By Tony Veneziano, World of Outlaws PR Director
One of the most valuable skills that Jason Meyers has learned over the years on the road with the World of Outlaws is how to quickly adapt to race tracks that he has never seen. He did exactly that on Friday as he paid his first visit to U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Missouri for the Second Annual Missouri High Banked Nationals, earning his second A-Feature victory of the season.
Meyers, a native of Clovis, California began the night by turning the fifth fastest lap in time trials. He followed that up by finishing second in first heat to earn a spot in the Crane Cams Dash, which he won to earn the pole position for the 40-lap event.
“This entire Elite Racing Team has been doing a great job,” said a smiling Meyers. “Charlie Garrett has been working hard on our motors lately and it’s paying off. I can’t thank him enough for his hard work. He told me the other day that he wants to win a race at Williams Grove this year, so hopefully we can go out there next week and get him one.”
Meyers led wire-to-wire in the 40-lap A-Feature, enduring a number of late cautions in the process, including one with two laps to go that allowed Tim Kaeding to close up on him. A strong restart gave Meyers the advantage he needed to pull away as he charged into the first turn and pulled away to win by more than a second.
“When they held up the line-up board, I saw that Tim (Kaeding) was behind me,” Meyers said. “I have raced with Tim long enough to know that you are never safe with Tim behind you with two laps to go. I though he might have something for us, and I knew I had to go hard those last three laps.”
Meyers has eight straight Top-10 finishes, including two consecutive on tracks that he was visiting for the first time. In the A-Feature on Friday night at U.S. 36 Raceway, he showed he had the fastest car on the track when it counted most, as he was the only driver to turn a sub-11 second lap. On a very humid night, Meyers used every once of energy that he had on the blazing fast high banks.
“It definitely wore on you as the race went on,” he explained. “If it would have gone 40 laps green-to-checkers, it would have really worn on you. We got a few cautions there, and that helped.”
After a slow start to the season, Meyers and his D.J. Lindsey-led team are clicking on all cylinders. With the World of Outlaws schedule picking up, Meyers is excited to race again in Missouri on Saturday night before heading to the East Coast for five races in six days next week.
“It’s a good time to be running well, with all of the races we have coming up,” admitted Meyers. “One of the toughest places we go all year is Williams Grove with the cars on-hand and the difficulty of the track. Hopefully we’ll go out there next week and have something for them. I’ve never won at a race at Williams Grove, and hopefully this will be the year we get one there.”
Kaeding who was filling in for Brooke Tatnell for the second straight race, as the native of San Souci, NSW, Australia remains home with his father George who is battling cancer, earned his second straight Top-10 finish. For Kaeding it was his first visit to U.S. 36 Raceway and he began the night by turning in the third fastest lap in time trials.
“I’m doing the best that I can for Brooke (Tatnell),” said Kaeding, driver of the Volcano Joe’s Coffee Schnee. “I wish we would have gotten the win for him, but second place is better than last place, I can tell you that. I am just happy to be at the front again, running decent.”
Kaeding lined up eighth for the A-Feature, and found himself in the Top-Five on the ninth lap as he got around Randy Hannagan. He next set his sights on Jason Solwold and passed him on the 15th lap. Three laps later he got around Terry McCarl, and then moved into the runner-up spot at the halfway point of the race.
“I think it would have gone the entire way green, it would have been a close race,” said Kaeding. “Jason (Meyers) was really good and I was hoping for open track. Once we got in lapped traffic everyone was pretty equal, and everyone was running in the same places (on the track).
Jac Haudenschild, who won the inaugural Missouri High Banked Nationals in 2006, thrilled the standing room only crowd with his patented aggressive driving style. He lined up 24th for the A-Feature and when the checkered flag flew after 40 laps, he wound up third.
“The car felt good tonight,” said Haudenschild, driver of the Wright One Construction Maxim. “It was handling well, and the crew had it running good all night. We messed up a bit qualifying and that forced us to start way back there. We were glad to get to the front.”
On the first lap of the race, the fan favorite gained four spots, as he began his charge to the front. Just seven laps into the race, he broke into the Top-10. He powered his way into top Top-Five on the 26th circuit. Each of the seven yellow flags that flew worked to his advantage.
“The cautions helped bunched the field up, and when you start at the back you need that help sometimes,” he explained. “For us, the cautions were very good.”
Paul McMahan picked up his seventh Top-10 finish of the season, as he came home fourth. He battled Meyers early on for the lead and was inches from taking the lead entering turn one on several occasions, but he car washed up the track each time after hitting a rut that steadily developed in the middle of the first turn.
“We would have liked to have pulled off a win, but the consistent finishes show that we are continuing to get better each day,” said McMahan, driver of the Bass Pro Shops Eagle. “The crew and I are communicating very well, and I can’t say enough about the team. Paul Kistler builds us one heck of a Chevy motor. We’re getting consistent, and as long as we continue to be consistent, one of these days will we will win some races.”
Donny Schatz the current championship point leader had a very solid night as he earned his 13th Top-Five finish of the season, coming home fifth. He lined up ninth for the 40-lap A-Feature and patiently worked his way forward. He began the night by claiming a $1,000 bonus from Cox Metal Design & Metal Fabrication in Altoona, Iowa for being quickest in time trials.
Daryn Pittman turned in another solid run as he was sixth in the Titan Garages Maxim. Randy Hannagan earned a season-best finish of seventh in the Penthouse Magazine Maxim, with Joey Saldana eighth in the Open Joist Mopar-powered JEI. Terry McCarl was ninth in the Big Game Treestands Eagle, and Craig Dollansky charged from the 25th starting spot to finish 10th in the Karavan Trailers Maxim.
The World of Outlaws wrap up their weekend in the Show-Me State on Saturday, May 12 at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri.
U.S. 36 RACEWAY NOTEBOOK
• FAST QUALIFIER: Donny Schatz paced the 33 cars that took time with an AMB i.t. timed lap around the high-banked 3/8-mile oval in 10.358 seconds at 130.334 mph. For his qualifying effort, Schatz eared five bonus points. The next four fastest qualifiers also earned bonus points, including: Jason Solwold (4), Tim Kaeding (3), Zach Chappell (2), and Jason Meyers (1).
• QUALIFYING WINNERS: Jason Sides, Paul McMahan, Terry McCarl and Daryn Pittman won heat races… Justin Henderson won the B-Main… Jason Meyers won the Crane Cams dash.
undefined
undefined
• FEATURE WINNERS: There have been 18 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), Jason Meyers (April 13 at Eldora Speedway and May 11 at U.S. 36 Raceway), 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), and Kerry Madsen (February 10 at Volusia Speedway Park).
• 3/8-MILE WINNERS: U.S. 36 Raceway is a 3/8-mile high-banked oval. The World of Outlaws have raced five times on a track that size this season. The winners include: Joey Saldana (Pike County Speedway and Dixie Speedway), Steve Kinser (USA Race Park), and Danny Lasoski (Paducah International Raceway), and Jason Meyers (U.S. 36 Raceway).
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.
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.
• 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; U.S. 36 Raceway; May 11, 2007
Qualifying
1) 15-Donny Schatz 10.358
2) R19-Jason Solwold 10.378
3) 2-Tim Kaeding 10.384
4) 8K-Zach Chappell 10.392
5) 14-Jason Meyers 10.400
6) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr. 10.403
7) 11-Steve Kinser 10.410
8) 3X-Chad Kemenah 10.431
9) 7S-Jason Sides 10.463
10) 5C-Chad Hillier 10.474
11) 24-Terry McCarl 10.486
12) 21-Daryn Pittman 10.496
13) 55-Billy Alley 10.502
14) 20-Paul McMahan 10.524
15) 1X-Randy Hannagan 10.533
16) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr. 10.535
17) 9-Joey Saldana 10.545
18) 83-Danny Lasoski 10.550
19) D1-Justin Henderson 10.592
20) 11H-Kerry Madsen 10.596
21) 10C-Jeremy Campbell 10.604
22) 6-Tim Shaffer 10.632
23) 96C-Jim Cameron 10.644
24) 7-Craig Dollansky 10.656
25) 36-Jason Martin 10.696
26) 1Z-Dusty Zomer 10.749
27) 11D-Dion Hindi 10.755
28) 18-Brian Carlson 10.803
29) 92J-JR Topper 10.845
30) 69-Mike Moore 10.951
31) 35-Jac Haudenschild 11.222
32) 32L-David Langford 11.722
33) 5MA-Mallory Armfield 12.108
Heat 1 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 7S-Jason Sides
2) 14-Jason Meyers
3) 15-Donny Schatz
4) 9-Joey Saldana
5) 55-Billy Alley
6) 10C-Jeremy Campbell
7) 92J-JR Topper
8) 36-Jason Martin
9) 5MA-Mallory Armfield
Heat 2 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 20-Paul McMahan
2) R19-Jason Solwold
3) 5C-Chad Hillier
4) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.
5) 6-Tim Shaffer
6) 83-Danny Lasoski
7) 1Z-Dusty Zomer
8) 69-Mike Moore
Heat 3 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 24-Terry McCarl
2) 1X-Randy Hannagan
3) 11-Steve Kinser
4) 2-Tim Kaeding
5) 35-Jac Haudenschild
6) 96C-Jim Cameron
7) 11D-Dion Hindi
8) D1-Justin Henderson
Heat 4 (10 Laps, top 5 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) 21-Daryn Pittman
2) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.
3) 8K-Zach Chappell
4) 3X-Chad Kemenah
5) 11H-Kerry Madsen
6) 7-Craig Dollansky
7) 18-Brian Carlson
8) 32L-David Langford
Crane Cams Dash (8 laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature)
1) 14-Jason Meyers
2) 20-Paul McMahan
3) 1X-Randy Hannagan
4) 24-Terry McCarl
5) 21-Daryn Pittman
6) R19-Jason Solwold
7) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.
8) 2-Tim Kaeding
9) 15-Donny Schatz
10) 7S-Jason Sides
B-main (12 laps, top 4 finishers transferred to A-feature)
1) D1-Justin Henderson
2) 83-Danny Lasoski
3) 96C-Jim Cameron
4) 10C-Jeremy Campbell
5) 1Z-Dusty Zomer [$200]
6) 7-Craig Dollansky [$180]
7) 92J-JR Topper [$175]
8) 69-Mike Moore [$160]
9) 32L-David Langford [$150]
10) 18-Brian Carlson [$150]
11) 36-Jason Martin [$150]
12) 11D-Dion Hindi [$150]
13) 5MA-Mallory Armfield [$150]
A-main (40 laps) – Starting Position [#]
1) 14-Jason Meyers[1] [$10,000]
2) 2-Tim Kaeding[8] [$5,500]
3) 35-Jac Haudenschild[24] [$3,200]
4) 20-Paul McMahan[2] [$2,800]
5) 15-Donny Schatz[9] [$2,500]
6) 21-Daryn Pittman[5] [$2,300]
7) 1X-Randy Hannagan[3] [$2,200]
8) 9-Joey Saldana[17] [$2,100]
9) 24-Terry McCarl[4] [$2,050]
10) 7-Craig Dollansky[25] [$1,200]
11) 8K-Zach Chappell[11] [$1,500]
12) 11-Steve Kinser[13] [$1,200]
13) 18T-Tony Bruce Jr.[7] [$1,100]
14) 11H-Kerry Madsen[20] [$1,050]
15) 10C-Jeremy Campbell[21] [$1,000]
16) 7S-Jason Sides[10] [$900]
17) 83-Danny Lasoski[18] [$800]
18) 6-Tim Shaffer[22] [$800]
19) 55-Billy Alley[16] [$800]
20) 96C-Jim Cameron[23] [$800]
21) R19-Jason Solwold[6] [$800]
22) 3X-Chad Kemenah[14] [$800]
23) 5C-Chad Hillier[15] [$800]
24) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[12] [$800]
25) D1-Justin Henderson[19] [$800]
Lap Leader: Jason Meyers: 1-40
Note: Craig Dollansky used a provisional to start the A-Feature.
2007 STAT ATTACK
There have been 18 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
#14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA – 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
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
#14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA – 63 laps
#35 Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH – 46 laps
#11K Tim Kaeding, San Jose, CA – 40 laps
#7 Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN – 39 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- #15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND – 2
#R19 Jason Solwold, Mt. Vernon, WA – 2
5- #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
#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- #14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA – 3
#15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND – 3
3- #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- #14 Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA – 3
#15 Donny Schatz, Fargo, ND – 3
3- #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 (16 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
#D1 Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls, SD – 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
