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EAGLE, Neb. — June 6, 2017 — For many years, Eagle Raceway in Nebraska was a staple on the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series calendar. After a four season hiatus, the series returns this year to the high-banked third-mile on Tuesday, June 13. The Eagle Nationals will mark the only visit of the season for the series to the state of Nebraska. Last year, Joey Saldana and Donny Schatz were victorious in the Cornhusker state. This edition of The Breakdown sets the stage for the 2017 edition of the Eagle Nationals for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Eagle Raceway.
The track
Eagle Raceway is a high-banked, third-mile. The track record of 11.076-seconds was established by Sammy Swindell on July 4, 2009.
Past winners
Donny Schatz, the eight-time and defending World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion, is the winningest active full-time driver with the series at Eagle Raceway, with four total victories—three A-Feature wins and one preliminary feature triumph. Daryn Pittman, the 2013 series title winner, swept the 2006 Eagle Nationals, taking both the preliminary feature and A-Feature. Joey Saldana was victorious at Eagle Raceway in 2007.
Steve Kinser, the 20-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion, won 24 total times at Eagle Raceway in his legendary career. Fellow Hall of Famer Sammy Swindell, won the most recent event for the series at the track in 2012 and was also victorious in the inaugural visit by the Outlaws to Eagle Raceway back in 1981.
Additional Hall of Famers that have won with the Outlaws at Eagle Raceway include Doug Wolfgang, Bobby Davis Jr., Danny Lasoski, Jac Haudenschild and Mark Kinser. Jeff Swindell is also a past winner at Eagle Raceway with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
Craig Dollansky has a pair of wins with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Eagle Raceway in his career, topping a preliminary feature in 2002 and capturing an A-Feature in 2008.
Four score
Jason Johnson has four wins in his career at Eagle Raceway. A pair of those came in 2010 with the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS). He returned to the winner’s circle at the track in 2011 and captured the Nebraska Cup in 2012. Johnson has raced twice with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at the third-mile, as well as with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions.
The players
Donny Schatz is the current point leader with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series. The North Dakota native has nine wins to lead the series. Just behind Schatz is David Gravel, who has eight wins and is second in the standings. Brad Sweet, who has three wins is currently third in points, with his Kasey Kahne Racing teammate Daryn Pittman in fourth. Shane Stewart rounds out the current top-five in points.
Jason Johnson is sixth in points, followed by rookie contender Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart, who has three wins, Joey Saldana and Jason Sides. Also on the road this year is Paul McMahan, Kraig Kinser, Greg Wilson, Jacob Allen and Clyde Knipp.
Plenty of starts
McMahan, Sides and Stewart have each made nearly 20 starts at Eagle Raceway in their respective careers. Sides has 10 top-10 finishes in 18 races, highlighted by a second-place effort in 2004. McMahan has five top-10 runs, with three of those being top-five performances. Stewart finished fifth in his most recent start at the track in 2008. Each of the three has also raced with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions at Eagle Raceway in the past.
Return visit
Greg Wilson, the reigning Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner, competed at Eagle Raceway with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in 2006. The Ohio native has also raced at the track in the past with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions.
Winging it
Clyde Knipp has visited Eagle Raceway once in his young career, with that coming in 2015 in a non-wing sprint car event. Knipp is in his first full year on the road with the series, after picking up the tour last summer, after graduating from high school.
First timers
Brad Sweet, David Gravel, Logan Schuchart, Jacob Allen and Brent Marks will all be making their first visit to Eagle Raceway.
Invaders
Kerry Madsen, who was victorious on the second night of the 39th Annual AGCO Jackson Nationals at Jackson Motorplex last weekend, is one of the invaders expected at Eagle Raceway. Kerry’s brother, Ian Madsen, who recently won his second-career World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series race is also among the “invaders” expected to challenge the series regulars. Brian Brown, who also has an Outlaws win this season, tentatively has the Eagle Nationals on his schedule.
Tickets for the Eagle Nationals at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb., on Tuesday, June 13 can be purchased online at https://slspromotions.ticketforce.com and at the track on race day. Fans can also save $5 on General Admission tickets, when purchased at a participating NAPA Auto Parts store. Tickets buyers will exchange their NAPA receipt for tickets at the Main Grandstand ticket booth on race day.
I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks
anywhere.
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