Charlotte LMS drivers pre-race comments

Top World of Outlaws Sprint Car Drivers Discuss This Weekend's World Finals at The Dirt Track

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 29, 2007) - The inaugural World of Outlaws World Finals, which runs Thursday through Saturday at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway, will make racing history as the World of Outlaws Sprint Series and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series come together to end their seasons with one giant event.

Prior to heading east for the three-day event, the top-12 drivers in the World of Outlaws Sprint Series points standings shared their thoughts on racing with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series as well as SPEED's live coverage of the final night of the three-day event.

Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D., No. 15 ParkerStore J&J: "We enjoy watching the late models, but when we are at the race track watching sprint cars, that's what we are focused on, sprint car racing and no other class of cars, as are they. They are professional racers and we are professional racers and to have them together is a big bonus for the fans. Last time we raced at Charlotte, we had to have our car where it would go anywhere, including the rough stuff. One of the standards of good dirt track racing is that you will have some dust. We'll just have to wait to see what we have to do until we get there."

Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, Ind., No. 9 Open Joist JEI: "It will definitely be a unique experience. The three-day format will be a little different. We'll definitely go and watch the late models. They put on a good show. You are going to have to pay attention to what they are doing, because the track will change a lot. I'm sure that not only will we pay attention to them, but they will pay attention to us.. I hope they have a really good track that we can pass on, and we can show what we can do as an organization and our cars put on a good show. Hopefully we'll be in the middle of it battling for a win. I think it's a good thing to be on live TV. With us, we have Open Joist on our car and that will be good exposure for them. The TV package this year has been really good and hopefully we can continue to run good on TV."

Danny Lasoski, Dover, Mo., No. 83 Roth Motorsports JEI: "I am excited for it. We never get the chance to run with the likes of (Rick) Eckert, (Scott) Bloomquist, (Billy) Moyer and all of those guys. That will be a lot of fun. They come out and watch us and we watch them whenever we can, and it's exciting to go out there. I talked to Roger Slack this week and he's working on the race track as we speak. I hope it's a good show, not only for us to finish up the year, but also the fans. It's going to be a good three-day event and we are excited about it. Anytime you can put these cars live on TV is a great thing. We'll be in the center of racing in Charlotte and are excited. I know that Roger and Humpy Wheeler are trying to do the best they can in preparing the race track. I think they are aware that if they pack the track hard that we will put on a great show."

Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla., No. 21 Titan Garages Maxim: "It's good to go back to Charlotte. With that many cars, hopefully we'll have a good race track and be able to put on a good show. The track is capable of putting on good races, as long as it gets wide enough to get around. It will be interesting to be there with the big guys of late model racing. We don't cross paths very often. It will be good to get to watch them a little bit. Any television is good and live is even better. Some of our shows are tough to put on live, but it's great for sponsorship value to have it on live. There are definitely no complaints from me about it being on live at that good of a venue."

Jason Meyers, Clovis, Calif., No. 14 Primerica Financial Maxim: "It's a neat thing what they are trying to do, by bringing everything together. Hopefully things go well. It's one of the biggest events that has ever been put together in dirt track racing. It should be exciting for the fans.We appreciate SPEED coming out and putting sprint cars on live television. It's always something that is difficult to do and it will be hard to pull off. They'll have to work very hard to make it happen. They have done a great job with their television all year long. It's another opportunity to be on TV for our sponsors and for everyone that is involved with this team and that is the main thing. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. It's a whole new format, and it has its pros and cons like everything else."

Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind., No. 11 Q Oil Maxim: "I think it will be fun for everybody. I always enjoy watching the late models run and we don't get to see them very often. I think everybody will watch everybody down there. It's that time of the year, where it's the last one of the year and everybody is trying to get their fix before the end of the year. If everything goes right and we don't have a whole lot of trouble, it can be very good on live television. Sometimes it's tough to predict what is going to happen and when it's going to happen for the time scheduled in for television. Usually it seems to work out pretty good."

Craig Dollansky, Elk River, Minn., No. 7 Karavan Trailers Maxim: "It will be some exciting racing and definitely something different for us all to finish the season up with the Late Model Series. There will be a lot going on out there all weekend. I would imagine you'll see a few of those guys roaming around if we get close enough to each other and vice versa. I've had the chance to see them once or twice and definitely enjoyed seeing them race. It should be a neat event. It's good that it will be on live television. Hopefully things go smoothly and they can get the program run through in a timely manner. It will take some effort, but it should come off pretty well on live television."

Paul McMahan, Nashville, Tenn., No. 20 Bass Pro Shops Eagle: "It's going to be a lot of fun racing with the late models. We watch them on TV, but never get to see them in person. It will be really neat. It will be cool to see Chub Frank and Steve Francis and all of those guys out there. It also gives them an opportunity to watch us. Race fans are race fans. They don't care what kind of car is out there. They are there to watch racing and good racing. That is what they will pay to see and that is what they will see."

Jason Solwold, Burlington, Wash., No. R19 City Wide Insulation Maxim: "We really never get to see the late models run much. I have seen them on TV a couple of times. I have never really watched them in person. I am really just worried about the ants more than anything. We didn't have good luck there last time (an allergic reaction to fire ant bites sent Solwold to the hospital). If we can stay away from the ants, it will be good. I'm sure they will come and look at our cars and I will definitely go and look at their cars. I'll go down there and check it out. I haven't been around too many late model fans, so I am not sure how they will react. I think there could be people going to get hot dogs (when the other class is on the track) on both sides of the fence."

Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa., No. 6 Casey's General Stores Maxim: "It will be a great deal down there. There will be a lot of cars and with qualifying the day before, it will be interesting to see how it all works out. I think everyone will be looking around everywhere. There will be a lot of nice equipment down there and a good group of people. It's definitely good to have it on live. It's hard to do dirt track racing live, but the more experience everyone gets with it the better we will be. It will be fun to watch the late models when they are on the track."

Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio, No. 35 Wright One Construction Maxim: "There will be a lot of sprint cars and a lot of late models, so for the fans it will be a good show. The sprint cars always put on a good show down there and it's always some good racing. I definitely think the late models fans will stick around and watch the sprint cars. I think a lot of the late model guys will walk around the pits and look at our stuff. Anytime we can be on live TV is a good thing. The more time we get on TV, the better that is for the sponsors and to help get sponsors."

Terry McCarl, Altoona, Iowa, No. 24 Big Game Treestands Eagle: "Anyone that is a race fan like myself will enjoy both. I enjoy everything from Formula One down to go-karts. If you are a race fan, it's a great opportunity and a great ticket price to see the best of both worlds. There will be a lot of outside guys coming in to run with us and I imagine a lot of outside guys running with the late models, so it's a great chance for the fans. They can be the judge of which one they like better. I enjoy watching late models. They put on a good show. I'm pretty good friends with Rick Eckert and Billy Moyer and his family and hopefully they are all there. It's tough to do our stuff live on television. Sprint car races are short and very exciting. For me, if we can show people on TV what we are all about and get them to come out in person, that's the main thing. If you come to a sprint car race in person, there is nothing better than that."

-credit: lms