Anything can happen in Kings Royal at Eldora

ROSSBURG — Fourteen different drivers have won the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway. Daryn Pittman was just as surprised as anyone to add his name to that list in 2008.

“It was (an upset). You’re not going to offend me (by saying that),” the Pittsboro, Ind., driver said of inheriting the lead once Joey Saldana shredded a tire after dominating the first 27 laps of the 40-lap, $50,000-to-win event. “All year last year, Saldana was the car to beat at this racetrack. But you never know what can happen that night.”

The action starts tonight, July 17, with the Knight Before The Kings Royal, a full-points race on the World of Outlaws schedule. The Kings Royal follows Saturday. The National Racing Alliance Sprint Invaders — with NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne challenging them — also run both nights.

“It’s always good to have it out of your mind that you’ve already won the race,” Pittman said. “You’ll try just as hard to win the second, third or 10th one, whatever you can get to. Everything has to go right for you that night. You have to take advantage when you’re close enough.”

Quotable

“I would really like to get some of Tony Stewart’s money and take that crown home with us. It’s the ‘Month of Money,’ and if you ever want to shine, this is the time to shine.” — WoO driver Danny Lasoski.

Hot laps

• Three-time defending champ Donny Schatz leads the WoO points entering Eldora. He holds a 22-point lead over Saldana, with Jason Meyers and Steve Kinser lurking.

• Kinser, a six-time Kings Royal winner, is the only driver to qualify for all 25 features. He also won the Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Motorsports Park on Wednesday.

• Don’t expect a first-time WoO feature winner to claim the Kings Royal. Jason Sides is the only driver to win his first WoO A-Main feature at the Kings Royal, doing so in 2004.

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