Daryn Pittman

Daryn Pittman earned his 10th World of Outlaws victory of the season by defeating the Pennsylvania Posse in the 35-lap feature at Lincoln Speedway. (Paul Chaplin | pchaplin@pennlive.com)

ABBOTTSTOWN: Daryn Pittman admits that he has never had much success running at Lincoln Speedway.

Not even when he ran for central Pennsylvania car-owner Mike Heffner. Pittman just didn't have a good comfort level at the Abbottstown facility.

But Pittman is smart. He knows what to do and when to do it, and he can win anytime, anywhere, regardless of feel.

Pittman used his head Thursday night in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series visit to Lincoln Speedway. He made the right adjustments and held off a charging Brian Montieth to bank a $10,000 payday in the 35-lap feature.

"I didn't run that good here when I ran local 410 and 360 shows," Pittman said. "It's just not a place I had confidence, not like Williams Grove.

"You just can't get down on yourself. This track is so tough, and you have to take advantage of an opportunity when you get it."

This was a special night for Pittman.

It was the Owasso, Okla., star's 10th World of Outlaws win of the season. He also closed on Donny Schatz, who finished 14th in the final rundown, in the point standings.

"The only time I had double-digit wins in a season was when I ran with Mike [Heffner]," Pittman said. "Winning 10 World of Outlaws races in a season is pretty big. It's a pretty short list of drivers that have done that.

"Hopefully, we're not done yet. We knew we had to win more this year to back up our championship."

Pittman sailed out front on the restart, getting a good run through the first and second corner to get a jump on Steve Kinser and JJ Grasso.

While Pittman paced the field, Grasso disposed of Kinser to take second in Turn 2 on lap 3. Alan Krimes dropped Kinser to fourth, when he shot to the bottom of Turn 4 and slid in front of The King down the frontstretch.

Kraig Kinser kicked off a rash of cautions when he stopped in Turn 1 on lap 6. Billy Dietrich looked like he was going to make a right turn into the pit area and left Pittman little room to avoid contact.

Another caution slowed action on lap 8. Steve Kinser hopped the cushion between Turns 3 and 4 and suffered a broken axle. One lap later, Dave Blaney got sideways and collected the oncoming car of Gerard McIntyre.

Montieth, who started 15th, entered the picture on the lap 9 restart. He took fifth from David Gravel and ripped past Jim Siegel for fourth one lap later.

Pittman opened up a half-straightway lead over Krimes using the bottom in Turns 1 and 2 and the top at the other end of the speedway. Montieth slid Joey Saldana in Turn 4 on lap 12 and soared around Krimes for second on lap 16.

Montieth took his shot at the leader on lap 18. He blasted to the bottom of Turn 3, but Pittman motored around the top and pulled away.

"To be honest, I didn't know [Montieth] was there," Pittman said. "I thought it was [Krimes]. I didn't know who it was until four to go."

Said Montieth, "We had momentum, and we were going to get into lapped traffic. It would have made it so much harder to get the slider.

"In dirty air, three car-lengths is like eight or nine. These cars get so tight. One thing I learned this year is that you have to take your shot."

Montieth never got another opportunity.

Pittman used his head. He moved up to the top of the first and second corner and was able to open up some room between him and second place.

"I saw him throw the nose under me running way deep in the corner," Pittman said. "To do that, I knew he had to have a good run off Turn 2.

"I thought it was Krimes. I try to never look at boards and focus on my race. I struggled on the bottom and figured I would change. I moved to the top, and it felt faster."

It was, and Pittman was on top of his game.

The defending World of Outlaws champion ran inches from the fence around the dry-slick speedway. He was crisp and never got nervous. Pittman hit his marks and wasn't challenged over the final 17 circuits.

Montieth was forced to settle for second. Krimes, Saldana and Danny Dietrich, who stormed from 17th, completed the top five.

"I overdrove the car and jumped the cushion a couple times," Montieth said. "I could run him down, I just didn't get it done.

"Starting 15th, I'm happy to just get a top five. If not for the dual restarts, I don't know if we even get that far."