WOO: Kinser Increases Points Lead With Victory at Kings

14 September 1998

HANFORD, CA - Steve Kinser, the winningest driver in the history of the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series, won a battle with 1998's big winners - Stevie Smith and Jac Haudenschild - when a record crowd packed Kings Speedway Friday.

Kinser, the leader in the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series point standings, passed Haudenschild for first place during the fifth lap, then held off Smith to win by two car-lengths. The victory, Kinser's fifth of the season, increased his advantage in the point standings to 28 points over defending series champion Sammy Swindell.

"We've had a pretty long dry spell here (at Kings Speedway)," Kinser said, "and Stevie almost made it longer. I'm just glad it's over. Anytime you start up front, you'd better make it count.

"We've been running pretty good lately. I have to thank Scott Gerkin, Guy (Forbrook) and Jimmy (McBee)."

The $7,000 victory was Kinser's sixth at Kings Speedway, and his first there since September 19, 1990. Steve has raced with the World of Outlaws since its inception in March of 1978 and his number has always been 11. Friday's victory was his 21st on the 11th of the month and the 423rd of his career.

Haudenschild, the sixth-fastest qualifier in the 35-car field, earned the right to start the "A" Feature on the pole by winning his 12th Channellock Dash of the season. Kinser finished second and started the main event outside the front row.

Haudenschild drove the #22 Pennzoil Maxim into the lead as the green flag fell in the "A" Feature. Smith exchanged fourth place with Sammy Swindell twice during the first 1 1/4 laps, then passed Jeff Swindell for third late in lap two.

Fourth Racing Champions Heat Race winner Blake Robertson brought out the caution flag with a second-corner spin early in the third lap. The red flag was flying for Graydon Cross, who flipped in turn two, late in lap four.

"The King of the Outlaws" battled Haudenschild as the race resumed, and took the lead by steering the #11 Quaker State Maxim to the lowest point in turn four the next time around. Haudenschild was trying to catch Kinser early in the sixth lap when he slid over the cushion in the second corner and lost three positions. He passed Dale Blaney for fourth place with a low move through turns three and four seconds later.

Smith caught Kinser during the 10th lap and started their 20-lap battle for the lead. Stevie drove his #19 Ingersoll-Rand Black Bandit into the low groove in the third corner late in lap 11, but was unable to surge ahead.

Cross and Jim Taves crashed in turn three the next time around, bringing out the caution flag and tightening the 24-car field. The leaders were approaching lapped traffic during the 18th lap when Brent Kaeding's second-corner spin brought out the final caution flag.

"The King of the Outlaws" was eight car-lengths ahead of Smith when they caught the backmarkers with nine laps remaining. Stevie took the low line into turn two in dense lapped traffic two laps later, but Kinser was equal to the challenge.

Smith used an inside move in the first corner to pass Kinser early in the 26th lap, but slid out of the low groove in turn two and "The King of the Outlaws" regained first place.

"I was awfully slow getting off (turn) four, and that gave him a chance to catch me going into one," Kinser explained.

After Haudenschild challenged him for the runner-up spot with two laps remaining, Smith made one final run at Kinser with the white flag flying. He raced wheel-to-wheel with "The King of the Outlaws" through the first and second corners, but was unable to complete the pass. Stevie was two car-lengths behind when Kinser took the checkered flag.

Haudenschild finished in third place, ahead of Vivarin Fast-Time Award winner Danny Lasoski, 13th-starting Mark Kinser, the Swindell brothers - Jeff and Sammy - Donny Schatz, Andy Hillenburg and Blaney.

Lasoski received his ninth Vivarin Fast-Time Award of the season for pacing the qualifying session with a record time of 12.953 seconds around the semi-banked, 1/3-mile oval. "The Dude" recorded the first sub-13-second lap in the history of Kings Speedway.

Johnny Herrera, racing on his 32nd birthday, won the First Racing Champions Heat Race and drove the #47 Casey's General Stores Maxim past six cars to finish 13th in the "A" Feature.

   1998 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series
 Kings Speedway, Hanford, CA
  Friday, September 11, Feature Program #55

Qualifications: 1. Danny Lasoski, Roth 83, 12.953 (new single- lap record); 2. Stevie Smith, Smith 19, 12.993; 3. Sammy Swindell, Swindell 1, 13.062; 4. Randy Hannagan, THR 1x, 13.082; 5. Dale Blaney, Hylton/Blaney 93, 12.083; 5. Jeff Swindell, Two Winners 104+, 13.135; 6. Jac Haudenschild, Elden 22, 13.137; 7. Steve Kinser, Kinser 11, 13.139; 8. Graydon Cross, Cross 8C, 13.142; 9. Andy Hillenburg, Hillenburg 2, 13.144; 10. Peter Murphy, Williams 0, 13.144; 11. Tim Shaffer, Helm 11H, 13.175; 12. Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M, 13.190; 13. Randy Tiner, Tiner 83T, 13.198; 14. Brent Kaeding, M&M Racing 2M, 13.251; 15. Donny Schatz, Schatz 15, 13.260; 16. Paul McMahan, Stanton 75, 13.266; 17. Tommy Tarlton, Tarlton 21T, 13.290; 18. Tyler Walker, Walker 35, 13.317; 19. Joe Gaerte, Holbrook 8H, 13.320; 20. Johnny Herrera, Sonner 47, 13.341; 21. Bud Kaeding, Macieal 29, 13.492; 22. Jim Taves, Taves 34, 13.500; 23. Blake Robertson, BR Motorsports 15R, 13.550; 24. Steve Coelho, Coelho 6C, 13.557; 25. Steve Kent, McMillen/ Mitchel 10, 13.572; 26. Lance Blevins, Blevins 21, 13.590; 27. Jason Meyers, Berry 14, 13.605; 28. Jason Statler, ATM/Rios 00, 13.618; 29. Monte Faccinto, Faccinto 7J, 13.700; 30. Brian Coelho, Coelho 5C, 13.835; 31. Anthony Simone, Simone 10S, 13.839; 32. Greg Decaires, Hanford Radiator 2x, 13.853; 33. Todd Bammer, Bammer 18, 14.187; 34. Charlie Louden, Louden X, 14.793; 35. Gary Ferravanti, Jr., Ferravanti 44, no time.

First Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Johnny Herrera, 2. Paul McMahan, 3. Graydon Cross, 4. Mark Kinser, 5. Dale Blaney, 6. Danny Lasoski, 7. Jason Statler, 8. Greg Decaires, 9. Steve Coelho. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)

Second Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Tommy Tarlton, 2. Andy Hillenburg, 3. Randy Tiner, 4. Stevie Smith, 5. Jeff Swindell, 6. Bud Kaeding, 7. Monte Faccinto, 8. Steve Kent, 9. Todd Bammer. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)

Third Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Tyler Walker, 2. Brent Kaeding, 3. Sammy Swindell, 4. Jim Taves, 5. Jac Haudenschild, 6. Peter Murphy, 7. Lance Blevins, 8. Charlie Louden, 9. Brian Coelho. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)

Fourth Racing Champions Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Blake Robertson, 2. Joe Gaerte, 3. Donny Schatz, 4. Steve Kinser, 5. Tim Shaffer, 6. Randy Hannagan, 7. Jason Meyers, 8. Anthony Simone, 9. Gary Ferravanti, Jr. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)

Channellock Dash (five laps): 1. Jac Haudenschild, 2. Steve Kinser, 3. Dale Blaney, 4. Jeff Swindell, 5. Sammy Swindell, 6. Stevie Smith, 7. Andy Hillenburg, 8. Graydon Cross. (finish determined the first eight starting positions in the "A" Feature)

B Feature (12 laps): 1. Randy Hannagan, 2. Peter Murphy, 3. Danny Lasoski, 4. Bud Kaeding, 5. Jason Meyers ($200); 6. Steve Coelho ($180); 7. Monte Faccinto ($150); 8. Brian Coelho ($110); 9. Anthony Simone ($90); 10. Greg Decaires ($80); 11. Steve Kent ($60); 12. Jason Statler ($50); 13. Gary Ferravanti, Jr. ($50); 14. Charlie Louden ($50); 15. Lance Blevins ($50). (first four qualified for the "A" Feature)

A Feature (30 laps): 1. Steve Kinser ($7,000); 2. Stevie Smith ($4,000); 3. Jac Haudenschild ($3,000); 4. Danny Lasoski ($2,500); 5. Mark Kinser ($2,300); 6. Jeff Swindell ($2,200); 7. Sammy Swindell ($2,100); 8. Donny Schatz ($2,000); 9. Andy Hillenburg ($1,700); 10. Dale Blaney ($1,600); 11. Joe Gaerte ($1,200); 12. Tim Shaffer ($1,150); 13. Johnny Herrera ($1,100); 14. Tyler Walker ($1,050); 15. Randy Tiner ($1,000); 16. Blake Robertson ($700); 17. Tommy Tarlton ($600); 18. Bud Kaeding ($500); 19. Randy Hannagan ($500); 20. Brent Kaeding ($500); 21. Paul McMahan ($500); 22. Peter Murphy ($500); 23. Graydon Cross ($500); 24. Jim Taves ($500).

Lap leaders: Jac Haudenschild 1-4, Steve Kinser 5-30

Vivarin Fast-Time Award winner: Danny Lasoski