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 LAKEVILLE,
IN (March 26-27) -- The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series completed
two one-night programs over the weekend with both ending in historical
firsts. On Friday, Shane Stewart captured his first "A"
Feature win of his career leading all 35-laps at Louisiana's Thunder
Valley Speedway. Then on Saturday, Steve Kinser recorded his 500th
career win leading the final 21 laps in the 30-lap feature at Houston
Raceway Park in Baytown, TX. Both drivers used Hoosier tires to
capture the historic wins.
UNION HILLS, LA (March 26) -- Twenty-seven cars
were in the pits at Thunder Valley Speedway with 22 drivers electing
to compete on Hoosier racing tires. The other five drivers were split
(4-1) among the other two competing tire brands. In qualifying, Steve
Kinser set a new single-lap record of 11.450 seconds around the
3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval. Jason Sides was second quick at 11.463
seconds.
All three heat races were won by drivers on the
Hoosier brand with Danny Lasoski, Brian Paulus and Brian Brown each
winning their respective 8-lap heats.
In the two Dash races, Shane Stewart, who qualified
sixth fastest, captured the win in the first Dash with Kraig Kinser
taking the win in the final Dash keeping Team-Hoosier's record perfect
on the evening.
In the 35-lap feature, Shane Stewart led flag-to-flag
using a pair of Hoosier D10's to capture his first career
"A" Feature win. Stewart collected $10,000 for the win.
Terry McCarl was second (after starting third) followed by Steve
Kinser in third. Kinser charged from seventh to take the final podium
spot using a pair of RD12's. McCarl earned $5,500, while Kinser
collected $3,200. In addition to the 1-2-3 finish for Team Hoosier,
the first 14 drivers to cross the finish line all rode on the Hoosier
brand.
Rounding out the list of top-14 finishers were; Brooke
Tatnell, Tim Shaffer, Daryn Pittman, Craig Dollansky, Jason Meyers,
Donny Schatz, Brian Paulus, Kraig Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Jason Sides
and Dean Jacobs.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. extends its congratulations
out to Shane Stewart on his first World of Outlaws "A"
Feature win.
BAYTOWN, TX (March 27) -- Thirty cars posted
times in qualifying with 24 doing so on Hoosier tires. The remaining
six drivers were split (5-1) between the other two competing tire
manufacturers. Joey Saldana set fast time with a lap of 13.721 seconds
around the 4/10-mile track followed closely by Danny Lasoski at
13.724--just three thousandths of a second off of Saldana's time. The
ten fastest times in qualifying were recorded by drivers using
Hoosiers. Rounding out the top ten were; Jason Meyers, Steve Kinser,
Brooke Tatnell, Kraig Kinser, Brian Paulus, Erin Crocker, Terry McCarl
and Craig Dollansky.
Two of the three heat race winners were on Hoosiers
with Shane Stewart and Jason Sides capturing wins in heats two and
three. Brooke Tatnell and Steve Kinser won the Dash races and the
right to start the feature on the front row.
In the 30-lap feature, Brooke Tatnell, using a Hoosier
RD12/D12 (LR/RR) combination, took the lead at the outset of the race.
Tatnell's lead lasted until lap 10, that's when Steve Kinser took over
seeking his 500th career win. Kinser, using a pair of D12's, defended
his lead from a hard charging Donny Schatz when the checkered flag
finally dropped on lap 30. The King of the Outlaws pocketed $10,000
for the monumental win.
Donny Schatz, finishing just a half a car length
behind Kinser, settled for runner-up honors and a $5,500 payout. Like
the race winner, Schatz also rode on a pair of D12's during the
feature race. Brooke Tatnell (RD12/D12) finished in third followed by
Jason Meyers (D12/D12), Brian Paulus (RD12/D12), Craig Dollansky and
Danny Lasoski in fourth through seventh, respectively. Daryn Pittman
and Kraig Kinser also finished ninth and tenth, respectively, giving
Team-Hoosier claim to nine of the top ten spots in the feature.
After the historic win,
an emotional Kinser commented, "I'm just glad to get this one
over with so we don't have to hear about it any more. I have to thank
Scott Gerkin. He's the best crew chief out there right now, and he and
all the guys on my team do so much to give me a great race car
night-in and night-out. Scott builds all my motors, and for a bunch of
country boys from Indiana, I guess we don't do too badly. I want to
thank my wife Dana and my kids Stevie, Kraig and Kurt. I wish Kurt
could have been here tonight, but he's busy wrestling and boxing and
living his own life."
Kinser went on, "I'm just grateful to have a family that loves
sprint car racing as much as I do. I always wanted to drive a race
car, but I figured I'd have to get a job and be lucky enough to race
at home on the weekends. The World of Outlaws started just about the
time that I did, and it seemed like back then I was one of the
youngest guys in the pits. Now here I am one of the oldest, but
winning races still means everything to me. I want to thank Quaker
State for all they've done for me since I started my own race team (in
1995). They've been a big help in me being able to keep racing and
winning. Maxim Chassis, Hoosier Tires, Jones Engineering, Sanders –
they all give me the best equipment you can have. Most of all, I want
to thank the fans. You've been great the whole time, and it's been a
pleasure being able to race for all of you."
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. extends its heartfelt
congratulations to Steve Kinser on winning his 500th World of Outlaws
"A" Feature. Everyone in the Hoosier organization is proud
that you captured your 500th victory while riding on Hoosier racing
tires.
The series resumes action this Saturday for a
one-night show at Texas Motor Speedway.
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