Contact: Shawn Miller
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series PR
704-467-7803 | smiller@dirtcar.com
Swindell Sails to Win No. 11 with Dominant Performance at Grays Harbor
Dollansky finishes second to maintain World of Outlaws championship points lead
ELMA, Wash. – Aug. 29, 2012 – Things are getting back to normal for Sammy Swindell.
He found himself in Victory Lane for the second consecutive World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event and the third time in the last five races on Wednesday night at the scenic Grays Harbor Raceway, which hosted its first Outlaws race since 2008.
It was his series-leading 11th victory of the season and moved him to a tie for second place in the championship standings – only 39 points behind leader Craig Dollansky.
“This is the best we’ve got so hopefully it just carries on through the rest of the year,” said Swindell, who hadn’t won at Grays Harbor Raceway since 1997.
“We did have maybe six, eight weeks there where we weren’t where we needed to be and was struggling some. We found out the reason for that and rectified that, fixed all that stuff and we’re back to where we were at the first part of the year.”
Swindell rocketed to the lead on the opening lap from inside the second row and he then led all 30 laps. In fact, Swindell lapped up to 11th place in a feature that was slowed by four cautions.
And as dominant as Swindell was, Dollansky never settled for the runner-up position. After four cautions during the first half of the event, the final 18 laps were caution free. The duo entered traffic on lap 17.
Dollansky began slowly reeling Swindell in through traffic in the final half-dozen laps before what appeared to be his break with two laps remaining. Swindell was dramatically slowed on the cushion while trying to lap Henry Van Dam. The momentum loss allowed Dollansky to close within a car length.
“I felt like we had a pretty good car in lapped traffic and I would have liked that race to keep going five more laps or so,” Dollansky said.
Swindell maintained his advantage in the closing laps to secure the victory with Joey Saldana edging Donny Schatz for the final spot on the podium.
“It’s a good, solid night,” Saldana said. “To start fourth and finish third, especially with these guys, that’s good. (I) definitely want to get a win so we’ve got to keep digging.”
Steve Kinser finished fifth. Kerry Madsen charged from 11th to sixth and Shane Stewart from 12th to seventh. Cody Darrah placed eighth and Jac Haudenschild earned the KSE Hard Charger Award for driving from 18th to ninth. Chad Kemenah rounded out the top 10.
Grays Harbor Raceway Notebook
NOTES – Sammy Swindell tied the track record in qualifying, which was set by Craig Dollansky in 2004. … It was Swindell’s 10th quick time of the season. … Dollansky was the first driver to hit triple digits in bonus points via qualifying. He has 101 bonus points. … Sam Hafertepe Jr. claimed his third heat race victory, Joey Saldana his 13th and Jayme Barnes his first of the season. … Dollansky picked up his fifth dash win of the season. … The top five in points finished in the top five of the feature.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS – Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Jac Haudenschild; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Sammy Swindell; Armor All (case of product): Jac Haudenschild; STP ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; UNOH ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Cody Darrah; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Jac Haudenschild; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; JE Pistons (set of rings): Bill Rose; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Bill Rose; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Bill Rose; Superflow ($50 cash): Bill Rose; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; JE Pistons (set of rings): Mike Romig; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Tim Kaeding; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe.
WINNERS – Sammy Swindell – 11 (Grays Harbor Raceway on Aug. 29, Castrol Raceway on Aug. 25, River Cities Speedway on Aug. 17, Autodrome Granby on July 27, 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 – 7 (Castrol Raceway on Aug. 24, 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); Donny Schatz – 7 (Nodak Speedway on Aug. 19, Junction Motor Speedway on Aug. 14, Knoxville Raceway on Aug. 11, Cornwall Motor Speedway on July 29, Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Joey Saldana – 5 (Autodrome Drummond on July 28, 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); 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); 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); Chad Kemenah – 2 (Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 28 and Eldora Speedway on May 4); Tony Stewart – 2 (Ohsweken Speedway on July 31 and Lernerville Speedway on July 17); 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); Brad Sweet – 1 (Clay County Fairgrounds on June 8) and Lucas Wolfe – 1 (Bloomington Speedway on Aug. 3).
TIME TRIALS – Sammy Swindell was the fastest qualifier around the 3/8-mile oval with a time of 11.915 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Joey Saldana (4 points), Craig Dollansky (3), Cody Darrah (2) and Tim Kaeding (1).
WE’RE ONLINE – Make sure to check out WorldofOutlaws.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com .
Grays Harbor Raceway Statistical Report; Elma, Wash.; Aug. 29, 2012
A-Main – (30 Laps) – 1. 1-Sammy Swindell [3] [$6,000]; 2. 7-Craig Dollansky [1] [$3,500]; 3. 9-Joey Saldana [4] [$2,000]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [5] [$1,800]; 5. 11-Steve Kinser [6] [$1,500]; 6. 29-Kerry Madsen [11] [$1,400]; 7. 57-Shane Stewart [12] [$1,350]; 8. 4-Cody Darrah [2] [$1,300]; 9. 18J-Jac Haudenschild [18] [$1,250]; 10. 63-Chad Kemenah [16] [$1,200]; 11. 11K-Kraig Kinser [20] [$900]; 12. 55-Trey Starks [14] [$800]; 13. 33V-Henry Van Dam [17] [$700]; 14. 98M-Mitch Olson [19] [$650]; 15. 6-Bill Rose [13] [$600]; 16. 26-Sam Hafertepe Jr [8] [$550]; 17. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [15] [$500]; 18. 18-Travis Jacobson [9] [$500]; 19. 83-Tim Kaeding [7] [$500]; 20. 17J-Jayme Barnes [10] [$500]; 21. 22-Mike Romig [21] [$500]. Lap Leaders: Sammy Swindell 1-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 18J-Jac Haudenschild [+9].
Qualifying – 1. 1-Sammy Swindell, 11.915; 2. 9-Joey Saldana, 11.932; 3. 7-Craig Dollansky, 11.958; 4. 4-Cody Darrah, 12.001; 5. 83-Tim Kaeding, 12.026; 6. 11-Steve Kinser, 12.033; 7. 29-Kerry Madsen, 12.082; 8. 57-Shane Stewart, 12.140; 9. 18-Travis Jacobson, 12.156; 10. 26-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 12.187; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 12.197; 12. 17J-Jayme Barnes, 12.234; 13. 6-Bill Rose, 12.314; 14. 55-Trey Starks, 12.338; 15. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 12.389; 16. 63-Chad Kemenah, 12.393; 17. 33V-Henry Van Dam, 12.413; 18. 18J-Jac Haudenschild, 12.457; 19. 98M-Mitch Olson, 12.476; 20. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 12.632; 21. 22-Mike Romig, No Time.
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 26-Sam Hafertepe Jr [1]; 2. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 3. 29-Kerry Madsen [2]; 4. 4-Cody Darrah [3]; 5. 98M-Mitch Olson [7]; 6. 6-Bill Rose [5]; 7. 63-Chad Kemenah [6].
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 9-Joey Saldana [4]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 3. 57-Shane Stewart [2]; 4. 83-Tim Kaeding [3]; 5. 33V-Henry Van Dam [6]; 6. 55-Trey Starks [5]; 7. 11K-Kraig Kinser [7].
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature) – 1. 17J-Jayme Barnes [1]; 2. 18-Travis Jacobson [2]; 3. 7-Craig Dollansky [4]; 4. 18J-Jac Haudenschild [6]; 5. 11-Steve Kinser [3]; 6. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [5]; 7. 22-Mike Romig [7].
Dash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 10 starting positions of A-feature) – 1. 7-Craig Dollansky [2]; 2. 4-Cody Darrah [1]; 3. 1-Sammy Swindell [4]; 4. 9-Joey Saldana [3]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [9]; 6. 11-Steve Kinser [6]; 7. 83-Tim Kaeding [5]; 8. 26-Sam Hafertepe Jr [8]; 9. 18-Travis Jacobson [7]; 10. 17J-Jayme Barnes [10].