KILGORE, Texas - In what is shaping up to be the biggest event of the season at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas, the inaugural WoO Fest for the World of Outlaws has gotten even bigger, as track owners Sam and Lisa Hafertepe have increased the purse for the event on Saturday, October 24 with $12,000 now awaiting the winner of the 30-lap A-Feature.
The World of Outlaws returned to Lone Star Speedway earlier this season for the first time since 2004 and played to the largest crowd in the history of the blazing fast half-mile. Since that visit, the track has been resurfaced with new clay making it even faster, along with the completion of numerous other ongoing projects to the grounds and facility at Lone Star Speedway.
“We're really looking forward to WoO Fest,” said Sam Hafertepe. “It should be a great night of racing and we have all kinds of games and prizes for the kids as well. We have gained so much knowledge this season and learned so much back in the spring with our first World of Outlaws race. It's going to be a big night and we are very excited for it.”
Joey Saldana was victorious at Lone Star Speedway back on April 10 to put his name in the record books as just the third driver to win with the World of Outlaws at the track, joining 20-time series champion Steve Kinser and three-time title winner Sammy Swindell. He was victorious the following night at Houston Raceway Park and looks to remain undefeated in the Lone Star State this season with the World of Outlaws. The native of Brownsburg, Indiana leads the series with 18 A-Feature wins in 2009 and 19 overall triumphs.
“I'm so happy to be racing in Texas, especially Kilgore,” Saldana said after his win in April. “This is a beautiful facility. I'm glad all the fans came out and supported this. We need to be back in this state racing. The Outlaws belong in Texas.”
Heading into the inaugural WoO Fest at Lone Star Speedway on Saturday, October 24, Jason Meyers and three-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz are locked in a tight battle for the 2009 World of Outlaws championship, with just 18 markers separating the pair with three events remaining in 2009.
Schatz, who is the current point leader, was fastest in time trials at Lone Star Speedway back in April and finished second in the A-Feature event, while Meyers turned in a fourth-place performance. Meyers, who leads the series with 52 Top-10 finishes has finished eighth or better in 14 consecutive World of Outlaws events as he chases his first career title.
“That's a pretty cool place, it's pretty wide open,” stated Meyers recently when asked about Lone Star Speedway. “It depends on what the weather is like as well. Usually it gets pretty slick there, but this time of year, who knows what you could get down there. We'll just to have wait and see.”
The inaugural WoO Fest will feature games for kids, drawings for Halloween costumes and other prizes. Also, a special event T-shirt will be for sale at the track on the day of the race.
On Saturday, October 24 at Lone Star Speedway, general admission tickets for adults will be $25, with general admission tickets for Seniors/Military $20, with children ages 6-12 $15 and kids ages five-under admitted free of charge in the general admission seats. All reserved tickets will be $30. For tickets visit http://www.lonestarspeedway.com or call the track at 903-986-9731.
The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway is a semi-banked 0.4-mile oval. The track record of 11.880 seconds was established by Jeff Shepard on October 6, 2001.
2008 Event Winners: Brooke Tatnell on October 31, Donny Schatz on November 1
Pit gates will open at 12:45 p.m. ET, with the grandstand gates opening at 4 p.m. ET with hot laps set for 5:45 p.m. ET.
