5/16/2012
Sprint Source
McMahan Trucks to World of Outlaws Win at Rolling Wheels
Nashville driver dominates ‘The Fast Track’ after getting help from unlikely sources
ELBRIDGE, N.Y. - May 16, 2012 - Attention all CDL drivers: Paul McMahan needs a volunteer.
A former touring Outlaw who has already pieced together rides with four different teams this season, McMahan can't make it to the next race without a certified trucker.
It doesn't matter if you haven't met. After all, he picked up his first World of Outlaws win of the season Wednesday at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park thanks to the help of a truck driver he found on Facebook.
"Don't ask me his name because I don't know," McMahan said with a big grin.
With only one crew member - Cody Jacobs - McMahan pieced together his way to the track, around the 5/8-mile oval and out of Victory Lane.
"We don't even have a four-wheeler," he said. "We had to bum a ride to get from Victory Lane."
Despite only having seven spare tires - three right rears, three left rears and one front - and a couple of extra wings, McMahan set the tone for the SPEEDfest event from the drop of the green flag, was patient on a couple of double-file restarts and cruised to his first World of Outlaws victory since Sept. 9 of last year.
"This is where I want to be," McMahan said. "I want to race with the World of Outlaws. This is where I belong. This is what I want to do. So to come out here and to bounce from car to car is tough to do.
"This is very cool for me. This is one of the top (wins). It's not as high as my first one, but this one's really high for me because I got released after one of my best years last year with the World of Outlaws and to come back and show these guys that I can still get the job done is very gratifying."
After qualifying fifth quick and finishing fifth in his heat race, McMahan, who is currently driving for Tom Buch, advanced to the dash. The dash inversion was a six, starting him on the outside of the front row for the six-lap race. He led the entire race to earn the pole for the 25-lap feature.
It didn't take long for McMahan to build a giant lead in the main event. With a twister of dust being kicked up around the track, McMahan rocketed to the big advantage on the opening lap. He reached traffic on lap six as David Gravel was the only driver to stay within striking distance.
A caution on lap 10 for the first of two spins by April Wilson bunched the field together and McMahan chose the outside lane on the double-file restart. He again launched to a sizeable margin before getting into traffic on lap 15. Gravel's throttle linkage broke on lap 18, forcing a caution and sending him to the infield for the remainder of the event.
Chad Kemenah restarted second, but Craig Dollansky roared by on the outside as they exited turn two of the restart and McMahan set sail.
"We really want to congratulate Paul McMahan," Kemenah said. "He's an awesome guy."
The final caution of the race for Wilson's second spin set up a green-white-checker finish and McMahan was untouchable once again. He built more than a one-second lead in the final two laps en route to the win.
Dollansky held off Kemenah for the runner-up position.
"Paul did a good job and drove a great race," Dollansky said. "I think he was just actually a little better than I was in the open track. I got close to him on the restarts, but there just wasn't quite enough room to get by. My hat's off to him and his team. He did a great job with a lower-funded team and for Paul, it's great to see him get a win here tonight."
Danny Lasoski finished fourth with Steve Kinser in fifth. Cody Darrah, who set fast time with a lap of 16.257 seconds, was sixth and Sammy Swindell held onto his World of Outlaws points lead with a seventh-place result after two engine changes during the night. Donny Schatz was eighth, Joey Saldana ninth and Kraig Kinser rounded out the top 10.
Lasoski, Saldana and Swindell each claimed a heat race victory and Justin Barger won the Last Chance Showdown.
By the way, McMahan needs that truck driver by Saturday. He plans to head to Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., for the next World of Outlaws event.
SPEEDfest Notebook
NOTES - Cody Darrah became the 12th different driver to earn a fast-time award. … Sammy Swindell won his series-best seventh heat race of the season despite something breaking in his engine midway through the race. … Justin Barger is the 18th different Last Chance Showdown winner in 19 World of Outlaws events this season. … Paul McMahan is the 11th different feature winner this season. … It's the fourth consecutive race with a driver picking up his first World of Outlaws feature win of the season.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS - MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Paul McMahan; Armor All (case of product): Paul McMahan; STP ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; UNOH ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; JE Pistons (set of rings): Kerry Madsen; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Jac Haudenschild; Superflow ($50 cash): Jac Haudenschild; JE Pistons ($50 cash): George Suprick; JE Pistons (set of rings): George Suprick; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Jac Haudenschild; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Justin Barger.
WINNERS - Sammy Swindell - 4 (Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Donny Schatz - 3 (Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Craig Dollansky - 2 (Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Tim Kaeding - 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Joey Saldana - 2 (Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Danny Dietrich - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Chad Kemenah - 1 (Eldora Speedway on May 4); Steve Kinser - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Danny Lasoski - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18); Paul McMahan - 1 (Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on May 16); Fred Rahmer - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11).
TIME TRIALS - Cody Darrah was the fastest qualifier around the 5/8-mile oval with a time of 16.257 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Joey Saldana (4 points), Craig Dollansky (3), David Gravel (2) and Paul McMahan (1).
WE'RE ONLINE - Make sure to check out WorldofOutlaws.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com .
Article Credit: Shawn Miller - World of Outlaws
Submitted By: Admin Account
