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WoO: Kinser Ready for Home Race at Tri-State Speedway
Written by: Tony Veneziano
World of Outlaws   http://www.worldofoutlaws.com
04/24/2009
Haubstadt, IN
 
Traveling from coast-to-coast with the World of Outlaws, Kraig Kinser does not get to race in his home state of Indiana quite as much as he used to, but he still revels at the opportunity to tackle the always racy bullrings in the Hoosier state. In his career, he has won eight times in Indiana, more than any other state he has competed in.
Kraig Kinser. (WoO) ยป More Photos

Kinser will have his first of two opportunities to race in his home state this weekend, as the World of Outlaws make a stop at the high-banked ¼-mile at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt on Saturday, April 25.

“I always enjoy racing in Indiana and have traditionally run pretty well there,” said Kinser. “Getting back to my home state is always nice. I’m looking forward to it.”

Kraig is the third generation of his family to compete at Tri-State Speedway, with his father Steve, the 20-time World of Outlaws champion, winning numerous times at the ¼-mile as well as his grandfather Bob who raced at the track periodically from the late 60’s all the way through 1992, winning three times on the high banks. Kraig is looking to add his name to the win list at the venerable track in Southwestern Indiana, as it is one place he has yet to win at in his home state.

“It adds a little bit of pressure, but not that much more,” the youngest Kinser noted, when asked about the success his dad and grandpa have had at the track “You go out and try to win every night. It’s going to be just like any other night.”

The World of Outlaws have competed 12 times this season, with six of those events being contested on blazing fast half-miles, while the other six have been on tight, high-banked bullrings. The series is in the midst of a five-race stretch all on short tracks, including two ¼-miles this weekend. Kinser scored his best finish of the season in the Bass Pro Shops Maxim for Tony Stewart Racing earlier this season on a ¼-mile at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California.

“You definitely have to change the way you drive,” stated Kinser. “It’s not quite like going around a big half-mile. It’s not a big change, but there still is a difference. I’ve raced a lot of small tracks, so I’m pretty used to them.”

After spending a couple of seasons
racing in the NASCAR Truck Series, Kinser returned to full-time competition with the World of Outlaws last year and returned to tracks for the first in a couple of seasons, while competing against drivers that had raced at those same tracks a number of times during his absence. He looks to use the experience he gained last season as well as what he learned in his first few years in a sprint car this season when he returns to tracks for the second and third time now that he is back in a sprint car full-time.

“Any laps that I get, I feel more and more comfortable in the car,” he shared. “We’ll keep working hard and keep the car running right and get the driving going good and we should have good finishes.”

Kinser is part of a two-car team at Tony Stewart Racing, with three-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz his teammate. Last season was the first year that the two-time NASCAR champion campaigned a two-car effort and is one of two owners to have two cars on the circuit this year, along with fellow NASCAR star Kasey Kahne.

“It doesn’t hurt you any,” noted Kinser of a two-car team. “With two cars teams, you have another team that you can bounce ideas and things off of. When one is running good, hopefully that trickles down to the other one and hopefully the opposite way as well when the other is running good it trickles down to the other team. Two car teams are definitely pretty nice to have.”

Kinser has six Top-10 finishes this season and is currently 10th in the series championship standings as the schedule begins to pick up the next few weeks. He won twice last season in the second half of the season and began this year with nine career A-Feature wins with the series. With nearly 70 races remaining on the schedule, the third generation star will have plenty of chances to visit the winner’s circle in 2009.

“I sure hope so,” deadpanned the 24-year old when asked if his first win of the year is around the corner.

Kinser will begin the night at Tri-State Speedway meeting and greeting his home state fans at an autograph session along with his father Steve and fellow Indiana native Joey Saldana. The three drivers will be stationed near the main gate of the grandstands at 4:30 p.m. Central.
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