 PEVELY,
MO (August 7-8) -- Joey Saldana won $20,000 Saturday after winning the
inaugural Ironman 55 at I-55 Raceway. It was his 13th World of Outlaws victory
of the season. Saldana, who started fourth, took the lead on lap 19 from Craig
Dollansky who won the 30-lap preliminary race Friday. Saldana led the rest of
the way to claim the win in the marathon 55-lap race. It is the longest race on
World of Outlaws schedule. I-55 Raceway is co-owned by Kenny Schrader and Ray
Marler.
In qualifying, it paid off to be named Jason. Jason Meyers set fast time
circling the 3/8-mile dirt oval in 10.839 seconds, while Jason Sides was not
far off the mark with a time of 10.877 seconds.
In 10-lap heat race action there were four race winners including; Fred
Rahmer, Kraig Kinser, Joey Saldana and Chad Kemenah.
In the 8-lap Dash which set the starting grid for the night's feature race,
Lance Dewease took the win followed by Jason Meyers, Craig Dollansky, Joey
Saldana and Kraig Kinser.
In the 55-lap feature, detailed track preparation allowed the drivers to use
a lot softer tires than expected for such a long race.
When the green flag dropped, Craig Dollansky wasted no time charging into
the lead from his third place starting spot.
Dollansky, using a Hoosier SC15, maintained the lead until lap 19 when
fourth starting Joey Saldana took command of the race.
Saldana, also using an SC15, would go on to win the race followed by
Dollansky in second.
Meanwhile, Danny Lasoski and Donny Schatz were putting on their own show for
third and fourth place.
The pair were each riding on the softer SC12 tire with Lasoski starting 16th
and Schatz starting in 14th.
The duo put on a passing clinic on the softer tires to finish in third and
fourth, respectively.
Jason Sides finished in fifth place to round out the list of top five finishers.
Saldana took home $20,000 for the win with Dollansky pocketing $6,000 for
the runner-up finish.
Dollansky also collected $8,000 for Friday's win bringing his two-day
earnings total to $14,000.
Both Saldana and Dollansky's teams are owned by NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne.
Defending series champion and 11 race winner Donny Schatz continues to lead
in the driver standings with 6495 points.
Jason Meyers is in second with 6440 points followed by Joey Saldana, Steve
Kinser and Jason Sides.
Hoosier is proud to be the official tire of the World of Outlaws Series.
The World of Outlaws Series requires its competitors to use a Hoosier tire
on the right rear position of the car. And although drivers can use any other
tire brand on the other three corners, 37 of 38 drivers on hand elected to use
Hoosiers on all four positions.
For more information about the Ironman 55 and the World of Outlaws Series
visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
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