Tri-State Speedway 1999-05-16

Kinser Pads Points Lead With Tri-State Victory By Richard Day

HAUBSTADT, IN (May 16) - Mark Kinser really appreciates the luxury of driving the #5M Mopar Maxim for his father, 15-time Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series champion car owner Karl Kinser. He'd like nothing more than to reward his dad and Mopar with a championship this year.

"I have to thank my crew," Mark said after winning the "A" Feature at Tri-State Speedway Sunday. "It was probably more the car than me tonight. It was just a lot of fun to drive. The Mopar car worked well just about anywhere on the track.

"I saw some friends and some of the people who got me started in racing way back when, and it's a pleasure to win for them and the people here in my home state."

The $8,000 victory was the third of Mark's career at Tri-State Speedway and his sixth this year. He enters Wednesday's rain-delayed event at Bloomington Speedway with a 30-point advantage over Danny Lasoski in the point standings.

Kinser got off to a quick start, pacing the 35-car qualifying session with an 11.409-second lap around the high-banked, 1/4-mile oval. Second-quick Tyler Walker was .135 seconds off the pace as Mark received his eighth Vivarin Fast-Time Award of the season.

Walker raced into second place from outside the third row as Andy Hillenburg won the Channellock Dash for the right to start the 40-lap main event on the pole.

Hillenburg drove his #2 Luxaire J&J into the lead as the green flag fell in the "A" Feature. Walker caught Hillenburg between turns three and four late in the opening lap, but was unable to surge ahead.

Walker was battling Hillenburg late in the second lap when Jeff Swindell and Joey Saldana spun in the fourth corner while Daryn Pittman took the #47 Casey's General Stores Maxim for a spin in turn two.

Walker steered his family's #35 Air Sep Maxim deep into the first corner in an attempt to take the lead as the race resumed. He slid out of the low groove, however, allowing Hillenburg to increase his advantage and Mark Kinser to take over second place.

The caution flag flew late in the fifth lap when Matt Gilles spun in turn four. Hillenburg controlled the ensuing restart, and was two car-lengths ahead of Kinser when he entered lapped traffic four laps later.

An engine problem in the #1BK Networks Eagle caused Johnny Herrera to stop abruptly in the second corner early in lap 10. Brooke Tatnell clipped Herrera's left rear tire, causing the #7K Kele & Associates J&J turned over on the back straightaway. Travis Whitney's #7S Aamco Maxim was severely damaged in the crash, and he was unable to restart.

Kinser was just inches from Hillenburg's rear bumper when the leaders caught the backmarkers again during lap 15. Mark took the lead with a low move through turns one and two the next time around, and opened an eight car-length advantage within two laps.

Hillenburg, Walker and Steve Kinser raced three-abreast through the first and second corners as they battled for second place midway through the race. Stevie Smith, who started outside the fourth row, joined the battle late in the 23rd lap. He drove his #19 Ingersoll- Rand Black Bandit past Walker the next time around, then took third place from Steve Kinser with a low move in turn two early in lap 27.

Mark Kinser was half-a-lap ahead of his closest pursuers when he entered lapped traffic again during the 30th lap. Smith used an inside move in the first corner to pass Hillenburg for the runner-up spot five laps later.

Tim Shaffer allowed the #11H Vivarin Eagle to hit the turn-two retaining wall in front of Kinser early in lap 39. After narrowly avoiding Shaffer, Mark raced away from the field as the green flag replaced the yellow and took the checkered flag as Smith raced into the third corner.

"We couldn't wait to get into traffic," Mark said. "We thought we'd be good there, but you never know. Andy always runs well here and Tyler Walker has really had his elbows up lately.

"I'm just about choked up with all my family and friends here. I just want to say thanks to everyone."

Hillenburg finished third, ahead of Steve Kinser, Walker, Donny Schatz, Jimmy Carr, 17th-starting Jeff Swindell, Lasoski and Shaffer.

Schatz crashed with Mark Kinser, Kevin Stepter and Joey Saldana early in the First NAPA Auto Parts Heat Race. He was running second in the "B" Feature when he collided with Jason Evans, who slowed to avoid the spinning Paul May. Unable to finish the "B," Schatz used his second provisional of the season and drove his family's #15 Parker Stores Maxim into sixth place from the 25th starting position.

Following Wednesday's double-feature event at Bloomington, the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series will sanction the Second Annual Winged Thunder event at The Terre Haute Action Track Friday and Saturday. TNN Motorsports will televise Friday's program live between 10 p.m. and midnight eastern time, while World of Outlaws Online (http://www.goracing.com/outlaws) presents its inaugural Dirt Jam '99 webcast at the same time. WoO

1999 Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series Tri-State Speedway, Haubstadt, IN Sunday, May 16, Feature Program #19

Vivarin qualifications: 1. Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M, 11.409; 2. Tyler Walker, Walker 35, 11.544; 3. Stevie Smith, Smith 19, 11.626; 4. Steve Kinser, Kinser 11, 11.643; 5. Danny Lasoski, Roth 83, 11.666; 6. Jimmy Carr, Blevins 21, 11.703; 7. Johnny Herrera, DOCC 1BK, 11.772; 8. Donny Schatz, Schatz 15, 11.780; 9. Tim Shaffer, Helm 11H, 11.807; 10. Sammy Swindell, Swindell 1, 11.825; 11. Randy Kinser, Kinser 14, 11.860; 12. Kelly Kinser, Kinser 4K, 11.880; 13. Andy Hillenburg, Hillenburg 2, 11.938; 14. Kevin Gobrecht, Hylton/Blaney 93, 11.948; 15. Daryn Pittman, Sonner 47, 11.968; 16. Craig Dollansky, Dollansky 7, 11.989; 17. Joey Saldana, Mox 17, 12.013; 18. Joe Gaerte, Holbrook 8H, 12.039; 19. Jeff Swindell, Two Winners 104+, 12.160; 20. Travis Whitney, Whitney 7S, 12.183; 21. Scott Simion, Simion 4F, 12.187; 22. Jerrod Hull, Webb 51, 12.190; 23. J.C. Sulawske, Hobgood 12, 12.221; 24. Brooke Tatnell, Tatnell 7K, 12.224; 25. Kevin Stepter, Stepter 38, 12.271; 26. Jason Evans, Evans 88E, 12.271; 27. Gary Hayhurst, Jr., Dougherty 20, 12.278; 28. Kevin Briscoe, Briscoe 5, 12.301; 29. Matt Gilles, Gilles 22B, 12.388; 30. Andy Hirsch, Hirsch 41, 12.421; 31. Paul May, May 71M, 12.530; 32. Scott Campbell, Campbell 82, 12.558; 33. Dickie Gaines, Gaines 11G, 12.609; 34. Bob Burkle, Burkle 21B, 12.689; 35. Eric Smith, Smith 14x, 12.743.

First NAPA Auto Parts Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Craig Dollansky, 2. Tim Shaffer, 3. Mark Kinser, 4. Scott Simion, 5. Matt Gilles, 6. Joey Saldana, 7. Donny Schatz, 8. Dickie Gaines, 9. Kevin Stepter. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)

Second NAPA Auto Parts Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Sammy Swindell, 2. Daryn Pittman, 3. Johnny Herrera, 4. Tyler Walker, 5. Jerrod Hull, 6. Bob Burkle, 7. Andy Hirsch, 8. Joe Gaerte, 9. Jason Evans. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)

Third NAPA Auto Parts Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Randy Kinser, 2. Kevin Gobrecht, 3. Stevie Smith, 4. Jimmy Carr, 5. Gary Hayhurst, Jr., 6. Jeff Swindell, 7. J.C. Sulawske, 8. Paul May, 9. Eric Smith. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)

Fourth NAPA Auto Parts Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Andy Hillenburg, 2. Steve Kinser, 3. Brooke Tatnell, 4. Kelly Kinser, 5. Danny Lasoski, 6. Kevin Briscoe, 7. Scott Campbell, 8. Travis Whitney. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature)

Channellock Dash (seven laps): 1. Andy Hillenburg, 2. Tyler Walker, 3. Sammy Swindell, 4. Mark Kinser, 5. Steve Kinser, 6. Craig Dollansky, 7. Randy Kinser, 8. Stevie Smith. (finish determined the first eight starting positions in the "A" Feature)

B Feature (12 laps): 1. Joey Saldana, 2. Jeff Swindell, 3. J.C. Sulawske, 4. Travis Whitney, 5. Kevin Briscoe ($200); 6. Kevin Stepter ($180); 7. Bob Burkle ($150); 8. Dickie Gaines ($110); 9. Andy Hirsch ($90); 10. Joe Gaerte ($80); 11. Scott Campbell ($60); 12. Eric Smith ($50); 13. Donny Schatz, 14. Paul May ($50); 15. Jason Evans ($50). (first four qualified for the "A" Feature)

A Feature (40 laps): 1. Mark Kinser ($8,000); 2. Stevie Smith ($4,000); 3. Andy Hillenburg ($3,000); 4. Steve Kinser ($2,500); 5. Tyler Walker ($2,300); 6. Donny Schatz ($2,220); 7. Jimmy Carr ($2,100); 8. Jeff Swindell ($2,020); 9. Danny Lasoski ($1,800); 10. Tim Shaffer ($1,700); 11. Randy Kinser ($1,400); 12. Kevin Gobrecht ($1,200); 13. Kelly Kinser ($1,100); 14. Jerrod Hull ($1,050); 15. Joey Saldana ($1,020); 16. Sammy Swindell ($900); 17. Gary Hayhurst, Jr. ($700); 18. Brooke Tatnell ($550); 19. Craig Dollansky ($550); 20. J.C. Sulawske ($570); 21. Daryn Pittman ($550); 22. Matt Gilles ($550); 23. Scott Simion ($550); 24. Johnny Herrera ($550); 25. Travis Whitney ($570). Provisional starter - Donny Schatz. Lap leaders: Andy Hillenburg 1-15, Mark Kinser 16-40 Vivarin Fast-Time Award winner: Mark Kinser WoO