World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at a Glance: UNOH DIRTcar Nationals

BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Several new storylines highlight the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season-opening event – the 41^st annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment – which kicks off next week at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

• Two-time defending champion Jason Meyers will start a 14-race Allstar Appreciation Tour to end his full-time status as a sprint car driver

Former World of Outlaws champion and current NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dave Blaney will return to sprint cars in a hot rod crewed by veteran Mike Woodring

• The King, Steve Kinser, looks to improve upon his series-best 20 championships and 570 victories at a track where he won the first two races last year

• Four-time champion Donny Schatz has renewed confidence in his quest for a fifth title in a seven-season span

• Joey Saldana is healthy and expectations have him as a frontrunner to claim the championship, which would be the first for Kasey Kahne Racing

• Craig Dollansky is looking to avenge a couple of near misses during last year’s event at Volusia Speedway Park when he led 51 laps but left without a top-10 finish

WHEN:: Friday, Feb. 17; Saturday, Feb. 18; and Sunday, Feb. 19, at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. The grandstands are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing set for 7:30 p.m. each night.

WHERE: Volusia Speedway Park is just 15 miles west of Ormond Beach. From I-95, take exit 268 west on State Rd. 40. From Highway 17, take State Rd 40 and drive 5 miles east of Barberville.

ABOUT THE TRACK:: Volusia Speedway Park is a semi-banked, half-mile oval with 75-foot wide straightaways and 75-foot wide turns. The track record of 12.569 seconds was established by Paul McMahan on February 10, 2011.