World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series: Preview - Cottage Grove Speedway
Show your support.
Buzz this article up.
Aug 30, 2008
stevekinser.com
A busy stretch of four races in four days will wrap up for the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Tuesday, September 2 at Cottage Grove Speedway in Oregon as the 2008 edition of the Gold Rush Tour continues.
The visit to the high-banked ¼-mile which is one of just three tracks on the 2008 schedule where the drivers turn sub 10-second laps in time trials, will mark the series only visit of the season to the state of Oregon.
Steve Kinser, the 20-time World of Outlaws champion is the winningest driver with the series in the state of Oregon, with five triumphs, including three at Cottage Grove Speedway. He won for the first time at the high-banked ¼-mile in 1995. One of his most memorable moments came at the track in 2004, when he finished second to his son Kraig, who earned his first career World of Outlaws win in that event. In his career, Steve has 18 Top-10 finishes in 21 events in Oregon, with the majority of those coming at Cottage Grove Speedway.
Kraig Kinser led 12 laps en route to his first career World of Outlaws A-Feature win at Cottage Grove, taking the lead from Craig Dollansky and holding off his father down the stretch. The event on September 2 will be the first start at the track since 2005 for Kraig and just his second career event in Oregon. He is in the midst of his first season behind the wheel for Tony Stewart Racing.
Donny Schatz, the two-time defending series champion also earned his first win at Cottage Grove Speedway, with that coming in 1998, as he held off Jac Haudenschild, three-time series champion Sammy Swindell and Steve Kinser for the victory. In his career, he has 11 Top-10 finishes in the state of Oregon. The North Dakota native finished second last season at Cottage Grove. He battled back after he was going for the lead on the sixth lap, when he drifted up the track and went over the banking between the first and second turns. He kept the car going and rejoined the race in 14th. He regained a couple of spots before the caution flag flew on the eighth lap, where he lined up 11th for the restart. He remains the only driver that has finished in the Top-10 in each and every event this season.
Joey Saldana took the lead from Tim Shaffer on the 13th lap last season to earn his first career win at Cottage Grove Speedway and his first victory in the state of Oregon. The second generation driver has nine Top-10 finishes in his career in Oregon. He has won three times this season driving for Kasey Kahne Racing and is currently fourth in points. He has finished seventh or better in each of his last four starts at Cottage Grove Speedway.
Jason Meyers finished fourth at Cottage Grove Speedway last season and has five Top-10 finishes at the track in his career. He was victorious earlier this season on a ¼-mile in the Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Motorsports Park in Ohio. He is currently second in points as he chases his first series title and has won eight times and leads the series in Top-Five finishes.
Craig Dollansky finished fifth in his debut at Cottage Grove Speedway in 1997. In his career, he has three Top-Five finishes at the ¼-mile. He has won seven times this season and is currently third in points. The native of Elk River, Minnesota leads the series in laps led, and is one of just three drivers that has led more than 200 laps of A-Feature racing competition this season.
Jac Haudenschild has five Top-Five finishes in his career at Cottage Grove Speedway. The native of Wooster, Ohio finished second at the track in 1998 as he looks for his first career win in the state of Oregon. He recently won his first event of the season at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton.
Chad Kemenah, the 2006 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year made his debut at Cottage Grove Speedway last season. In his career, he has made two starts in the state of Oregon. He recently picked up a season-best second-place finish at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton and is a solid seventh in points, on the strength of 27 Top-10 finishes.
Kerry Madsen, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, finished 10th at Cottage Grove Speedway last season. He has made two career starts at the bullring. The native of St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia has 29 Top-10 finishes this season as he closes in on his first win of the campaign.
Daryn Pittman has three consecutive Top-Five finishes at Cottage Grove Speedway, as he chases his first career win at the track. The native of Owasso, Oklahoma has won four times this season and is solidly in the Top-10 in points.
Terry McCarl finished fourth in his debut at Cottage Grove Speedway in 2005. The six-time Knoxville Raceway and Huset’s Speedway track champion has 19 Top-10 finishes this season as chases his first win of the season.
Shane Stewart, the 2005 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year, won for the first time in his career last season at Cottage Grove Speedway during Northwest Speedweek. He has three career Top-Five finishes in the state of Oregon, with two of those being wins. He was victorious with the World of Outlaws earlier this season at the famed Knoxville Raceway in Iowa.
Sam Hafertepe Jr. who continues his sophomore season with the World of Outlaws made his debut at Cottage Grove Speedway last season. The native of Sunnyvale, Texas has picked up 13 Top-10 finishes this season.
Jason Sides has four career Top-10 finishes at Cottage Grove Speedway, with three of those being Top-Five performances. This season he has 12 Top-10 finishes as he chases his first win of the season.
Tony Bruce Jr. made his first career start at Cottage Grove Speedway last season. He won his first World of Outlaws event earlier this season at 34 Raceway in Iowa, in the series debut at the high-banked track.
Chad Hillier won in his debut at Cottage Grove Speedway in 1997. In his career at the bullring, he has 12 Top-10 finishes, with five of those being Top-Five performances. He began the Labor Day weekend with five Top-10 finishes this season.
Lucas Wolfe, who is in his first season on the road with the World of Outlaws, will make his debut in Oregon at Cottage Grove Speedway. The native of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania has visited a number of tracks for the first time this season from coast-to-coast.
Paul McMahan won at Cottage Grove Speedway in 1996. In his career at the high-banked ¼-mile, he has four Top-10 finishes including last season. He has nine Top-10 finishes this season as he chases his first win of the campaign.
