OHSWEKEN, Ontario (July 28, 2015) – Tonight was the first of three events in this World of Outlaws swing through the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The first stop was The Six Nations Showdown at Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario, a high-banked 3/8-mile dirt track.
Joey Saldana, who finished second at this track in 2010, was 29th out of 30 competitors in the order for time trials. The challenge with being late in the qualifying order is usually deteriorating track conditions. Tonight was no exception, but Saldana was able to push the Motter Equipment HE&M Saw Beltline Body Shop 71M to a best lap of 14.954-seconds, No. 17 in the qualifying order.
With one of the warmest days on record for Ohsweken this year, the track was very dry and Ohsweken track personnel took the opportunity to work on the track prior to the heat races.
Saldana pushed off sixth in the second heat. When the green flag waved, Parker Price-Miller led the field followed by Paul McMahan, Jason Sides, David Gravel and Saldana in fifth. The top five maintained their positions for the duration of the eight-lap heat and Saldana earned a starting spot in the A Main.
On a slick racetrack, 24 drivers rolled to the starting line for the 30-lap feature. Brad Sweet and Donny Schatz were on the front row. Saldana started 17th.The first lap leader was Sweet followed by Schatz, but the cagey Tony Stewart team driver jumped to the lead on the next lap. There was a lot of exciting action up front and a lot of jockeying for position throughout the feature. Schatz lost the lead to Logan Schuchart on lap 12 but he was hanging right with Schuchart until Stewart Friesen pilfered second place. Schuchart lost the lead to Friesen on lap 18, but Schatz came right back and led the pack from laps 19-21 and then Friesen got by to lead the remainder of the event, including a green, white, checkered finish. Friesen, a part-time Sprint Car driver who primarily pilots Big Block Modifieds, became the first Canadian to win a World of Outlaws event.
Schatz finished second and Parker Price-Miller was third.
Saldana struggled to find traction on the slick surface and finished 19th.
Friday, July 31 will find the Outlaws at Brockville Ontario Speedway.
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