3/18/2012
Sprint Source
Kraig Kinser Finishes 10th in Opener at Thunderbowl Raceway: Mother Nature Wins Finale
Tulare, Calif.—March 18, 2012— With the solid start to the season that Kraig Kinser has had, he certainly didn’t want to hear the four-letter word that all racers dread most. Rain. With momentum on his side following a pair of Top-10 runs to open the eight-race West Coast swing for the World of Outlaws, the native of Bloomington, Ind. headed into Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. looking to continue his consistent start to the 2012 campaign. When it was all said and done, the World of Outlaws scored one win at Thunderbowl Raceway and Mother Nature picked up a victory. The good news for Kinser was that he earned another Top-10 finish and remains fifth in the series standings.
After battling impending rain showers all night on Friday, March 16, which hit with 10 laps remaining in the A-Feature of the opener of the scheduled two-day event, the finale on Saturday, March 17 was rained out. World of Outlaws officials along with Thunderbowl Raceway officials are working on finding a suitable date to make up that race.
“We finished in the Top-10, so that was good,” said Kinser of his run on Friday night. “We had a really good car in qualifying and kind of lost the handle on it after the heat race. In the feature it was all about survival, with the way the conditions were. We were able to pick up a decent finish, so we’ll take it.”
The third generation driver ran as high as eighth, before finishing 10th on Friday night, aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation Maxim, which marked his fifth Top-10 performance of the season in the first six races. He is just one of just three drivers that have finished in the Top-10 five times this season with the World of Outlaws, joining four-time series champion and current point leader Donny Schatz, along with three-time series titlist Sammy Swindell.
“We’ve been quick all year,” said Kinser. “It’s actually amazing that we have as many Top-10s as we do, with some of the things that have happened. We had a flat tire with two laps left in Las Vegas and were able to get a Top-10 after changing it. Even when we are off or have had some bad luck, we’ve been able to finish in the Top-10 and that’s a testament to the program we have put together.”
Kinser lined up 11th in the main event on Friday night, which was plagued by four cautions and three red flags, including a stoppage for rain with 10 laps to go, which sent competitors back to the pit area for a brief time. The 2004 World of Outlaws Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner ran close to the Top-10 for the entire 35-lap contest and was battling Bud Kaeding for the ninth spot in the late going, before finishing 10th.
“I was looking forward to going back out after the red flag for rain, because we tried a few things,” explained Kinser. “We were looking to learn some stuff for down the road for tracks similar to Tulare. In a race like that, where you have all the cautions and a delay, sometimes you just look forward to seeing the checkered flag.”
The 2005 winner of the Knoxville Nationals opened the night at Tulare by turning in the fifth-fastest lap in time trials to earn a bonus point in the World of Outlaws championship standings. Kinser has qualified in the Top-Five in each of the last four races. He started third in the fourth heat race, and finished third, and just missed earning a spot in the dash by one position in both the heat race and in time trials.
“Everyone put in a lot of hard work over the winter to get a good package in place,” noted Kinser. “Mikey (Kuemper) my crew chief and my Dad’s crew have worked really hard to put a good car under me and the engines are running great. That has shown in time trials the last few races.”
Kinser, who is currently tied for the fifth spot in the World of Outlaws championship standings, just 20 points out of the third spot and 28 out of the lead, returns to action in the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. on Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24.
“We really don’t look at the points much, especially early in the season,” shared Kinser. “I’m focused on running strong each race. If something does go wrong, that’s kind of when we look at points and you try to do all you can to get what you can on that particular night. We’re certainly happy with where we are right now. It’s been a great start to the season.”
Kraig Kinser By the Numbers: Thunderbow Raceway
0.33- Miles around Thunderbowl Raceway
1- Feature event so far this season on a 1/3-mile track
2- Career Top-Five finishes at Thunderbowl Raceway with the World of Outlaws
3- Drivers that have finished in the Top-10 in five of the first six races of the season
4- Career Top-10 finishes at Tulare with the World of Outlaws
5- Position in time trials on Friday at Thunderbowl Raceway; Current position in points
6- Feature events contested this season by the World of Outlaws through March 16
9- Average qualifying position in the first six races of the season
9.2- Average finishing position in the first six races of 2012
10- Career feature event starts with the World of Outlaws at Tulare
13.5- Average finish in 13 main event starts with the series at Thunderbowl Raceway
13.871- Laps in time trials on Friday, March 16
131- Points earned at Thunderbowl Raceway to remain fifth in the standings
800- Points earned in the first six events this season
11,950- Dollars earned through March 16
Up Next
March 23: Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, Calif.
March 24: Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, Calif.
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