Kings
Royal 2002
Preview
Favorites to WIN the Kings Royal:
- 11 - Steve
Kinser - The 4 time Kings Royal Winner won the most recent
WoO race at Eldora, June 1. He is running well right now, although not as
HOT as he was one month ago. ...The King won the first Kings Royal in 1984.
His most recent $50,000 win came in 1997. The Scott Gerkin tuned Maxim is
sure to be in the hunt.
- 7 - Craig Dollansky
- Dollansky achieved a lifelong dream with a WoO win at Eldora in April.
The same track where he suffered a broken leg in 2000, is well suited to
the "Crowd Pleaser's" hard driving style. ...11 of last 13 WoO
races, he's been in the top 6.
- 17 - Joey Saldana - Saldana,
although never an A-main winner at Eldora in WoO action, knows the place
well from his days with the All-Stars. The Eagle #17 has hard-hitting Fisher
motors under the hood.
- 15 - Donny Schatz
- Schatz will have plenty of motivation from crew-chief Kenny Woodruff who
demands more of his drivers in big races. The J&J team has strapped
on the Hoosiers, and are driving to the front. Schatz is an emerging money
driver who thrives at important events.
- 12 - Greg Hodnett - Hodnett
is fresh off a Pennsylvania Speedweek title. ...He became the first non-regular
to sweep a World of Outlaws double-feature event in 5 ½ years when he won
at The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway, May 25th. ...He has won at Eldora
in the past.
You can make a case for these guys to win...
- 21 - Daryn Pittman - Cannot
be ignored. Has wins at Perris, Hagerstown, and I-55. He qualifies well,
and could emerge as the man if he can transfer through the tough Kings Royal
heat races.
- 20 - Danny Lasoski - Although
he has never won an A-Main in WoO action at Eldora, Lasoski is gaining on
Earl's joint. His 2nd place run in June signaled he may be ready to conquer
a track that bit him bad early in his career. The Jimmy Carr prepared Eagle
is always nice.
- 83jr - Sammy Swindell - He's
Sammy. He can win anywhere. The track tactician, skipped Terre Haute. That
means, Swindell will have fresh equipment for the $50,000 run. Sammy knows
how to do it, winning in 1992, and 1999.
- 5m - Mark Kinser - Mark is
the defending champ of the Kings Royal. However, winning has been a struggle
of late for the Mopar powered #5m. Crew chief, Karl Kinser has watched the
team average an 8th place finish since Mark's crash at W. Fargo 07/04/02.
Mark is toughing it out, racing with a bad right hand.
- 2 - Brad Furr - Furr has
always been good at Eldora, but is awaiting that breakthrough performance
that lands him the winner's check.
Top Ten Threats:
- U2 - Paul McMahan - McMahan
finished in the top-ten in both WoO races at the Big E in 2002.
- 15K - Chad Kemenah - The
2002 All-Star Speedweek Champion, also won at Eldora on June 29.
- 83 - Tim Shaffer - Has two
A-main wins in WoO competition at Eldora.
- 92 - Jeff Shepard - As talented
a driver as there is. Anything is possible. Ran 4th and 2nd in two All-Star
events at Eldora so far this season.
- 11h - Stevie Smith - Smith
is good at all tracks. Will his Goodyear's provide enough traction to compete
with all the Hoosier-shod teams?
- 5 - Jac Haudenschild - Haud
won Eldora's Kings Royal for the 3rd time in 1998. His 2nd win was in 1994.
- 1x - Randy Hannagan - The
Californian ran 8th at Eldora on June 1st.
- 6 - Kenny Jacobs - Struggled
through All-Star Speedweek but local knowledge reigns.
- 76 - P.J. Chesson - Winner
of the Historical Big One at Eldora.
- Dale Blaney - 2000 Kings
Royal winner.
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