WoO: 'King of the Outlaws' Sweeps Spring Nationals
22 March 1998
By Richard DayMESQUITE, TX - Steve Kinser showed why he's the most successful driver in Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series history Saturday when he completed his sweep of the 25th Annual Spring Nationals at Devil's Bowl Speedway.
"This was a good one to win because Quaker State (his sponsor) has its main offices in the Dallas area," Kinser said. "Quaker State is the best sponsor I've ever had and I'm glad I could reward them for their support."
The $10,000 victory, Kinser's first since last July's Kings Royal, was the 419th of his career. Leading all 30 laps in his first victory in 31 World of Outlaws events tightened the race for the series' 20th anniversary championship. He left the site of the World of Outlaws' first race only 29 points behind cousin Mark Kinser.
"You have to put yourself in position to win these races, and we did that in qualifying and the dashes," Steve said following his 10th career "A" Feature victory at the Devil's Bowl. "The talent is so strong, you're not going to pass many people, so you have to start up front to win. If you can get yourself in that position, you have to take advantage of it."
Kinser's victory in Friday's Preliminary Feature gave him the luxury of starting Saturday's Channellock Dash on the pole. He led all five laps in that race for the right to start the main event inside the front row.
"The King of the Outlaws" burst into the lead as the green flag fell in the "A" Feature. Donny Schatz, the runner-up in the Preliminary Feature, kept pace with Kinser during the race's early stages. The World of Outlaws' 1997 Rookie of the Year was within a car-length of Kinser when Terry McCarl stopped on the bank between the first and second corners early in lap three.
The leaders were unable to complete another lap before a mechanical problem in the #75 Mopar Schnee forced Craig Dollansky to stop in turn two.
Vivarin Fast-Time Award winner Jac Haudenschild drove the #22 Pennzoil Maxim past Frankie Kerr during the first lap and took over third place by passing Jeff Swindell during the second restart.
After "The King of the Outlaws" entered lapped traffic during the eighth lap, Schatz battled him for five laps. Haudenschild used a low move in turn four to take over second place late in the 13th lap.
Kinser was unable to build a comfortable advantage before finding an opening in lapped traffic with nine laps remaining. His lead disintegrated the next time around, however, when Shane Stewart stopped on the front straightaway.
With the right rear tire on the #15 Blue Beacon Gambler losing air pressure following the caution period, Schatz started losing positions as the green flag replaced the yellow. He was in 13th place when the tire exploded, forcing him to stop between turns one and two early in the 27th lap.
Haudenschild battled Kinser in every corner for 2 1/2 laps after the race resumed, but was three car-lengths behind when the checkered flag fell.
"The track was a lot more tacky tonight, so we were able to pass more," Haudenschild said. "It was much better racing."
Danny Lasoski passed Swindell during the 27th-lap restart and held off hard-charging Andy Hillenburg to claim third place. Stevie Smith finished fifth, ahead of former Devil's Bowl track champion Gary Wright, 22nd-starting Mark Kinser, Swindell, "B" Feature winner Greg Hodnett and Kerr.
Tyler Walker had the #35 Air Sep Eagle in third place with less than half a lap remaining in the "B" Feature when he clipped a lapped car and flipped in the third corner. So, instead of starting the main event on the sixth row, the 18-year-old Rookie of the Year candidate had to watch from the pit area.
The Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series' next event is scheduled for Friday at Tulsa Speedway. State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City will host the fire-breathing, mud-slinging sprint car racing teams Saturday. WoO
1998 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series 25th Annual Winter Nationals Devil's Bowl Speedway, Mesquite, TX Saturday, March 21, Feature Program #5
Qualifications: 1. Jac Haudenschild, Elden 22, 14.563; 2. Danny Lasoski, Roth 83, 14.738; 3. Gary Wright, Wright 9, 14.759; 4. Sammy Swindell, Swindell 1, 14.843; 5. Terry McCarl, McCarl 24, 14.868; 6. Stevie Smith, Smith 19, 14.929; 7. Randy Kinser, Kinser 14, 15.065; 8. Tyler Walker, Walker 35, 15.068; 9. Larry Neighbors, Neighbors 29N, 15.089; 10. Donnie Crawford, Hillenburg 1H, 15.149; 11. Joe Gaerte, Holbrook 8H, 15.173; 12. Andy Hillenburg, Hillenburg 2, 15.208; 13. Dale Blaney, Hylton-Blaney 93, 15.294; 14. Shane Stewart, Stewart 9S, 15.335; 15. Craig Dollansky, Stanton 75, 15.343; 16. Danny Wood, Woodburn 21W, 15.422; 17. Greg Hodnett, Helm 11H, 15.466; 18. Johnny Herrera, Sonner 47, 15.506; 19. Tommie Estes, Jr., Archer 1A, 15.572; 20. John Bankston, Bankston 8, 15.613; 21. Daryn Pittman, Pittman 11P, 15.701; 22. Danny Jennings, Woodburn 61, 15.703; 23. Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M, 15.764; 24. Shawn Sander, Sander 48, 15.821; 25. Bob Ewell, Ewell 85, 15.843; 26. Ronald Laney, Laney 52, 15.887; 27. Danny Smith, Smith 4, 15.899; 28. Chuck Swenson, Swenson X, 15.941; 29. David Chappell, Chappell 50, 16.121; 30. Calvin Landis, Landis 70, 16.130; 31. John Ewell, Ewell 19J, 16.185; 32. Dion Hindi, Hindi 18, 16.224; 33. Leonard Lee, Lee 16L, 16.272; 34. Mike Peters, Grandstaff 66, 16.342; 35. Jeff Mitrisin, Sereg 5J, 16.511; 36. Keith Dempsey, Dempsey 9D, 18.775.
First Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Jac Haudenschild, 2. Terry McCarl, 3. Dale Blaney, 4. Daryn Pittman, 5. Greg Hodnett, 6. David Chappell, 7. Leonard Lee, 8. Shawn Sander. DNS - Larry Neighbors. (first four qualified for the "A" Feature)
Second Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Shane Stewart, 2. Danny Lasoski, 3. Stevie Smith, 4. Donnie Crawford, 5. Johnny Herrera, 6. Danny Jennings, 7. Ronald Laney, 8. Mike Peters, 9. Calvin Landis. (first four qualified for the Preliminary Feature)
Third Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Craig Dollansky, 2. Joe Gaerte, 3. Gary Wright, 4. Randy Kinser, 5. Danny Smith, 6. Bob Ewell, 7. John Ewell, 8. Jeff Mitrisin, 9. Tommie Estes, Jr. (first four qualified for the "A" Feature)
Fourth Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Danny Wood, 2. Andy Hillenburg, 3. Sammy Swindell, 4. Mark Kinser, 5. Tyler Walker, 6. John Bankston, 7. Dion Hindi, 8. Chuck Swenson, 9. Keith Dempsey. (first four qualified for the "A" Feature)
Finishing 1-4 in Friday's Preliminary Feature automatically qualified Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Frankie Kerr and Jeff Swindell for the first four starting positions in the Channellock Dash.
Channellock Dash (five laps): 1. Steve Kinser, 2. Donny Schatz, 3. Frankie Kerr, 4. Jeff Swindell, 5. Jac Haudenschild, 6. Danny Lasoski. (finish determined the first six starting positions in the "A" Feature)
B Feature (12 laps): 1. Greg Hodnett, 2. Johnny Herrera, 3. Larry Neighbors, 4. Tommie Estes, Jr. 5. Bob Ewell ($200); 6. Danny Jennings ($175); 7. Danny Smith ($150); 8. Ronald Laney ($120); 9. John Bankston ($90); 10. Chuck Swenson ($80); 11. Shawn Sander ($100); 12. Calvin Landis ($70); 13. David Chappell ($50); 14. Dion Hindi ($50); 15. John Ewell ($50); 16. Leonard Lee ($50); 17. Tyler Walker ($50); 18. Mike Peters ($50); 19. Keith Dempsey ($50). DNS - Jeff Mitrisin. (first four qualified for the "A" Feature)
A Feature (30 laps): 1. Steve Kinser ($10,000); 2. Jac Haudenschild ($6,000); 3. Danny Lasoski ($3,500); 4. Andy Hillenburg ($3,200); 5. Stevie Smith ($3,000); 6. Gary Wright ($2,500); 7. Mark Kinser ($2,300); 8. Jeff Swindell ($2,200); 9. Greg Hodnett ($2,120); 10. Frankie Kerr ($2,000); 11. Johnny Herrera ($1,520); 12. Larry Neighbors ($1,420); 13. Sammy Swindell ($1,300); 14. Donnie Crawford ($1,200); 15. Dale Blaney ($1,000); 16. Donny Schatz ($1,000); 17. Joe Gaerte ($800); 18. Randy Kinser ($600); 19. Danny Wood ($600); 20. Tommie Estes, Jr. ($620); 21. Shane Stewart ($600); 22. Daryn Pittman ($600); 23. Terry McCarl ($600); 24. Craig Dollansky ($600).
Lap leader: Steve Kinser 1-30
Vivarin Fast-Time Award winner: Jac Haudenschild
WoO
1998 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series
Point Standings & Statistics Through March 22nd
Pennzoil World of Outlaws Pennzoil World of Outlaws
Driver Point Standings Car Owner Point Standings
1. Mark Kinser . . . . . 804 1. Karl Kinser 5M . . . . 804
2. Steve Kinser . . . . 775 2. Steve Kinser 11 . . . . 775
3. Andy Hillenburg . . . 739 3. Andy Hillenburg 2 . . . 739
4. Johnny Herrera . . . 734 4. Gil Sonner 47 . . . . . 734
5. Jac Haudenschild . . 732 5. Jack Elden 22 . . . . . 732
6. Joe Gaerte . . . . . 731 6. Henry Holbrook, Jr. 8H 731
7. Stevie Smith . . . . 729 7. Smith Racing 19 . . . . 729
8. Sammy Swindell . . . 721 8. Sammy Swindell 1 . . . 721
9. Jeff Swindell 9. Two Winners 104+
(tie) Dale Blaney . . . . 711 10. Hylton-Blaney 93 . . . 711
11. Greg Hodnett . . . . 697 11. David Helm 11H . . . . 697
12. Donny Schatz . . . . 684 12. Danny Schatz 15 . . . . 684
13. Danny Lasoski . . . . 672 13. Dennis Roth 83 . . . . 672
14. Terry McCarl . . . . 630 14. Terry McCarl 24 . . . . 630
15. Craig Dollansky . . . 607 15. Bob Walker 35 . . . . . 579
16. Tyler Walker . . . . 579 16. Larry Neighbors 29N . . 577
17. Larry Neighbors . . . 577 17. Shawkeet Hindi 18 . . . 520
18. Dion Hindi . . . . . 520 18. Dale Pittman 11P . . . 498
19. Daryn Pittman . . . . 498 19. Gary Stanton 75 . . . . 493
20. Garry Brazier . . . . 381 20. Craig Dollansky 1x . . 495
Pennzoil World of Outlaws Pennzoil World of Outlaws
Driver Earnings "A" Feature Winners
1. Mark Kinser . . . $32,915 1. Mark Kinser . . . . . . . 2
2. Steve Kinser . . $25,200 2. Steve Kinser
3. Jac Haudenschild $20,120 (tie) Jac Haudenschild
4. Joe Gaerte . . . $15,550 (tie) Joe Gaerte . . . . . . 1
5. Johnny Herrera . $15,020 Pennzoil World of Outlaws
6. Stevie Smith . . $13,520 Preliminary Feature Winners
7. Andy Hillenburg . $13,000 1. Mark Kinser
8. Danny Lasoski . . $11,635 (tie) Steve Kinser . . . . . 1
9. Sammy Swindell . $11,170 Channellock Dash Pole Winners
10. Jeff Swindell . . $10,980 1. Steve Kinser . . . . . . 2
11. Greg Hodnett . . $10,890 2. Mark Kinser
12. Dale Blaney . . . $10,150 (tie) Jac Haudenschild
13. Donny Schatz . . $9,280 (tie) Johnny Herrera
14. Craig Dollansky . $5,945 (tie) Sammy Swindell
15. Terry McCarl . . $5,480 (tie) Terry McCarl . . . . . 1
16. Frankie Kerr . . $5,200 Vivarin Fast-Time Award Winners
17. Tyler Walker . . $4,340 1. Mark Kinser
18. Brent Kaeding . . $3,750 (tie) Jac Haudenschild . . . 2
19. Garry Brazier . . $3,720
20. Larry Neighbors . $3,715
