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‘King of the Outlaws’ Takes Eagle Nationals Preliminary By Richard Day EAGLE, NE (June 27) – Steve Kinser took a big step toward defending his Eagle Nationals championship when the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series opened the 20th annual event Friday at Husker Auto Group Eagle Raceway. “The King of the Outlaws,” who entered the weekend with eight Eagle Nationals championships on his incomparable resume, passed Jason Meyers for the lead early in the fifth lap and cruised to his fourth Preliminary Feature victory of the year. A severe thunderstorm hit the high-banked, 1/3-mile oval as the checkered flag fell.
Kinser, who has swept double-feature events at Hollywood Hills Speedway and The Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track during the O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series’ 25th Anniversary Season, swept the Eagle Nationals in 1988, 1990, 1994 and 2002. The defending and 17-time O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series champion was the sixth-fastest qualifier in the 35-car field. He won the Third Heat Race and earned the right to start the 30-lap feature inside the second row by following fast-qualifier Brooke Tatnell across the finish line in the First Dash Race.
Tatnell, from San Souci, New South Wales, Australia, burst into the lead as the green flag fell in the evening’s main event, only to have Meyers pass him deep in the second corner. Kinser, who exchanged third place with Joey Saldana during the first two laps, drove his #11 Quaker State Maxim – which was sharply emblazoned with images from the popular Hulk movie – past Tatnell high in turn four late in the third lap. The leaders were approaching lapped traffic several seconds later when the #5 MPD Hand Controls/Wirtgen America Maxim spun in the fourth corner, sending Blake Feese to the back of the pack.
Saldana, who set Eagle Raceway’s single-lap record last September, took the high line through the first and second corners to pass Tatnell for third place as the green flag replaced the yellow. “The King of the Outlaws” kept pace with Meyers as the race resumed, and passed him for the lead high in the first corner one lap later. Paul McMahan and five-time Eagle Raceway champion Mark Kinser exchanged fifth place during the seventh and eighth laps. Johnny Herrera’s turn-two spin temporarily calmed their battle the next time around. McMahan drove the #11H Vivarin Maxim into fourth place with a high, sweeping move around Tantell in the second corner early in lap 10.
“The King of the Outlaws” was a straightaway ahead of Meyers when he entered lapped traffic three laps later. Mark Kinser and McMahan resumed their race-long battle during the race’s middle stages. Kinser steered father Karl’s #5M Sabko Maxim into the low groove between turns one and two to pass McMahan for fourth place early in the 14th lap. McMahan came back with a high move in the fourth corner to regain the position four laps later, however. McMahan rode the rim around Saldana in turn two the next time around, but Gregg Bakker brought out the caution flag when he stopped with a flat right rear tire in the fourth corner, nullifying the pass.
“B” Feature runner-up Brian Paulus pitted to replace his right rear tire during the caution period. Mark Kinser passed McMahan with an inside move in turn two as the race resumed. Kinser was challenging Saldana for third place when McMahan raced around him high in the fourth corner late in lap 21. Steve Kinser opened a full straightaway advantage over Meyers in lapped traffic with 6½ laps remaining. Mark Kinser exchanged fourth place with McMahan three times during the 25th and 27th laps, then passed Saldana for third early in lap 29. Saldana rode the rim through the second corner to regain the position early in the final lap. Tim Shaffer threatened to pass McMahan for fifth place in turn four, but was a tire-width behind at the checkered flag.
Shaffer finished sixth, ahead of Daryn Pittman, Tatnell, O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series points leader Danny Lasoski and Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year candidate Jason Sides. Steve Kinser’s 18-year-old son, Kraig, won the “B” Feature and passed six cars to finish 11th in the evening’s main event. Stevie Smith raced into 13th place from outside the 10th row. WoO
2003 O’Reilly World of Outlaws Series 20th Annual Eagle Nationals Husker Auto Group Eagle Raceway Friday, June 27, Preliminary Program Qualifying: 1. Brooke Tatnell, Grandstaff 66, 11.802; 2. Jason Meyers, Karavan Motorsports 7, 11.807; 3. Kraig Kinser, Kinser 11K, 11.857; 4. Paul McMahan, Helm 11H, 11.862; 5. Joey Saldana, Saldana 17, 11.872; 6. Steve Kinser, Kinser 11, 11.883; 7. Brian Paulus, P and P Motorsports 28, 11.886; 8. Danny Lasoski, Stewart 20, 11.906; 9. Mark Kinser, Kinser 5M, 11.917; 10. Johnny Herrera, Wilburn 2W, 11.930; 11. Tim Shaffer, Roth 83, 11.943; 12. Terry McCarl, McCarl 24, 12.029; 13. Randy Hannagan, TH Racing 1X, 12.051; 14. Blake Feese, Forbrook 5, 12.053; 15. Jason Sides, Sides Motorsports 7S, 12.066; 16. Daryn Pittman, Sher-Don Motorsports 21, 12.084; 17. Jeremy Campbell, Campbell 10C, 12.095; 18. Danny Wood, Schatz 15, 12.107; 19. Derek Beckman, Cox 50D, 12.149; 20. Collin Northway, Northway 60, 12.159; 21. Brian Brown, Parsons 6, 12.174; 22. Rick Ideus, Ideus 5B, 12.184; 23. Stevie Smith, Smith 19, 12.187; 24. Ricky Logan, Gifford 17G, 12.222; 25. Brandon Wimmer, Two Winners Racing 7TW, 12.222; 26. Gregg Bakker, Bakker 11X, 12.386; 27. Bob Bennett, Acme Trailers 3, 12.396; 28. Seth Brahmer, Brahmer 13, 12.456; 29. Marty Perovich, Roebuck 12, 12.469; 30. Rich Bubak, Bubak 9X, 12.469; 31. Brian Carlson, Carlson 18, 12.527; 32. J.R. Topper, Topper 92J, 12.894; 33. Sean Walden, Walden 97, 12.861; 34. Regan Kitchen, Kitchen 21K, 13.039; 35. Kevin Danley, Danley 7X, no time.
First Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Ricky Logan, 2. Daryn Pittman, 3. Danny Lasoski, 4. Brooke Tatnell, 5. Mark Kinser, 6. Jeremy Campbell, 7. Brandon Wimmer, 8. Sean Walden, 9. Marty Perovich. (first five qualified for the Preliminary Feature)
Second Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Stevie Smith, 2. Danny Wood, 3. Jason Meyers, 4. Jason Sides, 5. Johnny Herrera, 6. Brian Paulus, 7. Rich Bubak, 8. Gregg Bakker, 9. Regan Kitchen. (first five qualified for the Preliminary Feature)
Third Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Steve Kinser, 2. Tim Shaffer, 3. Rick Ideus, 4. Blake Feese, 5. Brian Carlson, 6. Bob Bennett, 7. Kevin Danley, 8. Kraig Kinser, 9. Derek Beckman. (first five qualified for the Preliminary Feature)
Fourth Heat Race (10 laps): 1. Terry McCarl, 2. Paul McMahan, 3. Joey Saldana, 4. Randy Hannagan, 5. Brian Brown, 6. Seth Brahmer, 7. Collin Northway, 8. J.R. Topper. (first five qualified for the Preliminary Feature)
First Dash Race (seven laps): 1. Brooke Tatnell, 2. Steve Kinser, 3. Paul McMahan, 4. Mark Kinser, 5. Tim Shaffer, 6. Randy Hannagan, 7. Jason Sides, 8. Danny Wood. (finish determined the inside starting positions in the first eight rows in the Preliminary Feature lineup)
Second Dash Race (seven laps): 1. Jason Meyers, 2. Joey Saldana, 3. Danny Lasoski, 4. Daryn Pittman, 5. Blake Feese, 6. Johnny Herrera, 7. Terry McCarl, 8. Brian Brown. (finish determined the outside starting positions in the first eight rows in the Preliminary Feature lineup)
B Feature (12 laps): 1. Kraig Kinser, 2. Brian Paulus, 3. Gregg Bakker, 4. Seth Brahmer, 5. Brandon Wimmer ($200); 6. Jeremy Campbell ($200); 7. Regan Kitchen ($200); 8. Bob Bennett ($200); 9. Derek Beckman ($200); 10. J.R. Topper ($200); 11. Kevin Danley ($200); 12. Collin Northway ($200); 13. Rich Bubak ($200); 14. Marty Perovich ($200); 15. Sean Walden ($200). (first four qualified for the Preliminary Feature)
Preliminary Feature (30 laps): 1. Steve Kinser [3] ($5,000); 2. Jason Meyers [2] ($3,000); 3. Joey Saldana [4] ($2,500); 4. Mark Kinser [7] ($2,200); 5. Paul McMahan [5] ($2,100); 6. Tim Shaffer [9] ($2,000); 7. Daryn Pittman [8] ($1,800); 8. Brooke Tatnell [1] ($1,600); 9. Danny Lasoski [6] ($1,500); 10. Jason Sides [13] ($1,300); 11. Kraig Kinser [17] ($1,220); 12. Terry McCarl [14] ($1,100); 13. Stevie Smith [20] ($1,000); 14. Randy Hannagan [11] ($700); 15. Danny Wood [15] ($600); 16. Brian Paulus [18] ($620); 17. Ricky Logan [21] ($600); 18. Brian Brown [16] ($600); 19. Seth Brahmer [23] ($620); 20. Johnny Herrera [12] ($600); 21. Brian Carlson [24] ($500); 22. Rick Ideus [19] ($500); 23. Gregg Bakker [22] ($520); 24. Blake Feese [10] ($500). Lap leaders: Jason Meyers 1-4, Steve Kinser 5-30
