World of Outlaws

Joplin66: Race report

Steve Kinser wins Joplin 66 Speedway event JOPLIN, MO (June 20) -- Steve Kinser closed to within 51 points of Danny Lasoski in their battle for the O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series 25th Anniversary championship Friday when he won the "A" Feature ...

Published: Jun 22, 2003, 5:01 PM

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Steve Kinser wins Joplin 66 Speedway event

JOPLIN, MO (June 20) -- Steve Kinser closed to within 51 points of Danny Lasoski in their battle for the O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series 25th Anniversary championship Friday when he won the "A" Feature at Joplin 66 Speedway.

Kinser drove his #11 Quaker State Maxim past pole-sitter Daryn Pittman late in the 11th lap and beat the 2001 World of Outlaws Gumout Series champion under the checkered flag by more than a straightaway. The $10,000 victory, the 11th of the year for "The King of the Outlaws," snapped Lasoski's two-race winning streak at the 3/8-mile oval.

"I'm not sure the bottom ever was the fastest way around here," Kinser said. "We tried it in the beginning, and after we got by Daryn I got to rolling through the middle. It was tough because you had to kind of pinch the car off and catch the moisture getting off the bottom, or you'd lose too much corner speed. I was having a problem getting off turn four there at the end, but I think everyone was so it didn't hurt us too bad.

"We've won the most races this year. We just fell out of four races while leading, and got disqualified from another one. We could have handled the one getting disqualified, but there just wasn't much we could do about the others."

The defending and 17-time O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series champion was the third-fastest qualifier in the 34-car field. He won the Third Heat Race and earned the right to start the 30-lap main event inside the second row by following Pittman across the finish line in the First Dash Race.

Pittman drove the #21 Hop & Sack J&J into the lead as the green flag fell in the O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series' 30th "A" Feature of the season. Tyler Walker, who won the Gumout Series championship a year ago, raced into second place early in the opening lap, passing Kinser and Paul McMahan. Blake Feese steered Guy Forbrook's #5 MPD Hand Controls/Wirtgen America Maxim deep in turn four to pass McMahan for third place several seconds later.

Kinser, who regained second place during the fourth lap, caught Pittman in lapped traffic three laps later. "The King of the Outlaws" challenged Pittman for four laps before passing the 2002 Manufacturers Hard Charger Award winner in the low groove between turns three and four.

Lasoski, who set fast time for the 14th time this season, passed McMahan early in the eighth lap. "The Dude" battled Walker throughout lap 12, but was unable to drive NASCAR Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart's #20 J.D. Byrider Eagle into fourth place.

Pittman was threatening to regain the lead midway through the race when Kinser darted between Brian Brown and First Heat Race winner Shane Stewart to open a 12-car-length advantage. Lasoski and McMahan passed Walker for third and fourth place several seconds later. Jason Sides took the high line through turns one and two to pass Walker early in the 17th lap.

Donny Schatz, who started outside the seventh row, drove his #15 Parker Stores J&J past Walker in the low groove between the third and fourth corners to claim sixth place late in lap 22.

Feese surrendered 10th place and set up a three-lap dash to the checkered flag when he spun in turn four five laps later.

"The King of the Outlaws" controlled the restart and coasted to the 482nd main event victory of his O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series career.

Lasoski finished in third place, ahead of McMahan, Sides, Schatz, Walker, Fourth Heat Race winner Sammy Swindell, Mark Kinser and Joey Saldana.

Lasoski paced the qualifying session with a 13.959-second lap around the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval, an average speed of 96.712-M.P.H.

A driveline malfunction in Stevie Smith's #19 Predator Race Crafts Maxim kept him from taking a qualifying lap. The 1990 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year started last in the "B" Feature and gained the final transfer position in the main event by passing Nick Smith with a spectacular move midway through the 10th lap. Stevie was passing Nick when their tires touched on the back straightaway, turning both cars sideways. Stevie, who set the facility's qualifying standard a year ago, recovered a split-second quicker than Nick to claim fourth place.

-WoO-

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