The blazing fast high banks of Lebanon Valley Speedway await the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Sunday, July 20, as the series makes their annual visit to the half-mile in upstate New York. The race will continue a busy month of July for the series, which sees them compete 16 times in a 27-day period, including the second East Coast swing of the season which encompasses six events.
The event on July 20 will mark the series 28th visit to the track. There have been 11 different drivers that have visited the winner’s circle at Lebanon Valley Speedway, dating back to 1981, with Steve Kinser leading that list with nine triumphs. Other current Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series drivers that have won at the half-mile include: Jason Meyers who was victorious last season, two-time defending series champion Donny Schatz who won in 2001 and 2006, along with Joey Saldana who earned a win in 2003.
Kinser has made 25 starts in his career at Lebanon Valley and has 21 Top-Five finishes in those events. He has one win in the state of New York this season, at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, the largest track on the World of Outlaws schedule at 5/8-mile. The native of Bloomington, Indiana is currently fifth in championship points and recently won his 546th career event when he took the $40,000 Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway to open the second East Coast swing of the season.
Meyers held off Kinser for the win at Lebanon Valley last season. The California native has won six times in 2008 and is currently second in championship points as he chases his first series title. He has made five career starts at the high-banked half-mile and has three Top-10 finishes in those events. Through action on July 15, Meyers has racked up 26 Top-10 finishes.
Schatz has had a lot of success in his career at the track, having won twice, and also earning Top-10 finishes in eight of the 11 events he has competed in at the track. The North Dakota native leads the series with 10 A-Feature wins this season and is just one win shy of breaking into the Top-Five on the series all-time win list. As he chases his third consecutive title, Schatz is the only driver that has finished in the Top-10 in each and every event this season through July 15.
Craig Dollansky, who has won six times this season with the World of Outlaws, has three career Top-10 finishes at Lebanon Valley Speedway in a limited number of starts. The native of Elk River, Minnesota is currently third in the championship standings on the strength of 28 Top-10 finishes. He has won twice this season on half-mile tracks.
Joey Saldana was victorious at Lebanon Valley in 2003. He has seven consecutive Top-10 finishes at the track, including four Top-Five performances. He recently won the Knight Before the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway to pick up his second win of the 2008 campaign and first on a half-mile. Driving for NASCAR star Kasey Kahne, Saldana has 26 Top-10 finishes this season.
Jac Haudenschild made his first start at Lebanon Valley Speedway in 1983 and over the years has racked up 11 Top-10 finishes at the track. He was 10th last season at the half-mile and has been close to winning a couple of times this season on tracks that size, as he continues his first season behind the wheel for the Carnahan Motorsports team.
Kerry Madsen, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, made his first visit to Lebanon Valley last season and finished just outside of the Top-10. The native of St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia, has 20 Top-10 finishes this season and is seventh in points as he closes in on his first A-Feature win of the season.
Chad Kemenah, the 2006 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, finished fifth at the half-mile in 2006 and has made three career starts at the track. In his first full season driving for the Hard 8 Racing team, he has 18 Top-10 finishes.
Shane Stewart, the World of Outlaws top rookie in 2005, has one start in his career at Lebanon Valley, with that coming in his rookie season. He has one win this season on at half-mile, at the famed Knoxville Raceway in Iowa. The native of Bixby, Oklahoma has 16 Top-10 finishes through July 15 and is solidly in the Top-10 in the championship standings.
Terry McCarl finished sixth at Lebanon Valley in 2006, and has made four career starts at the track. The six-time Knoxville Raceway and Huset’s Speedway track champion has 12 Top-10 finishes this season.
Daryn Pittman recently won the 25th Annual Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway to pick up his first win of the 2008 campaign. He has five career Top-Five finishes at Lebanon Valley Speedway, including a fourth-place performance last season. He earned a career-best runner-up finish at the track in 2001.
Sam Hafertepe Jr. made his first start at the track last season during his rookie season with the World of Outlaws. The native of Sunnyvale, Texas has 11 Top-10 finishes this season as he closes in on his first career series win.
Kraig Kinser will make his first start at Lebanon Valley since 2005 on Sunday, July 20. The third generation driver has made two starts at the half-mile during his career. He heads into action this weekend with six Top-10 finishes on the season.
Jason Sides, the series top rookie in 2003, has made three starts in his career at Lebanon Valley. The native of Bartlett, Tennessee has five Top-10 finishes this season.
Tony Bruce Jr. and Chad Hillier both made their first starts at the high-banked half-mile last season during their rookie season with the series.
Paul McMahan has finished third twice in his career at Lebanon Valley Speedway. He has eight Top-10 finishes this season, including six since joining the Parson Motorsports team a few weeks ago.
Lucas Wolfe, the leading contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award this season, who finished second at Lebanon Valley in 2006 and third last season, will miss the event as he continues to recover from a back injury sustained last month.
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