By Kyle Luetters
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. — Sept. 4, 2011 — Kraig Kinser’s sprint car career was on the rise in 2005. The son of legendary driver Steve Kinser, Kraig proved that racing was in the family genes as he compiled an impressive record win six wins that season, including a trip to Victory Lane in the 45 th Annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals.
After a two-year stint in NASCAR and ARCA, Kinser returned to the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series driving first for Tony Stewart Racing and in then his Kinser family’s car. Heading into 2011, the third generation driver took over one of the most recognizable rides on the tour, the Lonnie Parsons-owned #6 Casey’s General Stores Maxim. The pairing had high hopes from the start but bad luck seemed to follow the team everywhere it went.
“We’ve had numerous good runs throughout the year,” said Kinser, whose best finish of the season so far is a fifth at during the DIRTcar Nationals. “Unfortunately, wrecks, mechanical problems and more have prevented those runs from showing up on the stat sheet. It’s taken a little while to get comfortable and get going, but here lately I think we have really stepped up our game and have proven we are capable of running near the front, night in and night out.”
Three top-10 finishes in the past seven races have shown the team is capable of running strong. Looking forward, Kinser and his team have circled Monday night’s race at Cottage Grove (Ore.) Speedway on the calendar. Kinser earned the first victory in his World of Outlaws at the quarter-mile bullring in 2004, and the #6 team scored its only victory of 2010 there with veteran driver Danny Lasoski.
“Cottage Grove is a cool little track,” Kinser said. “It’s certainly a place where you have cars all around you all the time and it can be tricky to navigate. More than anything it’s a fun place to race. We’re hoping to get this car back into victory lane and maybe it can be there.”
Kinser and the entire #6 Casey’s General Stores team will go for their first victory of the season as they and the rest of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series head for a Labor Day Bash at Cottage Grove Speedway on Monday, Sept. 5. For more information or tickets, visit www.CottageGroveSpeedway.com.
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Championship Standings, through Sept. 3, 2011
Pos.
Driver
Total
Diff
Wins
Top 5
Top 10
QT
1
Jason Meyers
6603
4
31
40
8
2
Donny Schatz
6518
-85
6
24
41
2
3
Steve Kinser
6508
-95
7
25
39
2
4
Paul McMahan
6333
-270
3
18
35
10
5
Craig Dollansky
6286
-317
8
19
34
2
6
Jason Sides
6264
-339
4
16
32
3
7
Lucas Wolfe
5927
-676
0
7
20
0
8
Cody Darrah
5839
-764
1
6
18
0
9
Chad Kemenah
5791
-812
0
4
14
4
10
Kraig Kinser
5774
-829
0
2
16
0
11
Joey Saldana
5478
-1125
4
18
25
5
12
Sammy Swindell
5455
-1148
4
17
24
6
13
Bill Rose
5348
-1255
0
1
4
0
14
Brad Sweet
3983
-2620
0
8
22
2
15
Kerry Madsen
3943
-2660
0
4
15
0
16
Ben Gregg
2723
-3880
0
1
2
0
17
Sam Hafertepe Jr.
2482
-4121
1
5
11
0
18
Austen Wheatley
1753
-4850
0
0
0
0
19
Daryn Pittman
1672
-4931
1
5
7
0
20
Terry McCarl
1496
-5107
0
1
4
0
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Armor All (Official Car Care Products), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), Factory Motor Parts, VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), Vicci (Official Apparel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, RacingJunk.com, KSE Race Products, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo, JE Pistons, Wix Filters and SuperFlow; Engine Builder’s Challenge participants Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines. Electronics, S&S Volvo, JE Pistons, Wix Filters and SuperFlow; Engine Builder’s Challenge participants Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines.