Series Rossburg Eldora Speedway preview

Previewing the World of Outlaws at Eldora Speedway for Outlaw Thunder by Goodyear

Rossburg, OH-May 5, 2010- The legendary Eldora Speedway in Ohio has been a staple on the World of Outlaws circuit since the series inaugural 1978 season and will play host to the greatest sprint car drivers in the world again in 2010, as the series will pay three separate visits to the iconic half-mile beginning this weekend on Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8 for Outlaw Thunder by Goodyear.

Last season Donny Schatz, Terry McCarl and Jason Sides were all victorious at Eldora with the World of Outlaws. Schatz led the win list with two triumphs, including picking up his second Kings Royals crown. The four-time and defending series champion has five career wins at Eldora, which is owned by his car owner Tony Stewart.

Steve Kinser leads all drivers at Eldora with nearly 40 World of Outlaws wins and over 50 total wins in his career at the half-mile. He has well over 100 Top-10 finishes with the series at the track. The 20-time series champion is in the midst of his first season driving for Tony Stewart Racing and heads to Eldora as the series most recent winner.

Sammy Swindell, the three-time World of Outlaws champion, who is currently filling in for the injured Terry McCarl has won nearly 20 times with the World of Outlaws at Eldora over the years.

Jac Haudenschild has won eight times with the World of Outlaws at Eldora during his career. Just behind him is Joey Saldana, who has seven career wins with the series at the track.

Craig Dollansky has four wins in his career with the World of Outlaws at the track, while current series point leader Jason Meyers along with Jason Sides each have two victories at the half-mile. Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, has one career triumph with the series at the track.

Bobby Allen won the first World of Outlaws event at Eldora in 1978, with Steve Kinser scoring his first series win at the half-mile later that same season. Kinser has since gone on to win 553 more A-Feature events heading into this weekend's pair of races. A total of 29 different drivers have won at least one A-Feature event with the series at Eldora, including nine who are currently competing full-time with the series.

A special Pre-race pit party will be held on Saturday, May 8 from 3:30-5 p.m. Eastern, in the infield pit area. Fans with a general admission ticket will be allowed to cross the track at the flag stand and walk around the infield pit area to meet their favorite drivers.

The Buzz-

*Jason Meyers looks to extend his string of Top-10 finishes to start the season to 14. The current series point leader is the only driver that has finished in the Top-10 in each and every race in 2010. He has a couple of career wins at Eldora with the World of Outlaws.

*Steve Kinser has an amazing record at Eldora is his career. He has won nearly 40 times with the World of Outlaws and more than 50 times overall at the half-mile. The 20-time series champion enters the event second in points. It will be his first start at Eldora driving for track owner Tony Stewart.

*Donny Schatz has won a spring race at Eldora each of the last two seasons. The four-time and defending series champion won twice at the half-mile last season, including picking up his second career Kings Royal triumph. He has five wins in World of Outlaws events at the half-mile.

*Joey Saldana has seven career wins in World of Outlaws events at Eldora and nearly 20 career victories at the track. The second generation driver has won three times this year and is currently third in points.

*Jac Haudenschild has eight wins in World of Outlaws events at Eldora in his career and over 20 overall triumphs at the half-mile in his home state. Following his first win of the year on April 16, he has finished fourth or better in three straight races and is up to seventh in points.

*Jason Sides, who was victorious last fall at Eldora Speedway, won his first career World of Outlaws A-Feature race at Eldora in the 2004 Kings Royal.

*Craig Dollansky, who has four World of Outlaws A-Feature triumphs at Eldora set the track record in time trials at the half-mile in 2002, a mark that still stands today.

*Sammy Swindell, the three-time World of Outlaws champion, who is filling in for the injured Terry McCarl has won nearly 20 times with the World of Outlaws in his career at Eldora Speedway.

*Ben Gregg, one of the contenders for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season, who grew up in the shadows of Eldora Speedway in Ohio, will make his first World of Outlaws start at the track. Gregg has competed a couple of times at the track in the past with the All Star Circuit of Champion.

One year ago

Donny Schatz was victorious in the spring at Eldora, taking the lead with just two laps remaining after Steve Kinser's machine broke while out front. Along with winning, Schatz took the point leader over from Kinser after the event and would not relinquish it the rest of the season en route to his fourth consecutive series title. Sammy Swindell finished second last spring at Eldora after beginning the night by setting fast time. Danny Lasoski came home third, with Craig Dollansky fourth, while Randy Hannagan was fifth. The opener of the scheduled two night event was rained out.

Sound Bites- Eldora Speedway

Steve Kinser

"It's always a fun race track to race at and I always look forward to going to Eldora. It's no different that anywhere else, you have to come in with a good car and be prepared and ready. It is a track we normally run pretty good on."

Donny Schatz

"It's always a place we look forward to going. It will be especially high on our list this time because we'll actually be in one spot and racing for two nights in a row. I am looking forward to it and hopefully the rain stays away and we can have a great weekend and some good racing."

Sammy Swindell

"It's always been good to me and I have won a lot of races there. It's not an easy place to run fast at and the places that are a challenge and difficult, are the ones I enjoy going to. It puts more in the drivers hands rather than just being in the car. I like the higher speed places anyway and we have had success there over the years."

Danny Lasoski

"We always look forward to going to Eldora. What a facility and what great fans there are out there. It's a great place to race and we are looking forward to spending two days over there and trying to take some of Tony Stewart's money home."

Paul McMahan

"It's one of the big three race tracks along with Williams Grove and Knoxville. As a kid from California those were the places I wanted to go and win. I've got two out of the way and am still working on the third. Knowing the history there is a cool thing. Looking at the race car drivers that have won there and to have my name on the list is a cool thing."

Sam Hafertepe Jr.

"It's one of my favorite places to go. It's very high speed and you have to keep the car pretty straight. It has a different driver technique and it takes a while to get that down. Once you get it down, it seems to work every time. I told my guys and I feel like this, that it would be the first place we would win at, because it kind of fits my style the most of anywhere we go."

Ben Gregg

"It should be a good race and we are looking forward to going back there. We have some family in the area and that's where I grew up, so I'm always excited to go back there and race. Growing up there will hook you in a hurry and we are looking forward to going back there."

By the numbers- Eldora Speedway

0.5- Miles around Eldora Speedway

1- Driver that has finished in the Top-10 in every race this season- Jason Meyers

2- Laps led by Donny Schatz last spring to win at Eldora

3- Drivers that won World of Outlaws events at Eldora last season

4- Wins for Jason Meyers this season to lead the series

5- Events on half-mile tracks so far this season for the series; Events scheduled this season for the World of Outlaws at Eldora Speedway

5.7- Average finish for Steve Kinser in 140 World of Outlaws starts at Eldora

7- Drivers that led laps in feature events at Eldora in 2009 with the World of Outlaws; Races scheduled in the state of Ohio this season for the World of Outlaws

9- Drivers currently competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that have won with the series at Eldora; Top-Five finishes for Steve Kinser & Joey Saldana to lead the series this season

10- Drivers that have been quickest in time trials this season through May 1

13- Top-10 finishes for Jason Meyers this season to lead the series

18- Points that currently separate leader Jason Meyers and Steve Kinser in the championship standings; Drivers currently competing full-time with the World of Outlaws

29- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws at Eldora dating back to 1978

32- Consecutive years the World of Outlaws have competed at Eldora Speedway

40- Laps led by Donny Schatz last season at Eldora en route to a series leading two wins

93- Laps led in feature events by Joey Saldana this season to lead all drivers

95- Points that currently separate the Top-Five in the series standings

96- Top-Five finishes for Steve Kinser at Eldora with the World of Outlaws in his career

118- Top-10 finishes for Steve Kinser in World of Outlaws events at Eldora Speedway

140 -Career starts in World of Outlaws events at Eldora Speedway for Steve Kinser to lead all drivers

763- Miles from Jackson Speedway in Minnesota where the World of Outlaws competed on May 1 to Eldora Speedway

1978- Year the World of Outlaws first visit Eldora Speedway

10,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Friday, May 7; Dollars the winner will receive on Saturday, May 8

64,100- Dollars earned by Jason Meyers through May 1 to lead the series

Tickets

On Friday, May 7 at Eldora Speedway, tickets for those ages 16-over will be $25, with tickets for those ages 12-15 $15, with kids ages 7-11 $6, while children 6-under will be admitted free of charge. For ticket information call the track at 937-338-3815.

On Saturday, May 8 at Eldora Speedway, tickets for those ages 16-over will be $25, with tickets for those ages 12-15 $12, with kids ages 7-11 $6, while children 6-under will be admitted free of charge. For ticket information call the track at 937-338-3815. A special Pre-race pit party will be held on Saturday from 3:30-5 p.m. Eastern, in the infield pit area. Fans with a general admission ticket will be allowed to cross the track at the flag stand and walk around the infield pit area to meet their favorite drivers.

-source: WoO