Cody Darrah drove Kasey Kahne Racing to its third consecutive World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series victory on Friday night at Kings Speedway.
Darrah slid in front of Joey Saldana coming out of turn two on lap 16, then held him off to the checkered flag to earn his first victory of the season. Darrah and his Ollie’s Bargain Outlets car becomes the third different KKR driver to win in the past three races, joining last weekend’s Calistoga feature winners Brad Sweet and Daryn Pittman.
Saldana led the field to the green and maintained the lead over the first 15 laps after collecting his sixth World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series quick-time award. Saldana held onto second for his fifth consecutive top-five finish with Paul McMahan in third, Tim Kaeding charging from 13th to fourth and Donny Schatz earning the KSE Hard Charger Award by finishing fifth after starting 18th.
Saldana took the early lead in the Motter Equipment/HE&M Saw #71M. California’s Kyle Hirst picked up two positions in the first two laps going from fourth to second. Caution flew on lap 8 for Kraig Kinser spinning in turn one, but Saldana again returned the lead on the restart.
Mayhem ensued on a lap 15 restart. Saldana chose the bottom on the double-file restart with the KKR trio of Sweet, Darrah and Pittman filed in behind. Saldana and Sweet were locked side-by-side down the front stretch when they made contact slowing Sweet. Pittman ran up the back of Sweet’s #49 car and tipped over to bring out a red.
On the ensuing restart, Saldana led the field single-file down the front stretch. He went to the top of turn one while Darrah dove to the bottom. Darrah charged through the corner to steal the lead in what wound up being the pass for the victory.
“This win means so much for us, for my team,” said Darrah, of Red Lion, Pa. “First and foremost I’ve got to thank Kasey, he’s given me such an opportunity to come out here and drive this car. A couple of weeks ago he called me up and said if we don’t run any better we might have to pull off the road. We’re out here racing for more than a win, we’re racing for a job and to make him proud and show him we can do it.
photo by Steve LaFond