“This is a whole credit to my team, ” said Lasoski, driver of the Roth Motorsports Eagle. “We got punted on the first lap of the heat race and that put us in the infield and kept us from getting to first or second in the heat race. Everyone knows how important that is. My guys never gave up. They said, lets work on this race car and see how good we can get it. I have to thank Dennis Roth for letting me race this car, and all these guys that are supporting me in the pit area. “
Lasoski kept his car glued to the bottom of the track for most of the race. He now holds the mark of having won from the farthest back of any of the seven drivers that have picked up World of Outlaws A-Feature triumphs this season. He also became the third winner in just as many events at Paducah.
“The late caution was good, because Joey (Saldana) was really pulling away, ” Lasoski said. “I started 15th and I couldn t even see him. All in all we are happy to get the first under our belt. It s a boost for our team. “
Saldana, the current series points leader, was looking for his fourth straight win. After an aborted start, he shot to the lead over outside front row starter Danny Smith. He set a torrid pace and was in lapped traffic only a couple circuits into the 35-lap event. Durring his stint at the head of the field, he lapped up to the 17th-place finisher. For the native of Brownsburg, Indiana, it was his 11th Top-10 finish of the season, as he continues to lead the series championship points. He began the night by turning the fourth fastest lap in time trials, thus garnering two bonus points.
“We had a really good car all night, ” said Saldana, driver of the Open Joist Mopar-powered JEI. “We went out third from the end (in time trials) and were fourth quick, and we won our heat. We were really good in the dash. In the feature, we were really good, and with about two or three laps to go, it wouldn t pick the throttle up. I got in the fence coming off turns three and four. That killed a lot of my momentum. Everytime I tried to pick up some momentum, I would get tighter and tighter. If we would have had one more lap, we probably would not have finished, so we were glad to finish. “
Chad Kemenah picked up his best finish of the season, as he charged from the 11th starting spot to come home third. He gained two spots on the opening lap of the race, and found himself in the Top-Five on the 26th circuit. He began the night with the sixth fastest lap in time trials, and followed that up with a solid finish in the second heat to earn a spot in the A-Feature.
“It feels so good to race competitively, instead of just going out and taking up space, ” said Kemenah, driver of the Maxim Chassis/Hampshire Racing Engine machine. “We haven t been off to a good start this year at all. We built this new team so fast, and have spent the last few weeks getting organized. I m just really really happy. “
In just his fifth race driving his own car, Kemenah picked up his first Top-Five of the season. While he made the passes on the track, he was quick to credit his team and those people that have stuck with him through a very trying early portion of the season. With the next three events in his home state of Ohio, the native of Findlay is confident the team has things going in the right direction.
“With the season we have been having, to go out and run in the Top-10, we would have been tickled to death, ” said the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year. “I have to really thank my father-in-law and wife. We have been through quite a bit. I have to thank Pete Grove as well. Even though we separated, he let me use his truck and trailer to make sure we got to these races. Most of all, I have to thank Chuck Merrill from Maxim Chassis. If it wasn t for Chuck and Maxim, we probably wouldn t be here period. I have so many people from around home to thank. “
Jason Martin picked up a season best finish of fourth on Friday night. After turning the seventh fastest lap in time trials, he finished second in the third heat to earn a spot in the dash. He came home a very solid fourth in the dash to earn that same starting spot in the A-Feature. He powered his way into the third spot on the opening lap, and ran there for the six laps. He then fell back to sixth and charged around Daryn Pittman and Kemenah. Martin and Kemenah staged a very entertaining battle over the last five laps of the race for the third spot.
“I m really happy with my guys, they did a great job, ” said Martin, driver of the NOS Energy Drink Maxim. “It s really funny, that we did nothing different tonight than we have been doing all year. The track really fit our style. “
Jason Solwold rounded out the Top-Five. The native of Mt. Vernon, Washington lined up 10th and gained two spots in the opening three laps of the event. He moved into the Top-Five on the 27th lap en route to his first Top-Five finish of the season.
Donny Schatz aboard the Parker Store J&J came home in the sixth spot. The reigning series champion started in the 18th spot and powered his way to his 11th Top-10 finish of the season. Terry McCarl raced his way into the A-Feature by winning the B-Main in the Big Game Tree Stands Eagle. He lined up 22nd for the A-Feature and charged around 15 cars during his march to a very solid seventh-place finish. Jason Meyers came from 23rd to eighth in the Primerica Financial Maxim. Daryn Pittman was ninth in the Titan Garages Maxim, with Jason Sides rounding out the Top-10 in the Wetherington Tractor Services Maxim.
The World of Outlaws racers will get a night off on Saturday after action slated for I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., was postponed due to below freezing tempertures that would be dangerous for fans, drivers, and the facility. The series will return to action at Eldora Speedway on April 13-14.
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