Saldana wins inaugural Ironman 55

Joey Saldana showed he had the right stuff last Saturday night as he drove the Kasey Kahne Racing Budweiser Maxim to victory in
the inaugural Ironman 55 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri. The victory was the 13th World of Outlaws Sprint Series triumph of the season for the Mopar-powered driver.

Saldana started fourth, but quickly moved to second place. He took the lead on the 19th lap and never gave it up.

“This is a very important race,” Saldana said. “It’s the first one, and nobody ever forgets who won the first one.”

The win moves Saldana to ninth on the all-time list and gives him 52 notches in his World of Outlaws career. It also ended a 13-race dry spell that began in early July.

Mopar power dominated the weekend of racing at the Ironman 55. Saldana’s Mopar-powered teammate, Craig Dollansky captured the Friday night event win at I-55 and finished second on Saturday. “It was a great run for Kasey Kahne Racing to have both cars one and two in a big race,” Dollansky said. “It’s pretty neat.”