The King dominates features at Williams Grove, tightens championship points race
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - May 12, 2012 - Steve Kinser cruised to a pair of victories Saturday at a packed and rowdy Williams Grove Speedway, first snapping his 27-race winless streak with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and later claiming the Morgan Cup on behalf of the series.
Kinser, the World of Outlaws career wins leader, entered the event with only five feature laps led this season. That changed dramatically as he led the final 23 laps of the $12,000-to-win main event and then dominated all 12 laps of the Morgan Cup - a race featuring five World of Outlaws drivers and five Pennsylvania Posse drivers in a showdown about bragging rights, a sterling silver trophy and an additional $4,000 prize.
"We had been running top fives, but hadn't been able to get to Victory Lane," Kinser said. "We got two tonight."
It was his 571st World of Outlaws feature win and 38th total Outlaws victory at the famed half mile. Both numbers are more than double the next closest driver.
The win combined with trouble from Sammy Swindell and Donny Schatz, who entered the race 54 and 46 points ahead of Kinser, respectively, created an even closer points battle.
Swindell, who had a tire issue while running fifth on lap 23, finished 24th. He holds an eight-point advantage over Kinser. Schatz, who violently flipped in turns three and four on the restart following Swindell's caution, is third in the standings - 12 points behind Swindell.
Kinser qualified fourth quickest of the 41 drivers and charged from fourth to second in his heat race to lock himself into the dash. The random inversion was a six, starting Kinser on the inside of the second row - which is where he finished.
Kinser darted to second on the opening lap of the feature as Craig Dollansky rocketed into the lead. As drivers were in various lines across the track, Kinser was the premier car on the bottom and he used a run off turn two to grab the lead on lap 8.
He quickly pulled away until the first caution of the race on lap 11 for Logan Schuchart, who spun out between turns one and two. Kinser chose the inside lane for the restart and again found himself with a comfortable before the caution waved on the restart lap for a handful of cars who collided in turn four.
"The only way we was going to get into any trouble was trying to pass some lapped cars," he said. "I don't know if I could have gotten out in the second groove and passed or not. I think I could move around as good as anybody."
The inside lane worked for Kinser again on the restart and more drivers began to move to the bottom groove. Greg Hodnett passed Dollansky for the runner-up position on lap 12 and closed on Kinser as the duo entered traffic on lap 19.
The cautions for Swindell and Schatz closed the gap for Hodnett, who was unable to get around Kinser for the top spot.
"We did the best we could," he said. "Unfortunately it turned out second. Considering Steve Kinser, the greatest World of Outlaws driver ever, just beat us, I think I can live with it."
Polesitter Danny Lasoski, who dropped to fourth place in the first nine laps, rebounded toward the end of the race and he passed Hodnett for second place on the restart following Swindell's caution only to have the position negated by Schatz's red flag.
"Tonight starting on the pole we thought we had a really good shot at winning," Lasoski said. "Steve went by us and he was stuck real good. And then the middle of the race here we come when (the track) cleaned off.
"As soon as we had the red flag I don't know what happened. We pushed back off and had no brakes, so it was just like hanging on the last few laps."
Lance Dewease finished fourth and Dollansky was fifth. Aaron Ott drove from 12th to sixth, Daryn Pittman placed seventh, Stevie Smith was eighth and Danny Dietrich charged from 22nd to ninth to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award.
Adam Wilt, who set quick time with a lap of 16.936 seconds, rounded out the top 10.
Lasoski, Sheldon Haudenschild, Hodnett and Pittman each claimed a heat race. Don Kreitz Jr. won the Last Chance Showdown.
Morgan Cup Notebook
NOTES - World of Outlaws driver Bill Rose was not in competition Saturday night at Williams Grove Speedway after learning overnight that his father passed away. The World of Outlaws sends its deepest condolences to Rose and his family. … The World of Outlaws has claimed the Morgan Cup in both years since its creation. … Sheldon Haudenschild won his first career World of Outlaws heat race, which locked him into his first career World of Outlaws dash. … Adam Wilt picked up his first World of Outlaws quick time.
CONTINGENCY WINNERS - Penske Shocks ($100 certificate): Danny Lasoski; MSD Ignitions ($50 cash): Steve Kinser; Comp Cams ($50 certificate): Steve Kinser; Armor All (case of product): Daryn Pittman; STP ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; UNOH ($50 cash): Craig Dollansky; Gravely Tractors ($50 cash): Daryn Pittman; VP Racing Fuel ($50 cash): Don Kreitz Jr.; Comp Cams ($50 cash): Don Kreitz Jr.; JE Pistons (set of rings): Don Kreitz Jr.; Cometic Gasket ($50 cash): Don Kreitz Jr.; Wix Filters ($50 cash): Chad Kemenah; Superflow ($50 cash): Kraig Kinser; JE Pistons ($50 cash): Kerry Madsen; JE Pistons (set of rings): Kerry Madsen; MSD Ignitions ($25 cash): Sammy Swindell; Klotz Synthetic Lubricants ($50 cash): Sheldon Haudenschild.
WINNERS - Sammy Swindell - 4 (Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Donny Schatz - 3 (Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Craig Dollansky - 2 (Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Tim Kaeding - 2 (Thunderbowl Raceway on March 16 and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8); Joey Saldana - 2 (Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Danny Dietrich - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Chad Kemenah - 1 (Eldora Speedway on May 4); Steve Kinser - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Danny Lasoski - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18); Fred Rahmer - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11).
TIME TRIALS - Adam Wilt was the fastest qualifier around the half-mile oval with a time of 16.936 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Sammy Swindell (4 points), Lance Dewease (3), Steve Kinser (2) and Stevie Smith (1).
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- Admin Account on May 12, 2012
- Article Date: 5/12/2012