By Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series drivers Craig Dollansky, Danny Lasoski, and Shane Stewart all were victorious on Friday night.
Dollansky, who opened the 2008 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season with a win in the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida, was victorious at the famed Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
The native of Elk River, Minnesota, who is the current World of Outlaws championship point leader, led all 25 laps of the contest to earn the victory over fellow World of Outlaws driver Joey Saldana at the famed half-mile. He opened the night with a win in the third heat race and started on the pole in the main event.
For Dollansky, the current leader in the standings for the Qwik Liner Cup as well, it was his third career win at Williams Grove Speedway. In eight starts this season on North American soil, he has finished sixth or better in each one.
Saldana finished second after lining up third for the A-Feature. He began the night with a second-place effort in the first heat race. His car owner Kasey Kahne also competed on Friday night at the half-mile in a team car.
Other World of Outlaws drivers that were in action at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night included: Lucas Wolfe, Tony Bruce Jr., who won the second heat race, Chad Kemenah and Tim Shaffer.
The World of Outlaws will visit Williams Grove Speedway three times in 2008, with the first stop coming on Thursday, May 15.
Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion claimed his second overall win of the season, as he victorious on the first night of the Spring Nationals at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Friday.
The native of Dover, Missouri held off a late charge by Garry Lee Maier to earn his first career American Sprint Car Series on Tour National win. Lasoski led the first 22 laps of the contest before Maier took the lead for one circuit. Lasoski got back around Maier on the 24th lap and would lead the final two circuits. The win ensured Lasoski a spot in the finale of the Spring Nationals on Saturday night.
Lasoski, who picked up his 81st career World of Outlaws win during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals in Florida, began the night with a win in the fourth heat race.
Daryn Pittman finished third on Friday to also lock himself into the finale on Saturday night. The native of Owasso, Oklahoma began the night by winning the second heat race.
Also in action on Friday night at State Fair Speedway was: Jason Sides, Terry McCarl and Sam Hafertepe Jr.
Shane Stewart, the 2005 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year won the first night of the Silver Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California for 360-sprint cars.
Stewart lined up seventh and steadily worked his way to the front, taking the lead on the 20th lap from Paul McMahan, who was victorious twice last season with the World of Outlaws and held him off for the final five laps to take the win.
Stewart, driving a Paul Silva owned machine, began the night by finishing third in the second heat race. Points earned in the heat races were used to determine the starting line-up for the A-Feature.
The Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series will compete at Silver Dollar Speedway in the 55th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champion from September 4-6.
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.
