World of Outlaws returns to fair

(Photo submitted) Defending race champion Donny Schatz and the World of Outlaws return to the Clay County Speedway tonight.

Spencer, IA -- After the largest crowd in the history of the Clay County Fair Speedway took in all of the action of the inaugural Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event at the track last season, the series will return to the 3/8-mile on Wednesday for a full night of racing.

The event will kick off a string of four races in five days, all on 3/8-mile tracks. The series has competed 16 times this season on tracks that size, with nine different drivers picking up win. Donny Schatz, the two-time defending series champion, leads this list with four wins on 3/8-miles this season, followed by Craig Dollansky, who has won three times. Other drivers who have been victorious on a 3/8-mile track include: Jason Meyers and Joey Saldana, who each have two wins on 3/8-miles; and Tony Bruce Jr., Jac Haudenschild, Kraig Kinser, Steve Kinser and Daryn Pittman who each have one victory at 3/8-mile facilities this season.

2007 Race Recap:

Donny Schatz won the inaugural Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event at the Clay County Fair Speedway.

Schatz took the lead on lap 12 from Tim Shaffer and went on to win by nearly four seconds, as he held a lead by a whole straightaway at one point. After a quick yellow flag on the third lap, the remainder of the 30-lap event went caution free, with Schatz working his way through heavy traffic for the majority of the last 15 laps.

The race began with Joey Saldana, the pole sitter, leading into the first turn, with Tim Shaffer charging by him on the high side exiting the second turn to take the lead. Shaffer would go on to lead the first 11 laps.

Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

(2007 A-Feature Results; Sept. 12, 2007, Clay County Fair Speedway)

1. Donny Schatz[6] [$10,000], 2. Joey Saldana[1] [$5,500], 3. Craig Dollansky[4] [$3,200], 4. Tim Shaffer[2] [$2,800], 5. Paul McMahan[7] [$2,500], 6. Randy Hannagan[12] [$2,300], 7. Terry McCarl[3] [$2,200], 8. Kerry Madsen[20] [$2,100], 9. Jason Solwold[8] [$2,050]. 10. Brooke Tatnell[10] [$2,000], 11. Jason Sides[13] [$1,500], 12. Danny Lasoski[17] [$1,200], 13. Wayne Johnson[11] [$1,100], 14. Jason Meyers[9] [$1,050], 15. Chad Kemenah[16] [$1,000], 16. Jeremy Campbell[15] [$900], 17. Sam Hafertepe Jr.[19] [$800], 18. Dusty Zomer[14] [$800], 19. Daryn Pittman[24] [$800], 20. Steve Kinser[5] [$800], 21. Jac Haudenschild[21] [$800], 22. Kaley Gharst[23] [$800], 23. Justin Henderson[22] [$800], 24.Chad Hillier[18] [$800].

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Points Leaders

1. Donny Schatz 7174, 2. Jason Meyers 7070, 3. Craig Dollansky 6923, 4. Joey Saldana 6788, 5. Steve Kinser 6769, 6. Jac Haudenschild 6585, 7. Kerry Madsen 6438, 8. Chad Kemenah 6424, 9. Terry McCarl 6276, 10. Daryn Pittman 6269.

What to look for at Clay County Fair Speedway

* Donny Schatz won the series inaugural event at Clay County Fair Speedway, taking the lead from Tim Shaffer on the 12th lap. The two-time defending series champion leads the series with 13 A-Feature wins this season. He has won twice in the state of Iowa this season, including his third consecutive Knoxville Nationals.

* Craig Dollansky, who is currently third in points will again help promote the race this season, along with his wife Julie, a native of Spencer.

* Terry McCarl, who hails from Altoona, Iowa, is the lone World of Outlaws driver from the Hawkeye State. In his career, he has won at 10 different tracks in his home state.

* Tony Bruce Jr. won his first career World of Outlaws A-Feature event in the series last visit to the state of Iowa in July at 34 Raceway. He also finished in the Top-Five earlier this season at the famed Knoxville Raceway.

* Jac Haudenschild heads to the Clay County Speedway fresh off a $50,000 victory in the Gold Cup Race of Champions. It was his 48th career A-Feature win with the series.

* In what is turning into one of the most competitive seasons in series history, 23 drivers have led laps in feature racing competition, with 13 of those drivers picking up wins. Also there has been 23 drivers win a Crane Cams Dash to earn pole positions, as well as eight track records established in time trials.