Kraig Kinser Finishes Ninth in the Opener of the Duel in the Dakotas

By Parsons Motorsports PR

Granger, IA—June 19, 2011—It wouldn’t be a typical World of Outlaws weekend in 2011 if weather was not a factor. That was certainly the case in the opener of the Duel in the Dakotas on Friday, June 17 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., as storms were moving into the area quickly, leading to an expedited show that took the checkered flag at 9:15. For Kraig Kinser, that meant he was able to get in two complete racing shows at River Cities Speedway, as he continues first season aboard the Casey’s General Store Maxim for Parsons Motorsports, picking up a solid ninth-place in the opener at the high-banked three-tenths-mile bullring.

Kinser began the Duel in the Dakotas by turning the 13th fastest lap in time trials in the opener with a 32-car field signed in, which put him on the pole of the second heat race. He finished that 10-lap contest in second to earn a spot in the dash. He lined up eighth in the dash and ended up seventh, which put him on the inside of the fourth row for the 40-lap main event.

The third generation driver lost a couple of spots on the opening three laps, before charging by Kerry Madsen for eighth on the seventh circuit. Madsen would get back by on the following lap. Kraig took eighth from Brooke Tatnell on the 20th lap, with the latter regaining the spot on lap-22. Kinser would then settle into ninth and ran there for the remainder of the 40-lap contest, to score his ninth Top-10 finish of the season and fourth straight at River Cities Speedway in World of Outlaws action.

The finale of the Duel in the Dakotas found Kinser 20th in qualifying, which put him in the fifth starting spot in the fourth heat race. He finished fourth in that 10-lapper to earn a spot in the 40-lap main event, where he lined up 20th.

The native of Bloomington, Ind. got around Brooke Tatnell, Chris Shirek, Austin Pierce and Bill Rose at the start of the feature to move into 16th. Kinser steadily worked his way back to the front and was running 13th just past the halfway point when he was caught up in an accident which found him restarting 18th. He would gain a couple of more spots in the late going to come home 16th.

Kinser is currently tied for 10th in the World of Outlaws championship standings on the strength of nine Top-10 finishes heading into this weekend’s events at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D. and Princeton Speedway in Princeton, Minn.

River Cities Speedway Results

Date

Time

Trials

Heat

Start

Heat Finish

Dash Start

Dash Finish

Feature Start

Feature Finish

Points

June 17

13th

1st

2nd

8th

7th

7th

9th

11th

June 18

20th

5th

4th

20th

16th

10th

Kraig on the weekend:

“I’m glad we were able to get both races in. We had a pretty good set-up on Friday and timed in a good spot and made it into the dash, which always helps. We were ok in the feature and it was tough to pass out there, so we were glad to get at Top-10. On Saturday night we were really making up ground in the feature and were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. We were able to pass cars early and then a few late. We’ll regroup this week and look forward to two more short track races at Huset’s and Princeton next weekend.”

Kraig Kinser By the Numbers-River Cities Speedway:

0.3- Miles around River Cities Speedway

2- Nights of racing at the high-banked bullring

4- Top-10 finishes with the World of Outlaws at River Cities Speedway

7- Starts with the World of Outlaws at River Cities Speedway

8- Total career Top-10 finishes at Grand Forks

9- Top-10 finishes this season

9.841- Laps in time trials on Friday

10- Current position in points

10.3- Average finish in seven World of Outlaws starts at the track

11- Total career starts at River Cities Speedway

11.258- Lap in time trials on Saturday

2,819- Points earned through June 18

30,900- Dollars earned through June 18

Up Next: June 24: Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD

June 25: Princeton Speedway, Princeton, MN

Keep up with all the action: Follow Kraig Kinser on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kraigkinser6 and receive live updates from the track each and every race night. Also keep up with Kraig online at the recently redesigned www.KraigKinser.com.

Tune in: Listen live to each and every World of Outlaws event on DIRTVision.com with “The Voice of the Outlaws” Johnny Gibson on the call. Visit www.DIRTVision.com for live audio of each and every World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event.