Stewart Locks in West Liberty Win with a Lucky Reset

World of Outlaws

Contact: Cristina Cordova
World of Outlaws PR
704-707-0236| ccordova@dirtcar.com

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With a Lot of Skill and a Little Luck, Shane Stewart Locks in West Liberty Raceway Win

WEST LIBERTY, IL - June 23, 2017 - Bixby, OK-native Shane Stewart commanded the Larson Marks Racing No. 2 car for 25 laps through the checkers to win the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series debut at the 1/2-mile West Liberty Raceway. Behind him Kasey Kahne Racing driver Brad Sweet fought Jason Johnson for second to round out the podium.

Stewart started the day out strong, qualifying second, but a bit of luck also came into play later that night. At the start of the West Liberty Hawkeye 25 Feature, both Johnson and Sweet got past Stewart, but a caution before the lap was complete forced a reset, giving him a second chance.

"That was my race, honestly," said Stewart. "I would've never passed those guys back if that caution hadn't come out. I honestly don't know what the heck happened. I just spun my tires really bad."

This marks the third win of the season and the first this month for Stewart, who came to the event with new Crew Chief Lee Stauffer at his side and now sits fourth in points standings, just four points past Daryn Pittman.

Behind the leader, Johnson and Sweet fell in line throughout the first half of the race. Ian Madsen made an early run on Pittman for fourth, but some Turn 4 trouble in Lap 12 resulted in a tow off the field and the end of the race for Madsen.

On the restart, Johnson just couldn't steal the lead from Stewart, and Sweet took advantage of the fumble, charging past him for second. Despite additional restarts, the three crossed the checkers in just that order: Stewart, Sweet, Johnson.

The battle between Stewart and Johnson commenced earlier, in the Craftsman Club Dash, with Stewart successfully stealing the lead for the win - a lead which Johnson had already stolen from Jac "Wild Child" Haudenschild during the Dash Draw.

From the looks - and sound - of it, this was to be the Wild Child's day. The twittersphere was ablaze all afternoon with news of his commanding the Stenhouse Jr./Wood Racing No. 17 car that night. And despite the many hard feelings aroused by Joey Saldana's absence, fans rallied behind J. Haudenschild, who answered back with Quick Time in Qualifying, setting the track record with a 15.737.

J. Haudenschild went on to win Heat 1 and was looking pretty great for the Feature until the Dash Inversion came in with a six, for a full-field inversion that set him back to sixth. There would be no win for the No. 17 that night as the Wild Child came in at 16.

Meanwhile, the younger Haudenschild, who started the feature beside his dad, just one position behind, took over dad's spot to come in sixth, and even held off Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver and eight-time Series Champion Donny Schatz for half the race.

As fans rushed to meet their favorite drivers in the Pit area after the race, though, a young boy ran in screaming: "Did you find the Wild Child yet? Did you?"

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series heads to Beaver Dam Raceway next for the Jim "JB" Boyd Memorial presented by Karavan Trailers on Saturday, June 24, 2017. Tickets can still be purchased online.

Traveling in for the show? World of Outlaws fans get 20% off accommodations at a nearby Extended Stay America.

WEST LIBERTY RACEWAY RESULTS:

Feature (25 Laps) - 1. 2-Shane Stewart [1][$10,000]; 2. 49-Brad Sweet [4][$5,500]; 3. 41-Jason Johnson [2][$3,200]; 4. 9-Daryn Pittman [3][$2,800]; 5. 15-Donny Schatz [8][$2,500]; 6. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [9][$2,300]; 7. 21-Brian Brown [11][$2,200]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [15][$2,100]; 9. 4-Paul McMahan [10][$2,050]; 10. 5-David Gravel [14][$2,000]; 11. 1M-Danny Lasoski [12][$1,500]; 12. 7S-Jason Sides [13][$1,200]; 13. 11K-Kraig Kinser [16][$1,100]; 14. 24-Terry McCarl [21][$1,050]; 15. W20-Greg Wilson [20][$1,000]; 16. 17-Jac Haudenschild [6][$900]; 17. 71A-R.J. Johnson [22][$800]; 18. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [17][$800]; 19. 15M-Bobby Mincer [24][$800]; 20. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [19][$800]; 21. 13-Clyde Knipp [23][$800]; 22. 1S-Logan Schuchart [18][$800]; 23. 18-Ian Madsen [5][$800]; 24. 6-Carson McCarl [7][$800]; Lap Leaders: Shane Stewart 1-25; KSE Hard Charger Award: 19-Brent Marks[+7]

Qualifying - 1. 17-Jac Haudenschild, 15.737; 2. 2-Shane Stewart, 15.848; 3. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.859; 4. 6-Carson McCarl, 15.861; 5. 18-Ian Madsen, 15.89; 6. 41-Jason Johnson, 15.947; 7. 9-Daryn Pittman, 15.951; 8. 21-Brian Brown, 16.001; 9. 1M-Danny Lasoski, 16.006; 10. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 16.029; 11. 15-Donny Schatz, 16.033; 12. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 16.043; 13. 4-Paul McMahan, 16.089; 14. 5-David Gravel, 16.09; 15. 19-Brent Marks, 16.096; 16. 7S-Jason Sides, 16.182; 17. 5J-Jeremy Schultz, 16.224; 18. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 16.229; 19. 24-Terry McCarl, 16.374; 20. 9X-Paul Nienhiser, 16.396; 21. 1A-Jacob Allen, 16.414; 22. W20-Greg Wilson, 16.634; 23. 71A-R.J. Johnson, 16.669; 24. 51B-Joe B, 16.861; 25. 15M-Bobby Mincer, 17.073; 26. 19W-Bobby Weuve, 17.137; 27. 13-Clyde Knipp, 17.501

Heat #1 - (8 Laps) - Top 6 Transfer - 1. 17-Jac Haudenschild [1]; 2. 9-Daryn Pittman [3]; 3. 6-Carson McCarl [2]; 4. 4-Paul McMahan [5]; 5. 7S-Jason Sides [6]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [4]; 7. W20-Greg Wilson [8]; 8. 24-Terry McCarl [7]; 9. 15M-Bobby Mincer [9]

Heat #2 - (8 Laps) - Top 6 Transfer - 1. 18-Ian Madsen [2]; 2. 2-Shane Stewart [1]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [4]; 4. 21-Brian Brown [3]; 5. 5-David Gravel [5]; 6. 5J-Jeremy Schultz [6]; 7. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [7]; 8. 71A-R.J. Johnson [8]; 9. 19W-Bobby Weuve [9]

Heat #3 - (8 Laps) - Top 6 Transfer - 1. 49-Brad Sweet [1]; 2. 41-Jason Johnson [2]; 3. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild [4]; 4. 1M-Danny Lasoski [3]; 5. 19-Brent Marks [5]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [6]; 7. 1A-Jacob Allen [7]; 8. 51B-Joe B [8]; 9. 13-Clyde Knipp [9]

Craftsman Club Dash (6 Laps) - 1. 2-Shane Stewart [2]; 2. 41-Jason Johnson [1]; 3. 9-Daryn Pittman [3]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [4]; 5. 18-Ian Madsen [5]; 6. 17-Jac Haudenschild [6]

Last Chance Showdown (12 Laps) - Top 6 Transfer - 1. 9X-Paul Nienhiser [2][-]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson [4][-]; 3. 24-Terry McCarl [1][-]; 4. 71A-R.J. Johnson [5][-]; 5. 13-Clyde Knipp [9][-]; 6. 15M-Bobby Mincer [7][-]; 7. 51B-Joe B [6][$300]; 8. 19W-Bobby Weuve [8][$250]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen [3][$225]

CONTINGENCY WINNERS: MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Carson McCarl; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Shane Stewart; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Brent Marks; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Paul McMahan; Comp Cams ($50 cash): David Gravel; Extended Stay America ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Jason Sides; Super Flow ($50 cash): Terry McCarl; Craftsman Club Fast Five ($100 cash): Shane Stewart, Jason Johnson, Daryn Pittman, Brad Sweet, Jac Haudenschild; Craftsman/Sears: Ian Madsen; KSE Hard Charger: Brent Marks; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Shane Stewart; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Jac Haudenschild; JE Pistons (Set of Rings): Clyde Knipp.

SEASON WINNERS

Donny Schatz - 11 (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, Knoxville Raceway on June 10, Granite City on June 20)
David Gravel - 9 (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, River Cities Speedway on June 16)
Brad Sweet - 4 (Stockton Dirt Track on March 25, Devil’s Bowl on April 15, Jackson Motorplex on June 3, Knoxville Raceway on June 9)
Logan Schuchart - 3 (Keller Auto Speedway on March 31, Eldora Speedway on May 12, Charlotte on May 26)
Jason Johnson - 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17, Devil’s Bowl on April 14)
Shane Stewart – 3 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 20, Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 29, West Liberty Raceway on June 23)
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)
Ian Madsen – 1 (Jackson Motorplex on June 1)
Kerry Madsen – 1 (Jackson Motorplex on June 2)
Kyle Larson – 1 (Eagle Raceway on June 13)