A pair of World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champions split wins in Kansas last weekend. Daryn Pittman was victorious at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, while Donny Schatz triumphed at Dodge City Raceway Park. For Pittman, it marked his ninth win of the season, which is tied for second-most behind Schatz, who now has 20 victories in 2018. The series heads to Central Pennsylvania this weekend for the final two rounds of the year against the Pennsylvania Posse.

Knows the way to victory lane

Daryn Pittman won at Lakeside Speedway with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series in 2003 and returned to the winner’s circle at the half-mile last weekend. Pittman is just the fourth driver in series history to win more than once at Lakeside, joining Hall of Famers Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Doug Wolfgang. The 13 years between wins at Lakeside for Pittman, marked the longest stretch between victories for a driver at the venue.

Extending his record

Donny Schatz’s win at Dodge City Raceway Park was his 20^thof the year, which extended his string of 20-plus wins seasons to sixth consecutive seasons. Last year, the nine-time and defending series titlist, became the first driver in series history to have five-straight seasons of 20 or more wins. The win at Dodge City was Schatz’s first in 45 days, as his most recent win had come early in September in Oregon, during the West Coast Swing.

A solid first impression

Joey Saldana finished fifth in his first start behind the wheel of the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 at Lakeside Speedway. He started eighth and ran around sixth and seventh for the first two-third of the race. Saldana worked his way into fifth, during the final 10 laps of the 30-lap contest. The veteran driver will also pilot the car during the World Finals at Charlotte to close out the season.

A pair of top-fives

Sheldon Haudenschild and Shane Stewart both turned in top-five showings with their car owners in attendance at Lakeside Speedway. Haudenschild, who drives for a team co-owned by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ran third, while Stewart, who drives for Kyle Larson, crossed the line in fourth.

Season-best

Ian Madsen turned in his best performance of the season at Dodge City Raceway Park. The leading contender for the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award was fastest in time trials, won the first heat race, won the dash and finished second in the main event. After starting on the pole, Madsen led the first eight laps of the 30-lap race, with eventual winner Donny Schatz getting by him in lapped traffic. Madsen made a run at Schatz, again in traffic, in the late going, coming up just two-tenths-of-a-second short at the line.

In the top-five

Brian Brown made the tow west to Dodge City Raceway Park and earned a top-five finish. The native of Grain Valley, MO, started 12^thand steadily worked his way to fifth at the checkered flag. Brown celebrated his 40^thbirthday at his home track of Lakeside Speedway on Friday.

Strong debut

Hunter Schuerenberg and the Jimco Motorsports team made their first trip to Dodge City Raceway Park and were rewarded with a top-10 finish. The veteran driver, who focused on winged sprint car racing this season, after being a non-wing driver in the past, finished ninth in his debut at the state-of-the-art three-eighths-mile.

First features

Cody Ledger and Mason Daniel both qualified for their first-career A-Feature with the World of Outlaws at Lakeside Speedway. Ledger, who finished 17th, took the wing off the next night at Valley Speedway, just up the road from Lakeside and garnered a top-10 finishes. Daniel, who made his Outlaws debut the previous weekend at the Terre Haute Action Track, finished 18^th, with 2001 series champion Danny Lasoski, turning the wrenches.

New track record

Ian Madsen set a new track record in time trials at Dodge City Raceway Park. Madsen’s lap of 11.759-seconds shattered the existing mark, which has been set in 2005. A total of 22 of the 23 drivers in attendance were under the old track record, on a crisp evening, which produced plenty of horsepower.

NASCAR presence

With NASCAR competing last weekend at Kansas Speedway, which is less than 10 miles from Lakeside Speedway, there was a strong NASCAR presence at the half-mile. Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who are both World of Outlaws team owners, made the trip over to Lakeside to watch their drivers compete, as did fellow Cup driver and recent winner Aric Almirola. A number of crew members from NASCAR teams, some of whom used to wrench on World of Outlaws cars, were also in attendance as well.

Hard chargers

Brock Zearfoss picked up the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award in his debut at Lakeside Speedway, coming from 18^thto 11^thfor the Destiny Motorsports team. Sam Hafertepe Jr. worked his way from 23^rdto 15^that Dodge City Raceway Park to garner those same honors.

Points update

Donny Schatz extended his lead over Brad Sweet to 278 markers with just four point-paying events remaining on the season. The battle for third is heating up, as Daryn Pittman has closed to within 24 points of David Gravel. Shane Stewart remains fifth, with Logan Schuchart in sixth, Sheldon Haudenschild sits seventh, Ian Madsen rides eighth, Brent Marks is ninth and Kraig Kinser in 10^th.

Up next

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series makes a 20-plus hour journey from Dodge City, KS, to Port Royal Speedway in Pennsylvania for the Tuscarora 50 weekend. Donny Schatz won at Port Royal last year with the Outlaws and has two wins at the half-mile in his career. The North Dakota native raced at the track earlier this season in a late model event, earning a top-five finish. Brad Sweet and Logan Schuchart are past winners at Port Royal, as is Ryan Smith, who scored his first-career Outlaws victory at the venue in 2014. Logan Wagner won the track championship at Port Royal this season, while Lance Dewease was the leading winner at the half-mile with four triumphs.