Saldana Scores with Mopar Power, Earns 12th '09 Victory
Mopar-powered driver Joey Saldana set a career high in 2007 with the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, winning 12 A-Feature events over the course of the nearly 80-race season. Saldana matched that mark on Wednesday night, July 8 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, winning for the 12th time in 2009 in just the 34th race of the season.
Saldana started on the pole and led the first 11 laps before Donny Schatz got around him. The duo battled in traffic until Saldana, using the high side, ducked under Schatz to take the lead on the 32nd lap. Saldana held on to the lead after a two-lap shootout necessitated by a late caution and claimed the 51st win of his World of Outlaws career.
Saldana is in the midst of his fourth season driving for Kasey Kahne Racing and has won 36 World of Outlaws A-Feature events since joining the team owned by the NASCAR star, who was in attendance for the win on Wednesday night.
"It's exciting for this whole team," said Kahne. "They have done a great job all season. To see a race like that ... was unreal. That was awesome to be here and be a fan and get to watch it."
With a second-place finish on Saturday, July 11, at Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam Wis., Saldana trails the first-place Schatz by just five points in the World of Outlaws Sprint Series point standings. For more info on the WoO Sprint Series, visit http://www.worldofoutlaws.com.