DENISON, Iowa (June 8, 2015) – The World of Outlaws Sprint Car series ventures to Crawford County Speedway Friday, June 12 for an inaugural event. The three-eighths-mile track located at the Crawford County Fairgrounds is one of four tracks in Iowa that will hold World of Outlaws events this season and one of five tracks that will host inaugural events for the series.
Then on Saturday the Outlaws will compete on the hallowed dirt at Knoxville Raceway, home of the Knoxville Nationals. This will be the last official Outlaws outing before the running of the Knoxville Nationals, the crown jewel of winged sprint car racing. Joey Saldana won the Knoxville June event in 2006.
Next on the docket is Huset’s Speedway on Sunday night. Saldana, driver of the Motter Equipment HE&M Saw Beltline Body Shop 71M Sprint Car, has yet to win an Outlaws event at Huset’s, but he would like to add this track to the list of those where he has posted victories. Last year at this event, another driver made contact with Saldana early in the race resulting in damage to the left front wheel which caused a loss of tire pressure. Saldana nursed the car to the checkered flag, finishing 14th.
There is a travel break Monday and then the Outlaws reassemble pit side on Tuesday, June 16 for an inaugural event at Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids, Minn. This will be the second first-ever event at a new venue in a space of five days.
“Crawford County and Granite City will put everybody on a level playing field theoretically,” said Saldana. “It will be our first look at these tracks so race teams won’t have specific data to go back to for set-ups. It will be up to the crew chiefs, team members and the drivers to trade information to come up with a competitive set-up.
“Dan (Motter, team owner) will be with us on this four-race swing and we always hope to do well, especially when he’s in the house.”
Motter recounts a time back in 1991 when Jimmy Evans was the pilot of the 71M and there was an open 410 race at Sauk Rapids. Evans won the event, besting well-known driver Doug Wolfgang. Davey Whitworth came in for that race to make the tuning calls.
“The track has changed hands a couple of times since we last raced there, but it is a very cool facility,” said Motter. “You can see the track from the freeway. I am glad the track is on the WoO schedule.”
Saldana scored his 92nd career World of Outlaws victory June 3rd at Kokomo, Ind. It was a hard fought battle with Donny Schatz and a well-deserved win.
Saldana has four quick times so far this season and is currently fifth in point standings.
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