By Brian Liskai
(Attica, OH) A lot has changed in sprint car racing over the past 34 years. But, as the old saying goes, “as much as things change, they remain the same.”
That’s especially true with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. Back in the early days of the organization, it was Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell battling for wins and championships. Fast forward to 2012… and it’s still Steve and Sammy battling for the point lead of the World of Outlaws as they get set for Northern Ohio’s only visit of “The Greatest Show on Dirt” on Friday, June 1st at Attica Raceway Park .
And just like the first time the World of Outlaws visited Attica in 1990, the tough weekly competition at “ Ohio ’s Finest Racing” speed plant will provide the travelling teams of the series with stiff competition.
With just two races prior to the Outlaws’ visit to Attica, 20 time series champion Steve Kinser, who won the first two World of Outlaw shows at Attica in 1990 and 1991, held a slim 18 point lead over Swindell, a three time series champion, who took an Outlaw victory at Attica in 1994.. Kinser has scored two wins in 2012 while Swindell has 4 series’ wins.
Four time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz, a teammate of Kinser’s at Tony Stewart Racing, sits third in the 2012 standings with three feature wins. Schatz has won two of the last three World of Outlaws features at Attica, including last season’s exciting slide-job-trading win over Craig Dollansky, his first series’ win of 2011.
Kinser and Swindell each have four career wins at Attica while Schatz has two.
Joey Saldana, piloting a Kasey Kahne Racing entry, sits fourth on the Outlaws’ tour with two victories. Saldana captured many All Star Circuit of Champion wins at Attica over the years and took the World of Outlaws win at the track in 2007. He has six career victories at ARP.
Dollansky sits fifth in the Outlaw point standings with 3 wins in 2012. He has one career win at Attica.
Others expected to travel to Attica include Kraig Kinser, who is sixth in the Outlaw points; Chad Kemenah, who sits third on Attica’s all-time win list with 20 victories and scored an Outlaw win at Eldora recently; Cody Darrah, who sits 8th in the Outlaws points; Kerry Madsen who is ninth in the series’ points, Lucas Wolfe who is 10th in the points; Jason Sides, who is 11th in the standings; and Bill Rose, who is 12th in the points.
Look for Jac Haudenschild, Paul McMahan, who has an Outlaw win this season; and many of the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions such as Tim Shaffer, who has 10 career wins at Attica; Dale Blaney, who has 3 wins at Attica in 2012 and 16 career victories at the track and took the Outlaw win in 2009; David Gravel who has several top 10 runs with the Outlaws in 2012 and scored a series win in 2011; and more.
Then throw in the tough Attica weekly competitors like defending champion Dean Jacobs, who recently scored at win at Fremont Speedway and has 10 career victories at Attica; Bryan Sebetto, who scored a win recently at Attica and has 4 career victories at the track; Craig Mintz, who has two wins at Attica in 2012 and 7 total at the track in his career; Byron Reed, a six time Attica champion who has 28 career wins at the track to sit second on the all-time win list; Greg Wilson, who has 15 career wins at Attica; Phil Gressman, who has six career wins at Attica and sits third in the track’s current points; 2009 track champion Chris Andrews, who sits third in the track’s 2012 point standings; and a host of others.
Then throw in possibilities like several Pennsylvania teams and Stevie Smith, who has taken World of Outlaw wins at Attica in 1994 and 2005 and has four career wins at Attica.
And, to make things more interesting, the “locals” have plenty of monetary incentive to beat the Outlaws.
Not only will the teams be battling for the $10,000 payday for the 40-lap Kistler Engines Classic, but there are plenty of bonus funds up for grabs. Any driver in the Top-25 of Attica Raceway Park ’s weekly point standings who defeats the Outlaws for the feature victory will get an additional $2,500 from Attica Raceway Park . Should that driver also be in the Top-10 of the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champion’s National point standings through May 27th, there is another $1,000 bonus from that series. Also, engine manufacturers Kistler Engines, Gressman Powersports and Level Performance are offering a $2,000 gift certificate if one of the Top-25 in Attica ’s weekly point standings is running an engine built by one of those companies and wins the race. Also, All Pro Aluminum Heads is giving a $250 gift certificate if the race winner is using their engine heads.
Attica Raceway Park will also give the highest finisher in the A-Main that is in the track’s Top-25 in points a $500 bonus. If a driver in the Top-25 in points wins the race, then the second highest feature finisher in the Top-25 in points will get the $500 bonus.
And if that weren’t enough, Attica Raceway Park is one of very few tracks across the country to support those drivers who are in the top 25 in the season point standings, to pay for the $125 World of Outlaws membership fee for the June 1st show.
The Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models will also be in competition battling it out for $1,000 to win.
General admission tickets to the Kistler Engines Classic featuring the World of Outlaw Sprint Series are $30 for adults; $15 for teens ages 11-15; with kids 10 and under free. Pit passes will be $35 each. The top six rows in the middle grandstands (sections D, E, F and G) are reserved. Call 419-680-5606 or go to www.atticaracewaypark.com to view the reserved seating chart.
Pit gates will open Friday, June 1 at 3:30 p.m. with grandstands gates opening at 4 p.m. and racing at 7:45 p.m.
There are camping sites available with a limited number with electric hook-up (available for $10 per day).
Go to www.atticaracewaypark.com or www.woosprint.com