Bloomington, Ind.—August 13, 2012— With the biggest event of the year, the Goodyear Knoxville Nationals, now in the rearview mirror, some might think that the season would begin to slow down. That’s not the case for Kraig Kinser and his fellow World of Outlaws competitors. The series will continue a busy month of August with three more races in a six-day span over the next week.
The trio of races kicks off for Kinser in the Hendrickcars.com Maxim on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., with the NAPA Auto Parts Kasey Kahne Challenge Presented by Mid-Nebraska Land Developing, A&L Sales & Service and Friesen Chevrolet, followed by Round 2 of The Duel at the Dakotas Presented by Gerdau and Sleep Inn & Suites at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., on Friday, Aug. 17, and concludes with the Magic City Showdown Presented by Gerdau, Sleep Inn & Suites, Minot Visitors Bureau and Magic City Implement at Nodak Speedway in Minot, N.D., on Sunday, Aug. 19.
Kinser raced in the inaugural World of Outlaws event at Junction Motor Speedway on June 25, 2010. He opened that night as the 11th-fastest qualifier of the 25 drivers in attendance, which put him in the 12-car heat race inversion. Kinser started on the pole of the second heat and finished fifth in that eight-lap contest. He started 12th in the 25-lap main event and finished 22nd, with his night ending due to trouble on the eighth lap.
“We have some good notes from the first time we were there, so that’s what we’ll start with,” said Kinser. “I really don’t remember that much about the track. I do remember they had a pretty big crowd and the facility was really nice. With how fast we’ve been, I can’t wait to get over there and get back in the Hendrickcars.com car.”
The third-generation driver was victorious at River Cities Speedway earlier this season, taking the lead from his father Steve on the 34th lap. Kinser has made nine main event starts with the World of Outlaws at the high-banked three-tenths-mile bullring in his career, earning five Top-10 finishes. He made his debut at River Cities Speedway in 2000, with the former Gumout Series finishing fourth and fifth in two starts. In four Gumout Series starts at the track, Kinser finished in the Top-Five in all four contests.
“You certainly have momentum when you go back to a track you have won at earlier in the year,” explained the 27-year-old. “We’ve had a really good set-up at tracks like Grand Forks this year. Hopefully we can have a strong night and repeat what we did there last time.”
Kinser raced with the World of Outlaws at Nodak Speedway for the first time in 2008, finishing third in that event at the high-banked three-eighths mile. He followed that up with a fourth-place showing in 2009. In the two-day Magic City Showdown in 2010, the 2005 Knoxville Nationals winner finished 10th and 16th. The World of Outlaws did not compete at the track last season due to flooding in the area.
“I’ve been fortunate to have run up front at Minot a couple of times,” said Kinser. “It’s a fast track and I really enjoy running there. It will be good to get back there after not being able to run there last year. There are a lot of good sprint car fans up in that area.”
Kinser enters the week sixth in the World of Outlaws championship standings. He has four wins to go along with 34 Top-10 and 18 Top-Five finishes. He also has been fastest in qualifying on five occasions.
Kraig Kinser By the Numbers: Junction Motor Speedway, River Cities Speedway & Nodak Speedway
0.3- Miles around River Cities Speedway
0.375- Distance around Junction Motor Speedway and Nodak Speedway in miles
1- Career start at Junction Motor Speedway
2- Nights of racing in Nebraska this season for the World of Outlaws
4- Career Top-Five finishes at River Cities Speedway with the Gumout Series
5- Top-10 finishes with the World of Outlaws at the high-banked three-tenths-mile
7.7- Average finish in feature races with the World of Outlaws in 2012
8.3- Average finishing position in four career World of Outlaws starts at Nodak Speedway
8.5- Average starting spot in main events this season
9.269- Track record at River Cities Speedway
10.3- Average finish in nine World of Outlaws races at River Cities Speedway
11- Events contested so far this season on three-eighths-mile tracks by the World of Outlaws
13- Total starts at River Cities Speedway with both the World of Outlaws and former Gumout Series
13.331- Track record at Nodak Speedway
14.184- Qualifying mark at Junction Motor Speedway
18- Top-Five finishes through August 11
34- Top-10 finishes this season
214- Miles from River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D. where the World of Outlaws race on August 17 to Nodak Speedway in Minot, N.D.
276- Miles from Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, where the World of Outlaws competed from August 8-11 to Junction Motor Speedway in McCool, Junction Neb.
601- Miles from Junction Motor Speedway in Nebraska where the World of Outlaws race on August 14 to River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D.
2000- Year of first start at River Cities Speedway
2008- First start at Nodak Speedway
2010- Year of World of Outlaws debut at Junction Motor Speedway
6270- Points earned through August 11
Keep up with all the action
For the latest news on Kraig Kinser, visit the recently redesigned http://www.kraigkinser.com, and follow Kraig on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kraigkinser11k and receive live updates from the track each and every race night.
Tune in
Listen live to each and every World of Outlaws event on DIRTVision.com with “The Voice of the Outlaws” Johnny Gibson on the call. Visit www.DIRTVision.com for live audio of each and every World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event.
