3/10/2013
Sprint Source
Pittman Prevails at Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA Auto Parts
He becomes the first repeat winner of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season
TUCSON, Ariz. - March 9, 2013 - You don't need to be a teacher to give Daryn Pittman a grade at the head of the class.
Heck, he gives himself an A+ so far this season with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series and rightfully so.
Pittman, who won the season opener after accepting an offer to drive for NASCAR star Kasey Kahne during the offseason, became the first repeat winner of the season on Saturday in front of a near capacity crowd at Tucson International Raceway during the Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA Auto Parts.
"It's been an A+ for sure," he said. "I think all of us are really disappointed in our first night at (Las) Vegas. That was our first humbling experience as a team, but nobody was down. We got messages all night from each other, just stay positive and come back the next day. And we rebounded with a solid night at Vegas the second night.
"This is a tough sport and a grueling year that we know can turn around in a hurry. So we've just got to stay focused, go into the next race and try to win."
It was the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series first race at the 3/8-mile oval since 2007 and the first event in Arizona since 2009. Speaking of history, Pittman's two wins this season are more than he recorded in the past four years combined. It also helped him to maintain the championship points lead, which he's held since the season-opening victory.
"Points matter in October and November," Pittman said. "Right now we've just got to win races and go after that, and that's what we're going to try to do."
However, it could have easily been a sixth different feature winner in as many races this season. Polesitter Joey Saldana, who Pittman replaced at Kasey Kahne Racing, won his first dash of the season and led the first nine laps of the 30-lap feature before a lengthy red flag because Chad Kemenah flipped in turn three.
On the restart, World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series officials deemed that Saldana got on the gas too early and he was penalized one row. That moved Pittman to the lead, which he never relinquished.
"Outlaws races are very hard to win, so if you're going to lose one you want to lose it racing," Saldana said. "I don't know what's right or wrong. I'm the leader of the race. I don't know what I did any different."
Pittman powered to a sizeable advantage and by the time he entered traffic on Lap 18, he led by nearly a straightaway.
In thick traffic, Saldana passed Brian Brown for the runner-up position exiting turn four on lap 25. However, he was unable to make up any ground on Pittman, who empathized with Saldana's situation.
"Obviously we were the beneficiary of that and it was great, but I would have been ticked if it was me to have the same penalty on us," Pittman said. "Their job is to make the rules and enforce them. Ours is to push them as far to our advantage as we can to try to get an advantage. He got bit tonight. I'm sure he's unhappy about it.
"At the end of the day I think we had a great race car. I think we had something for him no matter what. It would have been nice to race for it to see who would have came out on top, but our car was awfully good."
Saldana's second-place finish was his second straight podium. Brown picked up his first podium finish of the season in third.
"With the crowd being good enough, hopefully we'll get to come back here soon," he said. "The track was in great condition. (It was) probably a little bit too narrow. It made it tough to pass, but when you're starting in the front you don't mind that every once in a while."
Paul McMahan, who established a new track record in qualifying, placed fourth and Tim Kaeding ended with his third consecutive top five.
Donny Schatz was sixth, Danny Lasoski seventh, 16th-starter David Gravel eighth, Kraig Kinser ninth and Cody Darrah rounded out the top 10.
Kerry Madsen rallied from 21st to 12th to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award for the third time in six races this season.
Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA Auto Parts Notebook
NOTES - Paul McMahan set quick time for the third race this season and established a new track record. … Of the 30 drivers who qualified, 19 were quicker than the previous track record of 12.624 seconds, which Craig Dollansky set in 2007. … Wayne Johnson claimed his second heat race victory, Tim Kaeding his third straight heat win and Danny Lasoski his first of the season. … The dash draw was a six. … Joey Saldana became the sixth different dash winner in as many races this year. … Lucas Wolfe won his first Last Chance Showdown of the season. … Chad Kemenah was transported to a local hospital after crashing during the feature.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS - Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Danny Lasoski; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Daryn Pittman; STP ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($50 cash and $200 certificate): David Gravel; JE Pistons ($50 cash): David Gravel; UNOH ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; American Racing Custom Wheels ($50 cash): David Gravel; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): David Gravel; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Cody Darrah; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Craig Dollansky; Superflow ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; JE Pistons (set of rings): Chad Kemenah; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Chad Kemenah; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Chad Kemenah; Armor All (case of product): Paul McMahan; KSE Racing Products ($100 certificate): Kerry Madsen.
WINNERS - Daryn Pittman - 2 (Tucson International Raceway on March 9 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15); Tim Kaeding - 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 7); Danny Lasoski - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17); Terry McCarl - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16) and Donny Schatz - 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 6).
TIME TRIALS - Paul McMahan was the fastest qualifier around the 3/8-mile oval with a track-record time of 12.076 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Daryn Pittman (4 points), Brian Brown (3), Chad Kemenah (2) and Craig Dollansky (1).
WE'RE ONLINE - Make sure to check out WoOsprint.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com .
Wildcat Shootout Presented by NAPA Auto Parts Statistical Report; Tucson International Raceway; Tucson, Ariz.; March 9, 2013
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