3/16/2010
Sprint Source
Previewing Kasey’s King of Bulls Gap at Volunteer Speedway
Bulls Gap, TN—March 16, 2010—Following another thrilling weekend for the World of Outlaws that saw two more drivers add their name to the 2010 win list last weekend, the series will return to the ultra high-banked and blazing fast Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee this weekend for Kasey’s King of Bulls Gap Presented by Budweiser, which will be a co-sanctioned event with the All Star Circuit of Champions on Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20.
The World of Outlaws have raced once at Volunteer Speedway with that coming in 2007, when current series point leader Joey Saldana won a thriller over Tim Shaffer before a huge crowd. A majority of the drivers currently competing full-time with the series in 2010 competed at Volunteer Speedway in 2007.
In seven World of Outlaws events so far in 2010, six different drivers have visited Victory Lane, with Jason Meyers being the only repeat winner. Saldana, Jason Meyers and Jason Sides are the only three drivers that have finished in the Top-10 in each and every race this year. A total of 10 drivers have led laps in feature racing competition, while five drivers have won the dash to earn a pole position, with five drivers also having been quickest in qualifying.
Kasey’s King of Bulls Gap will be promoted by NASCAR star Kasey Kahne in partnership with the World Racing Group and will serve as the first two races of the four-race Kasey’s King mini-series that will continue at Sedalia’s State Fair Speedway in Missouri on June 16. Then on July 8 at a track to be announced in the Chicagoland area, the final Kasey’s King event winner and overall mini-series champion will be crowned by Budweiser. The top three point finishers across all four of the events will share a $15,000 bonus dubbed as the Showdown for the Bud Crown.
The Buzz-
• Joey Saldana looks to make it two wins a row at Volunteer Speedway, where he has two career wins, one with the World of Outlaws and the other with the All Star Circuit of Champion.
• Jason Sides will carry plenty of momentum from his first win of the season last weekend into Volunteer Speedway which is the only home state races this season for the Tennessee native.
• Paul McMahan, who is Saldana’s teammate at Kasey Kahne Racing, is a former winner at Volunteer Speedway with the Gumout Series. The California native has called Tennessee home for the last several years.
• Saldana, Sides and Jason Meyers look to keep their streak of Top-10 finishes going this coming weekend.
• Steve Kinser, who is the winningest driver ever with the World of Outlaws in the state of Tennessee will be seeking his first win at Volunteer Speedway, as will his Tony Stewart Racing teammate, four-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz.
• There have been two new track records set in time trials at World of Outlaws event this year. Last time the series visited Volunteer Speedway, Joey Saldana set a new track record that stood for about a year before it was broken.
• The 2010 season is shaping up to be another of the most competitive in World of Outlaws history, as six drivers have picked up wins in the first seven races of the season, with 10 different drivers leading laps in feature racing events, while five drivers have won dash and been fastest in time trials.
• Tim Shaffer who nearly won the last World of Outlaws event will be in attendance as the event is being co-sanctioned with the All Star Circuit of Champions. The veteran from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania is the defending All Star champion.
• Lance Dewease from Central Pennsylvania looks to make the trip to Volunteer Speedway after competing in both World of Outlaws events last weekend in Texas.
• Cale Conley, who is always fast with the World of Outlaws will make the tow from Vienna, West Virginia to Volunteer Speedway this weekend.
Over the years
World of Outlaws A-Feature winner at Volunteer Speedway include:
2007- Joey Saldana on March 24, 2007
Last visit to Bulls Gap
Joey Saldana won a thriller over Tim Shaffer in 2007 by just 0.199 seconds. Saldana took the white flag in the lead with Shaffer closely shadowing him. Saldana was committed to the top side of the track, while Shaffer made up plenty of ground on the bottom. Coming off the third and fourth turns, Shaffer inched ahead of Saldana, but with the momentum he had coming off the ultra high banking in turn four, Saldana was able to inch out Shaffer at the line, with Donny Schatz third, Sammy Swindell fourth and Daryn Pittman fifth. Saldana began the night by setting fast time in qualifying, while the heat races went to Schatz, Kerry Madsen, Swindell and Shaffer, with Jason Meyers winning the dash.
Sound Bites
Joey Saldana
“That is a neat track. Having it on the (NASCAR Sprint) Cup weekend and Kasey (Kahne) promoting it, it’s going to be a huge event. Hopefully we can put on as good of a show as we did last time we were there. It’s a great place and a very unique race track. You never know what to expect, so hopefully we are at the front for these two races.”
Paul McMahan
“Bulls Gap kind of has its own characteristics. It’s flat on the bottom and the high banks in the corners. The straightaways are also pretty high banked. You just have to have your car good and be comfortable. Last time I was there I didn’t run as well, I think we were ninth. Going back this time, we’ll see if we can run better than last time.”
Jason Sides
“It is in Tennessee, though it’s about an eight hour trip. We haven’t been there for a few years so we’ll see what we can do. Hopefully we can get a couple of Top-Fives out of it. We haven’t been home for about a month so we’ll get home and do some work and maybe get some fresher motors. We’ll keep plugging away and hopefully we can stay up front.”
Danny Lasoski
“Last time we were there, we put on a great show, side-by-side with slide jobs. They got the place really slick and that seems to put on a good show when the World of Outlaws come to town. The one place I can compare it to in my racing past is I-70 Speedway (in Missouri) where it had the straight up banks and you could run all the way on the top or all the way on the bottom or in the middle and go just as fast.”
Tim Kaeding
“We went there a few years ago while driver for Steve Kinser Racing and broke the track record and then everyone else went out and broke it after us. We get around there pretty good. I enjoy the bullrings. They are fun and enjoyable. Hopefully we can get a couple of decent finishes over there, maybe a couple of Top-Fives or Top-10’s. You take what you get and you get what you take and we’re out here trying to click along and stay in the Top-Seven in points and stay out here the rest of the year.”
By the numbers- Kasey’s King of Bulls Gap Presented by Budweiser
0.199-Margin of victory in seconds for Joey Saldana in the World of Outlaws debut at Volunteer Speedway in 2007
0.4- Miles around Volunteer Speedway
1- Driver competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that was born and raised in Tennessee- Jason Sides; Win for Paul McMahan at Volunteer Speedway in his career
2- Wins for Joey Saldana in his career at Volunteer Speedway; Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that call Tennessee home- Jason Sides and Paul McMahan
3- Drivers that led laps in the feature event at Volunteer Speedway in 2007; Lead changes in the inaugural World of Outlaws event at the track; Career starts for Joey Saldana at Volunteer Speedway, the most of any driver competing full-time with the World of Outlaws this season
6-Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws in 2010 that will be making their debut at Volunteer Speedway
7- Events scheduled this season for the World of Outlaws on four-tenths-mile tracks
8- Career wins for Steve Kinser with the World of Outlaws in the state of Tennessee to lead all drivers
10- Drivers that have won A-Feature events with the World of Outlaws in Tennessee dating back to 1979
11.672- Track record set by veteran Terry Gray in 2008
11.696- Fast time set by Joey Saldana in 2007 at the track in time trials, which at the time was a new track record and since has been broken
12- Drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws that competed at Volunteer Speedway in 2007
14- Laps led by Joey Saldana en route to winning at Volunteer Speedway in 2007
18- Drivers currently competing full-time with the World of Outlaws
20- Laps led by Jason Meyers in the feature event at Volunteer Speedway in 2007
23- Points that separate Joey Saldana and Jason Meyers in the World of Outlaws championship standings
25- World of Outlaws championships accounted for by driver competing full-time with the series this season
35- Drivers that competed with the World of Outlaws at Volunteer Speedway in 2007
101- Career A-Feature wins for Donny Schatz with the World of Outlaws through March 13
553- A-Feature wins for Steve Kinser in his career with the World of Outlaws through March 13
965- Miles from Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas where the World of Outlaws compete on March 13 to Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee
1979- Year the World of Outlaws first competed in the state of Tennessee
2007- Year the World of Outlaws last competed at Volunteer Speedway
10,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Friday, March 19; Dollars the winner will receive on Saturday, March 20
Tickets
On Friday, March 19 at Volunteer Speedway, general admission tickets for adults will be $29 if purchased in advance and $35 the day of the race, with general admission tickets for youth (ages 11-15) $15, with children 10-under admitted free of charge in the general admission section. Reserved tickets will be $29 if purchased in advance and $35 the day of the race. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the World of Outlaws at: 704-795-7223 or online at http://dirtcar.ticketforce.com. In addition, fans that purchase two-day tickets in advance before Wednesday, March 17 for only $59 get access to a special question-and-answer session with Kahne, a reserved seat for both nights, and a free pit pass.
•On Saturday, March 20 at Volunteer Speedway, General admission tickets for adults will be $29 if purchased in advance and $35 the day of the race, with general admission tickets for youth (ages 11-15) $15, with children 10-under admitted free of charge in the general admission section. Reserved tickets will be $29 if purchased in advance and $35 the day of the race. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the World of Outlaws at: 704-795-7223 or online at http://dirtcar.ticketforce.com. In addition, fans that purchase two-day tickets in advance before Wednesday, March 17 for only $59 get access to a special question-and-answer session with Kahne, a reserved seat for both nights, and a free pit pass.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, KSE Race Products, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo; Engine Builder's Challenge participants Don Ott Racing Engines, Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines; and Chassis Builder’s Challenge participants J&J Auto Racing, Maxim Racing and XXX Race Company.
Submitted By: Tony Veneziano
