Schatz and Kinser Grab WoO Wins

(Paul Arch Photo)

Going to try to keep this short and sweet since its back to school right now and I'm a few days behind in updating this joint.

Donny Schatz grabbed the opening night of the 2010 WoO season after dueling early on with Tim Shaffer.  The win was worth $10,000 and was his 101st WoO win and the first since August of 2009 when he won in his home state of North Dakota to hit triple digits. 37 cars signed in for the opening night, while full results can be found on the WoO site here.

Then Steve Kinser went out and won the second night of the WoO half at Volusia after a battle with his former SKR driver Tim Kaeding.  Kinser won for the first time aboard the TSR Bass Pro Shops #11 and was his 553rd career WoO A Main win (WOW).  It was a great battle with TK for awhile before a caution in lapped traffic stopped it.  This win was only worth $8,000, but I'm glad to see Steve back in victory lane this early in the season.  Sure hope he continues it up throughout the entire season as well!  Full results can be found here for the 2nd night.  The top 20 in the WoO points can all be found to the right of my blog below the poll.

Saturday A-main (30 laps) - Starting Position [#]

1) 15-Donny Schatz[3] [$10,000]
2) 9-Joey Saldana[7] [$5,500]
3) 11-Steve Kinser[4] [$3,200]
4) 14-Jason Meyers[2] [$2,800]
5) 83-Tim Shaffer[1] [$2,500]
6) 11K-Kraig Kinser[9] [$2,300]
7) 5W-Lucas Wolfe[22] [$2,200]
8) 30C-Lance Dewease[18] [$2,100]
9) 7S-Jason Sides[6] [$2,050]
10) 7M-Mark Smith[5] [$2,000]
11) R19-Jac Haudenschild[14] [$1,500]
12) 6-Danny Lasoski[12] [$1,200]
13) 51-Fred Rahmer[8] [$1,100]
14) 91-Brad Sweet[21] [$1,050]
15) 83JR-Tim Kaeding[16] [$1,000]
16) 7-Craig Dollansky[15] [$900]
17) 3C-Cale Conley[11] [$800]
18) 39-Doug Esh[24] [$800]
19) 2-Dale Blaney[20] [$800]
20) 22-Brian Ellenberger[23] [$800]
21) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[10] [$800]
22) 24-Terry McCarl[13] [$800]
23) 22H-Greg Hodnett[17] [$800]
24) 1-Stevie Smith[19] [$800]

Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1, 12-30; Tim Shaffer 2-11
KSE Hard Charger Award: Lucas Wolfe
Penske Power Position Award: Mark Smith



Sunday A-main (30 laps) - Starting Position [#]

1) 11-Steve Kinser[2] [$8,000]
2) 9-Joey Saldana[8] [$4,500]
3) 6-Danny Lasoski[14] [$3,000]
4) 15-Donny Schatz[6] [$2,700]
5) 83-Tim Kaeding[1] [$2,400]
6) 14-Jason Meyers[13] [$2,200]
7) 7-Craig Dollansky[3] [$2,100]
8) 24-Terry McCarl[15] [$2,000]
9) 7S-Jason Sides[9] [$1,800]
10) 13-Paul McMahan[4] [$1,600]
11) 91-Brad Sweet[19] [$1,400]
12) 30C-Lance Dewease[23] [$1,100]
13) 11K-Kraig Kinser[22] [$1,000]
14) R19-Jac Haudenschild[21] [$950]
15) 83X-Tim Shaffer[17] [$900]
16) 22H-Greg Hodnett[11] [$800]
17) 7M-Mark Smith[7] [$700]
18) 1-Stevie Smith[18] [$700]
19) 5W-Lucas Wolfe[20] [$700]
20) 3C-Cale Conley[12] [$700]
21) 63-Chad Kemenah[16] [$700]
22) 22-Brian Ellenberger[25] [$0]
23) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[5] [$700]
24) 1J-Bronson Maeshen[10] [$700]
25) 39-Doug Esh[24] [$700]

Lap Leaders: Tim Kaeding 1-11, 16-17; Steve Kinser 12-15, 18-30
KSE Hard Charger Award: Danny Lasoski
Penske Power Position Award: Mark Smith
Note- Brian Ellenberger used a World of Outlaws Provisional to start the A-Feature.

2010 WoO Predictions

Didn't quite get to my predictions for the upcoming year yesterday as it was a busy day with school and trying to get home for some extracurricular activities.  Anyways, my predictions aren't tainted by a night of WoO action as the first night was a wash.  I'm going to make my predictions based on the idea that Cody Darrah was going to compete the whole year, but today's news of an automobile accident on the way to Daytona for Bud Pole Qualifying has shelved him for awhile with a possible broken leg.  Brad Sweet is in the 91 tonight and probably until Cody is fully healed I bet.  So Darrah's name in my predictions will be the predictions for the points of the 91 car, if you understand that.  Keep the Darrah's in your prayers.

I'm not one of those guys that doesn't like Donny Schatz as I think there are other people on tour who are bigger pricks and don't drive with respect the way that Schatz does.  I wouldn't consider myself as a 'fan' of his, but I definitely respect what the man has done over the last 4 years on tour and at Knoxville.  Would it be nice to see someone else win the title and the Nationals?  You bet, and I think this is the year it gets done...

.. So for my 2010 prediction I am taking the Budweiser #9 Maxim driven by Joey Saldana in the Kasey Kahne Racing stable.  What I've seen out of him the last two racing nights at Volusia has changed my initial thought of Schatz getting a 5-peat.  I think this year will come down to the final night of the year again in Charlotte with Saldana picking up the championship.  So nonetheless, here are my predictions for the 2010 season and I am also basing the thought that Tim Kaeding will do the whole tour.

2010 WoO Predictions (Wins)
1. Joey Saldana (18)
2. Donny Schatz (12)
3. Steve Kinser (6)
4. Jason Meyers (8)
5. Craig Dollansky (7)
6. Danny Lasoski (5)
7. Jason Sides (1)
8. Tim Kaeding (3)
9. Kraig Kinser (1)
10. Jac Haudenschild (2)
11. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (1)
12. Chad Kemenah (0)
13. Lucas Wolfe (1)
14. Cody Darrah - #91 car (1)
15. Brian Ellenberger (0)
16. Ben Gregg (0)
17. Toni Lutar (0)
18. Terry McCarl (3)
19. Daryn Pittman (0)
20. Brad Sweet - #49 car if it gets filled (0)

Saldana Wins ASCoC Finale at Volusia

                       (Hoseheads Photo)

Joey Saldana grabbed the lead, from his 5th position starting spot, on the second go-around from Greg Hodnett and wouldn't look back after that as he went on to win the All Stars finale at Volusia Speedway Park on Thursday night.  It was a long 30 lapper as there were numerous cautions, while a few of them were for tire failures from the new tread of Goodyear. 

The win was Saldana's 65th career win with the All Stars and was his 8th career triumph at Volusia.  He also did it with his car owner, Kasey Kahne, in the house as he took the short drive ove from Daytona following practice today.  Saldana started 6th in the 2nd heat after setting the 2nd quick time of the night and went on to dominate his heat in an impressive performance.

The track widened out compared to the night before as Tim Kaeding set quick time of the night in the low 14 second bracket.  The heats were awesome to watch as the track had a top and a bottom to work with in the heats.  The bottom would fade away come feature time as the primary way around was up on the cushion and the way to pass was via slidejob.  Also, I will be posting my WoO predictions later on tonight or in the morning tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping in.

O’Reilly Auto Parts A Main – 30 Laps

1. 9 Joey Saldana (5)
2. 7 Craig Dollansky (1)
3. 11 Steve Kinser (9)
4. 5w Lucas Wolfe (10)
5. 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3)
6. 1 Stevie Smith (7)
7. 6 Danny Lasoski (8)
8. 14 Jason Myers (11)
9. 83jr Tim Kaeding (4)
10. 2 Dale Blaney (22)
11. 13 Paul McMahan (13)
12. 49 Brad Sweet (14)
13. w20 Greg Wilson (18)
14. 11k Kraig Kinser (12)
15. 3c Cale Conley (16)
16. 24 Terry McCarl (19)
17. 22e Brian Ellenberger (15)
18. r19 Jac Haudenschild (20)
19. 30c Lance Dewease (23)
20. 7m Mark Smith (21)
21. 39 Doug Esh (24)
22. 22 Greg Hodnett (2)
23. 15 Donny Schatz (6)
24. 97 Dean Jacobs (17)

Dollansky Grabs Volusia ASCoC Opener

                      (Hoseheads Photo)

Craig Dollansky set quick time to start the night and never looked back as he led from his pole position to grab the opener of Night #1 of the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. The win paid $5,000 and was under the sanction of the All Stars and this was his 10th career All Star win and his 3rd career win at Volusia.

The track stayed heavy all night as it was best to go out late in qualifying. Jason Sides was running 2nd in lapped traffic and had a run going on the Big Game Treestands #7 but couldn't get it done and would later have something break that would make him drop out. I didn't get to catch the race due to work, but it sound like Tim Kaeding took one helluva a ride with a few laps to go in his Roth Motorsports #83 and was able to escape from the totalled car without injury, thankfully.

41 Cars signed in while Kraig Kinser didnt' get a lap in for time trials as they had to change an engine after hot laps.  Some cars scratched from the B due to a bad starting position and/or the heavy, lightning fast track.  Full Results can be found on the All Star website.

O’Reilly Auto Parts A Main – 30 Laps

1. 7 Craig Dollansky (1)
2. 9 Joey Saldana (8)
3. 15 Donny Schatz (3)
4. 11 Steve Kinser (6)
5. 1 Stevie Smith (5)
6. r19 Lucas Wolfe (4)
7. 17 Daryn Pittman (11)
8. 14 Jason Myers (9)
9. 30c Lance Dewease (13)
10. 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. (17)
11. 24 Terry McCarl (20)
12. 3c Cale Conley (7)
13. 51 Freddie Rahmer (22)
14. 6 Danny Lasoski (12)
15. 83 Tim Shaffer (10)
16. 49 Brad Sweet (14)
17. 6f Bob Felmlee (15)
18. 2b Ben Gregg (24)
19. 83jr Tim Kaeding (23)
20. 7s Jason Sides (2)
21. 91 Cody Darrah (19)
22. 0s Glen Styres (18)
23. 39 Dough Esh (21)
24. 0 Brandon Wimmer (16)