Winged Sprints Debut at Ascot

Sprint cars with wings will compete for the first time ever at Ascot Park next Sunday when the World of Outlaws, a traveling circuit composed of some of the leading names in sprint car racing, comes to do battle with the regulars of the California Racing Assn.

In the past the locals have been hard to beat on their home grounds, but the addition of the airfoils over the roll cage and front end, figures to put the shoe on the other foot.

The Outlaws run more than 100 programs around the country and not many outsiders have been able to beat them at their game. The local drivers rarely compete with the airfoils and don’t figure to stand much of a chance.

Heading the Outlaw lineup is five-time series champion Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell of Bartlett, Tenn., along with his brother Jeff. Then there is a familiar Ascot face, Ron Shuman of Mesa, Ariz., Bobby Davis Jr. of Memphis and Bobby Allen of Hanover, Pa.

The top four in the current Kraco-CRA series standings--Eddie Wirth, Mike Sweeney, Dean Thompson and Brad Noffsinger--all are expected to compete.

The program consists of qualifying, four 10-lap heats, a B-main and a 30-lap A main that will pay the winner $3,500.

The Outlaws have run two races at Ascot in the past, but both were before the circuit switched to the winged configuration. Buster Venard of Tustin won the first in October of 1978 and Steve Kinser took the other in June of 1980.