Wolfgang Joins Already Stellar Field for Ascot Sprint Opener

Doug Wolfgang, one of two short track drivers named to the All-American auto racing team for 1989 by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Assn., will add more depth to an already stellar field of winged sprint car drivers entered in the World of Outlaws midwinter championships Friday and Saturday at Ascot Park.

Wolfgang, 37, will drive a car entered by the Williams Brothers of San Jose for his battles with Outlaw champion Bobby Davis, winner of the last two Ascot outlaw events, and Steve Kinser, the nine-time champion who is returning to the group after a year’s absence.

The Williams team, with Jeff Swindell doing the driving, finished second to Davis in the standings last year.

Even though Swindell was second in points, Wolfgang finished second in earnings a little more than $1,000 behind Davis, despite competing in only about half of the World of Outlaw events because he also competed with the now defunct United Sprint Assn.

In the two groups, “The Wolf’s” winnings totaled $427,540 to make him the all-time one-year winner in sprint car racing. Davis, incidentally, banked over $300,000, $250,840 with the Outlaws and the $50,000 first prize from the Kings Royal race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

Wolfgang’s winning total included 20 with the Outlaws and 11 with USA. The most prestigious came in August at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa, where he captured the U.S. Nationals, besting more than 100 machines that began the program.

Despite all his victories, Wolfgang has never won a winged event at Ascot--and he’ll get only two more chances as this is expected to be the final year of competition at the Gardena track.

Mark Kinser, who ran with his cousin Steve in USA last year, will also be back. He was the 1988 midwinter champion. Other midwesterners include Ohioans Dave Blaney and Jac Haudenschild.

Brent Kaeding, Tim Green and Chuck Miller, who all scored World of Outlaw victories last year, will head a strong field of Northern California drivers.

Arizonans Ron Shuman and Lealand McSpadden, who spend most the year racing wingless cars with the local California Racing Assn., will be top Ascot regulars.

Racing begins both nights at 8 p.m. with a 20-lap topping Friday’s race while the feature event is scheduled for 30 laps.