World of Outlaws Notebook
Notes: September races set up stretch run on WoO
By Kevin Kovac
World of Outlaws Late Model SeriesCall it the last blast of summer for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. The national tour heads toward the Labor Day holiday with a busy — and critical — swing of four events this week, competing on Tuesday at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa.; Wednesday at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway; and Saturday and Sunday nights at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa.
Each program will be topped by a 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win, including both halves of Tri-City’s Armstrong Cable Oil Region Labor Day Classic.
This stretch of racing will mark the final time that the WoO LMS visits the Northeast this season. Only two events in the Midwest (Sept. 19 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., and Sept. 20 at La Salle Speedway in Illinois) and three races at the Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. (Oct. 14 and the World Finals on Nov. 5-7) will remain on the schedule.
Big weekend at Tri-City
WoO competitors will once again headline Tri-City’s Oil Region Labor Day Classic, a doubleheader that has grown each year since its inception in 2006.
H&H Motorsports partners Rich Hetrick and Roy Hill, who purchased the fast half-mile oval in January, are continuing the holiday-weekend tradition started by former track owners Mike Graham and Roger Crick. Tri-City’s grounds will be swamped by motorhomes and campers for the event, which includes the popular Ray's Racing Specialties-Engles Trucking Services Ghetto South Party — a bash that will be rocked by a band — after the Saturday-night program.
The event, which features complete WoO programs Saturday and Sunday, has produced some memorable WoO results. There was final-lap drama in both 50-lappers run in 2006 (Chub Frank passed Billy Moyer to win the first night, then Shane Clanton captured the finale after leader Darrell Lanigan had a white-flag run-in with a lapped car), and in 2007 Thompson, Pa.’s Dan Stone pulled off the biggest upset in series history when he passed every Outlaw regular in the field en route to a wildly-popular victory that earned him two standing ovations.
H&H Motorsports has actually expanded the Classic weekend this season, adding a show on Friday that headlines the BRP big-block modified Tour. A 40-lap feature paying $3,000 to win is on the agenda.
One Outlaw regular will be very interested in Friday’s action at Tri-City: Rookie of the Year points leader Russ King of Bristolville, Ohio, a 20-year-old whose racing career started in the big-block modified division. King will be in Tri-City’s pit area to watch his father, former Tour champion Rex King Sr., and younger brother Rex King Jr. continue their pursuit of the 2009 series title — and if Russ can land a ride, he might even join his family members in the big-block modified field.
The points chase
Josh Richards and Steve Francis have distanced themselves from third-place Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., in the WoO standings heading into this crucial four-race stretch. Richards now leads the battle by 18 points over Francis. Lanigan, meanwhile, is 82 points behind Richards, leaving him with flickering hopes for a repeat title.
The top seven drivers in the current WoO LMS points standings have won 24 of the season’s 33 events through Aug. 29, led by seven victories for Richards. Francis (five), Fuller (five), Lanigan (two), Frank (two), Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (two) and Clanton (one) account for the other checkered flags claimed by WoO regulars.
WoO travelers who have entered all 33 events this season but are still looking for their first win include Clint Smith and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., as well as rookie contenders Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio, Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., Dustin Hapka of Grand Forks, N.D., and 14-year-old Tyler Reddick of Corning, Calif.
