World of Outlaws Notebook
Notes: I-55 next venue on tight WoO title chase
By Kevin Kovac
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
UMP DIRTcar Summernationals action at I-55 earlier this season. (stlracingphotos.com)
Josh Richards and Darrell Lanigan know how much they have riding on the 28th annual Pepsi Nationals on Saturday at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.
With Richards leading the World of Outlaws Late Model Series standings by just two points over Lanigan entering the 55-lap, $10,000-to-win event at the action-packed track outside St. Louis, neither driver can afford the slightest misstep. A mere three races — all at the Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. — will remain on the national tour’s 2010 schedule after Saturday’s program, ramping up the pressure to perform at I-55 for the friendly rivals chasing a $100,000 championship pot of gold.
The last two WoO champions – Richards won his first title last year and Lanigan captured the crown in 2008 – head into this weekend’s competition with plenty of momentum. They are not only tied for winningest-driver status on this year’s series (both have won seven times) but are also the tour’s most recent victors – Richards scored his first-ever 100-lap triumph in the Battle At Eastern Door on Sept. 1 at Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y., and Lanigan topped the Oil Region Labor Day Classic on Sept. 5 at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa.
Neither driver has won at I-55 Raceway, a high-banked, third-mile oval that is set to host the series for the fourth time in its history. Both have competed in the three previous events, and it’s Richards who has improved his performance with each start.
Richards, 22, of Shinnston, W.Va., finished 14th in I-55 Raceway’s 2005 WoO event during his rookie season as a full-time traveler. He improved to 13th in 2007 and placed third in 2008, when he was in contention to win late in the distance.
The 40-year-old Lanigan, meanwhile, was the runner-up to Billy Moyer in the inaugural WoO race at I-55 in 2005, falling less than one second short of victory. The resident of Union, Ky., finished 11th in the 2007 and 2008 events, but he’s confident that he can turn around his most recent fortunes at the track.
“Pevely is a place I like so I feel like we’ll be OK there,” said Lanigan, who has won six of the last 12 WoO events. “But really, the way we’re running right now, I feel good about going anywhere.”
Looking for a drought-buster
Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., has fond memories of I-55 Raceway thanks to his victory in the track’s 2007 tour event. That triumph harkens him back to his best season ever on the series, a campaign that saw him win four times and finish a career-high third in the points standings.
Alas, Smith, 45, has won just one WoO race since on June 17, 2008, at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway. He brings a frustrating 110-race winless streak into Saturday night’s program, but with the driver nicknamed Cat Daddy seemingly rejuvenated of late. He has three top-five finishes, including two runner-up outings, in his last four series starts, perhaps a return to I-55 is the tonic he needs to break back into victory lane.
Can Smith pull off his second career triumph in the Pepsi Nationals? He sure believes so.
“I go to every race thinking, This is the one,” said the confident Smith. “But really, I’m just happy to be running good again and getting some top-fives. I know if that we keep running in the top five, one of these nights we’re gonna get the breaks and get a win. Hopefully it will come on Saturday night.”
Chub's pre-race appearance
Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., who finished second in the 2008 Pepsi Nationals, hopes a return to I-55 will help him snap his own 48-race stretch without a win on the tour. He is trying to avoid his first winless series series.
The 48-year-old veteran, who also has finishes of 11th (2005) and fourth (2007) in WoO action at I-55, will give fans a sneak preview of the distinctive green-and-black Rocket No. 1* he’ll run on Saturday night during a pre-race appearance on behalf of LaCrosse Footwear outside the nearby Dunn’s Sporting Goods store in Pevely, Mo. He’ll be available for photos and autographs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT.
Frank’s appearance at Dunn’s Sporting Goods at 8733 Commercial Blvd. in Pevely will be accented by several activities sure to interest both diehard and casual race fans. The local country music station, J-98 The Boot, will do a live remote broadcast from the store; there will be free giveaways of tickets to Saturday night’s Pepsi Nationals as well as LaCrosse boots, T-shirts, hats and stickers; and the LaCrosse Extreme Tough Challenge fan competition will take place, giving customers a chance to test their strength and win prizes.
Thanks, Mother Nature
Ray Marler, who co-owns I-55 Raceway with NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader, couldn’t help smiling on Wednesday when he looked at the weather forecast for Saturday in Pevely.
After two years of rain-induced headaches, it appears that Marler and Schrader will at long last strike it rich with a postcard-perfect day for one of their track’s marquee events. Clear skies with high temperatures in the mid 80s and lows in the 60s are expected.
“This is our 15th season (at I-55),” said Marler. “We’ve had 13 decent seasons, but the last two we’ve gotten killed by the weather. We lost 14 races last year, and this year we’ve lost 10 — three to flood-outs (thanks to the nearby creek overflowing and making the road to the track impassable) and seven to rainouts.
“With the weather looking good for Saturday, it’s a big relief. I think it’s gonna bring out a lot of people to see the great racing we’ve been having this year.”
Odds and ends
Dirt Late Model legend Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., has tentatively announced plans to enter Saturday’s event, one week after capturing Eldora Speedway’s prestigious World 100 for an unprecedented sixth time in his Hall of Fame career. ... Other drivers expected include two-time Dirt Track World Champion Shannon Babb; reigning DIRTcar UMP Summer Nationals and national champion Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., who finished fourth in the 2008 Pepsi Nationals; former DIRTcar Summer Nationals and national titlist Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., who finished sixth in the 2008 event; and Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill. (third in the 2005 WoO event at I-55). ... Mike Larson of Chizmark Larson Insurance will attend Saturday’s Pepsi Nationals and help raise a disappointed driver’s feelings by presenting a Hard Luck award worth $100. Larson will be available in the pit area throughout the evening to discuss insurance options with interested race teams.
