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 TALLADEGA,
AL (September 27) -- Steve Kinser is finishing the 25th O'Reilly World
of Outlaws Series season strong in his bid for an unprecedented 18th
series championship. Kinser led all 40 laps en route to picking up the
$10,000 win at the Talladega Short Track on Saturday. Following Kinser
to the line was Tim Shaffer and Paul McMahan as Team-Hoosier claimed
the top 12 spots in the night's feature race for the 71st podium sweep
of the season for the purple tire brand in 81 nights of racing. With
the win, Kinser increased his lead in the driver standings to 74
points over Danny Lasoski heading into the final 12 races of the
season. Both Kinser and Lasoski are responsible for the Hoosier brand
laying claim to the last three championships in the World of Outlaws
Series and appear to be in position to give the Indiana-based tire
brand its unprecedented 4th consecutive crown as the two continue
their exciting season-long battle.
Twenty-four cars posted times in qualifying with 17 of
them circling the 1/3-mile Talladega track on Hoosier tires. The
remaining seven drivers were split (5/2) among the other two competing
tire brands. Just one of those seven drivers managed to break into the
top 15 in qualifying as the Hoosier brand dominated the action with
Steve Kinser posting the fastest time at 12.315 seconds. Kinser was
followed by Hoosier-shod Paul McMahan, Tim Shaffer, Daryn Pittman,
Jason Meyers, Kraig Kinser, Craig Keel and Danny Lasoski in second
through eighth, respectively.
All three preliminary 10-lap heat races were also won
by drivers using Hoosier tires with Donny Schatz, Jason Sides and Tim
Shaffer each posting wins.
Team-Hoosier remained undefeated during the night when
Steve Kinser and Paul McMahan were the two Dash race winners.
In the 40-lap feature, Steve Kinser, using a D12/D15
(LR/RR) combination, took the lead at the drop of the green flag.
Kinser led the entire race distance to capture the win and collect the
$10,000 top prize. Third starting Tim Shaffer finished in second place
using a D12/RD15 rear drive combination. Shaffer took $5,500 for the
runner-up spot. Paul McMahan, using the same D12/RD15 set-up settled
for the final podium spot and $3,200. It was the 71st 1-2-3 finish of
the season for Team-Hoosier in 81 nights of racing in the elite sprint
racing series.
Just like in qualifying, the Hoosier brand dominated
the racing capturing the top 12 spots in the feature race. Completing
the Hoosier parade were Donny Schatz in fourth, Daryn Pittman, Danny
Lasoski, Jason Meyers, Jason Sides, Kraig Kinser, Jonathan Allard,
Joey Saldana, and Brian Carlson in fifth through twelfth, respectively.
Steve Kinser currently leads the World of Outlaws
driver standings with 9020 points followed by Danny Lasoski with 8946
points. Joey Saldana (8496), Daryn Pittman (8431), Donny Schatz
(8058), and Jason Sides (7897) round out the top six spots in the
rankings. All six drivers compete using USA-made Hoosier tires. Paul
McMahan, Tim Shaffer and Jason Meyers are eighth, ninth and tenth
giving Team-Hoosier drivers nine of the top ten spots in the driver
standings.
The series is back in action this Thursday traveling
east for a one-night show, October 2, at Port Royal Speedway in Pennsylvania
before a two-night show starting Friday at Williams Grove Speedway
where the PA Posse looks to defend their home turf from the invading
Outlaws.
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