Consistency for Kraig Kinser in Canada: Earns Three Top-10 Finishes

Bloomington, Ind. — August 1, 2012 — Consistency has been one of the main focuses for Kraig Kinser and his team this year, and it has paid off to the tune of four wins so far, along with over 30 Top-10 finishes and nearly 20 Top-Five performances, just past the halfway point of the season. The third-generation driver continued his consistent campaign recently in Canada, as the World of Outlaws made their first of two visits north of the border. In a span of four races, Kinser finished seventh or better in three of those starts and was 11th in the other, piloting the Hendrickcars.com Maxim.

“All in all it was a pretty good four races,” said Kinser. “We always want to finish a few spots further up, but we had some bad luck a couple of nights. We were fast for the most part and put ourselves in a good position a few of the nights, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Kinser wrapped up the four-race Canadian swing with a fourth-place finish at Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario on Tuesday, July 31. He lined up fourth in the 30-lap A-Feature and battled four-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz for third for most of the main event. Kinser nearly took the spot a couple of times. At one point, he was three-wide battling Schatz and his father Steve. The fourth-place showing for the younger Kinser was his 17th Top-Five finish of the season.

“We’ve always had a good set-up at Ohsweken,” noted the native of Bloomington, Ind. “I set fast time there the last time I was in the (No.) 11K and was able to repeat that this time. We definitely had a fast car all night.”

Kinser opened the night at Ohsweken Speedway by turning the best lap in qualifying of the 33 drivers that were in attendance. It marked the second time in his career he has been quickest at the semi-banked three-eighths-mile, and was his fifth fast time honor of the season.

In the World of Outlaws debut at Cornwall Motor Speedway in Ontario on Sunday, July 29, Kinser finished seventh, after running second for the majority of the 40-lap contest. He lined up on the outside of the front row for the main event, with polesitter Donny Schatz taking the lead at the drop of the green. Kinser closed on Schatz in traffic a couple of times, including nearly taking the top spot on the 16th circuit, and again on Lap 22. Kinser was running second on the 32nd go-around when contact with another car caused him to spin. He kept the engine fired, falling back to fifth in the process. The only caution of the night would fly on the following lap. Kinser restarted fourth and ended up finishing seventh.

At Autodrome Drummond on Saturday, July 28, Kinser came home fifth, after starting in the 13th spot, which earned him the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award. He worked his way into the Top-10 by the ninth lap, and gained another spot on the ensuing restart. Kinser moved into seventh on the 28th circuit. A strong restart with four laps to go helped the third-generation driver get around Sammy Swindell for sixth. Kinser would gain one more spot on the final lap, after Kerry Madsen who was running fifth spun.

Kinser began the four-race Canadian swing by making his debut at Autodrome Granby in Quebec, on Friday, July 27. He set fast time at the half-mile earning five bonus points in the standings for doing so. The 27-year-old lined up fourth in the first eight-lap heat race and finished second to earn a spot in the dash. He started fourth in that six-lapper and finished sixth, which put him on the inside of the third row for the 25-lap main event. He finished 11th in the main event, after going to the tail of the field due to a visit the work area on the 11th lap after getting upside down.

Kinser, who is currently sixth in the World of Outlaws championship standings, on the strength of four wins, 32 Top-10 and 17 Top-Five finishes, returns to action on Friday, August 3, at his home track of Bloomington Speedway in Indiana, followed by the Federated Auto Parts Ironman 55 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo, on Saturday, August 4.

“We have a lot of races coming up in the next few weeks, so this is a good time to be fast like we are,” said Kinser. “Hopefully we can continue to put ourselves in a good position each night and have a little luck as well. It takes a little bit of everything to run up front and be in contention night in and night out.”
 
Autodrome Granby, Autodrome Drummond, Cornwall Motor Speedway & Ohsweken Speedway Results

 
Kraig Kinser By the Numbers: Autodrome Granby, Autodrome Drummond, Cornwall Motor Speedway & Ohsweken Speedway
0.25- Miles around Cornwall Motor Speedway
0.375- Distance around Ohsweken Speedway in miles
0.4- Miles around Autodrome Drummond
0.5- Distance around Autodrome Granby in miles
3- Career starts at Autodrome Drummond
5- Number of fast times set this season; Starts at Ohsweken Speedway
6- Position in the World of Outlaws championship standings
10.551- Lap in time trials at Cornwall Motor Speedway
13.538- Lap in time trials at Autodrome Drummond
13.551- Qualifying lap at Ohsweken Speedway to set fast time
16.040- Lap turned in time trials at Autodrome Granby to set quick time
17- Top-Five finishes this season
32- Top-10 finishes in 2012
6059- Points earned through July 31
120,060- Dollars earned this season
 
Up Next
August 3: Bloomington Speedway, Bloomington, Ind.
August 4: Federated Auto Part Raceway at I-55, Pevely, Mo.
 
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