|
 BILLINGS,
MT (August 20-21) -- Defending World of Outlaws Series champion and
current series points leader Steve Kinser claimed two more wins over
the weekend pushing the Team Hoosier win streak to a record 60 wins
in-a-row. The pair of victories came at Billings Motorsports Park in
Montana where the series had never before visited. Kinser, who has
been in a season-long points battle with 2001 series champion Danny
Lasoski, took the lead on lap 16 en route to winning Friday's 25-lap preliminary
and led all 40 laps in the finale on Saturday. The event attracted 33
drivers and, for the third consecutive race, every team rode on Hoosier
tires. The event was also witnessed by the speedway's largest-ever
crowd.
BILLINGS PRELIMINARY
BILLINGS, MT (August 20) -- Danny Lasoski set fast time in qualifying
circling the 3/8-mile track in just 12.281 seconds using Hoosier's
softest tread compound option (D10) en route to setting a new
single-lap record. Steve Kinser and Jason Meyers were not far behind
clocking in at 12.298 and 12.304 seconds each.
Stephen Allard won the first 8-lap heat, while Jason
Sides, Craig Dollansky and Daryn Pittman were winners in the three
other heat races. Erin Crocker captured the first Dash, while Brian
Paulus won the final Dash as the pair also earned the right to start
the feature from the front row as a result of their 5-lap wins.
In the 25-lap feature, Erin Crocker motored into the
lead as the green flag waved. But before the field entered the first
turn, Brian Paulus and Crocker collided as Paulus was attempting to
move to the inside of Crocker for the lead when he made contact with
her left front tire sending her spinning. It was then that both Tim
Kaeding and Tim Shaffer collided with Crocker--ending the night for
the trio.
When the race resumed, Brian Paulus led the first four
laps using a pair of D12's before third starting Jason Meyers took
over the lead. Meyers, using a 94" RD12/D12 (LR/RR) combination,
led the next 11 circuits before he was passed by fifth
starting Danny Lasoski. Lasoski opted to run the 25-lap feature using
a 94" D10/RD12 set up. However, Lasoski's lead would be erased on
lap 16, when eighth starting Steve Kinser moved into the lead for
good. Kinser won the race using a pair of Hoosier D12's.
Following Steve Kinser to the finish line was Danny
Lasoski, Joey Saldana, Jason Meyers and Brian Paulus. Daryn Pittman
finished in sixth place followed by Donny Schatz, Jason Sides, Kraig
Kinser and Randy Hannagan in seventh through tenth, respectively.
BILLINGS FINALE
BILLINGS, MT (August 21) -- With the top four from Friday's race
locked into the top four spots in Saturday's Dash, the remaining 29
drivers posted times in qualifying. Jason Sides set fast time of the
night when he clocked in at 12.686 seconds. He was followed by Erin
Crocker at 12.735 seconds and Craig Dollansky at 12.769 seconds.
Three heat races were contested with Randy Hannagan,
Danny Wood and Kraig Kinser each claiming an 8-lap win. In the night's
Dash race, Steve Kinser captured the win with Danny Lasoski and Joey
Saldana finishing second and third, respectively.
In the 40-lap feature, Steve Kinser posted a
wire-to-wire win using a Hoosier RD15 as his right rear tire choice.
It was his 16th overall win in the series this year. Danny Lasoski
again finished in second place opting to use a 94" RD12/D12
combination. Donny Schatz finished in third place using the same two
rear drive compounds as the runner-up--although opting to use a
96" left rear. Kraig Kinser finished in fourth place followed by
Joey Saldana, Daryn Pittman, Craig Dollansky, Jonathan Allard, Tim
Kaeding and Tim Shaffer in fifth through tenth, respectively.
Kinser's win extends the Team Hoosier win streak to 60
races in-a-row. Ironically, the only race the Hoosier brand was not in
the winner's circle this year was the season-opening event in Arizona.
Including the three races contested in Australia to begin the 2004
season, Team Hoosier has amassed an impressive 63-1 record in the
World of Outlaws Series. This, after Team Hoosier notched their 4th
consecutive series crown in 2003 when the Hoosier brand compiled a
then-best 88-4 record.
The World of Outlaws Series will resume competition
this Friday, August 27th, when they begin a two-race show at Grays
Harbor Raceway Park in Elma, WA.
|
