By Tony Veneziano
Barberville, FL-February 4, 2010-Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz have combined to win each of the last eight World of Outlaws championships and nine of the last 10. The pair has won a total of 213 World of Outlaws A-Feature events over the last decade, with Kinser taking 117 of those checkered flags and Schatz 96. The duo will begin a new chapter as teammates at Tony Stewart Racing, in 2010 beginning with the 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park to kick off the World of Outlaws season.
Schatz, the four-time and defending series champion will begin his third season aboard the No. 15 Armor All J&J for Tony Stewart Racing with Ricky Warner as crew chief, while Kinser, the 20-time series titlist, will pilot the No. 11 Bass Pro Shops Maxim, with longtime crew chief Scott Gerkin turning the wrenches.
“I’ve always enjoyed racing with Donny,” shared Kinser. “He has always raced me as clean as anyone has out there. Probably if anyone has leaned harder, it was probably me on my side.”
Schatz, who readily admits he was a Steve Kinser fan growing up, would always cheer for the native of Bloomington, Ind. when the World of Outlaws would visit Red River Valley Speedway in his home state of North Dakota each year. Since hitting the road full-time with the World of Outlaws in 1997, Schatz has had the chance to race against Kinser night in and night out, learning from him both on and off the track.
“To have a teammate like Steve Kinser, what else could you ask for,” said Schatz. “He is ‘The King.’ There are no if’s and’s or but’s about it. To have him under the Tony Stewart Racing banner is pretty cool. We’re glad to have him. I’m glad to get to race along with him.”
Kinser looks forward to racing Schatz again in 2010 and battling him for the World of Outlaws championship. Kinser, who has won 20 titles with the series, will be looking for his first crown since 2005, which is the longest he has gone between titles in his legendary career.
“Donny is a good racer and he will be one those drivers that you have to contend with all year to win races and the championship,” said Kinser. “He’s one of the cars that has proved over the last three or four years that he is a car to beat.”
Schatz will be chasing his fifth consecutive World of Outlaws title this season beginning at the DIRTcar Nationals. Kinser is the only driver in the 30-plus year history of the series to win five consecutive championships, which he did from 1990-1994 and he also is the only driver to win six consecutive titles, accomplishing that feat between 1983-1988. Schatz is the only driver other than Kinser to win at least four titles.
“We’re still going to have to be on each other on the track and race each other, but now we have a closer affiliation,” Schatz said. “When they told me they were going to hire him, I thought ‘Wow, man there is nothing you can say about that.’ He is the premier driver in our sport and I m glad to be a part of it.”
Schatz and Kinser both competed in the opener of the All Star Circuit of Champions portion of the DIRTcar Nationals on Wednesday night, finishing third and fourth respectively, with their car owner Tony Stewart in attendance.
The World of Outlaws portion of the DIRTcar Nationals runs from February 5-7. To purchase tickets online visit: http://www.DIRTcarNationals.com or call 386-985-4402. Each ticket purchased is also a free fan pit pass.
Race fans unable to make the annual trek south to Volusia Speedway Park for the 39th Annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH, need not worry. All 12 nights (Feb. 2nd-13th) of the Nationals will air LIVE once again on www.dirtvision.com beginning approximately at 7pm each night.