With a long six-day stretch behind them, the competitors of the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Series are already marching on as they continue with the SuperClean Month of Money. For Paul McMahan and the No. 20
Tony Stewart Racing (TSR)/Bass Pro Shops/Eagle team, this week's three-race schedule will provide a chance to return to some familiar territory.
First on the docket is Wednesday's single-day event at Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario, Canada. McMahan and the WoO will make their first-ever appearances at the 3/8-mile facility as they cross the border expanding farther into North America.
Wednesday's event will also allow McMahan's Canadian-born crew chief, Jimmy Carr, a chance to return to his native ground. Carr, who hails from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, will also make his first visit to Ohsweken Speedway this week. The last time he was in Canada was in 1990. Carr began his career as a driver in the WoO and earned the 1991 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award. His final race in the driver's seat came in 2000.
Carr, McMahan and the WoO move on to I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich., for a one-day stop on Friday. In McMahan's last appearance at the half-mile track on June 9, 2005, he finished 16th in the A-main. TSR did not compete at the facility in 2006 due to a scheduling conflict with their commitment to the National Sprint Tour (NST) Series.
Wrapping up a four-race stretch to the tune of over 1,000 miles of drive time, the No. 20 TSR/Bass Pro Shops/Eagle team will make their last stop of the week at K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio on Saturday. The team's commitment to the NST series in 2006 forced them skip racing action at the facility last season. In McMahan's last appearance on the 3/8-mile oval on Sept. 27, 2005, he earned a 12th place finish.
In 48 WoO starts this season, McMahan has earned two wins, 11 top-five finishes, 26 top-10s and five quick time awards. He enters this week's events ranked eighth in the WoO Sprint Series championship standings with 6,147 points. McMahan trails series leader Donny Schatz by 640 points and is only 207 points out of fifth place.
Grandstand gates will open at Ohsweken Speedway on Wednesday at 2 p.m. EDT. An autograph session is schedule for 4:30 p.m., with racing set to begin at 7:45 p.m. The official Web site of Ohsweken Speedway is www.ohswekenspeedway.com. For tickets or more information, call 515-542-2116.
On Friday, pit gates at I-96 Speedway will open at 2 p.m. EDT. The grandstands will open at 4 p.m., with hot laps set to begin at 6 p.m. The official track Web site is www.i96speedway.com. Tickets can be purchased by calling 815-344-2023.
K-C Raceway will open pit gates on Saturday at 4 p.m. EDT. Grandstand gates will open at 4:30 p.m. EDT with hot laps scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. The official Web site of K-C Raceway is www.kc-raceway.com.
Quotes from Paul McMahan, driver of the No. 20 TSR/Bass Pro Shops/Eagle:
Are you excited about the WoO expansion into Canada?
"It's really cool that we're heading up to Canada this week. It says a lot for the series that we're able to expand into different markets and I think that it will be a lot of fun to compete in front of a different crowd on Wednesday. I'm also pretty excited to head to Ohsweken Speedway. It's always fun to go to a new track for the first time. I especially like 3/8-mile tracks. We've had some success on them in the past. I know that Jimmy Carr, my crew chief, is also looking forward to heading to Canada this week. It's a ways from where he grew up but I'm sure he'll get to see some people he's known for many years."
You've grabbed two top-10 finishes in recent years at I-96 Speedway. Are you looking forward to returning there on Friday?
"I-96 is really unique racetrack. I've always enjoyed racing there. We missed it last year because we had a conflicting date with the NST. I really like big, half-miles and I-96 is a track that can challenge you. You have to stay on top of the track all night, from hot laps right up to the A-main. I am hoping to better the two top-10 finishes I've had there in the past this week. I'd really like to put Bass Pro Shops and Chevrolet back in the winner's circle."
K-C Raceway is a 3/8-mile oval, a track size that you've found success on. What makes K-C unique?
"K-C is one of the nicest facilities we compete at all season. It's usually prepared very well and it's been pretty fast in the past. I didn't get to race there last year but we're looking forward to heading back there on Saturday night. It will be quite a haul from Michigan to southern Ohio but the racing will be worth it. K-C is another 3/8-mile track which is right up our alley. We've had some great runs in the past few weeks and we're hoping to keep it going this week."
