Calistoga Speedway welcomes the World of Outlaws on Sunday September 9 as part of “California Outlaw Speedweek”
Calistoga, CA – August 26, 2012…When it comes to history and prestige, few tracks on the West Coast offer more than the Calistoga Speedway and on Sunday September 9 the half-mile will play host to the rescheduled event for the “Greatest Show on Dirt” the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.
"We are really excited to bring the World of Outlaws back to Calistoga Speedway after the rainout in March," commented Chris Morgan of Motorsports Ventures. "Calistoga has so much history behind it and everyone is excited to have the World of Outlaws back at the big half-mile."
Elk River, Minnesota’s Craig Dollansky leads the World of Outlaws point standings coming into the West Coast swing and is gunning for his first career series title aboard the Big Game Tree Stands No. 7 sprinter. The “Crowd Pleaser” came close to winning at Calistoga Speedway last year, but ran out of fuel off the final corner and it allowed Jason Sides the chance to pick up his initial win at the half-mile.
Four-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz will bring the Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 mount into Calistoga looking to add another win at the track to his resume. The Fargo, North Dakota veteran claimed his fifth career Knoxville Nationals victory recently and currently ranks second in the WOO standings going into the Gray’s Harbor Raceway this coming Wednesday.
National Sprint Car Hall of Famers Sammy Swindell and Steve Kinser rank third and fourth in the World of Outlaws standings. Between the two legendary drivers they have captured nearly 20 victories all-time at the Napa County Fairgrounds based track.
Swindell has raced to a series high 10 main event wins this season and always runs strong at the Calistoga Speedway. The Germantown, Tennessee charger is a former winner of the “Harvest Classic” and once swept all three-nights of the event, at the time driving the Channellock sponsored No. 1 machine.
Kinser likewise is a multiple-time winner at Calistoga Speedway, having visited victory lane at the half-mile on 10 different occasions. The 20-time World of Outlaws champion has three wins on the season thus far in 2012. Rounding out the top-five in points is Brownsburg, Indiana’s Joey Saldana, who has claimed five wins so far this season aboard Kasey Kahne’s Great Clips backed No. 9 mount.
The California contingent looking to keep the money in the Golden State will be led by San Jose’s Tim Kaeding, who scored a win earlier this year at Calistoga from the 16th starting position. The reigning King of the West champion also recently brought home a ninth place finish at the famed Knoxville Nationals and in his career has won seven times at Calistoga.
Young charger Rico Abreu will return to his home track for the first time since winning the annual “Tribute to Gary Patterson” in May, which was just his second ever start at the track. The St. Helena resident has been making a name for himself across the country and will look for another strong run in front of the hometown crowd aboard his Abreu Vineyeards No. 89 sprinter.
Former Golden State 410 champion Kyle Larson will also return to the Calistoga Speedway in search of his first ever win at the half mile behind the wheel of the Silva Motorsports No. 57 machine. The 20-year-old Elk Grove native scored victory on opening night of the Knoxville Nationals and earned Rookie of the Year honors for the event. Larson has always wanted to win at Calistoga and has come close in the past.
Current King of the West Sprint Car Series point leader Jonathan Allard is another driver hoping for a strong night at the Calistoga Speedway. The Chico wheel-man led all but one lap at the “Salute to Walt Ross” in May at the track, but got caught in lapped traffic on the final circuit and allowed T. Kaeding the chance to get by. Allard also recently tallied his best career finish at the Knoxville Nationals.
Other drivers set to tackle the Calistoga Speedway on September 9 will include Bloomington, Indiana’s Kraig Kinser, Red Lion, Pennsylvania’s Cody Darrah, Australian charger Kerry Madsen, Findlay, Ohio’s Chad Kemenah, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania’s Lucas Wolf, Sacramento’s Kyle Hirst, Puyallup, Washington’s Trey Starks and more.
Adult advance reserved tickets for Sunday September 9 cost $45 and include a complimentary fan pit pass, which will allow people incredible access to all the stars of the World of Outlaws. General admission tickets will cost $39 with children 12 and under just $10. Tickets for the Calistoga Speedway return are on sale and can be purchased by logging onto http://dirtcar.ticketforce.com/ordertickets.asp?p=200&backurl=default.asp
The Calistoga Speedway is located on the scenic Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, California at 1435 North Oak Street and has been in existence since 1937. For more information on the half-mile log onto http://www.calistogaspeedway.org and for more history visit Bobby Gerould’s Hammerdown USA at http://www.hammerdownusa.com/Calistogacareerwins.html
- Gary Thomas on Aug 26, 2012
- Article Date: 8/26/2012 by Gary Thomas