WOO: Swindell Claims Duel in the Dakotas Finale
13 July 1998
By Richard DayWEST FARGO, ND - Sammy Swindell's intense desire to successfully defend his Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series championship was put to the test during the Inaugural Duel in the Dakotas at Red River Valley Speedway.
Swindell, forced to examine every part on his #1 Channellock Stealth during the preliminary programs, passed the test with honors Saturday when he claimed the $16,000 first prize in the "A" Feature.
"We struggled the first couple of nights here," Sammy said, "and I'm still not sure exactly what we fixed. The Channellock car was pretty fast tonight."
Swindell said his crew changed "just about everything" on his car Friday when his engine started missing as it reached 6500 Rpm. They replaced the fuel tank twice, the fuel pump, the fuel lines, the magneto, the ignition box and the engine.
Swindell didn't need his crew to change anything Saturday. He passed Steve Kinser during a 27th-lap restart and won the race with 10 car-lengths to spare. His sixth "A" Feature victory of the season pushed Sammy to within 24 points of Kinser in their battle for the World of Outlaws' 20th Anniversary championship.
Scoring the most points in the preliminary programs gave "The King of the Outlaws" the luxury of starting the 30-lap main event on the pole. He drove his #11 Quaker State Maxim into the lead as the green flag fell, only to have Brooke Tatnell hit the outside retaining wall and start a four-car crash involving Wade Nygaard, "B" Feature winner Daryn Pittman and Joe Gaerte.
Mark Kinser steered the #5M Wirtgen Maxim around his cousin in the fourth corner and beat him down the front straightaway as the green flag replaced the red. Steve caught Mark in turn one, however, and took the lead with a low move in the second corner.
"The King of the Outlaws" entered lapped traffic with a six- car-length advantage during the fourth lap. Steve slowed in dense lapped traffic 10 laps later, allowing Mark to catch him.
Mark was challenging Steve for the lead late in the 16th lap when Tyler Walker stopped on the back stretch with a flat right rear tire. Walker's crew found more problems on the #35 Air Sep Eagle after changing the tire, and kept him in the pits.
The Kinser cousins raced nose-to-tail after the race resumed, and Swindell joined the battle for the lead during lap 17. Steve, Mark and Sammy raced three-abreast in the fourth corner the next time around, but Steve managed to maintain first place.
The leaders were nose-to-tail again when they entered lapped traffic during the 20th lap. Swindell executed a low move into the fourth corner to take second from Mark the next time around.
Kinser opened a three-car-length advantage during lap 23, only to have Sammy catch him late in the next lap.
First Racing Champions Heat Race winner Stevie Smith was trying to pass Mark for third place in turn three late in the 26th lap when a tie rod broke, sending the #19 Ingersoll-Rand Black Bandit into the retaining wall.
Swindell took the lead with a high move around Kinser in the fourth corner as the green flag replaced the yellow. Just seconds after Sammy completed the 27th lap, Andy Hillenburg stopped on the front straightaway with a flat right front tire, setting up a three-lap dash to the checkered flag.
Swindell controlled the restart and cruised to the 235th "A" Feature victory of his Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series career.
"It seemed like Steve was catching the lapped cars in all the right places," Sammy said, "but I knew if we got to an open track we'd be faster. It was one of those deals where you had to get the breaks in traffic and with the cautions.
"The Channellock car has been strong all year long, and we're just now half-way through the season. As long as we can continue finishing races, we should be up front when it's all over."
Danny Lasoski finished the main event in fourth place, ahead of Johnny Herrera, Jac Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, 16th-starting Craig Dollansky, Jeff Swindell and Greg Hodnett.
Dion Hindi was running second in the "B" Feature when the top wing on his #18 Sam's Town J&J broke, causing him to hit the outside guard rail and flip through the first corner. Hindi was taken to a nearby hospital and kept overnight for observation.
Shane Carson's collision with Jason Wendt and Pittman during the Second Racing Champions Heat Race sent him flipping down the back stretch. Shane was in fourth place in the "B" Feature when a U-join broke and kept him from qualifying for the main event.
The Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series is scheduled to run $40,000 events at Cedar Lake Speedway Monday and Bloomington Speedway Wednesday before sanctioning the 15th Annual Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway Friday and Saturday. TNN: The Nashville Network will televise both races from Eldora Speedway live.
1998 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series Inaugural Duel in the Dakotas Red River Valley Speedway, West Fargo, ND
Saturday, July 11, Feature Program #35
First Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Stevie Smith, 2. Donny Schatz, 3. Joe Gaerte, 4. Tyler Walker, 5. Wade Nygaard, 6. Dion Hindi, 7. John Lambertz, 8. Jimmy Kouba, 9. Tee Young. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
Second Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Dale Blaney, 2. Andy Hillenburg, 3. Jeff Swindell, 4. Brooke Tatnell, 5. Jason Linnell, 6. Jason Wendt, 7. Daryn Pittman, 8. Shane Carson, 9. Mark Dobmeier. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
Third Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Jac Haudenschild, 2. Johnny Herrera, 3. Craig Dollansky, 4. Greg Hodnett, 5. Bill Robertson, 6. Loren Langreud, 7. Chad Mellenberndt, 8. Scott McDonald, 9. Pat Miller. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
B Feature (10 laps): 1. Daryn Pittman, 2. Jimmy Kouba, 3. Jason Wendt, 4.. Pat Miller, 5. Scott McDonald, 6. Tee Young ($200); 7. Dion Hindi ($175); 8. Shane Carson ($150); 9. Mark Dobmeier ($125); 10. Chad Mellenberndt ($100); 11. John Lambertz ($90); 12. Loren Langreud ($80). (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)
Steve Kinser, Mark Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Danny Lasoski qualified for the first two rows of the "A" Feature for scoring the most points in the preliminary programs.
A Feature (30 laps): 1. Sammy Swindell ($16,000); 2. Steve Kinser ($10,000); 3. Mark Kinser ($5,500); 4. Danny Lasoski ($4,600); 5. Johnny Herrera ($3,500); 6. Jac Haudenschild ($2,760); 7. Donny Schatz ($2,300); 8. Craig Dollansky ($2,200); 9. Jeff Swindell ($2,100); 10. Greg Hodnett ($2,000); 11. Brooke Tatnell ($1,700); 12. Andy Hillenburg ($1,600); 13. Dale Blaney ($1,450); 14. Bill Robertson ($1,300); 15. Jason Wendt ($1,220); 16. Stevie Smith ($1,050); 17. Pat Miller ($1,020); 18. Tyler Walker ($700); 19. Jimmy Kouba ($620); 20. Scott McDonald ($620); 21. Jason Linnell ($600); 22. Joe Gaerte ($600); 23. Wade Nygaard ($600); 24. Daryn Pittman ($620).
Lap leaders: Steve Kinser 1-26, Sammy Swindell 27-30
