By Richard Day
ROSSBURG, OH (July 18) – Steve Kinser inherited the lead after O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series points leader Danny Lasoski crashed, and held off Sammy Swindell to win the Knight Before the Kings Royal event Friday at Eldora Speedway.
It marked the third time in three races “The King of the Outlaws” has crossed the finish line first at “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile” during the series’ 25th Anniversary Season. Kinser was disqualified for violating the weight rule April 19th. Ironically, Swindell – who received the victory following that “A” Feature – lost the runner-up spot for the same infraction Friday.
The $10,000 victory, Kinser’s 15th in a main event this year, pushed him to within 20 points of Lasoski in their battle for first place in the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series standings.
“The motor really wouldn’t run all night,” Kinser said after his 28th O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series “A” Feature victory at Eldora. “The car handled great, but I expected to see someone coming up beside me. It wouldn’t take off on the starts, and it would take us about a lap to get up to speed, and then it would go flat again. Danny pretty much motored away from us there at the start, but we were set up for the end when everyone gets loose. I was locked down, but we need to be better than this if we’re going to do anything tomorrow night. We’re just taking it one race at a time, but right now I’m just worried about getting this thing to run tomorrow.”
Kinser, who entered Saturday’s 20th Annual Kings Royal with four $50,000 victories, was the 11th-fastest qualifier in the 35-car field. He earned the privilege of starting the 30-lap “A” Feature outside the front row by winning his 20th Dash Race of the season.
Lasoski was enjoying the best run of his career at Eldora when the #20 J.D. Byrider Eagle jumped the cushion and hit the wall in the fourth corner late in the 12th lap. He paced the qualifying session and won the First Dash Race from outside the second row.
“The Dude” burst into the lead as the green flag fell in the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series’ 40th event of the year.
Tyler Walker and Jason Meyers exchanged fourth place three times during the first three laps, before defending Kings Royal champion Joey Saldana took the inside line in turn one to pass Meyers for fifth place early in the fourth lap.
The leaders were approaching lapped traffic the next time around when Ben Rutan stopped in the second corner with mechanical problems. Swindell and Walker took turns passing each other for third place during the lap following the restart.
Jim Nier, who will promote the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series’ inaugural race at K-C Raceway July 31st, slowed on the front straightaway when his car suffered a broken rear end late in the seventh lap. Jac Haudenshild, making his O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series debut in the #4 Race to Hawaii Maxim, collided with Nier and collected Johnny Herrera and Kenny Jacobs. None of the drivers were injured in the crash, but their cars were unable to restart the race.
Lasoski controlled the ensuing restart, and was a straightaway ahead of Kinser when he entered lapped traffic four laps later. “The Dude” lost the lead one lap later, however, when he crashed into the retaining wall. Kinser’s #11 Quaker State Maxim led the sprinters to the starting line as the race resumed.
Donny Schatz, who started outside the seventh row, exchanged seventh place with Daryn Pittman during the 13th and 14th laps. Pittman took the inside line through the fourth corner to pass Schatz, but the 1997 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year regained the position with a high move through turns one and two.
Kinser entered lapped traffic with a 12-car-length advantage over Swindell midway through lap 18. “B” Feature winner Kevin Huntley took the leaders out of lapped traffic half a lap later when he crashed into the turn-four retaining wall, however.
Shane Stewart and Meyers took turns passing each other for fifth place during the 19th lap. Schatz drove his #15 Parker Stores J&J past Stewart between the first and second corners for sixth place late in lap 21. Stewart lost three positions when he hit the retaining wall in turn two the next time around.
“The King of the Outlaws” was 15 car-lengths ahead of Swindell when he caught the back-markers with six laps remaining, and took the checkered flag with 10 car-lengths to spare.
Walker received credit for second place after Swindell was disqualified. Saldana finished third, ahead of Meyers, Schatz, Pittman, 16th-starting Mark Kinser, Stewart, 19th-starting Tim Shaffer and Stevie Smith. WoO
2003 O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series
Knight Before the Kings Royal
Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, OH
Friday, July 18, Feature Program #40
Qualifying: 1. Danny Lasoski, Stewart 20, 13.174; 2. Sammy Swindell, Roth 83, 13.318; 3. Greg Hodnett, Apple 12, 13.354; 4. Brian Paulus, P and P Motorsports 28, 13.369; 5. Shane Stewart, Chilcutt 4M, 13.375; 6. Kevin Huntley, Johnson U2, 13.380; 7. Rob Chaney, SC Racing 9X, 13.381; 8. Jason Johnson, Harrison 22, 13.396; 9. Daryn Pittman, Sher-Don Motorsports 21, 13.402; 10. Stevie Smith, Smith 19, 13.404; 11. Steve Kinser, Kinser 11, 13.429; 12. Joey Saldana, Saldana 17, 13.430; 13. Jason Meyers, Karavan Motorsports 7, 13.445; 14. Tyler Walker, C&W Motorsports 35, 13.450; 15. Johnny Herrera, Forbrook 5, 13.458; 16. Kenny Jacobs, Grove 70, 13.493; 17. Jim Nier, Nier 00, 13.507; 18. Randy Hannagan, TH Racing 1X, 13.511; 19. Donny Schatz, Schatz 15, 13.523; 20. Ben Rutan, Fisher 75, 13.534; 21. Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M, 13.550; 22. Tim Shaffer, Roth 83, 13.570; 23. Jac Haudenschild, Woodward 4, 13.576; 24. Jason Sides, Sides Motorsports 7S, 13.576; 25. Kraig Kinser, Kinser 11K, 13.594; 26. Chad Kemenah, Harble 15K, 13.603; 27. Paul McMahan, Helm 11H, 13.618; 28. Brandon Wimmer, Two Winners Racing 7TW, 13.800; 29. Nick Naber, Jarrell 22J, 13.819; 30. Mike Brecht, Hammonds 20X, 13.910; 31. Jeff Shepard, Ashworth 92, 13.918; 32. Ryan Coniam, Coniam 6, 13.996; 33. Lee Jacobs, Jacobs 2, 14.010; 34. Keith Baxter, Baxter 1B, 14.283; 35. Dale Blaney, Andrews 72, no time.
First Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Jim Nier, 2. Danny Lasoski, 3. Jason Sides, 4. Daryn Pittman, 5. Kenny Jacobs, 6. Jason Johnson, 7. Nick Naber, 8. Kraig Kinser, 9. Lee Jacobs. (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
Second Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Randy Hannagan, 2. Jac Haudenschild, 3. Johnny Herrera, 4. Stevie Smith, 5. Sammy Swindell, 6. Chad Kemenah, 7. Rob Chaney, 8. Keith Baxter, 9. Mike Brecht. (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
Third Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Tim Shaffer, 2. Donny Schatz, 3. Steve Kinser, 4. Tyler Walker, 5. Paul McMahan, 6. Greg Hodnett, 7. Jeff Shepard, 8. Kevin Huntley. (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
Fourth Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Joey Saldana, 2. Shane Stewart, 3. Jason Meyers, 4. Mark Kinser, 5. Ben Rutan, 6. Ryan Coniam, 7. Brandon Wimmer, 8. Brian Paulus. (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
First Dash Race (five laps): 1. Danny Lasoski, 2. Tyler Walker, 3. Joey Saldana, 4. Stevie Smith, 5. Shane Stewart, 6. Kenny Jacobs, 7. Randy Hannagan, 8. Ben Rutan. (finish determined the inside starting positions in the first eight rows in the “A” Feature lineup)
Second Dash Race (five laps): 1. Steve Kinser, 2. Jason Meyers, 3. Sammy Swindell, 4. Jim Nier, 5. Daryn Pittman, 6. Johnny Herrera, 7. Donny Schatz, 8. Mark Kinser. (finish determined the outside starting positions in the first eight rows in the “A” Feature lineup)
B Feature (12 laps): 1. Kevin Huntley, 2. Nick Naber, 3. Jason Johnson, 4. Chad Kemenah, 5. Brandon Wimmer ($200); 6. Ryan Coniam ($180); 7. Lee Jacobs ($150); 8. Keith Baxter ($120); 9. Rob Chaney ($100); 10. Jeff Shepard ($90); 11. Mike Brecht ($70); 12. Greg Hodnett ($60); 13. Kraig Kinser ($60). (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
A Feature (30 laps): 1. Steve Kinser [2] ($10,000); 2. Tyler Walker [3] ($5,500); 3. Joey Saldana [5] ($3,200); 4. Jason Meyers [4] ($2,800); 5. Donny Schatz [14] ($2,500); 6. Daryn Pittman [10] ($2,300); 7. Mark Kinser [16] ($2,200); 8. Shane Stewart [9] ($2,100); 9. Tim Shaffer [19] ($1,050); 10. Stevie Smith [7] ($2,000); 11. Jason Johnson [18] ($1,520); 12. Chad Kemenah [22] ($1,220); 13. Randy Hannagan [13] ($1,100); 14. Jason Sides [21] ($1,050); 15. Paul McMahan [23] ($1,000); 16. Kevin Huntley [17] ($920); 17. Danny Lasoski [1] ($800); 18. Nick Naber [24] ($820); 19. Jim Nier [8] ($800); 20. Jac Haudenschild [20] ($800); 21. Kenny Jacobs [11] ($800); 22. Johnny Herrera [12] ($800); 23. Ben Rutan [15] ($800); 24. Sammy Swindell [6] ($800).
Lap leaders: Danny Lasoski 1-12, Steve Kinser 13-30
ROSSBURG, OH (July 18) – Steve Kinser inherited the lead after O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series points leader Danny Lasoski crashed, and held off Sammy Swindell to win the Knight Before the Kings Royal event Friday at Eldora Speedway.
It marked the third time in three races “The King of the Outlaws” has crossed the finish line first at “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile” during the series’ 25th Anniversary Season. Kinser was disqualified for violating the weight rule April 19th. Ironically, Swindell – who received the victory following that “A” Feature – lost the runner-up spot for the same infraction Friday.
The $10,000 victory, Kinser’s 15th in a main event this year, pushed him to within 20 points of Lasoski in their battle for first place in the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series standings.
“The motor really wouldn’t run all night,” Kinser said after his 28th O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series “A” Feature victory at Eldora. “The car handled great, but I expected to see someone coming up beside me. It wouldn’t take off on the starts, and it would take us about a lap to get up to speed, and then it would go flat again. Danny pretty much motored away from us there at the start, but we were set up for the end when everyone gets loose. I was locked down, but we need to be better than this if we’re going to do anything tomorrow night. We’re just taking it one race at a time, but right now I’m just worried about getting this thing to run tomorrow.”
Kinser, who entered Saturday’s 20th Annual Kings Royal with four $50,000 victories, was the 11th-fastest qualifier in the 35-car field. He earned the privilege of starting the 30-lap “A” Feature outside the front row by winning his 20th Dash Race of the season.
Lasoski was enjoying the best run of his career at Eldora when the #20 J.D. Byrider Eagle jumped the cushion and hit the wall in the fourth corner late in the 12th lap. He paced the qualifying session and won the First Dash Race from outside the second row.
“The Dude” burst into the lead as the green flag fell in the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series’ 40th event of the year.
Tyler Walker and Jason Meyers exchanged fourth place three times during the first three laps, before defending Kings Royal champion Joey Saldana took the inside line in turn one to pass Meyers for fifth place early in the fourth lap.
The leaders were approaching lapped traffic the next time around when Ben Rutan stopped in the second corner with mechanical problems. Swindell and Walker took turns passing each other for third place during the lap following the restart.
Jim Nier, who will promote the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series’ inaugural race at K-C Raceway July 31st, slowed on the front straightaway when his car suffered a broken rear end late in the seventh lap. Jac Haudenshild, making his O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series debut in the #4 Race to Hawaii Maxim, collided with Nier and collected Johnny Herrera and Kenny Jacobs. None of the drivers were injured in the crash, but their cars were unable to restart the race.
Lasoski controlled the ensuing restart, and was a straightaway ahead of Kinser when he entered lapped traffic four laps later. “The Dude” lost the lead one lap later, however, when he crashed into the retaining wall. Kinser’s #11 Quaker State Maxim led the sprinters to the starting line as the race resumed.
Donny Schatz, who started outside the seventh row, exchanged seventh place with Daryn Pittman during the 13th and 14th laps. Pittman took the inside line through the fourth corner to pass Schatz, but the 1997 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year regained the position with a high move through turns one and two.
Kinser entered lapped traffic with a 12-car-length advantage over Swindell midway through lap 18. “B” Feature winner Kevin Huntley took the leaders out of lapped traffic half a lap later when he crashed into the turn-four retaining wall, however.
Shane Stewart and Meyers took turns passing each other for fifth place during the 19th lap. Schatz drove his #15 Parker Stores J&J past Stewart between the first and second corners for sixth place late in lap 21. Stewart lost three positions when he hit the retaining wall in turn two the next time around.
“The King of the Outlaws” was 15 car-lengths ahead of Swindell when he caught the back-markers with six laps remaining, and took the checkered flag with 10 car-lengths to spare.
Walker received credit for second place after Swindell was disqualified. Saldana finished third, ahead of Meyers, Schatz, Pittman, 16th-starting Mark Kinser, Stewart, 19th-starting Tim Shaffer and Stevie Smith. WoO
2003 O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series
Knight Before the Kings Royal
Eldora Speedway, Rossburg, OH
Friday, July 18, Feature Program #40
Qualifying: 1. Danny Lasoski, Stewart 20, 13.174; 2. Sammy Swindell, Roth 83, 13.318; 3. Greg Hodnett, Apple 12, 13.354; 4. Brian Paulus, P and P Motorsports 28, 13.369; 5. Shane Stewart, Chilcutt 4M, 13.375; 6. Kevin Huntley, Johnson U2, 13.380; 7. Rob Chaney, SC Racing 9X, 13.381; 8. Jason Johnson, Harrison 22, 13.396; 9. Daryn Pittman, Sher-Don Motorsports 21, 13.402; 10. Stevie Smith, Smith 19, 13.404; 11. Steve Kinser, Kinser 11, 13.429; 12. Joey Saldana, Saldana 17, 13.430; 13. Jason Meyers, Karavan Motorsports 7, 13.445; 14. Tyler Walker, C&W Motorsports 35, 13.450; 15. Johnny Herrera, Forbrook 5, 13.458; 16. Kenny Jacobs, Grove 70, 13.493; 17. Jim Nier, Nier 00, 13.507; 18. Randy Hannagan, TH Racing 1X, 13.511; 19. Donny Schatz, Schatz 15, 13.523; 20. Ben Rutan, Fisher 75, 13.534; 21. Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M, 13.550; 22. Tim Shaffer, Roth 83, 13.570; 23. Jac Haudenschild, Woodward 4, 13.576; 24. Jason Sides, Sides Motorsports 7S, 13.576; 25. Kraig Kinser, Kinser 11K, 13.594; 26. Chad Kemenah, Harble 15K, 13.603; 27. Paul McMahan, Helm 11H, 13.618; 28. Brandon Wimmer, Two Winners Racing 7TW, 13.800; 29. Nick Naber, Jarrell 22J, 13.819; 30. Mike Brecht, Hammonds 20X, 13.910; 31. Jeff Shepard, Ashworth 92, 13.918; 32. Ryan Coniam, Coniam 6, 13.996; 33. Lee Jacobs, Jacobs 2, 14.010; 34. Keith Baxter, Baxter 1B, 14.283; 35. Dale Blaney, Andrews 72, no time.
First Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Jim Nier, 2. Danny Lasoski, 3. Jason Sides, 4. Daryn Pittman, 5. Kenny Jacobs, 6. Jason Johnson, 7. Nick Naber, 8. Kraig Kinser, 9. Lee Jacobs. (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
Second Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Randy Hannagan, 2. Jac Haudenschild, 3. Johnny Herrera, 4. Stevie Smith, 5. Sammy Swindell, 6. Chad Kemenah, 7. Rob Chaney, 8. Keith Baxter, 9. Mike Brecht. (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
Third Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Tim Shaffer, 2. Donny Schatz, 3. Steve Kinser, 4. Tyler Walker, 5. Paul McMahan, 6. Greg Hodnett, 7. Jeff Shepard, 8. Kevin Huntley. (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
Fourth Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Joey Saldana, 2. Shane Stewart, 3. Jason Meyers, 4. Mark Kinser, 5. Ben Rutan, 6. Ryan Coniam, 7. Brandon Wimmer, 8. Brian Paulus. (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
First Dash Race (five laps): 1. Danny Lasoski, 2. Tyler Walker, 3. Joey Saldana, 4. Stevie Smith, 5. Shane Stewart, 6. Kenny Jacobs, 7. Randy Hannagan, 8. Ben Rutan. (finish determined the inside starting positions in the first eight rows in the “A” Feature lineup)
Second Dash Race (five laps): 1. Steve Kinser, 2. Jason Meyers, 3. Sammy Swindell, 4. Jim Nier, 5. Daryn Pittman, 6. Johnny Herrera, 7. Donny Schatz, 8. Mark Kinser. (finish determined the outside starting positions in the first eight rows in the “A” Feature lineup)
B Feature (12 laps): 1. Kevin Huntley, 2. Nick Naber, 3. Jason Johnson, 4. Chad Kemenah, 5. Brandon Wimmer ($200); 6. Ryan Coniam ($180); 7. Lee Jacobs ($150); 8. Keith Baxter ($120); 9. Rob Chaney ($100); 10. Jeff Shepard ($90); 11. Mike Brecht ($70); 12. Greg Hodnett ($60); 13. Kraig Kinser ($60). (first five qualified for the “A” Feature)
A Feature (30 laps): 1. Steve Kinser [2] ($10,000); 2. Tyler Walker [3] ($5,500); 3. Joey Saldana [5] ($3,200); 4. Jason Meyers [4] ($2,800); 5. Donny Schatz [14] ($2,500); 6. Daryn Pittman [10] ($2,300); 7. Mark Kinser [16] ($2,200); 8. Shane Stewart [9] ($2,100); 9. Tim Shaffer [19] ($1,050); 10. Stevie Smith [7] ($2,000); 11. Jason Johnson [18] ($1,520); 12. Chad Kemenah [22] ($1,220); 13. Randy Hannagan [13] ($1,100); 14. Jason Sides [21] ($1,050); 15. Paul McMahan [23] ($1,000); 16. Kevin Huntley [17] ($920); 17. Danny Lasoski [1] ($800); 18. Nick Naber [24] ($820); 19. Jim Nier [8] ($800); 20. Jac Haudenschild [20] ($800); 21. Kenny Jacobs [11] ($800); 22. Johnny Herrera [12] ($800); 23. Ben Rutan [15] ($800); 24. Sammy Swindell [6] ($800).
Lap leaders: Danny Lasoski 1-12, Steve Kinser 13-30
