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WOO: Along the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series Trail

30 September 1998

By Richard Day

GREENWOOD, NE - With the tightest points race in Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series history changing every time the fire- breathing, mudslinging sprint car racing teams take the track, the top four competitors had plenty to say about during the Inaugural Cornhusker Outlaws Showdown at I-80 Speedway.

"I haven't won one (a championship) as an owner yet and this is our third shot," points leader Steve Kinser said Friday. "We'd like to win it not only for us but for Quaker State and everybody on the race team. Everybody's worked really hard. I'd like to be able to pull it off for them."

When asked if he watches to see how defending Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series champion Sammy Swindell performs, Steve said, "You have to pay attention to Sammy. He and I have been at this for a long time. He's a hard competitor and he won't quit until the last race.

"I've made some mistakes. I had a race won and ended up 14th (at Santa Maria Speedway) in California. But everybody can say they've made mistakes. You have to put it behind you and try get top-three finishes."

Kinser increased his advantage to 85 points, finishing second in Friday's Preliminary Feature, televised live on TNN: The Nashville Network, and third in Saturday's "A" Feature.

"The King of the Outlaws" said he's really enjoying the battle for what he hopes will be his 15th Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series championship. He was afraid he'd lost Scott Gerken, but his former crew chief is now building engines for him at his shop in Bloomington, IN. The #11 Quaker State Maxim hasn't missed a beat since Guy Forbrook took over as the team's crew chief in July.

"We still have time," Swindell said. "The Channellock car has been working great. The last couple of weeks, we've had some problems. We haven't been able to start up front as much as we'd like. We were right there most of the races out in California. I think we have a good chance. There are plenty of races left."

Mark Kinser's second-place finish in Saturday's main event pushed him past Stevie Smith into third in the standings.

"You have to look at #1," Mark said. "That's the main goal. We're 100 points from there, and it's getting close to the end of the year. Steve and Sammy have been consistent and Stevie has been really good. We're going race-by-race and want to win some more."

Smith led the points race in May, only to have several three blown engines in two nights push him back into fourth place.

"We're just going the best we can every night," Stevie said. "The Ingersoll-Rand car has been really fast. I just hope we can keep it up front. We're just taking it one race at a time, trying to finish and run the best we can."

Smith survived a close call and eventually finished third in the Third Racing Champions Heat Race Friday. Running over Bob Weuve's left rear tire on the front straightaway sent the front of the #19 Ingersoll-Rand Black Bandit skyward. Had Stevie not kept the car perfectly straight, he would have probably flipped. The car came down so hard on the front end that he almost lost his engine, Smith said.

Tyler Walker hopes Ricky Warner returning as his crew chief will help him overtake Dale Blaney in their battle for the Manufacturers' Rookie of the Year Award. He's 180 points behind with 10 events left.

"I'm really glad to be working with Ricky again," Walker said Friday. "I've been with Ricky for two years, had we've lots of success together. Barry Jackson going to be good for our team, too."

With all the success Mark McGwire has enjoyed this summer, many people, including Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series drivers Danny Lasoski and Donny Schatz are now sporting goatees. Jac Haudenschild, who swept the Inaugural Cornhusker Outlaws Showdown, has a full beard.

The #83 Beef Packers Eagle Lasoski drove to victory in the Amoco Knoxville Nationals will soon be hanging from the ceiling in Dennis Roth's new race shop. "The Dude" hasn't finished worse than ninth since winning his first Amoco Knoxville Nationals championship.