ALGER - The World of Outlaws sprint racing series proudly proclaims its drivers the greatest racers on dirt, and with good cause.
But on Saturday, Sept. 1, they weren't enough for a little home cooking.
Skagit Speedway regular Travis Jacobson held off an early challenge from Friday-night winner Kerry Madsen and some late-race pressure from World of Outlaws legend Donnie Schatz to claim the 35-lap main evenT victory. The Lake Stevens resident became the first Skagit Speedway regular to hold off the drivers from the national touring series, and he did it by going wire-to-wire.
"Pinch me, is this a dream," Jacobson said in a post-race interview. "I don't even know what to say."
Jacobson let his driving do all the speaking Saturday, even though he didn't actually win the pole.
That honor went to Madsen, as he went wire-to-wire in the 10-lap Dash.
But Madsen committed his first miscue of the weekend when he jumped the start of the A-Main and was shuffled back a row, putting Jacobson on the pole.
"That's huge," Jacobson said. "You get up front and you get in clean air. That allows the car to work a whole lot better."
Madsen moved up a spot to second when Kraig Kinser had to pull off with mechanical problems, and after a Lap 9 caution, Madsen got to start right beside Jacobson.
Jacobson got to call the restart, and he used that advantage to build a sizable advantage over Madsen, who was passed by the hard-charging Schatz on Lap 11 for second place.
Schatz then set sights on Jacobson, and seemed to be to be making headway until caution flew on Lap 26 when Sammy Swindell cut down a right rear tire.
"I got hung up behind some lapped cars there, well probably for longer than I should have," Jacobson said. "I knew he (Schatz) had to be there - I thought a little bit closer than he was, actually. ... We got lucky that lapped traffic didn't hurt us too bad. I really didn't have to contend with anyone."
Jacobson chose the low line for the restart, and made it work, as he pulled away from Schatz and rebuilt a relatively comfortable advantage.
He did have a scare on Lap 34, when he nearly collided with Bellingham's Jonathan Jorgenson along the front stretch, but he avoided trouble and held on for the win.
Jacobson was so excited that he brought his car to a stop along the front stretch to celebrate the win, rather than heading directly to the scales behind the track, as World of Outlaws rules require. After a push start, Jacobson got to the scales and the victory was made official.
"It's a dream come true," Jacobson said. "I've been watching these guys since I was a pup. Donnie Schatz sold me ... one of my first sprint cars 10 years ago now. It feels pretty good to have him finish right behind me."
Jason Sides came in third behind Schatz, while Madsen finished fourth. Craig Dollansky rounded out the top five, while Jorgenson, who worked his way in through the B-Main, finished 19th. B-Main winner Trey Starks came in 16th.
Reach David Rasbach at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2286.
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
Saturday's results
At Skagit Speedway
A-Main: 1. (18) Travis Jacobson; 2. (15) Donny Schatz; 3. (7S) Jason Sides; 4. (29) Kerry Madsen; 5. (7) Craig Dollansky; 6. (4) Cody Darrah; 7. (18H) Jac Haudenschild; 8. (63) Chad Kemenah; 9. (9) Joey Saldana; 10. (83) Tim Kaeding; 11. (11) Steve Kinser; 12. (1) Sammy Swindell; 13. (88) Jesse Whitney; 14. (26) Sam Hafertepe; 15. (5W) Lucas Wolfe; 16. (55) Trey Starks; 17. (39C) Travis Rilat; 18. (33) Colton Heath; 19. (8X) Jonathan Jorgenson; 20. (57) Shane Stewart; 21. (7X) Kevin Smith; 22. (4X) Toni Lutar; 23. (11K) Kraig Kinser; 24. (0) Jonathan Allard.
B-Main (12 laps, top 6 advance): 1. (55) Trey Starks; 2. (7X) Kevin Smith; 3. (5W) Lucas Wolfe; 4. (88) Jesse Whitney; 5. (8x) Jonathan Jorgenson; 6. (33) Colton Heath; 7. (6) Bill Rose; 8. (44NZ) Daniel Anderson; 9. (2W) Wheeler Boys.
Dash: 1. (29) Kerry Madsen; 2. (11K) Kraig Kinser; 3. (18) Travis Jacobson; 4. (63) Chad Kemenah; 5. (1) Sammy Swindell; 6. (9) Joey Saldana; 7. (7S) Jason Sides; 8. (150 Donny Schatz; 9. (7) Craig Dollansky; 10. (18H) Jac Haudenschild.
Heat 1 winner: (7) Craig Dollansky. Heat 2 winner: (11K) Kraig Kinser. Heat 3 winner: (29) Kerry Madsen. Top qualifier: (7S) Jason Sides 99.910 mph.
