From Parsons Motorsports PR, Doug Vandeventer photo
Granger, IA—August 9, 2011—Some drivers spend their entire careers trying to win the Knoxville Nationals. Kraig Kinser was fortunate enough to reach Victory Lane in just his third try in the event in 2005, joining his father Steve as a winner at the famed half-mile, making them the first father/son duo in history to win sprint car racing’s biggest event.
Kinser will return to the famed half-mile this week aboard the Casey’s General Store Maxim for the 51st Annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals, which will be sanctioned by the World of Outlaws for the first time since 2005. Kraig will take to the track for his qualifying night on Thursday with over a million dollars on the line over the four nights of racing that encompass the 2011 Knoxville Nationals, with the 50-lap, $150,000 to-win main event set for Saturday, August 13, which wraps up the “Month of Money.”
The second generation driver made his debut at Knoxville in 2001 and competed in the Nationals for the first time in 2003. Kraig has raced in 22 main events with the World of Outlaws at the Marion County Fairgrounds, picking up eight Top-10 and four Top-Five finishes along the way. He finished ninth earlier this season in the World of Outlaws only visit to Knoxville before the Nationals.
Kinser won for the first time at Knoxville on June 24, 2005 and followed that up with a win in the Knoxville Nationals on August 14 of that year. In 2005, Kraig made five starts at Knoxville, winning twice, finishing third once and finishing ninth twice.
Kinser enters the 51st Annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals 11th in the World of Outlaws standings with 13 Top-10 finishes, as he continues his first season driving for the Parsons Motorsports team, based just down the road from Knoxville in Granger, Iowa.
Kraig on the Knoxville Nationals:
“It’s definitely the biggest race of the year and the one that everyone looks forward to and wants to win. We were fortunate enough to win it in 2005 and that’s one I’ll never forget. To join my dad as a winner, which made us the first father and son to accomplish that, was pretty special. We were pretty good earlier this season at Knoxville and for the Nationals, you have to be on your game every time you hit the track and earn as many points as you can for Saturday night. You need a fast and balanced race car and also some luck on your side. We’ll go in there and the Casey’s General Store team will give it everything we have.”
Kraig Kinser By the Numbers: Knoxville Raceway:
0.5- Miles around Knoxville Raceway
2- Career wins at the half-mile
4- Top-Five finishes with the World of Outlaws at Knoxville Raceway
5- Total nights of racing for the World of Outlaws this season at Knoxville
8- Top-10 finishes with the series at the track
13- Top-10 finishes through August 6
13.3- Average finish in 22 World of Outlaws main event starts at Knoxville
14.407- Track record at Knoxville Raceway
17-Events on half-miles so far this season for the World of Outlaws
22-Career starts in World of Outlaws events at the half-mile
41- Events completed this season through August 6
59- Miles from the Parsons Motorsports shop in Granger, Iowa to Knoxville Raceway
2001- Year of first World of Outlaws start at Knoxville Raceway
2003- Year of first start in the Knoxville Nationals
2005- Year of win in the Knoxville Nationals
4797- Points earned through August 6
51,180- Dollars earned through August 6
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 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.