Daryn Pittman Explained

Daryn Pittman
Nationality:American
Birth Date:29 August 1978
Birth Place:Owasso, Oklahoma
Retired:2020
Last Series:World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
Years Active:1996–2020
Starts:1454
Wins:86
Best Finish:1st
Year:2013
Titles:World Series Sprintcars
Keystone Cup Sprint Car Series
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
DIRTcar Nationals
Title Years:2003
2010
2013

2013, 2015, 2019

Daryn Pittman (born August 29, 1978) is an American semi-retired professional racing driver. Winner of the 2008 Kings Royal and 2013 champion of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, he retired from full time competition following the 2020 season.

Racing career

Pittman started his sprint car career in 1996. He raced in the American Sprint Car Series before moving to full-time competition in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series starting in 1999.[1] After two years in the series, Pittman made a late decision to pursue the World of Outlaws Gumout Racing Series championship in 2001, after a poor start on the national tour;[2] he wound up winning the support series' season title.[3]

Racing in Australia during the winter of 2002–2003, Pittman won the World Series Sprintcars championship, becoming the only American to do so;[4] he was also named that season's Australian Sprint Poll Driver of the Year.[5] [6] 2006 saw Pittman win his first Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway.[7]

Driving for Titan Racing USA, Pittman won the 2008 Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway, beating Jason Meyers and Chad Kemenah to capture the prestigious event.[8]

In 2009, Pittman dropped off the WoO national tour and spent the next four years racing in regional series in Pennsylvania.[6] He won the 2010 Keystone Cup Sprint Car Series championship,[9] and in 2012 claimed the All Star Circuit of Champions Eastern Region title,[10] racing for Heffner Motorsports.[11]

After four years competing in local series in Pennsylvania,[12] Pittman joined Kasey Kahne Racing for the 2013 season.[13] The 2013 season started with Pittman winning the overall championship in the DIRTcar Nationals miniseries at Volusia Speedway Park.[14] Pittman clinched the 2013 World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship, scoring eight series wins over the course of the season, beating Donny Schatz by 14 points for the title.[12] He was the first driver from Oklahoma to win the World of Outlaws championship.[15] 2014 saw Pittman winning his third Speed Sport World Challenge at Knoxville Raceway; he had captured the $10,000-to-win event previously in 2004 and 2005.[16] Pittman started the 2015 season by winning his second DIRTcar Nationals championship.[17] It was rumored that Pittman would leave KKR following the 2015 season, but he returned for 2016.[18]

Pittman left KKR after 2018, starting the 2019 season with Roth Motorsports.[19] He started the year by claiming the overall sprint car championship at Volusia Speedway Parks DIRTcar Nationals, his third title in the miniseries.[20] He won four times on the World of Outlaws tour on his way to a fourth-place points fiish; he also won his second Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway,[21] and became the first four-time winner of Oskaloosa Speedways Front Row Challenge for 360 sprint cars.[22]

Pittman returned to Roth Motorsports for the 2020 racing season; in July, he won the World of Outlaws' Elimination Showdown special event at Cedar Lake Speedway.[23] Following races at Knoxville Raceway in August, Pittman tested positive for COVID-19;[24] he missed two events before returning to the series.[25] In September, Pittman announced he would step away from full-time competition after the 2020 season.[26] Shortly afterwards he announced he was departing Roth Racing as of mid-September; he won one final time with the team, at Lawton Speedway,[26] before rejoining Heffner Motorsports to complete his final season.[27] Pittman retired having scored 86 World of Outlaws feature wins.[28]

Personal life

Born in Owasso, Oklahoma,[15] Pittman resides in San Antonio, Texas.[29] He is married and has two children.[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Letasky . John . World of Outlaws driver Daryn Pittman looking for more success in Billings . . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122213257/https://billingsgazette.com/sports/local/world-of-outlaws-driver-daryn-pittman-looking-for-more-success/article_1b6c2421-e726-556b-8f5a-ecf0a03384e0.html . January 22, 2021 . Billings, MT . August 23, 2019 . live.
  2. Web site: Gumout: Pittman to chase title . Motorsport.com . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122003808/https://us.motorsport.com/woo/news/gumout-pittman-to-chase-title/1102774/ . January 22, 2021 . April 18, 2001 . live.
  3. Web site: Elliott . Jeremy . No. 4 Daryn Pittman: PennLive's Top 25 Sprint Car Drivers in the Country . . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112000725/https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2014/07/no_4_daryn_pittman_pennlives_t.html . November 12, 2020 . Harrisburg, PA . July 26, 2014 . live.
  4. Web site: Sungold Stadium Set For Record Breaking Classic This Weekend . Sprintcar World . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200407072700/https://www.sprintcarworld.com.au/release.asp?NewsId=48876 . April 7, 2020 . December 12, 2013 . live.
  5. Web site: WSS: Australian Sprint Poll Driver of the Year results . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122010406/https://us.motorsport.com/sprint/news/wss-australian-sprint-poll-driver-of-the-year-results/1291310/ . January 22, 2021 . April 28, 2003 . Final 2002/2003 Australian National Sprintcar Poll. Rank Driver (First Place Votes) State/Country Points 1. Daryn Pittman (7) Oklahoma, USA 1200 2. Joey Saldana (7) Indiana, USA 995 3. Robbie Farr (2) New South Wales, AUS 710 . live.
  6. Web site: Elliott . Jeremy . No. 18 Daryn Pittman: Central Pa's Sprint Car best in last 30 years . The Patriot-News . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122210629/https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2013/07/no_18_daryn_pittman_central_pa.html . January 22, 2021 . Harrisburg, PA . July 4, 2013 . live.
  7. Web site: Pittman leads Outlaws sweep in Gold Cup finale . . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212356/https://www.thereporter.com/2006/09/10/pittman-leads-outlaws-sweep-in-gold-cup-finale/ . January 22, 2021 . Vacaville, CA . September 10, 2006 . live.
  8. Web site: Good to be King: Daryn Pittman Wins 25th Annual Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway . Motorsport.com . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122212908/https://us.motorsport.com/woo/news/eldora-kings-royal-results-2008-07-13/2738789/ . January 22, 2021 . July 13, 2008 . live.
  9. Web site: Heintzelman . Todd . Erdley wins Keystone Cup finale at Port Royal; Pittman champion . The Patriot-News . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122211005/https://www.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2010/05/erdley_wins_keystone_cup_final.html . January 22, 2021 . Harrisburg, PA . June 1, 2010 . live.
  10. Web site: 45-Race All Star Sprint Car Schedule . . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122211336/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/45-race-all-star-sprint-car-schedule/ . January 22, 2021 . February 7, 2013 . live.
  11. Web site: Elliott . Jeremy . Sprint Car owner Mike Heffner fuming over delayed point payout by All Star Circuit of Champions . The Patriot-News . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020413/https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2014/05/sprint_car_owner_mike_heffner_1.html . November 12, 2020 . Harrisburg, PA . May 7, 2014 . live.
  12. Web site: Elliott . Jeremy . World of Outlaws champion Daryn Pittman almost called it quits . The Patriot-News . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122002905/https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2013/11/daryn_pittman_almost_called_it.html . January 22, 2021 . Harrisburg, PA . November 11, 2013 . live.
  13. Web site: Jones . Bob . Daryn Pittman to Drive for Kasey Kahne Racing . TJSlideways.com . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201001181206/https://tjslideways.com/2013/01/09/daryn-pittman-to-drive-for-kasey-kahne-racing/ . October 1, 2020 . January 9, 2013 . live.
  14. Web site: Lasoski, Westfall Winners Sunday Night At Volusia . Race Week Illustrated . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122002513/http://www.raceweekillustrated.com/2013/02/18/lasoski-westfall-winners-sunday-night-at-volusia/ . January 22, 2021 . February 18, 2013.
  15. Web site: Stewart, Pittman Lead Oklahoma Charge . Speed Sport . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122205553/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/stewart-pittman-lead-oklahoma-charge/ . January 22, 2021 . April 29, 2015 . live.
  16. Web site: Kerchner . Mike . January 22, 2021 . Pittman Rules SPEED SPORT World Challenge . Speed Sport. January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122210322/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/other-sprint-cars/pittman-rules-speed-sport-world-challenge/ . August 9, 2014 . live.
  17. Web site: Kasey Kahne Racing caps off stellar 2015 DIRTcar Nationals . Motorsport.com . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122001852/https://us.motorsport.com/woo/news/kasey-kahne-racing-caps-off-stellar-2015-dirtcar-nationals/2874096/ . January 22, 2021 . February 15, 2015 . live.
  18. Web site: Elliott . Jeremy . Kasey Kahne Racing intact: Despite rumors, Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet will return in 2016 . The Patriot-News . January 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121235538/https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2015/11/kasey_kahne_racing_intact_desp.html . January 21, 2021 . Harrisburg, PA . November 5, 2015 . live.
  19. Web site: Pittman To Drive Roth Motorsports No. 83 . Speed Sport . January 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200927230228/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/world-of-outlaws-sprint-cars/pittman-to-drive-roth-no-83/ . September 27, 2020 . November 17, 2018 . live.
  20. Web site: Graziano . Nick . Daryn Pittman Claims Third Career DIRTcar Nationals Golden Gator . RaceProWeekly . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122000307/http://raceproweekly.com/rpw/2019/02/daryn-pittman-claims-third-career-dirtcar-nationals-golden-gator/ . January 22, 2021 . February 11, 2019 . live.
  21. Web site: Martin . Sharon . Daryn Pittman leads all 40 laps for second Gold Cup victory . . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190921221452/https://www.chicoer.com/2019/09/07/daryn-pittman-leads-all-40-laps-for-second-gold-cup-victory/ . September 21, 2019 . Chico, CA . September 7, 2019 . live.
  22. Web site: Wright . Bill . Pittman cashes in with fourth career Front Row Challenge win; Martin wins with 305's . . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122211809/https://www.oskaloosa.com/sports/local_sports/pittman-cashes-in-with-fourth-career-front-row-challenge-win-martin-wins-with-305-s/article_55f2589a-b92a-11e9-8e93-831eccf7c51e.html . January 22, 2021 . Oskaloosa, IA . August 7, 2019 . live.
  23. Web site: Pittman Wins Elimination Showdown at Cedar Lake . . January 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210127184532/https://www.mrn.com/2020/07/03/daryn-pittman-wins-elimination-showdown-at-cedar-lake/ . January 27, 2021 . July 3, 2020 . live.
  24. Web site: Ryan . Nate . Three sprint car drivers test positive for COVID-19 after Knoxville Outlaws . . January 21, 2021 . August 20, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210113050742/https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2020/08/20/world-of-outlaws-sprint-car-drivers-positive-covid-19-tests/ . January 13, 2021 . live.
  25. Web site: Daryn Pittman Tests Positive For COVID-19 . Speed Sport . January 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121234436/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/world-of-outlaws-sprint-cars/daryn-pittman-tests-positive-for-covid-19/ . January 21, 2021 . August 19, 2020 . live.
  26. Web site: Storybook homecoming: Daryn Pittman claims meaningful Lawton Speedway win . . January 21, 2021 . Owasso, OK . September 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121234952/https://tulsaworld.com/community/owasso/sports/storybook-homecoming-daryn-pittman-claims-meaningful-lawton-speedway-win/article_37ae5132-00f9-11eb-a651-8b2156c2f272.html . January 21, 2021 . live.
  27. Web site: Seelman . Jacob . Pittman Back With Heffner For Balance Of 2020 . Speed Sport . January 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201031080505/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/world-of-outlaws-sprint-cars/pittman-back-with-heffner-for-balance-of-2020/ . October 31, 2020 . September 20, 2020 . live.
  28. Web site: Graziano . Nick . Pittman Set To Close His Full-Time Outlaw Tenure . Speed Sport . January 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122002315/https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/world-of-outlaws-sprint-cars/pittman-set-to-close-his-full-time-outlaw-tenure/ . January 22, 2021 . November 7, 2020 . live.
  29. Web site: Pittman Stepping Away From the World of Outlaws Tour . TJSlideways.com . January 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200929140136/https://tjslideways.com/2020/09/10/pittman-stepping-away-from-the-world-of-outlaws-tour/ . September 29, 2020 . September 10, 2020 . live.