This message was edited on
January 29, 2009 at
08:09:11 AM by World of Outlaws
SAMMY’S BACK: Swindell Returns to the World of Outlaws in
2009
Concord, NC — January 29, 2009 — What is shaping up to
be one of the most competitive, if not the most competitive field in the
history of the World of Outlaws just got even stronger, with the
announcement by three-time series champion Sammy Swindell that he will return
to the series full-time in 2009 to battle for his fourth title.
Swindell, who claimed World of Outlaws titles in 1981 and
1982 as well as 1997, will pilot the No. 10 Maxim for Tom Rolfe Racing with Don
Ott power. The team is based in Chico, California, but will be run out of
Swindell’s shop in his home state of Tennessee. The 2006 inductee into the
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame ran a number of races for the team last season
on the West Coast, winning at Placerville Speedway in California and finishing
fifth in the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway.
“It was Tom’s decision,” said Swindell of the decision to
take to the road this year with the World of Outlaws beginning in Florida. “He
wanted to go down there for the first races of the year. We are going to try
and make a statement there. I am excited to be competing with the Outlaws.”
Swindell joins three fellow World of Outlaws champions in
the mix this year, including his longtime rival, 20-time series champion Steve
Kinser, three-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz and 2001 series
titlist Danny Lasoski. This will be just the second time in the 31-year history
of the series that four former champions have competed full-time in the same
year, as Swindell, Steve Kinser, Mark Kinser and Dave Blaney all were on the
tour in 1997.
“It’s getting tougher and tougher all the time,” Swindell
noted of the competition with the World of Outlaws. “There are not many
advantages anymore that you can have. The biggest advantage that you can have
is to have a big budget and smart people.”
The native of Germantown, Tenn. is second on the all-time
win list with 268 A-Feature victories entering the 2009 campaign. His first
World of Outlaws A-Feature win came at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Texas during
the series inaugural 1978 season. He has won in 28 different seasons with the
series, with his most recent triumph coming in 2006 at the famed Eldora
Speedway, winning both nights of a two-day show.
Swindell’s quest for a fourth World of Outlaws championship
will begin next week at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida during the 38th
Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. In his career at the half-mile, he has
two wins and 10 Top-10 finishes in just 12 starts.
“It will be nice to get down to Florida and get started,”
said Swindell. “I haven’t been there for a few years. I have won there a few
times. It will be nice to be back in something where I can have some control
and run the team like I used to.”
While he has not competed full-time with the World of
Outlaws for a number of years, Swindell knows very well what it takes to be
fast night in and night out and expects to be quick right out of the box next
week. Of the first 15 tracks on the 2009 World of Outlaws schedule, he has won
at 13 of them.
“Just winning some races,” said Swindell, when asked what
would make it a good season. “We want to show what we can do. I have been
competitive when I get back in a car, and there have been some big gaps in
there. I was helping (son) Kevin out there for a bit with his things and had
been driving just whatever was around. It will be good to be back out
there.”
Swindell already has a few races under his belt this season,
turning in a perfect performance at the 23rd Annual Chili Bowl
Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla. winning the Race of Champions, as well as the
first qualifying night and also the 50-lap main event for the fifth time in his
career.
The 2009 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series seasons kicks
off February 6-8 at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida with the 38th
Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH. For more information on the event,
including tickets, visit http://www.dirtcarnationals.com.
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