At A Glance: Joey Saldana Leads His Roth Team Back Home

The Series takes on Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California on March 11 and 12

CONCORD, N.C. – March 10, 2016 – With one World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series win on the season and a second place position in the championship standings, Joey Saldana has started the season off right with his new team, Roth Motorsports. As the series heads to Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. on Friday and Saturday, the team looks for a second win – this time, on home turf.

With four wins over the years at the third-mile oval, Saldana hopes to add another to the record books for his Fresno-based team.

“I’m definitely looking forward to going to Tulare, just down the road from the Roth shop,” Saldana said. “Definitely a lot of Roth people will be there and (team owners Dennis and Teresa Roth) will be there, so looking forward for that. And we’ve had some success driving for other teams at Tulare and we’ll take that momentum and get a good result with this car.”

At Tulare, the Roth team has found that success in recent years. Tim Kaeding battled Terry McCarl last season to score a win for the No. 83JR Roth team.

Saldana said for his team owners, the desire to win burns strong and is backed up by a commitment to supply the best equipment and support.

“Obviously to win a World of Outlaws race anywhere is a great accomplishment,” Saldana said. “And I think Dennis and Teresa both appreciate the fact when you put the effort in and win a race. Having them there and witnessing what you just accomplished is pretty special for the team. Definitely keeps everybody happy and elevated and wanting to achieve more.”

Since the start of the season, Saldana has one win, three podium finishes, four top-fives and has finished outside the top ten just one time. The record is a good one considering Saldana is working with newly minted crew chief Eric Prutzman – a veteran of Donny Schatz’s No. 15 team. While the team still has progress to make, Saldana said the pieces are there and the communication between he and Prutzman, whom he had never worked with, is coming together.

“That itself is encouraging knowing you’re close,” Saldana said. “We’re just off a little bit and we really don’t know each other and what we’ve done together in the first seven races. We’re definitely learning fast – it’s easy to learn fast when you’re provided equipment that’s competitive. Right off the bat Dennis (Roth) has provided us the car, the motor, the truck, the trailer – everything that we need to be competitive. We just need to take all of those resources and make it happen. It’s coming along really well for us.”

Unlike the competition, Saldana and Roth are in the unique position of having both Fresno and Brownsburg, Ind. as a home base. Saldana said it helps the team stay energized and close to home throughout the most grueling stretch of the season in June, July and August. It is also helpful for them to have a base during the month-long California swing.

Now in the midst of his 21st season with the Outlaws and closing in on 100 wins, Saldana said he has learned that having fun is the key to staying focused and maintaining momentum.

“I’m looking forward to every night I get to drive this racecar,” Saldana said. “That’s one thing as a driver – you have to have confidence and want to be at the race track. Right now, everything is in place for us to be successful at the race track.”

Tickets for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at Thunderbowl Raceway on Friday, March 11 and Saturday March 12 are available by visitingTulareThunderbowl.com or by calling (559) 688-0909.

ABOUT THE TRACK
THUNDERBOWL RACEWAYis a high-banked, third-mile oval track. The track record of 12.582 seconds was established by Brad Sweet on March 13, 2015

Previous A-Feature winners:
2015 – Tim Kaeding on March 13, Rico Abreu on March 14
2014 – Daryn Pittman on March 14, Rico Abreu on March 15
2013 – Tim Kaeding on March 15, Craig Dollansky on March 16
2012 – Tim Kaeding on March 16
2011 – Joey Saldana on March 19
2010 – Jason Meyers on March 5, Joey Saldana on March 6
2009 – Randy Hannagan on March 20, Joey Saldana on March 21
2008 – Jac Haudenschild on Oct. 18
2007 – Joey Saldana on Feb. 23, Tim Kaeding on Feb. 24, Donny Schatz on Oct. 13
2005 – Tim Shaffer on Feb. 25, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 15
2004 – Terry McCarl on Nov. 1
2003 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 2

DRIVER INFO
The following World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series drivers maintain websites:
Jacob Allen – Shark1s1a.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 – 3 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 13, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, Cotton Bowl Speedway on Feb. 26); Donny Schatz – 2(Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 14, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 4); Daryn Pittman – 1 (Royal Purple Raceway on Feb. 27); Joey Saldana – 1 (The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 3); Shane Stewart – 1 (Arizona Speedway on March 6).

LIVE ONLINE UPDATES: Watch live pay-per-view of the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series from Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. on DIRTVision.com. Listen live to free audio the DIRTVision Radio Network

GET SOCIAL: Follow the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series on Twitter atwww.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 Stockton (Calif.) Dirt Track for the FVP Western Spring Shootout on March 18 and 19.

World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Championship Standings

2016 STAT ATTACK
There have been 8 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series features this season.

Winners (5 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins

1. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 3
2. – DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 2
3. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – 1

Total Laps Led (7 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Laps

1. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 67
2. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 64
3. – JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 59
4. – SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – 22
5. – BRIAN BROWN, Higginsville, Mo. – 19
6. – DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 14
7. – CHAD KEMENAH, Findlay, Ohio – 4

Pole Positions (6 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Poles

1. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 2
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 2
3. – BRIAN BROWN, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– CHAD KEMENAH, Findlay, Ohio – 1
– BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1

Hard Charger Award (6 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards

1. – JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – 2
– PAUL MCMAHAN, Nashville, Tenn. – 2
3. – JOSH BAUGHMAN, Odessa, Texas – 1
– KERRY MADSEN, St. Marys, New South Wales, Australia – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – 1

Time Trial leaders (6 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. – BRIAN BROWN, Higginsville, Mo. – 1
– JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – 1
– DANNY LASOSKI, Dover, Mo. – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1

Podium Finishes (10 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Finishes in the Top-Three

1. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif – 6
2. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 4
3. – JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 3
– DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 3
5. – DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – 2
– SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – 2
7. – DALE BLANEY, Hartford, Ohio – 1
– DANNY LASOSKI, Dover, Mo. – 1
– SAMMY SWINDELL, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
– LUCA WOLFE, Mechanicsburg, Pa. – 1

Heat Race Winners (14 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Win

1. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – 6
2. – JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 5
3. – DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – 3
4. – BRIAN BROWN, Higginsville, Mo. – 2
– DANNY LASOSKI, Dover, Mo. – 2
– DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – 2
7. – GREG HODNETT, Spring Grove, Pa. – 1
– JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – 1
– BRENT MARKS, Myerstown, Pa. – 1
– DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – 1
– LOGAN SCHUCHART, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – 1
– SAMMY SWINDELL, Germantown, Tenn. – 1
– LUCAS WOLFE, Mechanicsburg, Pa. – 1

Last Chance Showdown Winners (8 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins

1. – JACOB ALLEN, Hanover, Pa. – 1
– BRADY BACON, Broken Arrow, Okla. – 1
– DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – 1
– KRAIG KINSER, Bloomington, Ind. – 1
– PAUL MCMAHAN, Nashville, Tenn. – 1
– AUSTIN MCCARL, Altoona, Iowa – 1
– JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – 1
– TREY STARKS, Puyallup, Wa. – 1

Dash Draw Selection (8 Dashes)
Number – Times Picked

0 – 3
4 – 3
6 – 1
8 – 1

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

1. – BRAD SWEET, Grass Valley, Calif. – $46,800
2. – DONNY SCHATZ, Fargo, N.D. – $35,700
3. – DARYN PITTMAN, Owasso, Okla. – $32,400
4. – JOEY SALDANA, Brownsburg, Ind. – $28,600
5. – SHANE STEWART, Bixby, Okla. – $26,200
6. – DAVID GRAVEL, Watertown, Conn. – $16,750
7. – JASON JOHNSON, Eunice, La. – $13,350
8. – KERRY MADSEN, St. Marys, New South Wales, Australia – $10,750
9. – JASON SIDES, Bartlett, Tenn. – $10,650
10.- LOGAN SCHUCHART, Hanover, Pa. – $9,600
11.- PAUL McMAHAN, Nashville, Tenn. – $8,800
12.- KRAIG KINSER, Bloomington, Ind. – $8,750
13.- GREG WILSON, Benton Ridge, Ohio – $5,800
13.- TERRY MCCARL, Altoona, Iowa – $5,750
14.- JACOB ALLEN, Hanover, Pa. – $4,125

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)
4. Friday, Feb. 26 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Tex. / Brad Sweet (3)
5. Saturday, Feb. 27 / Royal Purple Raceway Park / Baytown, Tex. / Daryn Pittman (1)
6. Thursday, March 3 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Joey Saldana (1)
7. Friday, March 4 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (2)
8. Sunday, March 6 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Shane Stewart (1)

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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