From Parsons Motorsports PR
Granger, IA — Oct. 23, 2011 — Having a race car that gets faster as the night goes on, is something that most drivers and crews strive for on the World of Outlaws circuit. Kraig Kinser was in that exact position on Saturday night at Talladega (Ala.) Short Track during the Sage Fruit Showdown as he powered his way to a third-place finish aboard the Casey’s General Store Maxim, picking up a number of positions over the second half of the 35-lap main event.
Kinser started ninth and was up to seventh by the third lap when the first caution flag of the night flew. He restarted on the high side of the track, and lost a couple of positions and was running eighth until the seventh lap when he got around Jason Sides. The third generation driver then battled Lucas Wolfe for the sixth spot for several laps, with Kinser finally taking the spot on the 19th lap.
The third generation driver next set his sights on the fifth spot, which was occupied by his father Steve. The father/son duo traded the position three times before Kraig took it on the 24th lap. He then had a spirited battle with two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart for fourth, snagging the position on the 27th go-around. Kinser moved into third with four laps remaining, as he charged past current series point leader Jason Meyers.
Kinser would finish the 35-lap main event in third, to earn his sixth Top-Five performance of the season and the best finish of his career at Talladega Short Track in seven main event starts at the one-third-mile bullring.
The 2004 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year opened the night by turning the 11th fastest lap in time trials, which put him on the pole of the second 10-lap heat race. He ran third in that contest to earn a spot in the dash. He lined up ninth in the dash and finished in that same position, which put him on the inside of the fifth row for the 35-lap A-Feature.
Kinser is currently eighth in the World of Outlaws championship standings on the strength of 22 Top-10 finishes, with six of those being Top-Five runs, including a win at Cottage Grove (Ore.) Speedway during the annual Gold Rush Tour. Kinser will wrap up the 2011 campaign in the World Finals in Charlotte, Nov. 3-5.
Talladega Short Track Results
Date
Time
Trials
Heat
Start
Heat Finish
Dash Start
Dash Finish
Feature Start
Feature Finish
Points
Oct. 22
11th
1st
2nd
9th
9th
9th
3rd
8th
Kraig on the weekend:
“We had an awesome car. I’m so happy to finish up front. We qualified in the right spot and finished second in the heat to make the dash. We learned a few things in the dash that really helped us in the feature. We started the season off slow and have really been coming on here in the latter part of the season. We have two races left at Charlotte in a few weeks and we certainly want to finish the season on a strong note and will go in there and give it everything we have. I am so proud of my guys here on the Casey’s General Store team. They work hard day in and day out and it’s great to get a strong finish for them.”
Kraig Kinser By the Numbers: Talladega Short Track
0.33- Miles around Talladega Short Track
1- Career Top-Five finish at the one-third-mile; Race in the State of Alabama this season for the World of Outlaws
2- Career Top-10 finishes at the track; Finishing position in the second heat race
3- Finishing position at Talladega Short Track
6- Top-Five finishes this season
7- Career feature starts at Talladega Short Track with the World of Outlaws including preliminary features
8- Position in the World of Outlaws championship standings through Oct. 22; Events on one-third-mile tracks this season for the series
9- Starting position in the main event at Talladega Short Track
11- Position in time trials at the track
13.210- Lap in time trials
22- Top-10 finishes earned this season
35- Laps in the main event on Saturday night
63- Main events completed by the World of Outlaws through Oct. 22
7560- Points earned through Oct. 22
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.
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.