Kraig Kinser added to Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown

Kraig Kinser has been added to the entry list for the inaugural Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown.

He will pilot the Steve Kinser Racing No. 11k at Cocopah Speedway on Jan. 2-3, Jan. 6 and Jan. 9-10. Kinser is the ninth driver competing full time with World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series in 2015 who has committed to the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown.

"It's nice to have a winter series back in the states," he said. "It's a good amount of money to be won there. There's going to be a lot of good cars there."

Kinser will have a face friendly to Arizona on his team. Mikey Kuemper, who grew up racing nonwing and winged sprint cars around the Phoenix area, will return in 2015 to serve as Kinser's crew chief for the fifth year.

The Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown, which pays $12,000 to win and $1,000 to start during the four weekend races - Jan. 2-3 and Jan. 9-10 - and $5,000 to win on Jan. 6 on top of a points fund for the top five, marks the first time both Kinser and Kuemper will visit Cocopah Speedway.

"When I was racing it was shut down and then I hit the road with Tony Stewart Racing in 2003," Kuemper said. "It'll be nice to race close to home."

Tickets for the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown are available for sale online by visiting https://secure.pivotalracing.com/venues/cocopah-speedway.

WINTER HEAT SPRINT CAR SHOWDOWN

Dates: Jan. 2-3, 6, 9-10, 2015

Track: Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz.

Prize: $12,000-to-win, $1,000-to-start each night (Jan. 2-3, 9-10); $5,000-to-win (Jan. 6); approximately $250,000 total prize money

Type: 410ci sprint cars

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