Stewart Walks Tall At Eldora
Photo by Jim Denhamer
Schuchart slides in for second in the final laps
ROSSBURG, Ohio – Sept. 23, 2016 – Shane Stewart successfully fended off the field Friday night, ultimately winning opening night of Four Crown Nationals Weekend at Eldora Speedway. Though the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series was only scheduled to compete in a one-day, 30-lap feature that paid $10,000, Stewart and company set the tone for the track’s 35th-running of the storied event.
The opening day of the two-day blockbuster began with the inaugural “BeFour The Crowns Showdown,” featuring the Outlaws and the region’s best Sprint car drivers. In a dramatic series of cautions, the 24 determined drivers tested the limits of their winged-sprints in the race’s opening laps.
On the “Big E’s” half-mile, two red flags and a yellow ultimately waved the feature into an “open red,” allowing teams to make certain adjustments to the car. The No. 2 Larson Marks Racing Cool racecar, which started fifth in the feature, shot out of a cannon on the final restart of the first lap. Stewart eventually solidified second place within the first three laps.
“I don’t know what to say,” Stewart said. “I was actually nervous in that race. I had one good restart, one bad restart and [finally] one good restart. On the open red I told my guys, ‘I don’t know if my car is going to be good enough or not.’ Usually you’re pretty good starting up-top, but the cushion was so high that if I started up there, [Pittman] would get a run on me coming out of [turn] one. It’s just all about hitting your marks after that.”
It did not take Stewart long to reel-in 2013 Series Champion Daryn Pittman, who led the lineup into the green flag courtesy of the Craftsman® Club Dash. Stewart, sweeping under Pittman, became the new race leader on the 11th lap. Thereon, Stewart made his time on the top of the cushion.
With 10 laps remaining, Stewart increased his advantage to 2.570 seconds, and he led by as many as 3.573 seconds. That was, until the race’s final red flag regrouped the field double-wide. Stewart held-off Pittman’s No. 9 Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb GF1 car once more, and Logan Schuchart got a jump on Defending Series Champion Donny Schatz for third.
“Yeah some restarts were good and some were bad,” Schuchart said. “I was surprised Shane took the bottom [on the final restart]. It was better for me to start on the outside. I feel like at Eldora last time we got to run down the hill and it really helps you. I just kind of got in my own way on the restart. It felt good behind Daryn running my line, seeing where he goes for a few laps before I felt like I could make a move. We weren’t good enough to beat Shane, but we’re happy to get a top three.”
Stewart extended his lead again to more than two seconds, finishing 2.359 seconds ahead of Schuchart. Schuchart made a last push on a fading Pittman with his No. 1S Bobby Allen Triple X car, eventually making the move in the final laps. Schuhart won his heat race earlier in the program.
“It just took forever to get going,” Pittman said. “I kind of figured how the track was and the way we were going, that we were almost going to go green-checked.We had nothing for the No. 2 car. Once he was in the lead, he checked out. We’ll just keep working hard and keep digging.”
The victory was Stewart’s second consecutive series win and his eighth of the season.
“To win two in a row, it’s just very special,” Stewart said. “It’s obviously pretty special to win here…any time you can win here. I just have to thank Tony Stewart and all the hardworking crew that takes care of this place. They always do a great job. I just have to thank everyone who’s involved with this team. Everyone puts in their little bits and pieces here, and I’m just blessed to be the driver.”
Eldora Speedway Notebook
RACE NOTES: In a stretch of four restarts with no completed laps, a three-way battle between Stewart, Pittman and Schatz ensued. But it was the strong restarts at the right times that catapulted Stewart into more than a three-second lead. Though late pushes from other series drivers chipped-away at his lead, Stewart ultimately won his eighth win of the season.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS: MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Brad Sweet; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Brad Sweet; Morton Buildings ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; Super Flow ($50 cash): Greg Wilson; Craftsman Club Fast Five ($100 cash): Daryn Pittman, Logan Schuchart, Shane Stewart, David Gravel Craftsman/Sears: Ian Madsen; KSE Hard Charger: Brad Sweet; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Shane Stewart JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Paul McMahan; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jacob Allen.
SEASON WINNERS: Donny Schatz – 22 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 4, Stockton Dirt Track on March 18, Stockton Dirt Track on March 19, Silver Dollar Speedway on April 2, Lincoln Speedway on May 19, Weedsport Speedway on May 22, Lincoln Park Speedway on June 8, Knoxville Raceway on June 11, River Cities Speedway on June 17, Rockford Speedway on June 29, Badlands Motor Speedway on July 3, Cedar Lake Speedway on July 9, Attica Raceway Park on July 12, Eldora Speedway on July 16, Ohsweken Speedway on July 26, Junction Motor Speedway on August 16, Angell Park Speedway on August 21, River Cities Speedway on August 26, Nodak Speedway on August 28, Willamette Speedway on September 7), Clay County Fair Speedway on September 16; David Gravel – 9 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 12, Tri-State Speedway on May 14, I-96 Speedway on June 6, Eldora Speedway on July 14, Lernerville Speedway on July 19, Wilmot Raceway on July 30, Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on Aug. 5, Skagit Speedway on Sept 2 and 3); Shane Stewart – 8 (Arizona Speedway on March 6, Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 23, Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 30, Granite City Speedway on June 15, Brown County Speedway on June 19, Silver Dollar Speedway on September 9; Hartford Speedway on September 22; Eldora Speedway on September 24); Daryn Pittman – 7 (Royal Purple Raceway on Feb. 27, Perris Auto Speedway on April 16, USA Raceway on April 18, New Egypt Speedway on May 24, Jackson Motorplex on June 24, Eldora Speedway on July 15, Williams Grove Speedway on July 22); Brad Sweet – 7 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Cotton Bowl Speedway on Feb. 26, Ocean Speedway on April 1, Bakersfield Speedway on April 15, Plymouth Speedway on May 13, Badlands Motor Speedway on July 2); Joey Saldana – 5 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 3, Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 22, Jacksonville Speedway on May 4, I-80 Speedway on June 22, U.S. 36 Raceway on September 17); Jason Johnson – 3 (Placerville Speedway on March 24, Knoxville Nationals on August 13, El Paso County Raceway on September 14); Lance Dewease – 2 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 20, Williams Grove Speedway on July 23); Kerry Madsen – 2 (Eldora Speedway on May 6 and 7); Rico Abreu – 2 (Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on Aug. 6, Silver Dollar Speedway on September 10); Bill Balog – 1 (Beaver Dam Raceway on June 25); Chad Kemenah – 1 (Fremont Speedway on June 3); Terry McCarl – 1 (Knoxville Raceway on June 10); Logan Schuchart – 1 (Cedar Lake Speedway on July 9); Jason Sides – 1 (I-30 Speedway on April 26); Greg Wilson – 1 (The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 27).
World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Eldora Speedway, Pa.; Sept 23, 2016
Feature – (30 Laps)– 1. 2-Shane Stewart [5] [$10,000]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart [4] [$5,500]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [1] [$3,200]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [2] [$2,800]; 5. 5-David Gravel [7] [$2,500]; 6. 83-Joey Saldana [9] [$2,300]; 7. 17W-Kerry Madsen [6] [$2,200]; 8. 18-Ian Madsen [3] [$2,100]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet [20] [$2,050]; 10. 10H-Chad Kemenah [13] [$2,000]; 11. 41-Jason Johnson [15] [$1,500]; 12. 35-Jac Haudenschild [16] [$1,200]; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser [18] [$1,100]; 14. W20-Greg Wilson [21] [$1,050]; 15. 7C-Caleb Armstrong [17] [$1,000]; 16. 7S-Jason Sides [11] [$900]; 17. 23C-Tyler Courtney [24] [$800]; 18. 7-Paul McMahan [14] [$800]; 19. 1ST-Gary Taylor [8] [$800]; 20. 1B-Dale Blaney [23] [$800]; 21. 1A-Jacob Allen [10] [$800]; 22. 49X-Tim Shaffer [12] [$800]; 23. 19-Paige Polyak [19] [$800]; 24. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [22] [$800];Lap Leaders:Daryn Pittman 1-10, Shane Stewart 11-30;KSE Hard Charger Award:49-Brad Sweet [+11]
Qualifying– 1. 1ST-Gary Taylor, 13.036; 2. 5-David Gravel, 13.108; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.135; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 13.153; 5. 83-Joey Saldana, 13.163; 6. 18-Ian Madsen, 13.186; 7. 10H-Chad Kemenah, 13.193; 8. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.198; 9. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.202; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen, 13.241; 11. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.276; 12. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.289; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.307; 14. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.314; 15. 17W-Kerry Madsen, 13.320; 16. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.325; 17. 1B-Dale Blaney, 13.349; 18. 7-Paul McMahan, 13.361; 19. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.460; 20. 19-Paige Polyak, 13.374; 21. 23C-Tyler Courtney, 13.486; 22. 21C-Cap Henry, 13.495; 23. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.508; 24. 35-Jac Haudenschild, 13.531; 25. 7C-Caleb Armstrong, 13.570; 26. 7J-Joe Swanson, 13.583; 27. O9X-Carson Macedo, 13.588; 28. 6-Bill Rose, 13.637; 29. 11N-Randy Hannagan, 13.638; 30. 23-D.J. Foos, 13.643; 31. OO-Dane Lorenc, 13.649; 32. 13-Clyde Knipp, 13.660; 33. 33M-Max Stambaugh, 13.664; 34. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg, 13.672; 35. 8M-T.J. Michael, 13.690; 36. 49D-Shawn Dancer, 13.743; 37. 99-Brady Bacon, 13.833; 38. 59-Ben Schmidt, 13.841; 39. O7-Jacob Wilson, 13.860; 40. 5B-Chad Blonde, 14.103; 41. 4-Danny Smith, nt; 42. 57X-Andrew Palker, nt
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)– 1. 5-David Gravel [1]; 2. 2-Shane Stewart [4]; 3. 83-Joey Saldana [2]; 4. 10H-Chad Kemenah [3]; 5. 7C-Caleb Armstrong [7]; 6. 1B-Dale Blaney [5]; 7. 23C-Tyler Courtney [6]; 8. 23-D.J. Foos [8]; 9. 13-Clyde Knipp [9]; 10. 4-Danny Smith [11]; 11. 99-Brady Bacon [10]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)– 1. 1S-Logan Schuchart [1]; 2. 18-Ian Madsen [2]; 3. 7S-Jason Sides [4]; 4. 41-Jason Johnson [3]; 5. 19-Paige Polyak [5]; 6. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [6]; 7. 6-Bill Rose [7]; 8. OO-Dane Lorenc [8]; 9. O7-Jacob Wilson [10]; 10. 8M-T.J. Michael [9]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)– 1. 17W-Kerry Madsen [4]; 2. 1ST-Gary Taylor [1]; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen [2]; 4. 7-Paul McMahan [5]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3]; 6. 21C-Cap Henry [6]; 7. 11N-Randy Hannagan [8]; 8. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg [9]; 9. 59-Ben Schmidt [10]; 10. 7J-Joe Swanson [7]; 11. 57X-Andrew Palker [11]
Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)– 1. 15-Donny Schatz [2]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [1]; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3]; 4. 35-Jac Haudenschild [6]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 6. W20-Greg Wilson [5]; 7. 33M-Max Stambaugh [8]; 8. 49D-Shawn Dancer [9]; 9. O9X-Carson Macedo [7]; 10. 5B-Chad Blonde [10]
Craftsman ClubDash – (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 8 starting positions of A-feature)– 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [8]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 3. 18-Ian Madsen [7]; 4. 1S-Logan Schuchart [3]; 5. 2-Shane Stewart [5]; 6. 17W-Kerry Madsen [2]; 7. 5-David Gravel [1]; 8. 1ST-Gary Taylor [6]
C-Main – (10 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the Last Chance Showdown)– 1. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg [2] [-]; 2. 59-Ben Schmidt [6] [-]; 3. 13-Clyde Knipp [1] [$150]; 4. O7-Jacob Wilson [7] [$150]; 5. 8M-T.J. Michael [3] [$150]; 6. 5B-Chad Blonde [8] [$125]; 7. 49D-Shawn Dancer [4] [$125]; 8. 99-Brady Bacon [5] [$125]; 9. 4-Danny Smith [9] [$125]; 10. 57X-Andrew Palker [10] [$125]
Last Chance Showdown – (12 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)– 1. W20-Greg Wilson [2] [-]; 2. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [5] [-]; 3. 1B-Dale Blaney [1] [-]; 4. 23C-Tyler Courtney [3] [-]; 5. 21C-Cap Henry [4] [$300]; 6. O9X-Carson Macedo [8] [$250]; 7. 23-D.J. Foos [9] [$225]; 8. 6-Bill Rose [7] [$200]; 9. OO-Dane Lorenc [11] [$200]; 10. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg [13] [$200]; 11. 11N-Randy Hannagan [10] [$200]; 12. 33M-Max Stambaugh [12] [$200]; 13. 7J-Joe Swanson [6] [$200]; 14. 59-Ben Schmidt [14] [$200]
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