Gravel Picks Up Win Number Eight at New Egypt
Pittman’s winning streak comes to an end
NEW EGYPT, N.J. – May 24, 2017 – David Gravel continued his east coast dominance Wednesday night at New Egypt Speedway by picking up his third win of the last four World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series races and his eighth-overall win for the 2017 season. Gravel, no stranger to the D-shaped clay oval, cut his teeth in Sprint Car racing at New Egypt in his URC Sprint Car.
“I’m glad I could win in front of everybody here that came out to watch me,” Gravel said. “I have to thank Barry, Derek and Zack for working hard to give me a good car; I just have to do my part.”
Jason Johnson and Gravel lead the 24-car field to the green flag to start the 30-lap Feature. Gravel dove into turn one and came out of turn two as the new leader on the initial start and never looked back.
The first caution of the night was brought out on lap six for a slow Tyler Ross.
Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet put pressure on Johnson for second on the restart as they went three-wide going into turn one. Sweet came out on top as he pulled away in second.
Dave Blaney, Jason Sides and Davey Sammons went upside-down in turns one and two bringing out the red flag on lap seven, all drivers were ok. The four-time defending race winner, Daryn Pittman was also involved, causing wing damage and a broken front axle.
After spending time in the work area, Sides, Pittman and Sammons were able to rejoin the back of the field. Blaney suffered too much damage to return.
After the field got going again, Gravel was able to get back out front and hold a steady lead over Sweet until they caught lap traffic on lap 14.
Gravel maneuvered his way through the lap cars smoothly until Sweet and Schatz started the second and third-place cars a glimmer of hope.
With four laps remaining. Schatz dove under Sweet going into turn one and took away the second spot by the time he exited for the back stretch.
Schatz then set his sights on Gravel but only to have a lap car act has a pick as they exited out of the final turn.
“I’m sure he was close,” mentioned Gravel about Schatz. “I really couldn’t do anything. It was a pretty narrow track but I just tried not to slip up. I don’t know if he was running high or low. I was trying to be patient in lap traffic.”
Gravel crossed the line and took the victory over Schatz, Sweet, Shane Stewart and Jason Johnson. Gravel is red-hot on the east coast having won three races in the last week.
“It’s been a great year and hopefully we keep doing this,” Gravel noted.
The 2016 defending World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Champion, Schatz, felt his car wasn’t good enough to beat Gravel.
“We got there in traffic but that’s what it was going to take to win the race,” Schatz said. “The lap cars were pretty tough to get around. He was better than we were in the open. You’re not going to win these races anymore if you’re not a very good car and we just haven’t seem to get that right rear feel. We’ll keep working on it.”
Third-place finisher, Sweet, was happy with his performance in his No. 49 machine despite rough track conditions.
“There were some holes out there and lap traffic and that’s what easily wins or loses it,” Sweet added. “We were right there on David and tried to move up a little bit but there wasn’t much up there. David did a good job and just kind of managed the race and kept his car out front in the right position.”
Shark Racing ran into hauler troubles heading to New Egypt forcing them to arrive late. Logan Schuchart tagged on to the back of the heat race while Jacobs Allen’s car arrived later and made it just in time for the Last Chance Showdown. Schuchart transferred to the feature through the Last Chance Showdown from last place and finished in a solid 12th-place finish, grabbing the KSE Hard Charger Award in the process.
Pittman, who had won the last four races at New Egypt, was set to start ninth in the third heat and immediately went pit side to change an engine after trailing oil on the track. Pittman qualified second in the Last Chance Showdown to transfer into the Feature. He was then tangled up in an early wreck, damaging the wing and breaking the front axle. Pittman made it back out and finished 14th.
Donny Schatz kicked off the night with the fastest time in time trials with a time of 13.422. Heat races went to Stewart, Shaffer and Gravel. Johnson won the Craftsman Club Dash and Jason Sides won the last chance showdown.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series returns to action on Friday, May 26 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the Outlaw Showdown. Last year saw Greg Wilson find his way to the big stage under the lights over Shane Stewart and Cole Duncan.
New Egypt Speedway Results:
5/24/2017 – New Egypt Speedway
NEW EGYPT, N.J. — May 24, 2017 — Off to undoubtedly his best career start to a season, David Gravel came into the Jersey Outlaw Classic at New Egypt Speedway with seven wins on the 2017 World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series season. Starting from the second position, Gravel quickly jumped out to the lead and was able to hold off a hard-charging Donny Schatz and Brad Sweets as the laps ticked away. At a track where he cut his teeth in Sprint Car racing, Gravel picked up his eighth-win of the season, along with the last three of the last four races for the Outlaws.
New Egypt Speedway Results:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 5-David Gravel [2][$6,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$3,500]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [3][$2,000]; 4. 2-Shane Stewart [6][$1,800]; 5. 41-Jason Johnson [1][$1,500]; 6. 37-J.J. Grasso [11][$1,400]; 7. 49X-Tim Shaffer [5][$1,350]; 8. 4-Paul McMahan [7][$1,300]; 9. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [8][$1,250]; 10. 19-Brent Marks [10][$1,200]; 11. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [13][$900]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart [24][$800]; 13. 17-Joey Saldana [9][$700]; 14. 9-Daryn Pittman [20][$650]; 15. 7-Kyle Reinhardt [18][$600]; 16. 13D-Danny Dietrich [12][$550]; 17. 89-Robbie Stillwagon [14][$500]; 18. 7S-Jason Sides [19][$500]; 19. 11K-Kraig Kinser [16][$500]; 20. 747-Davey Sammons [21][$500]; 21. 27Z-Sean Zemunik [23][$500]; 22. 71M-Dave Blaney [15][$500]; 23. 5R-Tyler Ross [17][$500]; 24. W20-Greg Wilson [22][$500]; Lap Leaders: David Gravel 1-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 1S-Logan Schuchart[+12]
Qualifying : 1. 15-Donny Schatz, 13.422; 2. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 13.53; 3. 5-David Gravel, 13.533; 4. 2-Shane Stewart, 13.624; 5. 7S-Jason Sides, 13.631; 6. 49-Brad Sweet, 13.661; 7. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.684; 8. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 13.707; 9. 17-Joey Saldana, 13.73; 10. 4-Paul McMahan, 13.73; 11. 41-Jason Johnson, 13.746; 12. 71M-Dave Blaney, 13.769; 13. 19-Brent Marks, 13.8; 14. 37-J.J. Grasso, 13.805; 15. 13D-Danny Dietrich, 13.852; 16. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 13.884; 17. 91-Anthony Fiore, 13.962; 18. 9-Daryn Pittman, 13.976; 19. 747-Davey Sammons, 14.03; 20. 5R-Tyler Ross, 14.043; 21. 7-Kyle Reinhardt, 14.043; 22. W20-Greg Wilson, 14.051; 23. 89-Robbie Stillwagon, 14.128; 24. 27Z-Sean Zemunik, 14.182; 25. 73B-Brett Michalski, 14.305; 26. 13-Clyde Knipp, 14.575; 27. 28F-Davie Franek, 14.588; 28. 1A-Jacob Allen, NT; 29. 1S-Logan Schuchart, NT
Heat #1 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer to Feature: 1. 2-Shane Stewart [2]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [1]; 3. 4-Paul McMahan [4]; 4. 19-Brent Marks [5]; 5. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [3]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [6]; 7. 747-Davey Sammons [7]; 8. W20-Greg Wilson [8]; 9. 73B-Brett Michalski [9]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [10]
Heat #2 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer to Feature: 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1]; 2. 41-Jason Johnson [4]; 3. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [3]; 4. 37-J.J. Grasso [5]; 5. 89-Robbie Stillwagon [8]; 6. 5R-Tyler Ross [7]; 7. 13-Clyde Knipp [9]; 8. 91-Anthony Fiore [6]; 9. 7S-Jason Sides [2]; 10. 1S-Logan Schuchart [10]
Heat #3 (8 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer to Feature: 1. 5-David Gravel [1]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [2]; 3. 17-Joey Saldana [3]; 4. 13D-Danny Dietrich [5]; 5. 71M-Dave Blaney [4]; 6. 7-Kyle Reinhardt [7]; 7. 27Z-Sean Zemunik [8]; 8. 28F-Davie Franek [9]; 9. 9-Daryn Pittman [6]
Craftsman Club Dash (6 Laps): 1. 41-Jason Johnson [2]; 2. 5-David Gravel [4]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 4. 15-Donny Schatz [3]; 5. 49X-Tim Shaffer [5]; 6. 2-Shane Stewart [6]
Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) – Top 6 Transfer to Feature: 1. 7S-Jason Sides [1][-]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [3][-]; 3. 747-Davey Sammons [4][-]; 4. W20-Greg Wilson [5][-]; 5. 27Z-Sean Zemunik [6][-]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [11][-]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$300]; 8. 91-Anthony Fiore [2][$250]; 9. 13-Clyde Knipp [8][$225]; 10. 73B-Brett Michalski [7][$200]; 11. 28F-Davie Franek [9][$200]
CONTINGENCY WINNERS: MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Greg Wilson; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): David Gravel; Penske Shocks ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Jason Johnson; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Brent Marks; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; Extended Stay America ($50 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Logan Schuchart; Super Flow ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; Craftsman Club Fast Five ($100 cash): Jason Johnson, David Gravel, Brad Sweet, Shane Stewart, N/A; Craftsman/Sears: Tim Shaffer; KSE Hard Charger: Logan Schuchart; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): David Gravel; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Danny Dietrich; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Sean Zemunik.
SEASON WINNERS
- Donny Schatz – 9 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19, LoneStar Speedway on March 3, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 9, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 10, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 18, Missouri State Fair Speedway on May 5, 81 Speedway on May 6, Eldora Speedway May 13);
- David Gravel – 8 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 17, Placerville Speedway on March 29, Perris Auto Speedway on April 1, Gator Motorplex on April 13, Plymouth Speedway on April 28, Lincoln Speedway on May 17, Williams Grove on May 19, New Egypt Speedway on May 24.)
- Jason Johnson – 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17, Devil’s Bowl on April 14)
- Brad Sweet – 2 (Stockton Dirt Track on March 25, Devil’s Bowl on April 15)
- Logan Schuchart – 2 (Keller Auto Speedway on March 31, Eldora Speedway on May 12)
- Brian Brown – 1 (Cocopah Speedway on April 7);
- Rico Abreu – 1 (Arizona Speedway on April 8)
- Parker Price-Miller – 1 (Tri-State Speedway on May 14).
World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Top-20 Standings – May 24, 2017
|
Pos.
|
Car
|
Driver
|
Total
|
Diff
|
Wins
|
Top 5’s
|
Top 10’s
|
|
1
|
15
|
Donny Schatz
|
3808
|
0
|
9
|
19
|
22
|
|
2
|
5
|
David Gravel
|
3762
|
-46
|
8
|
17
|
23
|
|
3
|
49
|
Brad Sweet
|
3714
|
-94
|
2
|
17
|
23
|
|
4
|
41
|
Jason Johnson
|
3568
|
-240
|
2
|
11
|
18
|
|
5
|
9
|
Daryn Pittman
|
3560
|
-248
|
0
|
7
|
17
|
|
6
|
2
|
Shane Stewart
|
3500
|
-308
|
1
|
7
|
17
|
|
7
|
93
|
Sheldon Haudenschild
|
3432
|
-376
|
0
|
5
|
14
|
|
8
|
1S
|
Logan Schuchart
|
3410
|
-398
|
2
|
6
|
11
|
|
9
|
17
|
Joey Saldana
|
3338
|
-470
|
0
|
3
|
6
|
|
10
|
7S
|
Jason Sides
|
3292
|
-516
|
0
|
4
|
12
|
|
11
|
4
|
Paul McMahan
|
3274
|
-534
|
0
|
2
|
9
|
|
12
|
19
|
Brent Marks
|
3272
|
-536
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
|
13
|
11k
|
Kraig Kinser
|
3248
|
-560
|
0
|
1
|
5
|
|
14
|
W20
|
Greg Wilson
|
3094
|
-714
|
0
|
1
|
5
|
|
15
|
1A
|
Jacob Allen
|
2680
|
-1128
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
16
|
13
|
Clyde Knipp
|
2526
|
-1282
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
17
|
2X
|
Parker Price-Miller
|
2026
|
-1782
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
|
18
|
24R
|
Rico Abreu
|
1932
|
-1876
|
1
|
6
|
9
|
|
19
|
18
|
Ian Madsen
|
1930
|
-1878
|
0
|
2
|
8
|
|
20
|
99
|
Brady Bacon
|
1796
|
-2012
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
For complete results, visit here
Sources: Mandee Pauch/World of Outlaws PR
http://www.woosprint.com/news/race-reports/458-2017-race-reports/4467-gravel-wins-at-new-egypt-speedway