Wilmot Speedway preview

Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Preview: Wilmot Speedway

Wilmot, WI-- July 30, 2008--One of the most exciting races in Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series history took place when the series made its debut at Wilmot Speedway in Wisconsin in 2006, as Daryn Pittman, Jeremy Campbell and Mark Dobmeier all battled for the win on the last lap.

The trio raced side-by-side down the backstretch trading the lead several times on the white flag lap. The lap began with Pittman in the lead, until Campbell inched to the front in turn three, then Pittman charged back to retake the lead in turn four, and finally Dobmeier squeezed by both of them right under the checkered flag, with Campbell coming home second and a spinning Pittman crossing the finish line backwards to take the third spot.

The series will return to the 3/8-mile in Southern Wisconsin on Friday, August 1 for the opener of the 2008 Badger Challenge.

Of the 17 drivers currently competing full-time with the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series this season, seven were in action in 2006 at Wilmot Speedway and overall 12 have competed at least once during their career at the semi-banked 3/8-mile.

Pittman led 23 laps in the series debut at the track in 2006, after lining up fourth. The native of Owasso, Oklahoma has had a lot of success in the state of Wisconsin in his career, winning three times at Charter Raceway Park, where the World of Outlaws will compete on Saturday night. Pittman was the third fastest driver in time trials in his last visit to Wilmot and finished second in the third heat race to earn a spot in the Crane Cams Dash. He has Top-Five finishes in both of his career starts at the 3/8-mile. He heads to Wilmot this weekend with two wins on the season, with those coming at Eldora Speedway in the 25th Annual Kings Royal, in addition to the opener of the Williams Grove Summer Nationals at the famed half-mile in Pennsylvania.

Craig Dollansky, who won the series most recent event at Paducah International Raceway in Kentucky, finished fourth at Wilmot in 2006 and also finished fourth at the track in 2000 with the former World of Outlaws Gumout Series. In his career, the native of Elk River, Minnesota has 11 wins in Wisconsin. In World of Outlaws action this season, he has won seven times and is currently third in the championship standings.

Donny Schatz, the two-time defending World of Outlaws champion finished sixth at Wilmot Speedway in 2006, after turning the second-fastest lap in time trials. The native of North Dakota has won 12 times this season, including at Cedar Lake Speedway in the state of Wisconsin. He has seven wins during his career in the Badger state, and currently is the only World of Outlaws driver that has finished in the Top-10 in each event this season.

Jason Meyers, who is second in the series championship standings has one career start at Wilmot Speedway, with that coming in 2000, in an event that he finished sixth in. He has won six times this season and has 32 Top-10 finishes as he chases his first World of Outlaws title.

Joey Saldana has five career starts at Wilmot Speedway, with two wins and has finished 10th or better in each of his starts at the 3/8-mile. Entering action this weekend, the native of Brownsburg, Indiana has two wins on the season, including on a 3/8-mile at Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas. He is currently fourth in the championship standings.

Steve Kinser, the 20-time World of Outlaws champion will be making his debut at Wilmot Speedway on Friday, August 1. In his career with the World of Outlaws, he has 17 wins in the state of Wisconsin. He enters action this weekend with four A-Feature wins on the season and 547 in his career. The Indiana native is currently fifth in the series standings.

Jac Haudenschild finished eighth in 2006 at Wilmot Speedway, and also finished third at the track in 2001. The veteran driver is currently sixth in points on the strength of 26 Top-10 finishes, as he continues his first season driving for the Carnahan Motorsports team. The native of Wooster, Ohio has three wins during his career in the state of Wisconsin.

Chad Kemenah recently moved into the seventh spot in points, after picking up his ninth Top-Five finish of the season at Paducah International Raceway. The 2006 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year made his first start at Wilmot in 2006 in the World of Outlaws debut at the track.

Kerry Madsen, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, will make his debut at Wilmot Speedway this weekend. The native of St. Mary's, NSW, Australia has one career win in Wisconsin. He has racked up 23 Top-10 finishes this season as he closes in on his first win of the season.

Shane Stewart, the series top rookie in 2005 has two career starts at Wilmot, finishing fourth and eighth in those events. He is currently ninth in the series standings on the strength of 17 Top-10 finishes, including a win at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa earlier this season.

Terry McCarl made his debut at Wilmot in 2006 in the World of Outlaws inaugural visit to the 3/8-mile. The six-time Knoxville Raceway and Huset's Speedway track champion recently picked up his 13th Top-10 finish of the season and is just outside of the Top-10 in points as he closes in on his first win of the season.

Sam Hafertepe Jr. will make his first visit to Wilmot Speedway on August 1. The sophomore driver from Sunnyvale, Texas has made five career starts in the state of Wisconsin. He also is just outside of the Top-10 in points, and has 11 Top-10 finishes on the season.

Kraig Kinser has two career starts at Wilmot Speedway, with those coming in 2000 and 2001. He finished in the Top-10 in his second start at the track. The third generation driver has eight Top-10 finishes on the year, as he continues his first season behind the wheel for Tony Stewart Racing.

Jason Sides, the series top rookie in 2003 has two career starts at Wilmot Speedway and finished third and fourth in those events. He picked up his sixth Top-10 finish of the season on Monday night at Paducah International Raceway in Kentucky, making a late charge to come home sixth.

Tony Bruce Jr. will make his first start at Wilmot Speedway this weekend. The sophomore driver from Liberal, Kansas is solidly in the Top-15 in points and continues to gain experience each time he takes to the track.

Chad Hillier, who is also in his second season with the World of Outlaws will make his debut at Wilmot Speedway on August 1. The native of Burlington, Washington picked up his third Top-10 finish of the season on Monday night at Paducah International Raceway, after winning the first heat race and earning a spot in the Crane Cams Dash.

Paul McMahan has one career start at Wilmot Speedway, with that coming in 2000. The veteran driver has nine Top-10 finishes this season, including seven since joining the Parsons Motorsports team at the end of June. He has one career win in the state of Wisconsin, with that coming last season at Cedar Lake Speedway.

Lucas Wolfe, the leading contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season, will miss the event as he continues to recover from a back injury sustained last month.

What to look for at Wilmot Speedway:

* Joey Saldana won at Wilmot in 1994 and 1995 and has made the most starts at the track of any full-time World of Outlaws driver. He has four Top-Five finishes in his career at the track and has finished in the Top-10 in all five of his starts at the 3/8-mile.

* Daryn Pittman finished third with the series at the track in 2006 and led 23 laps, the most of any driver. He also was fifth in his debut at the track in 2001 with the World of Outlaws Gumout Series.

* Craig Dollansky has finished fourth in both of his career starts at Wilmot Speedway. The native of Elk River, Minnesota has seven A-Feature wins this season, which is second best behind Donny Schatz.

* Jac Haudenschild has two Top-10 finishes in three starts at the track, including a third-place run with the World of Outlaws Gumout Series at the track in 2001. The veteran driver has 26 Top-10 finishes this season as he closes in on his first win of the campaign.

* Steve Kinser has won over 50 times in his career at tracks he is visiting for the first time. He also has 17 wins in the state of Wisconsin, heading to Wilmot Speedway.

* Jason Sides finished fourth at Wilmot Speedway in 2001 with the World of Outlaws Gumout Series and was third in 2002 at the track.

* Kraig Kinser earned a Top-10 finish at the track in 2001 with the World of Outlaws Gumout Series and has two career starts at the track.

* Shane Stewart finished eighth at the track in 2000 with the World of Outlaws Gumout Series and was fourth in 2002.

By the Numbers- Wilmot Speedway:

0.375- Miles around Wilmot Speedway

1- A-Feature event contested by the World of Outlaws at the track

2- Laps led by Mark Dobmeier at the track in 2006 to earn his first career World of Outlaws A-Feature win

3- Drivers that laps in the A-Feature with the series at Wilmot in 2006; Events in the state of Wisconsin this season for the World of Outlaws

4- Drivers that have won heat races with the series at the track

7- Current World of Outlaws drivers that competed at the track with the series in 2006

9- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws this season

12- Current World of Outlaws drivers that have competed at Wilmot Speedway at least once during their career

12.703- Track record set by Becca Anderson in time trials on October 14, 2006

15- Drivers that have been fastest in time trials this season

17- Drivers currently competing full-time with the World of Outlaws; Drivers that have led laps in A-Feature competition this season

18- Drivers that have won a Crane Cams Dash to earn a pole position

23- Laps led by Daryn Pittman at the track in 2006 en route to a podium finish

40- Drivers that competed with the World of Outlaws at Wilmot Speedway in 2006

106.274- Track record in miles per hour

249- Miles from 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa where the World of Outlaws compete on July 30 to Wilmot Speedway in Wisconsin

2006- Year the series first raced at Wilmot Speedway

10,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Friday, August 1

51,690- Dollars in the total purse on Friday, August 1

236,935- Dollars earned by Donny Schatz through July 28 to lead the series

Tickets: On Friday, August 1 at Wilmot Speedway, adult reserved tickets will be $35, with reserved tickets for children ages 12-under $15. Adult general admission tickets will be $32, with general admission tickets for children 12-under $15, while kids 5-under will be admitted free to the general admission seats. Pit combos are available for $38 if purchases in advance and include a reserved seat and a pit pass.

Two-day passes are also available for $66, when purchased in advance for the event at Wilmot Speedway and Charter Raceway Park, which includes a reserved seat for each day. For ticket information visit: www.slspromotions.com.

Next Up: The finale of the Badger Classic at Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where the World of Outlaws have competed 14 times dating back to 1996.

-credit: woo