At A Glance: Greg Wilson Goes West with the Outlaws

The Series takes on Cotton Bowl Speedway on Feb. 26 and Royal Purple Raceway on Feb. 27

CONCORD, N.C. – Feb. 24, 2015 – The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series added a familiar name in the off-season to its roster of full-time competitors – Greg Wilson.

Wilson, a two-time All-Star Circuit of Champions champion, leaves Volusia Speedway Park and DIRTcar Nationals with his eyes open and excitement over the challenge ahead.

The opportunity to compete full-time with the series began last July as Wilson talked with longtime sponsor Hercules Tire. Through months of discussions toward renewal and several high points last summer, including his first World of Outlaws win which came at Eldora Speedway’s 4 Crown Nationals, Wilson and Hercules agreed it was time to make the move.

Together, they made the announcement in December at the Performance Racing Industry trade show.

“From the time I could remember I’ve always wanted to drive a sprint car,” Wilson said. “To get the opportunity to do that in and of itself is pretty cool. Every sprint car driver has dreams and hopes of running with the World of Outlaws and to be able to do that at 40 years old, I wish it would have happened a little quicker, but to do that with my own team and with my wife and kids at the age I am, I’m excited.”

Wilson kicked off the season with 15th, 11th and 21st place finishes at DIRTcar Nationals. He said he was happy with the team’s efforts at the event.

As he and his team head west to Texas and on to the first stretch of the season, Wilson said he feels like, given his experience, he and his team have a little better understanding of what is to come through the 91-race schedule but said he is realistic about the first year.

“For the biggest part it’s logistics,” Wilson said of the top challenge. “For my team to travel back and forth to our shop in Ohio, we’re going to stay out on the road a lot. We’ve got to be prepared a little differently than if you get back to your own shop. We weren’t really ready and we stayed at home longer trying to prepare so we were more ready.”

What is he most excited about? Wilson said the answer is two-fold – getting the chance to go back home to Ohio and the familiar tracks of the Midwest after some experience with the Outlaws and trying his hand at new tracks around the country.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back up into our area after we get some races under our belt,” Wilson said. “Racing with these guys, going wheel-to-wheel with them, dicing through traffic, and being aggressive – racing with the best makes you better. I’m excited because maybe when we get back to some of those places that we race at, or are more familiar with, maybe it will make us that much better.

“I’m looking forward to getting up into Washington for a number of reasons. (My longtime crew member Zach Holloway) is from there. I’ve read a lot about Skagit. I’ve been to the west coast once so I know a little bit about what I’m getting into there. To go to some places I’ve never been to before, I always enjoy going to new places.”

Wilson said that in addition to Holloway, he is being helped through the opening months of the season by friends and family. The plan is to bring on a new crew member in May to support them and make sure that the grueling schedule is manageable.

“To get this opportunity, Hercules, Ohio Logistics, Gear Alloy, DNC Hydraulics and All Star Plumbing, those people were key to getting me to this point and growing our team,” Wilson said. “We’re hoping we do a good job for them.”

Wilson and the rest of the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series continue the 2016 season at Cotton Bowl Speedway for the ATX Outlaw Shootout on Friday and O’Reilly Auto Parts presents the World of Outlaws hosted by Kasey Kahne at Royal Purple Raceway Park on Saturday.

Tickets for the ATX Outlaw Shootout at Cotton Bowl Speedway are available by calling 844-DIRT-TIX or by visiting WorldofOutlaws.com/Tickets. Tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts presents the World of Outlaws hosted by Kasey Kahne at Royal Purple Raceway Park are available by visiting SLSPromotions.com.

DRIVER INFO
The following World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series drivers maintain websites:
Jacob Allen – Shark1s1a.com
Dave Blaney – MotterMotorsports.com
David Gravel – DavidGravel89.com
Jason Johnson – JasonJohnsonRacing.com
Kraig Kinser – KraigKinser.com
Kerry Madsen – KenericRacing.com
Terry McCarl – TerryMcCarl.com
Paul McMahan – PaulMcMahanRacing.com
Daryn Pittman – DarynPittman.com
Joey Saldana – JoeySaldanaRacing.com
Donny Schatz – DonnySchatz.com
Logan Schuchart – Shark1s1a.com
Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com
Shane Stewart – ShaneStewart.com
Brad Sweet – Bradsweetracing.com
Greg Wilson – GregWilsonRacing.com
For more driver information, visit: WoOsprint.com

SEASON WINNERS: Brad Sweet – 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 12, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14); Donny Schatz – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13).

LIVE ONLINE UPDATES: Listen live on DIRTVision Radio Network as the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series takes on Cotton Bowl Speedway and Royal Purple Raceway Park this weekend. The live stream is available for free on DIRTVision.com.

GET SOCIAL: Follow the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws, like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws, follow on Instagram at @WoOSprint or check out the latest videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws. The official hashtag is #WoOCraftSCS.

COMING UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws® Craftsman Sprint Car Series takes on the Dirt Track at Las Vegas for the FVP Outlaw Showdown presented by Dollar Loan Center on March 3 and 4 and then heads south to Queens Creek, Ariz. for the NAPA Desert Shootout at Arizona Speedway on March 6.

World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Championship Standings

2016 STAT ATTACK
There have been 3 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series features this season.
Winners (2 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins
1. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 2
2. – DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 1

Total Laps Led (5 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Laps

1. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 46
2. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 21
3. – JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 9
– DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 9
5. – CHAD KEMENAH, Findlay, Ohio – 4

Pole Positions (3 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Poles

1. – CHAD KEMENAH, Findlay, Ohio – 1
– DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1

Hard Charger Award (3 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards

1. – JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – 1
– KERRY MADSEN, St. Marys, New South Wales, Austrailia – 1
– PAUL MCMAHAN, Nashville, Tenn. – 1

Time Trial leaders (2 Different Drivers)
* (1) championship driver point will be awarded to the Time Trial leader
Rank Driver, Hometown – Quick Times

1. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 2
2. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1

Podium Finishes (7 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Finishes in the Top-Three

1. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif – 3
2. – DALE BLANEY, Hartford, Ohio – 1
– DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 1
6. – SAMMY SWINDELL, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
– LUCA WOLFE, Mechanicsburg, Pa. – 1

Heat Race Winners (6 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Win

1. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
2. – DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – 2
– DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 2
4. – GREG HODNETT, Spring Grove, Pa. – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– LUCAS WOLFE, Mechanicsburg, Pa. – 1

Last Chance Showdown Winners (3 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins

1. – JACOB ALLEN, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– PAUL MCMAHAN, Nashville, Tenn. – 1
– AUSTIN MCCARL, Altoona, Iowa – 1

Dash Draw Selection (3 Dashes)
Number – Times Picked

0 – 2
4 – 1
6 – 0
8 – 0

Feature Winnings (Platinum Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Winnings

1. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – $25,500
2. – DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – $12,900
3. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – $9,100
4. – JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – $6,500
5. – KERRY MADSEN, St. Marys, New South Wales, Australia – $5,650
6. – SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – $5,500
7. – JASON SIDES, Bartlett, Tenn. – $4,100
8. – DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – $4,050
9. – PAUL McMAHAN, Nashville, Tenn. – $3,950
10.- KRAIG KINSER, Bloomington, Ind. – $3,500
11.- DAVE BLANEY, Hartford, Ohio – $3,300
– GREG WILSON, Benton Ridge, Ohio – $3,300
13.- JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – $2,600
14.- LOGAN SCHUCHART, Hanover, Pa. – $2,050
15.- TERRY MCCARL, Altoona, Iowa – $1,900
16.- JACOB ALLEN, Hanover, Pa. – $1,825

2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Number of Wins in 2016)

1. Friday, Feb. 12 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Brad Sweet (1)
2. Saturday, Feb. 13 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Donny Schatz (1)
3. Sunday, Feb. 14 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Brad Sweet (2)

The World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Bad Boy Buggies (Official Side-by-Side Vehicle), Craftsman (Official Tool), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), Morton Buildings (Official Building), Sears (Official Home Store), The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience (Official Racing Experience) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, including: Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products, Mobil 1, MSD, Penske Shocks, Sweet Manufacturing and Superflow Dynos; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo and TNT Rescue.

Sources: Aaron Fiedler/World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series PR

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