Donny Schatz

Donny Schatz has won 18 World of Outlaws events at Williams Grove Speedway in his career. He has four Summer Nationals titles to his credit and our pick to make it five this weekend. (Jeremy Elliott | jelliott@pennlive.com)

Central Pennsylvania Sprint Car fans and drivers are pumped full of excitement and anticipation at this time of year.

It's all about Pennsylvania Posse pride.

There is reason for a little chest pumping. The locals have, traditionally, had the toughest weekly programs in the country and can run stride-for-stride and contend for wins against the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.

Since 2008, the Posse contingent — Daryn Pittman and Cody Darrah earned WoO wins while running locally — has raced even with the traveling band, claiming 15 of 30 shows at Williams Grove Speedway.

The locals have dominated at Lincoln. Danny Dietrich won two straight WoO events, while fringe Posse member Stevie Smith won in May of this year.

Daryn Pittman gained some redemption at the Grove earlier this year, sweeping a two-day show. And after watching the Outlaw contingent through the first half of the season, it's time for the group to tip the scale.

With a three-race sweep.

No need for a double take. The World of Outlaws will come into central Pennsylvania this week and not only earn a Lincoln victory but also orchestrate another Williams Grove beat down at the historic half mile.

The Outlaws are just too fast, too good. They seem to have a good package in the second year of the Hoosier Tire Deal and more important, have more guys running the circuit that can book a trip to Victory Lane.

Donny Schatz, our pick in Saturday's Summer Nationals, needs no introduction to Posse fans. He is the best Sprint Car driver on the planet and owns 18 tallies at Williams Grove. He has also been quick at Lincoln at times and is a handful during the summer months.

Pittman is just as good as Schatz in the area. He is used to the tricky central Pennsylvania tracks after driving in the Keystone State four seasons, and that experience paid off last season with consistent finishes and in May. He will add a Lincoln win to his resume Thursday.

If it was just the Schatz-Pittman show, the locals would have a chance. But guys like Kerry Madsen — he has nine top-five finishes in the last 10 features — Paul McMahan and David Gravel time well and are finding success.

Then you have Joey Saldana and Brad Sweet. Both drivers struggle once they hit the Pennsylvania line, but you can never count out these two talents.

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention Steve Kinser. He is having another sub-par season, but he does own 38 victories at Williams Grove and you never know when he is going to put together that last great ride.

This isn't an indictment of the locals. Hey, Greg Hodnett and Lance Dewease know how to win. Danny Dietrich and Brian Montieth have talent. And no one in the area is as fast as Lucas Wolfe and Stevie Smith.

It's more about the World of Outlaws being faster. As a group, they are on top of their game and this is the time of year when they shine.

There is this misconception that the World of Outlaws teams just outspend the competition. They open up the wallet, and speed falls out.

Not true. Not even close.

Sure, these teams are well funded. But the reason they are good is because these drivers can adapt, they can overcome. And they work hard, which should be respected by every fan that has ever bought a ticket.

This isn't a knock on the locals. They are a strong group. But the Outlaws do it for a living, 24-7, 365 days a year.

Look for those factors to pay off this week. And for the Outlaws to storm into central Pennsylvania and take the loot out of town.

NOTES

-According to Sammy Swindell, his team will drop off the World of Outlaws tour for two weekends and compete at Knoxville Raceway. The move is being made to prepare for this year's Knoxville Nationals. Swindell failed to make last year's A-Main at the Nationals and car-owner Tod Quiring has never won the race.

-Steve Kinser will make an appearance at Golf Cart Services open house today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kinser's car will be in attendance, and The King of the Outlaws will sign autographs and talk to fans that attend. Golf Cart Services is at 4296 York Road, New Oxford, Pa, 17350.

-John Westbrook is suing Williams Grove Speedway for negligence in relation to an accident on Sept. 5, 2008 that left the former Sprint Car driver a quadriplegic. The trial started Monday. Westbrook took the stand Wednesday, and the prosecution rested its case. The defense will cross-examine Westbrook Thursday and present its case.

-Brent Marks became one of 156 drivers to compete in a Kings Royal event. The Myerstown driver, who was making his first Kings Royal appearance, qualified second in his heat race and finished 19th in the 40-lap A-Main. It should be noted that Marks ran the final two thirds of the event with a broken piece on his top wing.