By Lee Elder
BILLINGS, Mont. (Aug. 25, 2018) – Daryn Pittman collected his third career victory at Big Sky Speedway when he won the Big Sky Brawl World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series race in front of a packed grandstand.
Pittman won for the sixth time this season.
“I don’t know, there’s something about Billings,” Pittman said over the public address system after the race.
Jacob Allen, who started on the pole and led the first 15 laps, finished second. Donny Schatz, Brad Sweet and Kraig Kinser completed the top five.
“I think our car has been better than the driver has been the last month and a half,” Pittman said. “There’s nothing better than winning these races. You never know when your last one is going to be.”
Allen is still looking for his first and, for the second straight night, it looked like he had a chance to get it. Allen built a 1.9-second lead by the 10th lap and was still ahead of Pittman by .638 of a second three laps later.
The first caution flag of the race flew with 15 laps complete and Allen held the lead after the first restart. But another caution flag flew before the field completed a lap and Pittman got the better start on the next restart on the 3/8-mile oval.
“Leading laps, running up front, it’s a lot of fun,” Allen said later. “Obviously I still want to get my first win but to be on the podium, to run top fives and contend for a win is something to be proud of.”
Pittman’s margin of victory was .904 of a second.
NOTES: The Speedway dispensed American flags for the crowd to wave when the Outlaws performed their traditional four-wide parade lap. … 23 drivers made qualifying attempts. Heat race winners: Donny Schatz, Shane Stewart, David Gravel. Dash winner: Jacob Allen.
Feature (35 Laps by driver, starting position, money): 1. 9-Daryn Pittman [2][$10,000]; 2. 1A-Jacob Allen [1][$5,500]; 3. 15-Donny Schatz [4][$3,200]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet [9][$2,800]; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser [8][$2,500]; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart [10][$2,300]; 7. 2-Shane Stewart [5][$2,200]; 8. 5-David Gravel [3][$2,100]; 9. 19-Brent Marks [7][$2,050]; 10. 41S-Dominic Scelzi [12][$2,000]; 11. 18-Ian Madsen [6][$1,500]; 12. W20-Greg Wilson [16][$1,200]; 13. 24-Rico Abreu [15][$1,100]; 14. 99-Skylar Gee [13][$1,050]; 15. 7S-Jason Sides [11][$1,000]; 16. 97-Alan Gilbertson [17][$900]; 17. 37-Trever Kirkland [19][$800]; 18. 9K-Kory Wermling [22][$800]; 19. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [14][$800]; 20. 2JR-Kelly Miller [18][$800]; 21. 27DD-David Hoiness [20][$800]; 22. 77-Damon McCune [21][$800]; Lap Leaders: Jacob Allen 1-16, Daryn Pittman 17-35; KSE Hard Charger Award: 49-Brad Sweet[+5]
