Contact: Shawn Miller
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series PR
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Dollansky Continues Winning Ways at Lebanon Valley Speedway
He wins for the third time in the last four World of Outlaws races at the half mile
WEST LEBANON, N.Y. – July 22, 2012 – It was quite an eventful 24 hours for Craig Dollansky.
A night after flipping twice in the Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway, Dollansky and his team fixed the damaged sprint car and hauled nearly six hours to put on a show at the only World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event of the season in the New England area.
Dollansky set quick time and squeezed by polesitter Joey Saldana with five laps remaining to secure his 50th career World of Outlaws feature victory and third in the last four years at Lebanon Valley Speedway on a warm Sunday evening.
“My crew guys, as hard as they worked getting this car ready for today after last night … this one is for them,” Dollansky said. “They’re the ones who battled and got this thing ready for me tonight. To come out here and rebound like that, it’s just a testament to our entire race team and we never give up.”
He is now only six wins away from cracking the top 10 on the Outlaws all-time list. Dollansky also drove himself to just 11 points behind championship standings leader Steve Kinser as the Outlaws head down the second half of the season.
The momentum shift happened at the half-mile track that has hosted a World of Outlaws race every year since 1981. The fans came out in full force, packing the stands as well as the infield, to watch an epic battle at the front of the 25-lap feature.
Saldana took the lead with ease on the start and was in control through the first half of the race as the top half-dozen drivers played follow the leader. They all utilized the same line until entering traffic on lap six, which allowed Dollansky to close within a car length of Saldana.
With 10 laps remaining Saldana was slowed while trying to lap Jessica Zemken in turns one and two. Dollansky darted to the outside groove, but had to get on the brakes exiting the corners to avoid contact.
Once the duo cleared Zemken, Dollansky again made a run to the outside of turn two only to check up once the gap between Saldana and the wall inched closer. However, with five laps remaining, Dollansky’s momentum carried him by Saldana as they exited turn two. Dollansky cleared him by the time they entered turn three to gain the top spot.
“Joey was running a good race and we were right with him the entire time,” Dollansky said. “I tried him once and it was definitely going to be tight. It’s always tight around here; it’s a tight race track. We were able to get around the outside of him and once we did I felt pretty comfortable.”
The only caution came on the ensuing lap as Sammy Swindell stopped on the frontstretch while running eighth. Dollansky chose the outside lane on the double-file restart and pulled away in the closing laps for his sixth World of Outlaws win of the season.
Daryn Pittman, who maintained a close third place behind Dollansky and Saldana for most of the race, maneuvered into second place with two laps remaining. He then edged Saldana at the finish line after his left rear tire exploded down the frontstretch of the final lap.
“Once Craig got out front he was definitely pretty quick,” Pittman said. “It was fun just being right there with those two guys. We haven’t been in contention to win an Outlaws show for a while, so it was a lot of fun from that standpoint.”
Logan Schuchart scored a season-best fourth and Cody Darrah rallied from 11th to fifth a night after picking up his first feature win of the season.
Donny Schatz earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after charging from 13th to sixth, Tim Kaeding finished seventh, Lucas Wolfe eighth, Kerry Madsen ninth and Bill Rose rounded out the top 10.
Lebanon Valley Speedway Notebook
NOTES – Craig Dollansky established quick time in qualifying for a series-leading seventh race. … Jessica Zemken and Logan Schuchart each claimed their first heat race win, and Tim Kaeding won his fourth of the season. … Joey Saldana picked up his fourth dash victory of the year.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS – Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Bill Rose; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Craig Dollansky; Armor All (case of product): Daryn Pittman; STP ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; UNOH ($50 cash): Cody Darrah; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Tim Kaeding; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Bill Rose; JE Pistons (set of rings): Jason Sides; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; Superflow ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; JE Pistons (set of rings): Chad Kemenah; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Chad Kemenah; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah.
WINNERS – Sammy Swindell – 7 (Eldora Speedway on July 14, Lakeside Speedway on June 30, Red River Valley Speedway on June 16, Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Craig Dollansky – 6 (Lebanon Valley Speedway on July 22, Lernerville Speedway on July 17, I-96 Speedway on June 2, Hagerstown Speedway on May 20, Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Kraig Kinser – 4 (Beaver Dam Raceway on July 7, Dodge City Raceway Park on June 23, River Cities Speedway on June 15 and Kokomo Speedway on June 5); Joey Saldana – 4 (Eldora Speedway on July 13, The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 25, Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Tim Kaeding – 3 (Cedar Lake Speedway on July 6, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Steve Kinser – 3 (Dodge City Raceway Park on June 22, Orange County Fair Speedway on May 19 and Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Kerry Madsen – 3 (Limaland Motorsports Park on July 11, Belleville High Banks on June 29 and Knoxville Raceway on June 9); Donny Schatz – 3 (Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Chad Kemenah – 2 (Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 28 and Eldora Speedway on May 4); Cody Darrah – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 21); Danny Dietrich – 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Mark Dobmeier – 1 (Huset’s Speedway on July 3); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18);Paul McMahan – 1 (Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on May 16); Fred Rahmer – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11); Tony Stewart – 1 (Lernerville Speedway on July 17) and Brad Sweet – 1 (Clay County Fairgrounds on June 8).
TIME TRIALS – Craig Dollansky was the fastest qualifier around the half-mile oval with a time of 16.582 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Daryn Pittman (4 points), Joey Saldana (3), Cody Darrah (2) and Lucas Wolfe (1).
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Lebanon Valley Speedway Statistical Report; West Lebanon, N.Y.; July 22, 2012
A-Main – (25 Laps) – 1. 7-Craig Dollansky [2] [$10,000]; 2. 27-Daryn Pittman [4] [$5,500]; 3. 9-Joey Saldana [1] [$3,200]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6] [$2,800]; 5. 4-Cody Darrah [11] [$2,500]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz [13] [$2,300]; 7. 83-Tim Kaeding [5] [$2,200]; 8. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [3] [$2,100]; 9. 29-Kerry Madsen [16] [$2,050]; 10. 6-Bill Rose [9] [$2,000]; 11. 7S-Jason Sides [17] [$1,500]; 12. 11K-Kraig Kinser [8] [$1,200]; 13. 1-Sammy Swindell [7] [$1,100]; 14. 4S-Danny Smith [15] [$1,050]; 15. 11-Steve Kinser [14] [$1,000]; 16. 1A-Jacob Allen [20] [$900]; 17. 25P-Michael Parent [19] [$800]; 18. 1Z-Jessica Zemken [10] [$800]; 19. 63-Chad Kemenah [12] [$800]; 20. 65-Russ Bennett [21] [$800]; 21. 7SS-Paul Sides [18] [$800]; 22. X2-Curtis Bradshaw [23] [$800]; 23. 29S-Dick Spadaro [22] [$800]. Lap Leaders: Joey Saldana 1-20, Craig Dollansky 21-25. KSE Hard Charger Award: 15-Donny Schatz [+7].