World of Outlaws to Sanction Kings Royal
18 July 1998
ROSSBURG, OH - Steve Kinser rode an emotional roller coaster during Kings Royal weekend last year. Just 24 hours after crashing in the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series' Eldora Clash, Kinser led all 40 laps to claim the $50,000 first prize.When asked to describe his up-and-down weekend, "The King of the Outlaws" replied, "That's just the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."
Kinser used the experience he gained from winning 21 World of Outlaws main events, three Kings Royal titles and one Historic Big One championship - all at Eldora Speedway - in yet another legendary performance. Kinser and his crew rolled out a car originally built for a mile track and put Goodyear's hardest tire compound on the right rear of his #11 Quaker State Maxim.
"Any time you win a big race like this, it's a big boost," Kinser said.
Kinser received several "big boosts" recently, winning his seventh Eagle Nationals championship, taking the lead in the World of Outlaws point standings and winning a pair of Preliminary Features at the Inaugural Duel in the Dakotas at Red River Valley Speedway.
"The King of the Outlaws" will be considered the driver to beat when the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series returns to Eldora Friday and Saturday. TNN: The Nashville Network will provide live, national television coverage of both races.
Kinser will have plenty of competition waiting for him at "The World's Fastest Half-Mile," however. Eleven drivers have combined to win the first 36 "A" Features this season. Seven more have been in victory lane following the 12 Preliminary Features.
Mark Kinser, a two-time winner at Eldora, has won five main events and four Preliminary Features this year. He led the points race for much of the season before 24th- and 22nd-place finishes at Knoxville Raceway and Huset's Speedway allowed his cousin to pass him.
Stevie Smith's career year just keeps getting better. He increased his series-leading main event victory total to nine Monday with a $10,000 victory at Cedar Lake Speedway. He was the points leader in May before three blown engines in two nights pushed him out of first place. He's only nine points behind Mark.
Two victories in the last six races, including the $16,000 first prize in the Duel in the Dakotas, have allowed defending World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell to close to within 15 points of Smith. Sammy has won 13 "A" Features at Eldora Speedway, including the 1992 Kings Royal.
Andy Hillenburg, who won races at Rolling Wheels Raceway and Illinois State Fair Speedway within four days in early June, has gone back to the black color scheme he used when he earned World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year honors in 1988. He set Eldora's qualifying standard with a 12.908-second, 139.448 m.p.h. lap around the high-banked, 1/2-mile oval April 11th.
Danny Lasoski joined the Beef Packers team during the off- season. He recorded his first World of Outlaws victory of the season in the New York Tour finale at Canandaigua Speedway June 4th. Ten top-10 finishes in the last 11 races pushed "The Dude" to within 45 points of Hillenburg.
Johnny Herrera has ranked as high as fifth in the standings this season. A disappointing weekend at Hagerstown Speedway on the heels of his Channellock Spring Classic victory at Williams Grove pushed him back into seventh place. Two top-five finishes in the last four races have him only six points behind Lasoski.
After Two Winners Racing changed everything from its sponsor to its crew chief during the off-season, the 104+ Octane Boost J&J has gradually climbed in the point standings. Jeff Swindell, the runner-up in the 1989 World of Outlaws points race, won the Paducah International Raceway event on April 17th.
Kenny Woodruff, owner of the winning car in the World of Outlaws' inaugural race in March of 1978, has the #93 Amoco J&J running on all cylinders and rookie Dale Blaney running ninth in the point standings.
Fellow Manufacturers' Rookie of the Year candidate Tyler Walker is has had his ups and downs this season. He's only 40 points behind Blaney after 36 events.
Joe Gaerte and new car owner Henry Holbrook, Jr., rank 11th in the point standings. Gaerte won the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series race at Battleground Speedway March 19th.
Jac Haudenschild took the early lead in the points race while driving the #22 Pennzoil Maxim to victory in the season opener at Manzanita Speedway, but missed three races with a shoulder injury in early June. His streak of 13 straight top-four finishes pushed him into 12th place in the standings. Haudenschild won Kings Royal championships in 1987 and 1994.
Greg Hodnett jumped into the cockpit of the Vivarin sprinter this season and has had mixed results. Top-five finishes in three of the last four races have him within 26 points of Haudenschild.
Donny Schatz, the 1997 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series Rookie of the Year, got off to a fast start, but assorted problems have pushed him back to 14th place in the standings.
Craig Dollansky has endured an up-and-down rookie season. He started his own team after Jim Wahlie retired, then drove the #75 Mopar Schnee for 28 events. He left the Mopar team after the Eagle Nationals and expects to be back in his own #7 sprinter soon. Larry Neighbors is another rookie racing with the World of Outlaws during its 20th Anniversary Season.
Dion Hindi acquired sponsorship from Sam's Town Casinos for his second full season with the World of Outlaws. He's home recuperating from a concussion he suffered at Red River Valley Speedway Saturday. Up Front Phone Cards, a division of Capital Telecommunications, Inc., is Lance Blevins' new sponsor. Blevins has missed some races this year suffering from migraine headaches.
The World of Outlaws' 20th Anniversary season features 72 events over 102 race dates at 47 facilities in 25 states and more than $10 million in purses, contingencies and point fund awards.
