Steve Kinser leads the World of Outlaws back to Lernerville to take on the Pennsylvania Posse

Sunday, May 14, 2000

By Chris Dolack, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The King is back on top.

Steve Kinser, the King of the Outlaws, leads the sprint car series into Lernerville Speedway Tuesday night for a $10,000-to-win show. This marks the 22nd year the Outlaws will race at the half-mile clay oval in Sarver.

Kinser, of Bloomington, Ind., is the winningest Outlaws driver in Lernerville history with 13 feature victories.

Racing into this weekend, Kinser, winner of 15 Outlaws drivers' championships, was leading the series again. Thursday night at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, Ky., Kinser led the final 25 laps of the 30-lap feature in his No. 11 Quaker State Maxim for his fourth victory of the year.

Kinser won't easily drive off with his 16th title, though. Here's his competition:

* Danny Lasoski of Dover, Mo., has six victories in 2000 and led the points for the first two months of the season. Lasoski finished second in points in 1999 and won 11 features. Car: No. 83 Beef Packers Eagle.

* Mark Kinser of Oolitic, Ind., Steve's cousin and defending Outlaws champion who owned the track record at Lernerville until April 14 when James Chesson, racing in the newly-created Outlaws Gumout Series, beat the mark by .200. Kinser, a two-time series champion and a five-time winner at Lernerville, won his fourth consecutive Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup in July. Car: No. 5M Mopar Maxim.

* Sammy Swindell of Cordova, Tenn., is a 12-time feature winner at Lernerville. Winless in 2000 heading into this weekend, Swindell's last victory in Sarver was May 20, 1997. Swindell is a three-time series champion. Car: No. 1 Channellock Stealth.

* Stevie Smith of New Oxford, Pa., who won earlier this season at Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Miss., is a two-time winner at Lernerville. Car: No. 19 Ingersoll-Rand Smith.

* Dale Blaney of Hartford, Ohio, who won the 1991 Lernerville sprint car championship, was the Outlaws' 1998 rookie of the year. He recorded 13 top-10 finishes last season. Car: No. 93 Amoco Maxim.

* Johnny Herrera of Tempe, Ariz., won the season-opener at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif., the 12th victory in his Outlaws career. Car: No. 20 Networks Eagle.

* Jac Haudenschild of Wooster, Ohio, won the $20,000 Silver State Shootout at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. Car: No. 22 Elden Racing Maxim.

* Andy Hillenburg of Broken Arrow, Okla., finished in the top 10 last season for the eighth consecutive year. He will attempt to qualify for his first Indianapolis 500 later this month. Car: No. 2 Luxaire J&J.

* Tim Shaffer of Aliquippa is the Outlaws' 1999 rookie of the year and the 1993 Lernerville sprint car champion. Car: No. 11H Vivarin Maxim.