Meyers First Win In New Self-designed And Self-built Chassis At The Alltel Dirtcar Nationals
Feb 10, 2008
CIA Stock Photo, Inc.
The $10,000-win marked the first for the team in their brand new self-designed and self-built chassis. Countless hours were spent developing the mount during the off-season and Meyers had been fast all week during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals leading into the second of three events for the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.
Jason Meyers came close to winning on the first night of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park and again on the third night, battling with Donny Schatz in both of those contests. The pair found themselves dueling yet again on Saturday night, and this time Meyers was not about to be outdone, as held off Schatz to earn his first A-Feature win of the 2008 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season. The $10,000-win marked the first for the team in their brand new self-designed and self-built chassis. Countless hours were spent developing the mount during the off-season and Meyers had been fast all week during the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals leading into the second of three events for the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. “We had a goal to come down here and start off well, “ said Meyers, driver of the GLR Investments KPC. “We have been working hard for this all winter. To come out and win on the second night is definitely achieving that goal. Everybody has been working hard. We’re looking forward to a great season. “ While Meyers led, Schatz continued to shadow him, looking for the right opportunity to take a shot at the lead. That chance came on the13th lap, as he dove low exiting the second turn to take the lead from Meyers. After a couple of laps in traffic, Meyers tracked Schatz back down and made the pass for the lead and ultimately the win on the 16th circuit in turn one. Schatz closed in a couple of time late in the race in traffic, but Meyers worked the lapped cars to perfection in earning his 19th career A-Feature win.
“It wasn’t exciting when he passed me, but it was exciting when I passed him back, “ said the native of Clovis, California. “Donny has been great the last couple of years and he will strong again this year and to be up here on the podium with him and Joey Saldana is an honor for us, especially being on the top of the podium. “ Meyers has finished in the Top-Five in four out of five starts this week during the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals. While there is well over 80 races still remaining on the 2008 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series schedule, Meyers has been focused on starting off strong this week to build a solid foundation for the rest of the season. “It’s important for a lot reasons, “ he noted of running well early in the year. “It is important to get off on the right note as far as season points and also for the morale of the team. We don’t race a lot at this time of the year and to go out and win, that makes those weeks go by a lot quicker for everyone. It’s a tough live out here on the road for everybody, and these wins put some money in the bank and smiles on faces and keep everyone working hard at what they are doing. “ Schatz earned his fifth Top-Five of the season in as many starts for Tony Stewart Racing, as was the runner-up on Saturday night. After lining up fourth for the 30-lap event, he powered his way past Craig Dollansky on the first lap, before staging a very entertaining battle with Saldana for the third position. After passing Saldana, it took him just one lap to get around Kaeding, as he set his sights on Meyers. Meyers, after his win on Saturday night, would like nothing better than to close out the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series portion of the Alltel DIRTcar Nationals with another victory on Saturday night, though he is quick to point out that it will be no easy task. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work, “ explained Meyers from Alltel Victory Lane. “We beat 25 of the greatest sprint car drivers in the country tonight and they are not going to come back tomorrow and just lay down for us. We’ll have to be even a little better tomorrow night and hopefully go to the front again. “ The Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series will wrap up their three-night portion of the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals on Sunday night with another $10,000-to win event. The first 500 fans to enter the gates on Sunday, will receive a complimentary Advance Auto Parts hat.
• UP NEXT: The finale night of the sprint car portion of the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park on Sunday, February 11, which will again pay $10,000-to win.
• UPCOMING EVENTS: The Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series heads to Pike County Speedway on Saturday, February 16, followed by a trip to the West Coast for a pair of events at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California on February 22 and 23.
A-main (30 laps) - Starting Position [#]
1) 14-Jason Meyers[2] [$10,000]
2) 15-Donny Schatz[3] [$5,000]
3) 9-Joey Saldana[5] [$3,000]
4) 1-Jeff Shepard[9] [$2,700]
5) 2-Craig Dollansky[4] [$2,500]
6) R19-Jac Haudenschild[14] [$2,200]
7) 10-Tim Kaeding[1] [$2,000]
8) 30C-Lance Dewease[8] [$1,800]
9) 21-Daryn Pittman[13] [$1,600]
10) 8K-Chad Kemenah[15] [$1,450]
11) 55-Kerry Madsen[20] [$1,300]
12) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr. [12] [$1,200]
13) 7S-Jason Sides[16] [$1,100]
14) 25-Chad Layton[7] [$1,000]
15) 5W-Lucas Wolfe[18] [$950]
16) 24-Terry McCarl[25] [$200]
17) D1-Justin Henderson[17] [$850]
18) 28-Brian Paulus[24] [$750]
19) 11-Steve Kinser[6] [$725]
20) 6-Tim Shaffer[23] [$700]
21) 1X-Randy Hannagan[26] [$0]
22) 39-T J Stutts[21] [$700]
23) 89-Cody Darrah[10] [$700]
24) 5-Danny Lasoski[22] [$700]
25) 20-Kraig Kinser[11] [$700]
26) 51-Fred Rahmer[19] [$700]
Top-10 in Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Points
1.Craig Dollansky- 299
2.Jason Meyers- 294
3.Donny Schatz- 292
4.Joey Saldana- 280
5.Lance Dewease- 276
6.Jeff Shepard- 272
7.Tim Kaeding- 266
8. Chad Kemenah- 264
9. Daryn Pittman- 264
10. Terry McCarl- 262
