Jason Johnson Breaks Up Shane Stewart's And Daryn Pittman's Domination
Jason Johnson Breaks Up Shane Stewart's And Daryn Pittman's Domination
Jason Johnson became the first driver other than Shane Stewart and Daryn Pittman to win a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series race in the last six tries.
The last five World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature races have seen the same two winners in alternating events -- Daryn Pittman and Shane Stewart. And at the start of Wednesday night's race at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, OR, it appeared it would happen again -- until Jason Johnson entered the battle.
Johnson led the final 15 laps of the A-Main to capture his fourth Outlaws win of the season.
Stewart started on the pole and led the first 12 laps before Pittman passed him low on the track. If the well-established pattern held, this would of been the race-winning pass. Stewart won Monday at Gray's Harbor Speedway in Elma, WA, which was the fifth consecutive race in which he and Pittman swapped the top spot.
Pittman was slowed by lapped traffic two laps later, and Johnson found a superior path to steal the lead on lap 15.
Johnson led the remaining 15 laps around the 0.3-mile track. Pittman settled for second, and Brad Sweet snuck into the top three.
Action was tight up front when Johnson took the lead. Lapped traffic slowed the leaders, but only Johnson made it around. Stewart was mired in the thickening battle as the three drivers crossed the midway point neck and neck.
Johnson survived three cautions in the last six laps, getting the jump on Pittman on each restart. One of the three cautions was brought out by the pole-sitter Shane Stewart, who suffered a flat tire that cost him a top 10 finish. He would cross under the checkers in 11th.
"That was a lot of fun," Johnson said. "I thought the track was great. I know it was a little wet early on, but come feature time it had two lanes."
The wet track never didn't seem to bother the winner, who qualified second and won his heat before starting on the outside pole in the feature.
Sweet had his third podium finish in a row and his sixth in the last nine features, causing the driver of the No. 49 to cut into Donny Schatz's points lead. Schatz finished two spots behind Sweet in fifth, separated by quick-time qualifier Kraig Kinser in fourth.
Top 10 Finishers
1. Jason Johnson
2. Daryn Pittman
3. Brad Sweet
4. Kraig Kinser
5. Donny Schatz
6. Sheldon Haudenschild
7. Brent Marks
8. Logan Schuchart
9. David Gravel
10. Jamie Veal
Complete Results, With Heats
Johnson led the final 15 laps of the A-Main to capture his fourth Outlaws win of the season.
Stewart started on the pole and led the first 12 laps before Pittman passed him low on the track. If the well-established pattern held, this would of been the race-winning pass. Stewart won Monday at Gray's Harbor Speedway in Elma, WA, which was the fifth consecutive race in which he and Pittman swapped the top spot.
Pittman was slowed by lapped traffic two laps later, and Johnson found a superior path to steal the lead on lap 15.
Johnson led the remaining 15 laps around the 0.3-mile track. Pittman settled for second, and Brad Sweet snuck into the top three.
Action was tight up front when Johnson took the lead. Lapped traffic slowed the leaders, but only Johnson made it around. Stewart was mired in the thickening battle as the three drivers crossed the midway point neck and neck.
Johnson survived three cautions in the last six laps, getting the jump on Pittman on each restart. One of the three cautions was brought out by the pole-sitter Shane Stewart, who suffered a flat tire that cost him a top 10 finish. He would cross under the checkers in 11th.
"That was a lot of fun," Johnson said. "I thought the track was great. I know it was a little wet early on, but come feature time it had two lanes."
The wet track never didn't seem to bother the winner, who qualified second and won his heat before starting on the outside pole in the feature.
Sweet had his third podium finish in a row and his sixth in the last nine features, causing the driver of the No. 49 to cut into Donny Schatz's points lead. Schatz finished two spots behind Sweet in fifth, separated by quick-time qualifier Kraig Kinser in fourth.
Top 10 Finishers
1. Jason Johnson
2. Daryn Pittman
3. Brad Sweet
4. Kraig Kinser
5. Donny Schatz
6. Sheldon Haudenschild
7. Brent Marks
8. Logan Schuchart
9. David Gravel
10. Jamie Veal
Complete Results, With Heats