World Of Outlaws Houston Race Preview
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series heads into the heart of Texas with two shows in as many nights. Check out this weekend's preview for Houston Raceway Park located in Baytown, Texas.
World Of Outlaws Swing Into
Each and every World of Outlaws driver’s versatility will be tested this weekend, as the series competes on the blazing fast high-banked half-mile at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas on Friday night, followed by the series return to the always racy ¼-mile bullring at Houston Raceway Park on Saturday, April 11 for the Texas Shootout which will award the winner $10,000.
Donny Schatz, the three-time and defending series champion, has won each of the last two races for the World of Outlaws at Houston Raceway Park, picking up a victory over Daryn Pittman in 2007 and one over 20-time series champion Steve Kinser in 2005. Schatz heads to
Kinser leads all World of Outlaws drivers with six wins in his career at
Kinser, 2001 World of Outlaws champion Danny Lasoski and Craig Dollansky are the only three drivers that have competed in all 13 of the previous series events at the track including preliminary features.
Looking to make it three in a row: Donny Schatz has won each of the last two World of Outlaws events at
A strong track record: Steve Kinser has won six times in his career at Houston Raceway. In 13 career starts at the now ¼-mile and the former four-tenths mile, he has finished in the Top-10 in each and every one. He leads the World of Outlaws with eight Top-10 finishes in nine starts this season as he closes in on his first win of the campaign, as he seeks his record 21st title.
Nearing the top: Jason Meyers is currently third in the World of Outlaws standings, just 19 markers out of the lead as he chases his first series title. He has seven Top-10 finishes in nine starts this season, including a win on a ¼-mile track at Silver Dollar Speedway in his home state of
A new track record: Joey Saldana set a new track record in time trials in the World of Outlaws last visit to
First time in
Closing in on a win: Jason Sides, who is currently seventh in the World of Outlaws championship standings, finished second in his debut at
Fast on the high banks: Craig Dollansky, who is the midst of his first season driving for Kasey Kahne Racing, has competed in all 13 previous World of Outlaws events at Houston Raceway Park, scoring 11 Top-10 finishes, with four of those being Top-Fives. He has two consecutive third place finishes at the track.
“It’s definitely a different mindset when you go into the short tracks versus the big tracks,” noted Dollansky. “We’ll go in there prepared a little bit differently with the race car. The way you race a short track is definitely different than the way you race a bigger track. I always enjoy going to the short tracks.”
Improving each time: Kraig Kinser has improved upon his previous finish in each of his last three starts at
“I don’t know how much momentum you can carry after an off week, but hopefully we have everything rolling with the busy part of the season starting,” said Kinser.
Perfect attendance: Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion, has competed in all 13 of the previous series events at
Always a contender: Jac Haudenschild finished sixth in his last start at
Representing the
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A couple of first timers: Lucas Wolfe and Brian Ellenberger will both be making their first trip to
By the Numbers:
0.25-Miles around Houston Raceway Park
0.4- Miles around Houston Raceway Park before the track was reconfigured prior to the World of Outlaws last visit to the facility in 2007
1- World of Outlaws driver that hails from the state of Texas, Sam Hafertepe Jr.
2- Races in Texas for the World of Outlaws this season
3- Drivers that have competed in all 13 World of Outlaws races at Houston Raceway Park, Steve Kinser, Danny Lasoski and Craig Dollansky
5- A-Feature wins for Steve Kinser in his career at the track
6- Total wins for Steve Kinser at the track
9- A-Feature events contested by the World of Outlaws at Houston Raceway Park dating back to 2000; Events contested this season through March 28
11- Points that separate Donny Schatz and Steve Kinser at the top of the series standings entering this weekend
11.996- Track record established by Joey Saldana in time trials on March 16, 2007
12- Events on ¼-mile tracks for the World of Outlaws this season
13- Top-10 finishes for Steve Kinser at HRP in the same number of starts to lead all drivers
27- World of Outlaws championships that will be accounted for by drivers in action on Saturday, April 11
35- Laps led by Donny Schatz en route to winning at Houston Raceway Park in 2007
44- Points that separate the Top-Five in the World of Outlaws standings
65- Laps led in A-Feature events by Donny Schatz through March 28 to lead the series
75.025- Track record in miles per hour established in 2007 by Joey Saldana
215- Miles from Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas where the World of Outlaws race on April 10 to Houston Raceway Park in Baytown
10,000- Dollars the winner will receive on Saturday, April 11
51,690- Dollars in the total purse on April 11