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Saldana Sizzles at Volusia Speedway Park
By Kelly Brown Public Relations Director
BARBERVILLE, FL (February 4) - Tonight Saldana won his first race of the
season in a convincing fashion after running second on the previous night at
Volusia.
Starting on the front row of tonights feature event was Craig Dollansky and
Greg Hodnett. When the green banner waved over the A-main, Hodnett quickly
took the lead. Drag racing down the back stretch on the first lap Saldana
was able to move up to second, after beginning his night in the fifth
position, while Dollansky settled into third. It only took until the second
revolution of the track for Saldana to take the lead in Turn 4. Hodnett
would fight back in the low line, while Saldana stayed high. For about three
laps the two traded the lead in about every corner, but Saldana was able to
establish himself in the lead.
While the top two were battling, Dollansky was being pursued by Donny Schatz
as the two fought for third. Dollansky would get the edge, and Schatz would
fall into the clutches of Steve Kinser. Kinser would get around Schatz for
fourth momentarily. The two then ran wheel-to-wheel for a lap, but Schatz
got the edge retaking the fourth position. Just as Saldana and Hodnett were
running side-by-side in traffic, the first caution flag of the night came
out on Lap 8. It was for Doug Esh who has slowed in Turn 1 with a flat tire.
On the restart, the track did not stay green for long. One lap was recorded
before Hodnett who was running second at the time slowed with a flat left
rear tire. When racing resumed, it would be Saldana, Dollansky, Kinser,
Lasoski and Schatz lining up in the top-five. The Green Flag would fly
again, but almost instantly the track went yellow as Schatz slowed with a
flat right rear and a missing right front tire.
When the Green Flag flew, Saldana would favor the high side and stretch out
his lead using his chosen high line. At the halfway point of tonights race
the leader began to encounter traffic again. Dollansky began to close on the
number 9 Budweiser car, but on Lap 17 the Yellow Flag would fly again as Esh
came to a stop on the course. At this point there had been so many laps run
under caution, the officials of the OReilly All Star Circuit of Champions
decided to unveil the Red Flag for a fuel stop.
On the restart both Lucas Wolfe and Sam Hafertepe Jr. were on the move as
both got past Lasoski to pick up the fourth and fifth positions on the
track. At the front Saldana was stretching his lead out again, but it was
erased with another Yellow Flag with eight laps to go. Lance Dewease slowed
on the track with a flat tire and was unable to make it to the pit area.
The next time the Green Flag was unveiled, Kinser would reel in Dollansky
for second, but their battle had to be put on hold when the final caution of
the night came out on Lap 26 when Jac Haudenschild had a flat tire. When the
field restarted Saldana held on tight to the lead leaving Dollansky and
Kinser to continue their skirmish. As Kinser ran low and Dollansky ran high,
Wolfe caught the two and joined the battle.
With the Checkered Flag in the air, Saldana picked up his first win of the
2010 season and his seventh win overall at Volusia. Behind him it would be
Dollansky holding on to second, while Kinser would cross the line in third,
with Wolf and Hafertepe rounding out the top-five.
One of the hardest chargers of tonight was Tim Kaeding who started the race
on the tail of the field after having a fuel leak prior to the Green Flag.
He was able to climb all the way to ninth before the end of the race.
Carrying the banner for the All Stars was Dale Blaney who turned in another
remarkable race. After starting twenty-second he was able to pick up twelve
spots to finish tenth.
Next up for the All Star Circuit of Champions is East Bay Raceway Park. On
Thursday, February 11th the tickets will run $20, with pit passes running
$30. Then on Friday night admission will be $25 and pit passes will be $32.
On the final night of race action tickets can be purchased for $30 and the
pit passes will be $35. The track is offering a three-day general admission
race package, which will run $70.
Official Hotel Information
Open to both fans and racers the Days Inn Tampa North will be offering a
racer special that is $45.00 a night and a free hot breakfast will be
included.
Days Inn Tampa North
701 East Fletcher Ave
I-275 & Fletcher Ave Exit 52
Tampa, FL 33612
For Reservations Call (813) 977-1550 or (866) 895-6584 or
Email Daysinn05280@aol.com
*Racer Fan Special $45.00 (1-2 people)*
Top Three Quotes
Winner Joey Saldana We had a really good car all night. We got the bottom
working for us in the heat race, so once we got into the feature that is how
we got the lead. It was like a light switch went on. That is also how
Hodnett got a run on me, but I was probably being too cautious with the
lapped cars. It was really easy to get your car in trouble the way the
cushion was. My car was good, but I did not want to do anything stupid in
our second race of the season. I usually go to Australia to race, but this
year I stayed home with my family and got to spend Christmas with my son. It
was pretty cool. I was worried once we got down here we would be behind, but
so far my guys have done a flawless job and it feels like I have been racing
all winter.
Second Place Craig Dollansky We did not get a good start there. These
Goodyear Tires are pretty good tires, and we decided to go for a harder one
tonight. It seemed it took awhile to get going, but we had a really good
race car especially with Greg and Joey in lapped traffic about ten laps in.
I got into a lapped car and bent the left side of the front wing and the
left sideboard fell off. At that point I knew it would be difficult to deal
with, but the car was not real bad. We were able to hang with Joey, so
congratulations to them. We just fell one spot short unfortunately.
Third Place Steve Kinser The only chance I had was to get into lapped
traffic. We could run the bottom decent enough, but not decent enough to
keep up. I was a little tight at the top. Joey and Craig seemed to get
through the rough stuff at the top. In the traffic I felt I could move
around a little bit better. We had a good run we started ninth and finished
third which speaks to the caliber of car we have here.
Kistler Engines Qualifying
Car-Driver- Time
1. 83jr Tim Kaeding 14.187
2. 9 Joey Saldana 14.200
3. 7 Craig Dollansky 14.205
4. 22 Greg Hodnett 14.313
5. 15 Donny Schatz 14.331
6. 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. 14.336
7. 1 Stevie Smith 14.353
8. 6 Danny Lasoski 14.356
9. 14 Jason Myers 14.363
10. 11k Kraig Kinser 14.376
11. 11 Steve Kinser 14.381
12. 5w Lucas Wolfe 14.396
13. 13 Paul McMahan 14.398
14. 49 Brad Sweet 14.429
15. 22e Brian Ellenberger 14.481
16. 1j Bronson Maeschen 14.505
17. 17 Daryn Pittman 14.511
18. 3c Cale Conley 14.519
19. 97 Dean Jacobs 14.524
20. w20 Greg Wilson 14.569
21. 24 Terry McCarl 14.576
22. r19 Jac Haudenschild 14.598
23. 7m Mark Smith 14.609
24. 91 Cody Darrah 14.634
25. 2 Dale Blaney 14.674
26. 30c Lance Dewease 14.706
27. 83 Tim Shaffer 14.741
28. 39 Doug Esh 14.770
29. 63 Chad Kemenah 14.793
30. 51 Freddie Rahmer 14.854
31. 11e Mike Erdley 14.991
32. 6f Bob Felmlee 15.048
33. 6r Bill Rose 15.075
34. 89g David Gravel 15.118
35. 12 Jared Ridge 15.150
36. 2b Ben Gregg 15.181
37. 0 Brandon Wimmer 15.302
38. 4 Cap Henry 15.402
39. 0s Glenn Styres 15.552
40. 6w Brad Wickham 16.803
41. 4b Tom Bush 17.029
Heat Finishes (Started)
MSD Ignition Heat 1 8 Laps
1. 24 Terry McCarl (1)
2. 15 Donny Schatz (5)
3. 13 Paul McMahan (3)
4. 2 Dale Blaney (7)
5. 83jr Tim Kaeding (6)
6. 14 Jason Myers (4)
7. 63 Chad Kemenah (8)
8. 17 Daryn Pittman (2)
9. 0 Brandon Wimmer (10)
10. 6r Bill Rose
- 4b Tom Bush (DNS)
Kears Speed Shop Heat 2 8 Laps
1. 9 Joey Saldana (6)
2. 3c Cale Conley (2)
3. r19 Jac Haudenschild (1)
4. 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. (5)
5. 49 Brad Sweet (3)
6. 30c Lance Dewease (7)
7. 11k Kraig Kinser (4)
8. 51 Freddie Rahmer (8)
9. 89g David Gravel (9)
10. 04 Cap Henry (10)
All Pro Heads Heat 3 8 Laps
1. 7m Mark Smith (1)
2. 1 Stevie Smith (5)
3. 11 Steve Kinser (4)
4. 7 Craig Dollansky (6)
5. 97 Dean Jacobs (2)
6. 22e Brian Ellenberger (3)
7. 83 Tim Shaffer (7)
8. 11e Mike Erdley (8)
9. 12 Jared Ridge (9)
10. 0s Glenn Styres (10)
Outerwears Performance Products Heat 4 8 Laps
1. 5w Lucas Wolfe (4)
2. 22 Greg Hodnett (6)
3. w20 Greg Wilson (2)
4. 6 Danny Lasoski (5)
5. 39 Doug Esh (7)
6. 6f Bob Felmlee (8)
7. 91 Cody Darrah (1)
8. 1j Bronson Maeschen (3)
9. 2b Ben Gregg (9)
10. 6w Brad Wickham (10)
Rubbin Repair Dash
1. 49 Brad Sweet
2. 13 Paul McMahan
3. 1 Stevie Smith
4. 97 Dean Jacobs
5. w20 Greg Wilson
6. 3c Cale Conley
University of Northwestern Ohio B Main 12 Laps
1. 14 Jason Myers (1)
2. 22e Brian Ellenberger (3)
3. 30c Lance Dewease (7)
4. 11k Kraig Kinser (2)
5. 17 Daryn Pittman (5)
6. 83 Tim Shaffer (8)
7. 51 Freddie Rahmer (10)
8. 89g David Gravel (14)
9. 1j Bronson Maeschen (4)
10. 91 Cody Darrah (6)
11. 6r Bill Rose (13)
12. 6f Bob Felmlee (12)
13. 0s Glenn Styres (17)
14. 6w Brad Wickham (19)
15. 4b Tom Bush (20)
16. 0 Brandon Wimmer (15)
17. 11e Mike Erdley (11)
18. 04 Cap Henry (18)
19. 63 Chad Kemenah (9)
20. 12 Jared Ridge (21)
21. 2b Ben Gregg (16)
OReilly 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)
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