Becomes the 22nd different winner of the season and scores the 16th World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of his career
SPENCER, Iowa - Sept. 12, 2014 - With the lights of the Ferris wheel shining in the distance and the sounds of midway games just beyond the grand stand, Kraig Kinser scored his first World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win of the season at the Clay County Fair Speedway's Arnold Motor Supply Shootout on Friday night.
Kinser got the break he needed as the Outlaws turned lap 13 at the 3/8 mile track. Brad Sweet, who had led every lap up to that point, was battling a loose racecar and it nearly got the best of him coming off of turn four. Sweet got sideways and dove to the bottom of the track as he fought to save his car.
"I saw him crossed up," Kinser said. "I was trying to check up, check up because I saw him come across the track. I saw him loose there - I kind of thought he was going to come up and get us."
Sweet recovered but not before slipping back to fourth place. In the meantime, Kinser, Kerry Madsen and Joey Saldana all got around him.
"I know Brad's probably feeling pretty bad, but I'll take it any way I can get it," Kinser said in victory lane.
After struggling through the early and mid-portion of the 2014 season, Kinser said he was happy to score the win for his Steve Kinser Racing, Mesilla Valley Transportation team.
"We've been good since right before Knoxville," Kinser said. "We've been pretty quick, just unfortunate west coast swing - a victim of circumstances a little bit. It felt good after Knoxville to have a top-ten and keep the momentum rolling. We just struggled in the beginning of the year and through the middle part it got pretty tough there for a while. To hit one this late in the year, I'll take it."
Kinser's win makes him the 22nd different winner of the 2014 season. It is also his 16th career World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series win.
Sweet took the green flag of the A main on the pole with Kinser to his outside. As the Outlaws completed lap one, Kinser slipped back to third after Madsen got around him right away. Madsen and Kinser battled through the first ten laps. As the two cars hit lapped traffic, Kinser found his way around Madsen.
"I got by Kraig and kind of sailed in behind Brad to deal with Brad later and then Kraig drove back around me in one and two," Madsen said. "All the while I thought I was going to be able to battle back. I just couldn't get through the lapped traffic and Kraig did a great job getting around Steve and building a nice, comfortable gap."
With Sweet's slide back, Madsen looked for an opportunity to get around Kinser in his American Racing Custom Wheels car and take over the lead. Behind him though, Saldana inched closer.
"In the last five laps we were just racing there," Madsen said. "Joey actually showed his nose to me off of two so I thought it is what it is and if the opportunity presents itself."
At one point, as Madsen and Saldana battled through the closing laps of the feature, which was caution free, Saldana got around, briefly taking over the second spot. The move was short lived.
As Saldana stood in victory lane following his third place finish in the 30-lap feature, a green puddle of coolant formed underneath his Motter Equipment car.
"We've actually had some bad luck here lately. Some flat tires and a fuel line coming loose. Tonight something went through the radiator," Saldana said. "I'm just happy we finished and finished on the podium. That's a good solid run for us. It was good for us all tonight. Hopefully we can continue this tomorrow and on to the rest of the season."
In the race for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championship, Donny Schatz extended his lead over second place Daryn Pittman to 206 points. Paul McMahan remains in third, 312 points out of the lead.
Schatz was the recipient of the KSE Hard Charger Award Friday night after advancing five positions to finish in sixth. It was his 13th Hard Charger Award of the season, the most of any driver.
The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series next returns to action on Saturday night at the ASGROW/DEKALB Clash at the Creek at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. The Outlaws then head east to take on Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway on Sept. 16 and the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track on Sept. 17.
Follow the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws, like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws, or check out the latest videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/WorldofOutlaws.
CLAY COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY NOTES: Kraig Kinser's first win of the season made him the 22nd difference driver of the season to win… Logan Schuchart scored his first quick time of the season at Clay County Fair Speedway… Donny Schatz was the KSE Hard Charger Award recipient for the night after advancing five positions in the A main to finish in sixth. This was his 13th hard charger award of the season… Brad Sweet, Tim Kaeding, David Gravel and Kraig Kinser all won their Heat races tonight.
- administrator on Sep 15, 2014
- Article Date: 9/12/2014