4/26/2018
Salina Highbanks Speedway
World of Outlaws hits the track at Salina Highbanks Speedway on May 5
(Paul Arch Photo)
SALINA, Okla. — April 26, 2018 — The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series makes their annual appearance at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, Okla., on Saturday, May 5 for the running of the Twister Showdown. The event will mark the seventh time the series has raced at the ultra-high-banked three-eighths-mile.
Kerry Madsen was victorious last year at Salina over Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet. Madsen took the lead from Sweet on lap-23 and held off several charges from Sweet, Schatz and Shane Stewart in the late going to pick up the win. For Madsen, it was his first win at Salina.
Daryn Pittman scored a very popular win in 2016 at Salina Highbanks Speedway. The victory was the second straight for an Oklahoma native at the track, as Stewart was victorious in the 2015 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series event at Salina.
Leading the way into Salina Highbanks Speedway this season is Schatz, who has four wins and is on top of the point standings as he chases his 10th series title. Salina Highbanks Speedway is one of the few tracks on the circuit that he has never won at. The North Dakota native has a pair of runner-up showings among his five top-10 finishes in six starts at Salina.
Brad Sweet has finished on the podium in two of the last three years at Salina, including a third-place effort last year, which saw him lead the first 22 laps of the main event. The California native is currently third in points as he chases his first win of the season.
David Gravel has four top-10 finishes in five starts at Salina, including a runner-up performance in 2016. The 25-year-old was battling for the lead on the opening lap last season, when contact led him getting upside and ending his night. Gravel, who won a career-high 18 races last season is currently sixth in points as he chases his first win of 2018.
Pittman, who recently scored back-to-back wins in Arkansas and Missouri, is the only driver who has finished in the top-10 in all previous six World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series races at Salina. Fellow Oklahoman Shane Stewart has three top-10 finishes in four starts at the track.
Jason Johnson has finished in the top-five in each of the last two World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series races at Salina. Fellow veteran drivers who will be in attendance include Kraig Kinser, Greg Wilson and Jason Sides, as well as youngsters Logan Schuchart, Jacob Allen and Clyde Knipp.
Sheldon Haudenschild and Brent Marks each visited Salina for the first time last year. Haudenschild, who scored his first-career win on opening night in Florida this season, has added a couple of more victories and is currently second in points.
Ian Madsen, who is in his first full year on the road with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series has two straight top-10 finishes with the series at Salina. The Australian ran sixth last year and was fourth in 2016. Dane Lorenc, a rookie driver from New York, will be the lone driver making his debut at the track this year.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series raced for the first time at Salina Highbanks Speedway in 2011, with Craig Dollansky picking up the win. The veteran driver would win again in 2013 at the high-banked oval. Joey Saldana was victorious at Salina Highbanks Speedway in 2014.
Tickets for the Twister Showdown, featuring the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Oklahoma on Saturday, May 5 can be purchased online at https://slspromotions.ticketforce.com or by calling 815-344-2023 and at the track on race day.
Twitter: @SLS_Promotions
Facebook: SLS Promotions LLC
Article Credit: SLS Promotions
Submitted By: Elizabeth Davis
