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Pittman & Stewart Add to List of Outstanding Oklahoma Drivers on World of Outlaws Tour

Since the very first days of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, drivers from Oklahoma have been representing their home state quite well. Start with Shane Carson, a Hall of Famer and one of the original Outlaws, from Oklahoma City. Fast forward to Daryn Pittman, who claimed the 2013 series title and was the first and to date only, Oklahoman to do so.

In between, add in six Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winners, including current driver Shane Stewart, as well as Andy Hillenburg, Aaron Berryhill, Danny Wood, Greg Wooley and Stevie Smith, who while born in Pennsylvania, has called Oklahoma home for several years. Six of the eight aforementioned drivers have accounted for a total of 165 World of Outlaws A-Feature wins, dating back to 1978, when Carson won the Eldora Nationals in Ohio, in what was at the time the first $10,000-to-win Outlaws event.

Continuing to add to the record books in 2015 are Pittman and Stewart, who have each won already twice this season. The pair will get to race close to home this week as the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series makes its only Oklahoma stop of the season at Salina Highbanks Speedway on Friday, May 1, which is just a stone’s throw from Bixby, where Stewart hails from, and Owasso, where Pittman was born and raised.

Stewart heads to Salina with a pair of wins this season, with those coming in Las Vegas and Hanford, California. The 2005 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner led nine laps in his most recent series start last weekend in Texas, eventually finishing second to Donny Schatz. Stewart has made one start with the World of Outlaws at Salina, with that coming in the series inaugural event at the high-banked oval in 2011.

“Salina is a fast track,” said Stewart. “That is the best way to put it. It is high-banked and the speed we carry is pretty serious there. It’s a fun race track and usually the racing there is pretty good. The drivers that we race with, they put on a good show day in and day out, no matter what track we are at and I believe it will be the same this weekend. Salina is the closest track to Tulsa that we race, so I am looking forward to getting there to race in front of my family and friends.”

Stewart is currently second in points, just 26 markers behind Schatz with 18 races completed thus far in 2015. The veteran driver has 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes this season, both are second-most in the series, with only Schatz having more. With a few days between last weekend’s race at in Texas, and this Friday’s event, Stewart has a busy schedule planned, though he is hoping to slip off and hits the links at some point during the week.

“It’s always great getting to race close to home,” noted Stewart. “I always try to spend as much time with my family as I can when I am racing close to home. It’s tough, though, because the time goes by so fast. I always try to sneak in a round of golf during the week with my Dad when I close to the area as well.”

Pittman, who is still recovering from a broken collarbone and cracked ribs, suffered in an accident in California earlier this month, has raced in all three of the previous World of Outlaws events at Salina. He finished seventh in the series debut at the track in 2011, was third in 2013 and fourth last year.

“We don’t get to race too close to home anymore, so we always enjoy and try to make the most of when we do,” said Pittman. “Last weekend in Texas was kind of a home race for me and obviously this week at Salina is near where I grew up. I’ve been close a couple of times at Salina and winning one there is definitely one I want to check off my list one of these times.”

Pittman has won twice this season, including on opening night in February in Florida, and despite missing two races, while injured, is currently eighth in points. He has 11 top-10 finishes this season, with six of those being top-five performances.

“The team has done a great job, especially helping me get comfortable in the car after the injury,” said Pittman. “We definitely want to put in a good showing this weekend in front of all the family and friends that will be at Salina. Having a few days this week to continue to heal will help and every time I get back in the car, I feel better and better.”

Tickets for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event at Salina Highbanks Speedway on Friday, May 1 can be purchased online at: http://slspromotions.ticketforce.com/salina2015 or by calling SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023 and at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores.

Fans can also take advantage of the O’Reilly Auto Parts $5 OFF Special and receive $5 OFF when purchasing a General Admission ticket at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores. The ticket buyer will exchange their O’Reilly receipt for a ticket at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.

For more information on tickets visit www.slspromotions.ticketforce.com.

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