‘The King’ picks up career Outlaws win No. 573 at Dodge City Raceway Park
DODGE CITY, Kan. - June 22, 2012 - The spin seemed like it was in slow motion.
Polesitter Jason Sides, who led the first 12 laps on a gusty Night 1 of the Boot Hill Showdown on Friday at Dodge City Raceway Park, looped it in turn one just prior to the midway point. As Sides kept his car under power, Steve Kinser dodged the melee to capture the lead and eventually the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory, which was career No. 573.
"I was pretty sure we were going to drive by him," said a grinning Kinser, who also won the first-ever Outlaws event at Dodge City Raceway Park in 2004. "He did get a little sideways. It made it a little bit easier."
For Sides, it was the latest heartbreak during a season when he has started on the pole of a World of Outlaws feature a series-best four times.
"We ran in behind a lapped car going into turn one there and I ran in way faster than I thought he was running," he said after finishing third. "I had to pitch it sideways to keep from running over him. I thought I was going to be able to save it, but once it started to come around I just had to stand on it and keep it going and hope for the best."
However, the race was anything but over following the spin. One lap later the fourth-and-final caution bunched the field up for a shootout during the second half of the 30-lap feature.
Kinser choose the outside lane on the double-file restart with Sammy Swindell and Lucas Wolfe between himself and Sides. Kinser got a solid jump with Swindell tucking into second and Sides sliding by Wolfe for third place on the restart.
Kinser sailed into a big lead with Swindell dramatically cutting into it once they reached traffic with 10 laps remaining. Swindell's best opportunity to win came in the closing laps as he reeled Kinser within a car length.
As the duo entering turn three coming to the white flag Swindell nearly pulled to the inside of Kinser, but traffic slowed his momentum and Kinser utilized the preferred line to cruise to the victory.
"Just too much traffic and it didn't work out for us," Swindell said after finishing second. "We were just as quick as he was. He had the line and I had to kinda go somewhere else. That's just the way it is sometimes."
Wolfe was fourth and Donny Schatz earned the KSE Hard Charger Award after driving from 13th to fifth. Chad Kemenah ended sixth, Joey Saldana seventh, Kerry Madsen eighth, Tim Kaeding ninth and Craig Dollansky rounded out the top 10.
Kraig Kinser was the quickest in qualifying with a lap of 13.481 seconds, but was caught up in an opening-lap crash during his heat race. Kinser failed to finish and was relegated to the Last Chance Showdown, which he dominated for the second time this year.
Kaeding, Kemenah and Rose each picked up a heat race win.
The final night of the Boot Hill Showdown is tonight - Saturday - with the front gate opening at 5 p.m.
Night 1 of the Boot Hill Showdown Notebook
NOTES - Kraig Kinser set quick time for the third race this season. … Tim Kaeding earned his second heat race win of the season, Chad Kemenah claimed his sixth and Bill Rose won his first. … Jason Sides picked up his series-best fourth dash win. … Kinser lapped up to fourth place when he won the Last Chance Showdown for the second time this season.
WINNERS - Sammy Swindell - 5 (Red River Valley Speedway on June 16, Eldora Speedway on May 5, Knoxville Raceway on April 28, Missouri State Fair Speedway on April 20 and Merced Speedway on March 30); Craig Dollansky - 4 (I-96 Speedway on June 2, Hagerstown Speedway on May 20, Tri-State Speedway on April 21 and Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 19); Steve Kinser - 3 (Dodge City Raceway Park on June 22, Orange County Fair Speedway on May 19 and Williams Grove Speedway on May 12); Joey Saldana - 3 (The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 25, Paducah International Raceway on April 13 and Perris Auto Speedway on March 10); Donny Schatz - 3 (Farmer City Raceway on April 25, Silver Dollar Speedway on March 23 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); Chad Kemenah - 2 (Lawrenceburg Speedway on May 28 and Eldora Speedway on May 4); Kraig Kinser - 2 (River Cities Speedway on June 15 and Kokomo Speedway on June 5); Danny Dietrich - 1 (Lincoln Speedway on May 10); Danny Lasoski - 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 18); Kerry Madsen - 1 (Knoxville Raceway on June 9); Paul McMahan - 1 (Rolling Wheels Raceway Park on May 16); Fred Rahmer - 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on May 11); Brad Sweet - 1 (Clay County Fairgrounds on June 8).
TIME TRIALS - Kraig Kinser was the fastest qualifier around the 3/8-mile oval with a time of 13.481 seconds to earn five championship points. Also earning points were Joey Saldana (4 points), Steve Kinser (3), Sammy Swindell (2) and Jason Sides (1).
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- Admin Account on Jun 24, 2012
- Article Date: 6/22/2012 by Shawn Miller - World of Outlaws