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Blaney Survives Weather, Attrition to Claim Commonwealth Clash

Schatz garners runner-up honors to extend Outlaws championship lead to 114 points

SARVER, Pa. - Sept. 22, 2012 - Patience was key on a late, chilly and wet Saturday night at Lernerville Speedway.

Following a lengthy delay to the Commonwealth Clash, in which the program had to restart after weather postponed the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event during qualifying, a patient Dale Blaney was credited with his first Outlaws victory of the season as attrition took its toll on the frontrunners.

"I knew it was going to be tough for them to get it in," he said. "We just put ourselves in good position and were fortunate enough to win one."

Blaney inherited the lead with three laps remaining when polesitter Craig Dollansky, who led the first 32 laps, slowed dramatically down the frontstretch as his engine began to expire. Dollansky then putted around the 4/10-mile track to finish 11th.

He wasn't the only driver to sustain a problem down the stretch. Fast qualifier Paul McMahan exited the track with five laps remaining with apparent engines woes while he was only a couple of car lengths behind Dollansky for the race lead.

Those two issues moved Blaney from third place to the lead to earn his second career World of Outlaws victory at Lernerville Speedway and the seventh of his career.

"We were fortunate," he said. "No doubt about it. (If) those two guys don't break, they probably run first and second, and we run third."

Runner-up Donny Schatz overcame a shaky start and a late error to record his 11th consecutive top five.

Schatz nearly collided with Joey Saldana and Jason Sides in the opening laps, which dropped the World of Outlaws championship points leader to sixth. After working his way back to podium contention, Schatz nearly drove off the track in turn two in the final laps. However, he got on the brakes and didn't lose a position.

"There was a lot of things going on," said Schatz, who increased his championship advantage to 114 points over Dollansky. "We had a decent finish. It was a very demanding race track, a very unforgiving night for everyone and I'm glad the fans stuck it out."

Sides also benefitted from the late attrition to finish third - his 17th top five of the season.

"It's one of those nights where you're happy that you do what you do," he said. "Sometimes when it gets like this, when you have to wait out the rain, it makes for a long night, but still it's better than a real job. We get to come out here and race in front of these fans and have a good night and put on a good show."

Saldana finished fourth and Jac Haudenschild charged from 15th to fifth. Sammy Swindell was sixth and Cody Darrah earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after maneuvering from 21st to seventh. Chris Bell drove from 18th to eighth, Kraig Kinser ended ninth and Kerry Madsen rounded out the top 10.

The event started off under bright sun only to be shadowed by severe weather. At approximately 7:25 p.m., a violent storm hit the track and halted qualifying while Sam Hafertepe Jr. - the 19th of 31 cars - was in his attempt.

While the strength of the storm ceased around 8:10 p.m., it rained off and on for more than an hour. The first car back on the track occurred at 10:28 p.m. with the first car out for qualifying at 11:30 p.m. The green flag for the feature was waved at 1:20 a.m.

Commonwealth Clash Notebook

NOTES - Paul McMahan earned his first quick time of the season. … Jason Sides claimed his fifth heat race win, Craig Dollansky his 14th and Sammy Swindell his series-leading 19th. … Dollansky won his sixth dash. … David Gravel became the 41st different Last Chance Showdown winner.

CONTINGENCY WINNERS - Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Bill Rose; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Donny Schatz; Armor All (case of product): Jason Sides; STP ($50 cash): Donny Schatz; UNOH ($50 cash): Jac Haudenschild; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; JE Pistons (set of rings): Bill Rose; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Bill Rose; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Superflow ($50 cash): Bill Rose; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe; JE Pistons (set of rings): Ed Lynch Jr.; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Ed Lynch Jr.; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Lucas Wolfe.

WINNERS - Sammy Swindell - 12 (Eagle Raceway on Sept. 19, Grays Harbor Raceway on Aug. 29, Castrol Raceway on Aug. 25, River Cities Speedway on Aug. 17, Autodrome Granby on July 27, Eldora Speedway on July 14, Lakeside Speedway on June 30, Red River Valley Speedway on June 16, Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Donny Schatz - 10 (Clay County Fair Speedway on Sept. 14, Calistoga Speedway on Sept. 9, Silver Dollar Speedway on Sept. 6, Nodak Speedway on Aug. 19, Junction Motor Speedway on Aug. 14, Knoxville Raceway on Aug. 11, Cornwall Motor Speedway on July 29, Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Craig Dollansky - 8 (Deer Creek Speedway on Sept. 15, Castrol Raceway on Aug. 24, Lebanon Valley Speedway on July 22, Lernerville Speedway on July 17, I-96 Speedway on June 2, Hagerstown Speedway on May 20, Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Kerry Madsen - 5 (Willamette Speedway on Sept. 3, Skagit Speedway on Aug. 31, Limaland Motorsports Park on July 11, Belleville High Banks on June 29 and Knoxville Raceway on June 9); Joey Saldana - 5 (Autodrome Drummond on July 28, Eldora Speedway on July 13, The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 25, Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Tim Kaeding - 4 (Antioch Speedway on Sept. 10, Cedar Lake Speedway on July 6, Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Kraig Kinser - 4 (Beaver Dam Raceway on July 7, Dodge City Raceway Park on June 23, River Cities Speedway on June 15 and Kokomo Speedway on June 5); Steve Kinser - 3 (Dodge City Raceway Park on June 22, Orange County Fair Speedway on May 19 and Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Chad Kemenah - 2 (Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 28 and Eldora Speedway on May 4); Tony Stewart - 2 (Ohsweken Speedway on July 31 and Lernerville Speedway on July 17); Sean Becker - 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on Sept. 7); Dale Blaney - 1 (Lernerville Speedway on Sept. 22); Cody Darrah - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on July 21); Danny Dietrich - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Mark Dobmeier - 1 (Huset's Speedway on July 3); Travis Jacobson - 1 (Skagit Speedway on Sept. 1); Kyle Larson - 1 (Silver Dollar Speedway on Sept. 8); Danny Lasoski - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18);Paul McMahan - 1 (Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on May 16); Fred Rahmer - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11); Brad Sweet - 1 (Clay County Fair Speedway on June 8) and Lucas Wolfe - 1 (Bloomington Speedway on Aug. 3).

TIME TRIALS - Paul McMahan was the fastest qualifier around the 4/10-mile oval with a time of 12.686 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Ed Lynch Jr. (4 points), Saldana (3), Schatz (2) and Dale Blaney (1).

WE'RE ONLINE - Make sure to check out WorldofOutlaws.com for the latest news and results, plus exclusive driver interviews, video and pictures. Also listen to every event live at DIRTVision.com .

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