time series champion Steve Kinser. The pair has combined to win each of the last eight series titles and nine of the last ten. Over the last decade with the series, they have won 213 A-Feature events with the series.
Kasey Kahne Racing, owned by the NASCAR star has a two-car team again in 2010, led by Joey Saldana, who won a series-best 20 A-Feature events in 2009. Paul McMahan, a veteran of the series, will be Saldana’s teammate, while young Cody Darrah from Pennsylvania recovers from injury.
Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion will be on-hand for the event, as will Jason Meyers, who came within 19 points of winning his first career World of Outlaws championship last season. Craig Dollansky will be looking for his first win at Lone Star Speedway as will fellow veterans Jason Sides, Jac Haudenschild, Tim Kaeding Chad Kemenah and Brian Ellenberger, along with young stars: Kraig Kinser, and Lucas Wolfe. Drivers battling for the 2010 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year Award include: Ben Gregg, and Toni Lutar.
In addition to the drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws, a number of other championship caliber drivers will head to Lone Star Speedway and compete for the $10,000 top prize: including Hall of Famer and multi-time track champion in Central Pennsylvania Fred Rahmer, fellow Pennsylvania legend Lance Dewease, 29-time World of Outlaws winner Daryn Pittman and multi-time Knoxville Raceway titlist Terry McCarl.
The Texas-Two Step Weekend is currently the only stop for the World of Outlaws in the Lone Star State in 2010, as the series criss-crosses the country thrilling fans from coast-to-coast with their thrilling brand of wheel-to-wheel action.
On Friday, March 12 at Lone Star Speedway, Reserved tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the race, with General Admission tickets $25 in advance and $30 the day of the race. Tickets for children (ages 6-12) are $15, with kids 5-under admitted free of charge. To purchase tickets online visit http://www.lonestarspeedway.com or call the track at (903)-986-9731.
by Tony Veneziano, WoO PR
Photo by Paul Arch
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