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At A Glance: As Eldora Approaches, What a Difference a Year Makes

Changes come for last year’s Eldora spring race winners, Shane Stewart and David Gravel
CONCORD, N.C. - May 5, 2015 - History will be made at Eldora Speedway this Friday and Saturday as the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and USAC National Sprint Car Series join together for the first time ever in a double-header 'Mother of All Sprint Car Weekends.'

Two World of Outlaws drivers who made a little of their own history last season at the spring Eldora races, David Gravel and Shane Stewart, return to the track after a season of change for both.

When the Outlaws visited the high-banked, half-mile oval in the spring last year, Stewart, the 2005 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, returned with a new team, Larson Marks Racing. The upstart organization, in just their first Outlaws start, took home the win. That opening shot propelled them to two full points wins and a qualifier night win at the Knoxville Nationals during the 2014 season.

With 2015 underway, Stewart already has three wins and currently sits second in the championship points standings behind reigning champion Donny Schatz. Stewart said he would rate his time highly through the first part of the season.

"I'm very proud of my guys," Stewart said. "We're still a new team, we're still learning. We've still got a lot of racing to go. To be where we are at, with what we learned last year, doing what we did, I think it's starting to pay off. It's a long season. I'm excited about where we're at - I think we're in a good position."

As far as his team settling into the grueling Outlaws schedule, Stewart said they have been great.

"My guys are ready," Stewart said. "I've just got to keep myself mentally focused because I haven't done it in a long time. It's not just showing up to the race track. It's what you do after hours trying to take good care of yourself and get good rest. That part of it is what you have really got to watch. You have to be able to do that to keep your sharpness come June, July and August. We're having a good time. It obviously helps when you're racing good and finishing up front - that helps keep the team moral up. So far so good and hopefully we can keep that roll going."

For Gravel, last year at Eldora was his debut with Roth Motorsports. Like Stewart, he closed out the weekend with a big win for his team.

"Definitely huge," Gravel said. "Second night in a new car was awesome. I really like Eldora. I've had some success there and last year was a good year. Started on the pole at King's Royal, finished on the podium. That was really big. Every time we've been to Eldora, we've run well."

Gravel left Eldora with momentum and ultimately scored three more wins in 2014.

In recent weeks, Gravel and Roth parted ways. He immediately picked up a new ride with Destiny Motorsports which saw its own driver change. Gravel said he has learned a lot in the last year.

"I've been through a lot of different cars and have been a lot of different places," Gravel said. "I think now I've been at every Outlaw track that the circuit has, so that's a plus. And you just never get down on yourself. It's a long season and I know I can drive. I know no matter what car I get in, if we work together, I'll be fast. Just move on from night-to-night, don't look back, look forward. Work with your team and you'll get it figured out."

Tickets for the 'Mother of All Sprint Car Weekends' at Eldora Speedway start at just $25. Reserved seats are $4 more. For more information and to buy tickets, visit http://eldoraspeedway.ticketforce.com/.

ABOUT THE TRACK
ELDORA SPEEDWAY is a high-banked, half-mile oval. The track record of 12.707 seconds was established by Craig Dollansky on April 13, 2002.For more event information, visit http://woosprint.com/eldora-speedway.

Previous A-Feature Winners
2014 - Shane Stewart on May 2, David Gravel on May 3, Sammy Swindell on July 11, Kerry Madsen on July 12, Joey Saldana on Sept. 19
2013 - Kerry Madsen on May 3, Daryn Pittman on May 4, Kerry Madsen on July 12, Brad Sweet on July 13
2012 - Chad Kemenah on May 4, Sammy Swindell on May 5, Joey Saldana on July 13, Sammy Swindell on July 14
2011 - Joey Saldana on May 8, Tim Shaffer on July 15, Tyler Walker on July 16, Joey Saldana on Sept. 23
2010 - Joey Saldana on May 8, Paul McMahan on May 9, Joey Saldana on July 16, Steve Kinser on July 17, Jac Haudenschild on Sept. 24
2009 - Donny Schatz on May 9, Terry McCarl on July 17, Donny Schatz on July 18, Jason Sides on Sept. 25
2008 - Craig Dollansky on April 11, Donny Schatz on May 31, Joey Saldana on July 11, Daryn Pittman on July 13, Joey Saldana on Sept. 19
2007 - Jason Meyers on April 13, Paul McMahan on June 2, Steve Kinser on July 13, Donny Schatz on July 14, Joey Saldana on Sept. 21
2006 - Sammy Swindell on April 8, Craig Dollansky on June 3, Craig Dollansky on July 14, Joey Saldana on July 15, Joey Saldana on Aug. 4
2005 - Steve Kinser on April 9, Sammy Swindell on June 4, Steve Kinser on July 15, Steve Kinser on July 16, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 5
2004 - Steve Kinser on April 10, Danny Lasoski on June 5, Dale Blaney on July 16, Jason Sides on July 17, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 6
2003 - Sammy Swindell on April 19, Steve Kinser on May 31, Steve Kinser on July 18, Steve Kinser on July 19, Jason Meyers on Aug. 8
2002 - Craig Dollansky on April 13, Steve Kinser on June 1, Daryn Pittman on July 19, Joey Saldana on July 20, Steve Kinser on Aug. 2
2001 - Mark Kinser on April 14, Andy Hillenburg on June 2, Andy Hillenburg on July 20, Mark Kinser on July 21, Steve Kinser on Aug. 3
2000 - Steve Kinser on April 22, Mark Kinser on June 3, Sammy Swindell in July 14, Dale Blaney on July 15, Tim Shaffer on Aug. 4
1999 - Tim Shaffer on June 5, Mark Kinser on July 15, Greg Hodnett on July 16, Sammy Swindell on July 17, Stevie Smith on Aug. 6
1998 - Sammy Swindell on April 11, Sammy Swindell on June 13, Jac Haudenschild on July 17, Jac Haudenschild on July 18, Jac Haudenschild on Aug. 7
1997 - Sammy Swindell on April 4, Dave Blaney on June 14, Dave Blaney on July 18, Steve Kinser on July 19, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 8
1996 - Sammy Swindell on April 5, Steve Kinser on June 15, Mark Kinser on July 19, Johnny Herrera on July 20, Mark Kinser on Aug. 9
1995 - Jac Haudenschild on April 15, Steve Kinser on June 10, Dave Blaney on Aug. 11
1994 - Kenny Jacobs on April 17, Kenny Jacobs on June 11, Dave Blaney on Aug. 12
1993 - Dave Blaney on April 18, Steve Kinser on June 12, Dave Blaney on Aug. 13
1992 - Sammy Swindell on April 12
1991 - Steve Kinser on June 7, Sammy Swindell on June 8
1990 - Steve Kinser on April 22, Steve Kinser on June 9
1989 - Jeff Swindell on April 23, Doug Wolfgang on June 10, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 5
1988 - Doug Wolfgang on April 10, Steve Kinser on Aug. 27
1987 - Steve Kinser on April 12, Steve Kinser on Aug. 8
1986 - Bobby Allen on Aug. 9
1985 - Doug Wolfgang on April 14, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 10
1984 - Ron Shuman on April 8
1983 - Brad Doty on May 22
1982 - Danny Smith on May 8, Sammy Swindell on May 9, Doug Wolfgang on June 12, Sammy Swindell on Aug. 7, Steve Kinser on Oct. 17
1981 - Sammy Swindell on May 16, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 8, Steve Kinser on Oct. 18
1980 - Sammy Swindell on April 13, Steve Kinser on May 3, Steve Kinser on May 4, Steve Kinser on May 25, Steve Kinser on July 5, Steve Kinser on Aug. 9, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 30, Doug Wolfgang on Aug. 31, Steve Kinser on Oct. 19
1979 - Ron Shuman on April 15, Dub May on May 27, Steve Kinser on July 3, Sammy Swindell on July 14, Steve Kinser on Aug. 4, Doug Wolfgang on Sept. 1, Shane Carson on Oct. 21
1978 - Bobby Allen on April 16, Rick Ferkel on April 30, Steve Kinser on May 21, Rick Ferkel on July 3, Randy Ford on Aug. 3, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 4, Rick Ferkel on Aug. 5, Steve Kinser on Sept. 3, Shane Carson on Oct. 29

DRIVER INFO
The following World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series drivers maintain websites:
Jacob Allen - Shark1s1a.com
David Gravel - DavidGravel89.com
Kyle Hirst - RothMotorsports83.com
Jason Johnson - JasonJohnsonRacing.com
Kraig Kinser - KraigKinser.com
Kerry Madsen - KenericRacing.com
Paul McMahan - PaulMcMahanRacing.com
Daryn Pittman - DarynPittman.com
Joey Saldana - JoeySaldanaRacing.com
Donny Schatz - DonnySchatz.com
Logan Schuchart - Shark1s1a.com
Jason Sides - SidesMotorsports.com
Shane Stewart - ShaneStewart.com
Brad Sweet - Bradsweetracing.com
For more driver information, visit: WoOsprint.com

SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz - 6 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Stockton Dirt Track on March 21, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 28, Placerville Speedway on April 8, Calistoga Speedway on April 12, Devil's Bowl Speedway on April 26);Shane Stewart - 3 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, Keller Auto Speedway on April 17, Salina Highbanks Speedway on May 1); Rico Abreu - 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 14, Stockton Dirt Track on March 22); Paul McMahan - 2(Perris Auto Speedway on April 18, Tri-State Speedway on May 3); Daryn Pittman - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Antioch Speedway on March 29); Brad Sweet - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15, Calistoga Speedway on April 11); Christopher Bell - 1 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on May 2); Brian Brown - 1 (USA Raceway on March 7); Tim Kaeding - 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 13); Terry McCarl - 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5).

LISTEN LIVE: Listen live for FREE on http://www.DIRTVision.com as the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series takes on the historic Eldora Speedway on May 8 and 9.

LIVE ONLINE UPDATES: Check out the Official World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series website at WoOsprint.com for live, interactive text updates of each race. It also includes driver biographies with statistics and pictures, race-by-race stats, detailed track information and race coverage, series news and team press releases.

GET SOCIAL: Follow the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws, like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws, follow on Instagram at @WoOSprint or check out the latest videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series heads east to Central Pennsylvania to take on the Pennsylvania Posse at Lincoln Speedway on May 13 and Williams Grove Speedway on May 15 and 16.

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