Shane Stewart Joins Elite Club With First New Zealand Win
Shane Stewart Joins Elite Club With First New Zealand Win
A select few winged Sprint Car drivers have won races in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Stewart joined them Tuesday night.
By Tony Veneziano
A select few winged Sprint Car drivers have won races in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The ones who have accomplished this remarkable feat comprise a venerable “who’s who” list of the sport. With a victory on Tuesday night at Robertson Holden International Speedway in Palmerston North, New Zealand, Shane Stewart added his name to this elite club.
Drivers who have won in all four countries include: 20-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion Steve Kinser (who also has won in Mexico), nine-time and defending World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, who has 99 career World of Outlaws A-Feature as well as 74 Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions wins, and Craig Dollansky with 59 career Outlaws A-Main wins.
Making the win even more special for the native of Bixby, Oklahoma, who now calls the Indianapolis area home, is that the car he drove was originally purchased for the late Bryan Clauson to race.
Had a good night in Palmerston North. Got the win in a car that was bought for Bryan Clauson to drive in New Zealand. Proud to win a race down here in his honor.
— Shane Stewart (@shanestewart_2) December 12, 2017
Stewart took the lead around the halfway point of the main event, getting around pole sitter Michael Pickens, who won the first round of the Porter Hire International Sprintcar Series last weekend. Stewart would score the win, with Pickens crossing the line second and Jamie Larsen third.
Stewart, who recently got married, will wrap up the three-round Porter Hire International Sprintcar Series this weekend at Western Springs Speedway, in Auckland, New Zealand, where he finished fourth last weekend.
Fellow American drivers entered include World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series team owner and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart as well as California natives Kyle Hirst and Jonathan Allard.
Shane Stewart Makes FloRacing’s Inaugural Flo 50
Upon arrival back in the United States, Shane will begin preparation for the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, OK, which will see him pilot a machine for the D&E Supply race team, owned by David Stephenson and Ernie Cothern. The indoor event is set for Jan. 9-13.
The veteran driver will then set his sights on chasing a World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series championship for Kyle Larson Racing, with whom Stewart won eight races last season en route to a top five finish in points. The 2018 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series season kicks off with the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida on Friday, Feb. 9.