BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — April 23, 2014— Last weekend, Kraig Kinser raced on a high-banked track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Texas. Next weekend he’ll do that same at Eldora Speedway in Ohio. How about this weekend? That’s right — another pair of steeply banked ovals for the third-generation driver, as the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series heads to Salina Highbanks Speedway in Oklahoma, followed by a visit to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Missouri.
The event at Salina Highbanks Speedway is set for Friday, April 25. Action then shifts to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo., on Saturday, April 26, for the running of the Spring Classic.
Kinser has made two starts in his career at Salina Highbanks Speedway aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation/Casey’s General Store/King Racing Products Maxim. He finished 13th at the three-eighths-mile last season and was 16th in his debut at the track in 2011. Kinser has raced at four different tracks over the years with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series in Oklahoma. He raced for the first time in the “Sooner State” in March of 2002 at the former State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City, setting fast time. Kinser made four starts at that venue early in his career.
The native of Bloomington, Ind., also set fast time in the World of Outlaws debut at Outlaw Speedway in Muskogee in 2005. Kinser finished third in the series inaugural visit to Tri-State Speedway in Pocola in 2010, marking his best-career finish in Oklahoma.
“Salina is a momentum-type track, similar to Devil’s Bowl (Speedway) where we raced last week,” said Kinser. “Keeping your speed up the whole lap is the key. That’s a place where track position can be really important, and that all begins with time trials at the beginning of the night. If you are just a little off when you are on the track, it can affect the rest of your night with how the format is and how close everyone is right now.”
Kinser finished 12th in the Ironman 55 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 last season, his only start of the year at the venue. The originally scheduled two-day event because a single-day show after rain forced the cancellation of the opener. Kinser earned a pair of top-five finishes at I-55 in 2012, both on October 14, during a day/night doubleheader.
Kinser raced for the first time at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in 2001. He was victorious for the first time at the high-banked bullring in April of 2005. He has made a total of 18 starts with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at the track, picking up eight top-10 finishes along the way, with five being top-five performances.
“Pevely is a track that I feel like I get around pretty well,” he shared. “We ran pretty strong there in 2012 and last year ended up only getting one night in at the Ironman (55) due to rain and also lost the spring race to weather. Racing there early in the season, we can try a few things for when we go back in August for the Ironman.”
Last week, Kinser ran a trio of races in Texas. He finished 16th at El Paso Speedway Park on Tuesday, April 15. The third-generation driver was 18th at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday, April 18, in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series first race at the track since 2003, and was 15th on Saturday, April 19, in the finale at the half-mile. Kinser is currently 10th in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series standings.
Kraig Kinser Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, Mesilla Valley Transportation, King Racing Products, Maxim, Aerodine Composites, Sander Engineering, Integra Shocks, All Star Performance, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bell, KSE Racing Products, ButlerBuilt, Schoenfeld Headers, Donovan Engineering, Fel-Pro, Brodix, Wilwood, Dyer’s, Barnes Systems, Ringer Gloves, Jakes Custom Golf Carts, and Ben Cook Racing Limited for their continued support.
Kraig Kinser By the Numbers: Salina Highbanks Speedway & I-55 Raceway
0.33- Miles around Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
0.375- Distance around Salina Highbanks Speedway in miles
1- Race in the state of Oklahoma this season for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series
2- Fast time awards at World of Outlaws events in Oklahoma during career
3- Nights of racing scheduled at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 this season for the World of Outlaws
8- Career World of Outlaws starts in Oklahoma
10- Position in the current series standings
10.189- Track record at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
11.177- Track record at Salina Highbanks Speedway
17- Main events contested in 2014, through April 19
18- Career starts at Federated Parts Raceway at I-55
283- Miles from Devil’s Bowl Speedway where the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series competed on April 18–19 to Salina Highbanks Speedway in Oklahoma
371- Miles from Salina Highbanks Speedway, where the World of Outlaws race on April 25 to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo.
2001- Year of first start at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
2005- Year of first win at I-55
2011- Year of first start at Salina Highbanks Speedway
2086- Points earned through April 20
Keep up with all the action
For the latest news on Kraig Kinser, visit http://www.kraigkinser.com, and follow Kraig on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kraigkinser11k and receive live updates from the track each and every race night.
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