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 KILGORE,
TX (October 24) -- Steve Kinser, the defending World of Outlaws Series
champion, had a big weekend in Texas. First, he won Friday's 30-lap
feature at Lone Star Speedway passing Donny Schatz on the last lap to
take the $10,000 win after starting fifth. Then, when inclement
weather forced the cancellation of Saturday's race at Houston Raceway
Park, the defending series champion mathematically clinched his 18th
series title entering this Friday and Saturday's season finale at Las
Vegas. Kinser won the title after racing on USA-made Hoosier tires the
entire season. In fact, the Hoosier brand has been used by the series
champion the past four seasons and currently the top seven drivers in
the World of Outlaws Series standings all ride on Hoosiers.
Thirty-one cars posted times on Friday at the
4/10-mile Lone Star Speedway with 28 of them riding on Hoosier tires.
The remaining three drivers were split among the two other competing
tire brands. Mark Kinser set fast time of the night with a lap of
13.815 seconds. He was followed by Tim Shaffer, Danny Lasoski, Joey
Saldana and Donny Schatz in second through fifth. Sammy Swindell,
Kraig Kinser, Jeremy Campbell, Jac Haudenschild and Steve Kinser
rounded out the top ten as Hoosier-shod drivers claimed the top 23
times in qualifying.
In heat race action, all three heat race winners rode
on Hoosier tires. Shane Stewart won the first heat, while Jason
Johnson and Steve Kinser won the second and third heats, respectively.
Prior to his heat race win, Kinser's car suffered a broken rear end on
his final qualifying lap. The highest finishing car not riding on Hoosiers in the three heat
races was 7th.
Both Dash races featured an all-Hoosier line-up (16
drivers total) with Donny Schatz winning the first Dash and Sammy
Swindell capturing the second and final Dash.
The B feature also had a 1-2 Team-Hoosier finish
(Craig Dollansky-Kraig Kinser) with only one competing tire brand
carrying one of its drivers into the night's feature race.
In the 30-lap feature race, 23 of the 24 starters rode on
Hoosier tires with Donny Schatz taking the race lead from the drop of
the flag using a RD12/D12 (LR/RR) combination. Schatz led until the
final lap when fifth starting Steve Kinser passed him on a pair of
D12's to snatch the $10,000 win from Schatz. Schatz settled for second
followed by Jeff Shepard who had charged from 12th place to take the
final podium spot using a RD12/RD15 combination. It was the 80th
podium sweep for Team-Hoosier this season in the series in 90 races.
Sammy Swindell, Paul McMahan, Shane Stewart, Danny
Lasoski, Joey Saldana, Jeremy Campbell and Jason
Johnson rounded out the top ten. In fact, the first 15 drivers to
cross the finish line rode on Hoosiers. Craig Dollansky, Jason Meyers,
Brian Brown, Craig Keel and Travis Rilat finished 11th through 15th, respectively.
Team-Hoosier welcomed back Craig Dollansky who made
his return to the series after suffering a severe back injury in
May.
Combine Kinser's win with the cancellation of
Saturday's race and the 153 point margin Kinser held over Danny
Lasoski was large enough to guarantee Steve Kinser his 18th series
title. Joey Saldana is in third place in the rankings followed by
Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, Jason Sides and Paul McMahan. All seven
drivers ride on USA-made Hoosier tires.
The World of Outlaws Series season will come to a
close this weekend in Las Vegas where there will be a two-night show
beginning Friday.
Hoosier Racing Tire congratulates Steve Kinser on
clinching the 2003 World of Outlaws Series championship. It is truly a
remarkable feat to have won 18 championships in the 25-year history of
the series and Hoosier was proud to have played a small part in this
tremendous accomplishment. We also extend our sincere thanks to
all the members of Team-Hoosier who competed on Hoosier tires this
season.
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