Big names, fast cars, bright lights.
Skagit Speedway is ready for its close-up.
Some of the best race car drivers in the world will be competing at the three-tenths mile dirt track in Alger over the next week and a half.
The nation will be watching — on tape delay — when the World of Outlaws winged sprint car series returns to Skagit Speedway tonight and Saturday.
The racing on both nights will be taped for later broadcast on the SPEED channel.
“We’re one of three (small tracks) in the country to get two televised dates (on SPEED),” said Skagit owner Steve Beitler, himself a former World of Outlaws driver. “These races are going to be huge — we’re bringing the world’s greatest sprint car drivers here.”
The prize will be bragging rights but the competition should be no less fierce when NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart return to Skagit Speedway for a charity race benefiting the Kasey Kahne foundation on Wednesday, Aug. 29.
There will be no lack of drivers vying for the $25,000 winner’s purse for Saturday’s Outlaws finale.
Twenty-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser returns to Skagit for the first time since 2002. Kinser, who moved into the fourth spot in championship points after his win last weekend in Canada, has raced with the series eight times at Skagit.
Donny Schatz, the defending Outlaws champion and current points leader, won the preliminary feature last year at Skagit and finished second in the finale. He was also a winner last weekend in Canada and recently won his second consecutive Knoxville Nationals.
Two former Skagit champions and current Outlaws drivers are also expected to compete. Mount Vernon’s Jason Solwold won the 360 sprint titles in 2002 and 2003, and the sportsman sprint crowns in 1994.
Chad Hillier of Burlington is the only driver to win a championship in all three sprint divisions at Skagit. He won the 410 title in 2001, the 360 championship in 1998 and the sportsman crown in 1995 and 1996. Hillier is currently second in points for the Outlaws rookie of the year awards.
Tonight’s World of Outlaws event airs on the SPEED channel at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 2, and Saturday’s racing will be broadcast at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9.
Racing begins at 7:30 p.m. both nights. Adult tickets are $35; military personnel, juniors and seniors $25; children 7 and under $10. Tickets are available by calling (360) 724-3567.
NASCAR drivers Kahne and Stewart, who will be racing 360 sprint cars at Skagit for the second straight year, share a connection with the World of Outlaws: both are car owners.
Stewart owns the car of Paul McMahan, who heads to Skagit in the top 10 in the Outlaws points battle. McMahan has two feature wins this year, including one at Stewart’s Eldora Speedway. He also has set the fast time on seven occasions this season in time trials.
Joey Saldana, who drives for Enumclaw native Kahne, won the World of Outlaws race at Skagit in 2002 and finished sixth in last year’s finale. Saldana has 47 top-five finishes this season, including two last weekend.
Kahne raced sprint cars at the Alger track before making the climb up the NASCAR ladder and holds the Skagit Speedway record with a lap of 11.118 seconds set in 2003.
The Kasey Kahne Foundation charity race is Wednesday Aug. 29. There will be live music and other activities at the track before racing begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (360) 724-3567 or visit the track’s Web site, www.skagitspeedway.com.
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