Tradition abounds in sprint car racing, especially in the state of Ohio. Sitting atop the list of historic events is the legendary Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway. Not far behind is the Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Motorsports Park. Kraig Kinser has had the chance to compete in both events and will do the same this year as he continues his season with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, the sanctioning body for both of the aforementioned events. Both events are on-tap this week, which also kicks off of the annual “Month of Money,” that will see a number of high-paying events dot the calendar over the next four-plus weeks.
The Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by Racing Optics will take to the track at Limaland Motorsports Park on Wednesday, July 9. The series then heads to Eldora Speedway for the Knight Before the Kings Royal on Friday, July 11, and the 31st Kings Royal on Saturday, July 12.
Kinser has made five starts in the Brad Doty Classic in his career, all coming at Limaland Motorsports Park. Last season, the third-generation driver came home eighth in the 40-lapper at the quarter-mile, which is owned and operated by the University of Northwestern Ohio. Kinser finished a career-best fourth at Limaland in 2009 and 2010, and has three top-10 finishes at the track.
“The Brad Doty Classic has become one of the races we always circle on the calendar,” said Kinser. “Brad and everyone at the track does an amazing job. Fans come a few days early for the Kings Royal and are able to make it a whole week in Ohio, with the race at Limaland (Motorsports Park). We’ve had a few good runs there over the years and it’s definitely a track I feel comfortable at and get around pretty well.”
In the 2013 edition of the Kings Royal, Kinser powered his way to a sixth-place finish, after starting 11th. He was 11th-fastest in time trials of the 42 entries. He followed that up with a second-place finish in the fifth heat race, which slotted him on the inside of the sixth row for the 40-lap main event. He finished 20th in the Knight Before the Kings Royal last year. Kinser has one top-five finish in the Kings Royal, with that coming in 2012, when he charged from the 23rd starting spot to finish fifth.
“Other than the (Knoxville) Nationals, the Kings Royal is the race that every sprint car driver wants to win,” Kinser said. “I was fortunate enough to win the Nationals and we always give it everything we have at Eldora as well. With the unique format, you have to qualify in the right spot and then if you start up front in a heat race, you have to take advantage of that. The last couple years we have been able to work out way through the field in the Kings Royal, so we know we can do it, we would start a few rows closer to the front, though, if possible.”
Earlier this season at the high-banked half-mile, Kinser finished seventh and 11th. In his career at Eldora, the native of Bloomington, Indiana, has 14 top-10 finishes, with four of those being top-fives, including a third-place run in 2005.
Last week, Kinser finished sixth at Huset’s Speedway in South Dakota, and was ninth and 18th at Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas.
Kinser begins action this week ninth in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship standings on the strength of 17 top-10 finishes, with two of those being top-five performances.
Kraig Kinser Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, Mesilla Valley Transportation, King Racing Products, Maxim, Aerodine Composites, Sander Engineering, Integra Shocks, All Star Performance, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bell, KSE Racing Products, ButlerBuilt, Schoenfeld Headers, Donovan Engineering, Fel-Pro, Brodix, Wilwood, Dyer’s, Barnes Systems, Ringer Gloves, Jakes Custom Golf Carts, and Ben Cook Racing Limited for their continued support.
Kraig Kinser By the Numbers: Limaland Motorsports Park & Eldora Speedway
0.25- Miles around Limaland Motorsports Park
0.5- Distance around Eldora Speedway in miles
3- Best-career finishing position at Eldora, with that coming in 2005
4- Top-five finishes in his career with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at the half-mile
5- Nights of racing at Eldora this season for the World of Outlaws; Starts in the Brad Doty Classic at Limaland Motorsports Park
8- Races scheduled in the state of Ohio for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series in 2014
9- Current position in points with the World of Outlaws
9.2- Average finish in five main event starts with the World of Outlaws at Limaland
10.763- Track record at Limaland Motorsports Park
12.707- Track record at Eldora Speedway
13.4- Average finish in 44 feature event starts at Eldora with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, including preliminary features
14- Career top-10 finishes with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at Eldora Speedway
17- Top-10 finishes this season through July 5
44- Career World of Outlaws main event starts at Eldora, including preliminary features
58- Miles from Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio, where the World of Outlaws race on July 9, to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio
994- Miles from Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas, where the World of Outlaws competed on July 4–5, to Limaland Motorsports Park in Lima, Ohio
2001- Year of first start with the World of Outlaws at Eldora Speedway
2008- First start at Limaland Motorsports Park
- administrator on Jul 09, 2014
- Article Date: 7/9/2014 by Kraig Kinser Racing PR