By Larry Boos
ROSSBURG, OH (July 3) – Thirty-five years ago the formation of the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series catapulted three names into the weekly headlines. The, then young, drivers fought intensely week in and week out, back and forth across the country, for supremacy. Two of them remain active as drivers, and amazingly are waging yet another dogfight for the WoO championship title, while the third driver remains in the sport, as a mentor to his Sprint Car racing son, and as an advocate for racing safety. Their names are Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Doug Wolfgang.
All three will be reunited one-more time in a historic moment.
The occasion will be the 29th annual running of the prestigious $50,000 to win Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway on Saturday evening, July 14. While Kinser and Swindell will be among the hopefuls to enter the fabled Eldora victory lane at the completion of 40 laps for the traditional pomp and circumstance, it will be Wolfgang presiding over the stage as the Sovereign King.
First comes the cape, then comes the scepter, then comes the cherished crown placed upon the winner by Sovereign King Doug Wolfgang; all followed by the climb atop the oversized throne.
Kinser, Swindell and Wolfgang have each been the recipient of the laurels, but none of the trio has previously had the esteemed honor to bestow the revered crown atop a $50,000 winner.
“I am honored beyond belief to be asked to do this,” quipped Wolfgang from his Sioux Falls, SD shop. “I haven’t seen a race car go around Eldora for over 20 years and excited to get back there. I came out for the 25th anniversary and it rained out, so this is going to be a special treat. Of all the tracks that I ran, Eldora was one of the special ones; partly for the racing, but mostly for the fans.”
A special Saturday afternoon autograph session will give fans the opportunity to greet Doug, along with the drivers hoping to join Wolfgang on stage later that evening. Brad Doty will join the momentous session as well.
Kinser won the inaugural Kings Royal in 1984 and followed that up with six more wins – 1988, 1991, 1997, 2003, 2005 and 2010, while Wolfgang prevailed in 1985’s second annual Kings Royal and again in 1990. Swindell had to wait until 1992 before he could wear the crown and then returned to the throne in 1999.
Tickets and camping sites for the all Sprint Car Kings Royal weekend at Eldora, which begins with the Knight Before the Kings Royal on Friday, July 13, remain available online at www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at (937) 338-3815.