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 KILGORE,
TX (March 12) -- Everything seemed to be in place for 18-time and
defending World of Outlaws Series champion Steve Kinser to capture his
historic 500th A-main Outlaws win at Lone Star Speedway Saturday after
"The King" won Friday's 20-lap preliminary. But rain forced
the postponement of the second night of the two-race program until
sometime in October. By then, who knows, he might just be approaching
600 wins! The 48-year-old Kinser continues to be at the top of his
game competing in sprint racing's premier traveling series. After
first qualifying third in the 30-car field on the 4/10-mile clay oval,
Kinser started fifth in the night's feature race. Using a Hoosier
RD12/D12 rear drive combination, Kinser worked his way through the
talented field taking the lead on lap 18 of the 20-lap race en route
to the win. Kinser collected $5,000 for the victory and more
importantly was locked into the top spot for Saturday night's finale.
Rain on Saturday forced the postponement of the event until October,
so it's 499 wins and counting for the Bloomington, IN native as the
racing world awaits the inevitable.
In Friday's qualifying, the Hoosier brand was used by
26 of the 30 drivers on hand for the event. For the fifth time this
season, Danny Lasoski set fast time of the night with a lap of 13.373
seconds or 107.180 mph. Joey Saldana followed Lasoski with a time of
13.429 seconds. Steve Kinser was third in qualifying circling the
track in 13.437 seconds. Eight of the top ten qualifiers rode on
USA-made Hoosier tires.
All three heat race winners also rode on the Hoosier
brand with Craig Dollansky capturing the first heat, while Jason Sides
and Shane Stewart picked up wins in the final two 8-lap heats. The
Hoosier brand was also on the first Dash winner's car of Kraig Kinser
who was followed by Tim Shaffer and his father Steve Kinser.
In the 20-lap feature, Steve Kinser started fifth on
the grid and worked his way through the field finally taking the lead
on the 18th circuit. The defending series champion, riding atop a
Hoosier RD12/D12 set up, led the final three laps to capture the
$5,000 win. Other top ten finishers on the Hoosier brand were Kraig
Kinser (RD12/D12), Donny Schatz (RD12/RD12), and Tim Shaffer
(D10/RD12) in third through fifth, respectively. Danny Lasoski, Joey
Saldana, Brian Paulus and Craig Dollansky rounded out the top ten
finishing seventh through tenth.
Steve Kinser, riding on Hoosier tires, remains atop
the series standings with 547 points. In fact, eight of the top ten
drivers in the standings ride on Hoosier tires.
After winning 88 of the 92 races in 2003, the Hoosier
brand has now won eight of the nine races contested this season
sanctioned by the World of Outlaws Series.
The Outlaws have a week off before returning to action
on March 26th at Thunder Valley Speedway in Union Hill, LA for a one-night show where
Team-Hoosier driver Steve Kinser will look to capture his 500th
win.
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