Pittman Earns Third Outlaws Victory at SoCal Showdown

He picks up first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win at Perris since 2002

PERRIS, Calif. – April 13, 2013 – It seemed fitting that the top World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series star collided with the premier Californian, who titles himself the “Outlaw killer.”

Both literally and figuratively, championship points leader Daryn Pittman and reigning King of California Tim Kaeding capped the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series five-week West Coast swing in a head-to-head battle on Saturday in the SoCal Showdown at Perris Auto Speedway.

Pittman and Kaeding, along with Donny Schatz, are the only drivers to record multiple feature victories this season and of course, they were in a heated match to decide the winner on the famed half mile.

Kaeding took the lead on the start of the 30-lap feature, which went without a caution, and he entered traffic on Lap 8. One lap later, Pittman passed Schatz for the runner-up position on the bottom groove in turn three.

On the fast track, Pittman reeled in Kaeding before once again powering to the lead in turns three and four of Lap 18.

“Really the pass was the same with the way I got Donny,” Pittman said. “I dove it in pretty deep into (turn) three. Them guys were kind of opening up their entry.

“Basically the same thing with Kaeding and I felt a little contact coming off of (turn) four. They were kinda opening up their entry and trying to come back across. I just shortened up the corner and we kind of met in the middle. It might not have been the prettiest thing, but I don’t think it was anything anybody else wouldn’t do for a win.”

Kaeding saw things a bit differently.

“He slid underneath us and kinda got us in the left front (tire) a little bit,” he said. “I’m just happy we didn’t crash and ended up second. A podium is better than finishing last.

“We’re not in the points deal, but we’re definitely going to be the Outlaw killer this year.”

While Kaeding stayed within five car lengths for the final 12 laps of the main event, Pittman hit his marks to record his first victory at Perris Auto Speedway since 2002. It also gave Pittman his third feature win this season – tops in the series.

A night after winning his second event of the season, Schatz rounded out the podium with a third-place finish.

“The track was fast and we just kind of missed it there in the feature,” he said. “We were ok there at the end, but you just couldn’t hardly get anybody. We just couldn’t even get through lapped traffic. It was a little bit tricky.”

Jason Meyers placed fourth and fast qualifier Chad Kemenah ended fifth.

Joey Saldana was sixth, David Gravel seventh, Sammy Swindell eighth, Craig Dollansky ninth and Cody Darrah rounded out the top 10.

SoCal Showdown Notebook

NOTES – Chad Kemenah set quick time in qualifying for the second straight race. … Donny Schatz claimed his third heat race win, Tim Kaeding his series-leading seventh and Craig Dollansky his third of the season. … The dash draw was a six. … Schatz won his second dash of the season. … This was the first event of the season without a Last Chance Showdown.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS – Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Joey Saldana; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Tim Kaeding; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Daryn Pittman; STP ($50 cash): Tim Kaeding; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($50 cash and $200 certificate): Chad Kemenah; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; UNOH ($50 cash): Joey Saldana; American Racing Custom Wheels ($50 cash): David Gravel; VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash): Sammy Swindell; Edelbrock ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Cody Darrah; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Jonathan Allard; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Jonathan Allard; Superflow ($50 cash): Jason Sides; JE Pistons (set of rings): Greg Wilson; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Austen Wheatley; JE Pistons (set of rings): Bill Rose; Bruce High Performance Transporters ($200 certificate): Bill Rose; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Bill Rose; Armor All (case of product): Tim Kaeding; KSE Racing Products ($100 certificate): Austen Wheatley.

WINNERS – Daryn Pittman – 3 (Perris Auto Speedway on April 13, Tucson International Raceway on March 9 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 15); Tim Kaeding – 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 15 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 7); Donny Schatz – 2 (Kings Speedway on April 12 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas on March 6); Craig Dollansky – 1 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16); Shane Golobic – 1 (Antioch Speedway on April 5); Kyle Larson – 1 (Stockton 99 Dirt Track on March 22); Danny Lasoski – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 17); Paul McMahan – 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23); Terry McCarl – 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 16) and Sammy Swindell – 1 (Merced Speedway on March 29).

TIME TRIALS – Chad Kemenah was the fastest qualifier around the half-mile oval with a time of 14.232 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Joey Saldana (4 points), Daryn Pittman (3), Jason Meyers (2) and Cody Darrah (1).

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