Category: Other Series PR

[media-credit name=”Paul Arch” align=”alignright” width=”133″][/media-credit]Bloomington, Ind.—Nov. 19, 2012— Kraig Kinser and his team had a couple of goals in 2012, as they brought the family-owned No. 11K back on the road with the World of Outlaws. One was to be consistent night in and night out, while the other was to run at the front of the field and contend for wins. They were able to accomplish both of these, scoring four victories, earning seven fast time honors, racking up 46 top-10 finishes and leading over 100 laps of feature racing competition en route to a sixth-place finish in points.

“We made a lot of strides this year as a team and had a really good year,” said Kinser. “You always want to win a few more races, especially when you have high expectations like we do, but we had four wins against a great caliber of drivers, so you can’t complain about that. We ran well in most of the big races and found a few areas we still need to work on and like everything in racing, it’s a work in progress. All in all, it was a good year in the No. 11K and we have a lot to build on for next season.”

Kinser opened the 2012 campaign with a runner-up finish with the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida during the DIRTcar Nationals. He would finish eighth and then fourth on the second and third nights of the World of Outlaws season, which began a stretch of seven straight top-10 finishes for the third-generation driver. Kinser qualified fifth in the finale at Volusia, which marked the first of nine consecutive races where he was among the top-10 in time trials.

“It’s always important to start the season on a good note in Florida and we were able to do that this year,” he noted. “We were really good the first night at Volusia with the All Stars and then the last two nights with the Outlaws. That gave us some good momentum heading west in the early part of the season.”

The 2005 winner of the Knoxville Nationals had a strong early season West Coast Swing, picking up top-10 finishes in all five races, highlighted by a third-place finish at Merced Speedway in California. He earned his first fast time honor of the season during the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico and followed that up with another quick time at Merced. Kinser would head back to the Midwest fifth in points. Around this time, Hendrickcars.com came on-board as the primary sponsor of Kinser’s No. 11K.

A podium finish at Farmer City Speedway in Illinois, vaulted the native of Bloomington, Ind., to third in points. After some bad luck during the first East Coast swing of the season, including suffering a flat tire while running second at Orange County Fair Speedway in New York, Kinser wrapped that part of the schedule up with a fifth-place finish at Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland.

This would be the start of Kinser’s strongest stretch of the season, scoring four wins within a four week period, while finishing among the top-10 in 14 of 16 races. The 2004 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award winner finished fourth at the Dirt Track at Charlotte with the cameras from SPEED rolling, and carried that momentum into an event on Memorial Day in his home state of Indiana at Lawrenceburg Speedway, where he would lead a couple of laps and finish second, following a thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel with eventual winner Chad Kemenah.

Two races later Kinser picked up his first win of the season at the historic Kokomo Speedway in Indiana, taking the lead on the second lap and leading the final 39 circuits. Three races later he would return to Victory Lane, this time at River Cities Speedway in North Dakota, taking the top spot from his father Steve on lap-34 at the high-banked bullring.

“The win at Kokomo really set things in motion for the next month,” he shared. “We were up front just about every race for a few weeks after that and were timing in fast as well and were putting ourselves in a position to contend each night. With how tough the competition is, putting yourself in a good position is a big part of the battle. That was an amazing month for sure.”

A fifth-place showing in the World of Outlaws first race at the re-vamped Red River Valley Speedway in Fargo, N.D., would give Kinser plenty of momentum heading into the Boothill Showdown at Dodge City Raceway Park in Kansas. He would set fast time in the opener of the two-night event and would win the dash and lead all 30 laps of the finale to score his third win of the season.

Kinser would pace the field for the first six laps at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas a couple of races later en route to a runner-up finish. He would earn seventh and sixth-place finishes respectively at Huset’s Speedway in South Dakota and Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin, on the way to his fourth win of the season at Beaver Dam Raceway in Wisconsin. Kraig would again take the lead from his dad on his way to earning his fourth win of the year.

“That was a great stretch of races we had during that month,” he noted. “We really hit on a few things and it seemed like no matter what track we went to, we were up front and contending for the win each and every night.”

Kinser would open the “Month of Money” at Eldora Speedway with a ninth-place finish in the Knight Before the Kings Royal. In the Kings Royal the following night, he would power his way from the 23rd starting spot to finish fifth, earning the KSE Hard Charger Award, after racing his way into the main event via the B-main.

Continuing the “Month of Money” with the Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway, an event that was shortened to a single day due to rain, Kinser finished fourth, which marked his best-career finish at the historic half-mile in Central Pennsylvania. A trip to Canada concluded the second East Coast Swing of the season, with the 28-year-old finishing fifth at Autodrome Drummond, seventh at Cornwall Motor Speedway and fifth at Ohsweken Speedway, where he set fast time.

Up next was an event at Bloomington Speedway, Kinser’s home track, where he would finish seventh. After the Ironman 55 at Federated Auto Park Raceway in Pevely, Mo., was rained out, just as the feature was being pushed off, Kinser headed to Knoxville Raceway for the 52nd Annual Goodyear Knoxville Nationals. The 2005 winner of sprint car racing’s biggest event would take to the track on the second qualifying night, finishing fourth, which put him in a good position for the finale on Saturday night. He would line up ninth for the 50-lap event and come home fourth.

“We didn’t quite have the ‘Month of Money’ we were hoping for, but we had a great Nationals,” noted Kinser. “We had a good car all week and were able to make gains each time we hit the track and really had a good set-up for Saturday night. With all the cars that were there, we were thrilled with a fourth-place finish.”

After picking up a trio of top-10 finishes during the second West Coast swing of the season, including a ninth-place finish on the second night of the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif., Kinser headed back to the Heartland for the stretch run of the 2012 season. He would sixth at both Deer Creek Speedway in Minnesota and Eagle Raceway in Nebraska.

The final East Coast swing of the season was up next, with Kinser coming home ninth in the Commonwealth Clash at Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania. The following weekend, he would garner a seventh-place showing on the opening night of the National Open at Williams Grove Speedway, while also racing his way into the main event the following night.

Kinser would wrap up the 2012 World of Outlaws campaign with four straight top-five finishes, including a pair on Oct. 13 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, as the Ironman 55 and Spring Classic were both completed on the same day. The season would come to an end for Kinser in the backyard of his primary sponsor Hendrickcars.com at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in the PEAK Motor Oil World Finals Presented by NAPA Auto Parts. He finished third on the opening night of the marquee event and was fourth in the finale with all the action being carried live on SPEED.

“We seemed to hit our stride again at the end of the season,” Kinser said. “We had a tough stretch in the summer and worked really hard to get back to where we were earlier in the season. With how well we ran the last handful of races this year, I really didn’t want to see the season end. We have plenty to work on in the off-season and learned quite a bit that should help us next year.”

On the final stat sheet, Kinser was victorious four times in the Hendrickcars.com Maxim, while earning 46 top-10 finishes, of which 22 were top-five performances. He was tied for the fifth-most wins in the series, was fourth in fast time honors, earned the fourth-most bonus points in qualifying for being among the top-five in time trials and was seventh in laps led in the final tally. For Kinser, the sixth-place finish in points was his third straight among the top-10 and the sixth time in his career he has been in the top-10.

Keep up with all the action 
For the latest news on Kraig Kinser, visit the redesigned http://www.kraigkinser.com, and follow Kraig on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/kraigkinser11k and receive live updates from the track each and every race night.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 19, 2012
DICK JORDAN 12-217

DAWSON, SWANSON SHARE SPOTLIGHT IN LAS VEGAS FINALE!

Bryant Dawson of Phoenix, Ariz. closed out his first USAC professional driving title Saturday at the Las Vegas (Nev. Motor Speedway Bullring.

By finishing second to Jake Swanson in Saturday’s 30-lap feature, the 2010 USAC .25 Midget B Class Champ and 2011 Mod and Heavy AA titles emerged as this year’s USAC Las Vegas Ignite Midget crown.

Swanson, of Anaheim, Calif., won Saturday’s race over Dawson, Jimmy Waters Michael Fanelli and Riley Emmel. Fanelli concluded the season 54 points behind Dawson as the series runner-up.

Swanson passed Dawson on lap nine of Saturday’s race and led the last 22 laps for the victory. Dawson had earlier wrested the lead from Christine Breckenridge, who led the first three laps of the race.

NEW USAC LAS VEGAS IGNITE MIDGET POINTS

1-Bryant Dawson-768, 2-Michael Fanelli-714, 3-Marina Turner-534, 4-George Blacker-533, 5-Christine Breckenridge-489, 6-Austin Blair-479, 7-Winn Frazin-383, 8-Chris Lamb-258, 9-Jake Swanson-195, 10-Cody Mansfield-154.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 19, 2012
DICK JORDAN 12-216

HAGEN, McQUEEN, PRICKETT EYE 2012 USAC TITLES

Darren Hagen, Shannon McQueen and David Prickett are all eyeing USAC driving championships this Thursday as the 72nd “Turkey Night Grand Prix” unfolds at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway. Car owners Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian and McQueen/Eskesen/Rescino Racing are targeting 2012 USAC car owner titles as well.

Hagen and McQueen have wrapped up the 2012 USAC Mopar National and Western Midget crowns respectively, while Prickett sits 29 points ahead of McQueen in the Western Dirt standings with 66 points up for grabs Thursday. Kunz/Curb-Agajanian have a 40-point margin over RFMS Racing in the National Midget owner points, while McQueen/Eskesen/Rescino Racing has a more tenuous 17-point lead over Mason Cook in the Western car owner listing.

Hagen’s first-ever full USAC National Championship Series title will come in front of his home-town crowd, hailing from nearby Riverside. McQueen, from Tehachapi, Calif., will become USAC’s fifth female driving champion in its 57-year history! Prickett, of Fresno, Calif., is seeking his initial USAC title.

In addition to the regular USAC Mopar National and Western stars, drivers will have to contend with a bevy of infrequent Midget challengers as well. They include 2012 Hut Hundred winner Brady Bacon, 2011 West Coast Sprint Champ Richard Vander Weerd, 5-time USAC/CRA Sprint Car Champ Mike Spencer, 2006 USAC/CRA Sprint Champ Cory Kruseman, 26-time Perris USAC/CRA Sprint winner Damion Gardner, 2012 Victorville Western Midget winner R.J. Johnson, 2008 Belleville Midget Nationals winner Brad Sweet, three-time USAC National Midget Champ and two-time Turkey Night winner Jason Leffler, 2012 USAC/CRA Sprint runner-up Nic Faas, four-time New Zealand Midget Champ Michael Pickens and 2008 USAC Midget Rookie of the Year Chad Boat, whose dad Billy strung together three straight Turkey Night wins at three different tracks in the 1990s.

Thursday’s race could include five former race winners: Jason Leffler (1999 and 2005), Bryan Clauson (2009, 2010), Bobby East (2004), Dave Darland (2007) and defending winner Caleb Armstrong (2011).

Following qualifications, two 12-lap “qualifying races” will precede the 98-lap feature event, the distance honoring the late J.C. Agajanian, whose famous race cars bore the number 98 and whose sons carry on the tradition of this great race as the race organizers.

2012 MOPAR USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS

1-Shannon McQueen-761, 2-David Prickett-610, 3-Nick Chivello-591, 4-Scott Pierovich-497, 5-Alex Schutte-449, 6-Frankie Guerrini-431, 7-Cole Carter-412, 8-Connor Kassik-380, 9-Randi Pankratz-352, 10-Jake Swanson-344.

2012 MOPAR USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS

1-David Prickett-579, 2-Shannon McQueen-550, 3-Alex Schutte-397, 4-Connor Kassik-380, 5-Randi Pankratz-352, 6-Nick Chivello-335, 7-Cody Swanson-329, 8-Cole Carter-283, 9-Scott Pierovich-273, 10-Jake Swanson-260.

2012 MOPAR USAC NATIONAL MIDGET POINT STANDINGS

1-Darren Hagen-1,283, 2-Tracy Hines-1,084, 3-Bryan Clauson-1,038, 4-Caleb Armstrong-924, 5-Kyle Larson-863, 6-Brad Kuhn-822, 7-Rico Abreu-816, 8-Jerry Coons Jr.-737, 9-Bobby East-732, 10-Chris Windom-670.

2012 MOPAR USAC NATIONAL MIDGET DIRT POINT STANDINGS

1-Darren Hagen-850, 2-Jerry Coons Jr.-737, 3-Bryan Clauson-715, 4-Brad Kuhn-715, 5-Tracy Hines-700, 6-Chris Windom-670, 7-Kyle Larson-627, 8-Rico Abreu-579, 9-Caleb Armstrong-516, 10-Davey Ray-499.

New Castle, Ind.—Nov. 18, 2012— Being the reigning champion of the non-wing sprint car portion of the Western World, Tracy Hines had very high expectation heading back to the desert for this year’s edition of the late-season classic, which shifted to Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Ariz., just outside of Phoenix. Looking to repeat in the history-laden event, the veteran driver finished second on the first preliminary night and was third in the finale.

With the field split in two for the 45th FVP Western World Championships presented by Sands Chevrolet, Hines took to the track in his MP Environmental DRC on Thursday, Nov. 15, for the event sanctioned by the ASCS Canyon Region finishing second in the 25-lap preliminary feature to 2012 USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series champion Bryan Clauson. Hines opened the night by charging from eighth to fourth in the second eight-lap heat race. He found himself in the second eight-lap qualifier, which he won from the outside of the front row.

Hines lined up fourth for the 25-lap preliminary feature after passing points from the heat races and three qualifiers were tallied to determine the lineup. The native of New Castle, Ind., would move into third at the start of the preliminary feature, before battling Clauson for second and then Charles Davis Jr., finally taking the spot on the seventh circuit. Hines would take the checkered flag in the second spot to lock himself into Saturday’s main event.

“The main goal for Thursday night was to get locked in for Saturday and we were able to accomplish that,” said Hines. “The car was good all night and being able to pick up all of those positions in the heat race really helped us later in the night passing points-wise. When you run a passing points format, the heat races are very important and we were able to make the most of starting at the back of the heat and working out way forward.”

Locked into the main event on Saturday, Nov. 17, by way of his runner-up finish on his preliminary night, Hines lined up in the fourth starting position for the 30-lap championship race, after a coin toss was used to determine inside/outside row starting positions. The veteran driver moved into third at the drop of the green and would remain in that position for the remainder of the race on a track that was very difficult to pass on. The yellow flag flew on the sixth lap, bunching the field back up. Hines would  end up taking the checkered flag in third.

“It was just one of those nights on Saturday, where the racing surface was pretty challenging,” Hines shared. “We knew the start would be important and we had a pretty good start and then just fell in line. We really wanted to win the Western World for the second straight year, but it just wasn’t meant to be. To finish on the podium both nights we raced is nothing to be ashamed of. There was a strong field of cars there and we gave it our all.”

Hines wraps up the 2012 season with the USAC Mopar National Midget Series on Thursday, Nov. 22 at Perris Auto Speedway in California in the 72nd Annual Turkey Night Grand Prix. He finished second at Perris on Nov.3 in the finale of the Budweiser Oval Nationals, after opening that two-night event with a fourth-place showing.

“We have one more chance to pick up a win this year and we’ll give it everything we got at Turkey Night,” stated Hines. “We ran very well in the sprint car at Perris a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully we can take that momentum back this week. There will be a very strong group of cars there, so qualifying well and starting up front is going to be very important. We’re definitely looking forward to it.”

Tracy Hines Racing would like to thank: MP Environmental, DRC, AFCO Racing Shocks, Bell Race Gear, FatHeadz, Kenny’s Components, Race Bumpers, Rod End Supply, Schoenfeld Headers and Stanton Racing for their continued support.

For more information on Tracy Hines Racing, including a complete 2012 schedule, visit http://www.tracyhinesracing.com. Follow Tracy on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TracyHinesRacin.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	NOVEMBER 15, 2012
Contact: DICK JORDAN

SILVER CROWN COMMITTEE EYES BANNER 2013 YEAR

	One of the more ambitious schedules is recent TRAXXAS USAC Silver Crown Series history was presented to enthusiastic participants gather at the USAC Headquarters yesterday.

	Discussion included a wide range of topics as the 2013 calendar offers both new and renewed venues as well as purse structure incentives. In attendance were more than 25 car owners, drivers and crew members.

	The race slate, scheduled to be released at next month’s Indianapolis Motorsports Industry Show in the Hoosier capital, spans approximately a dozen events, including the recently-released debut at the Belleville High Banks in Kansas.

	Also adopted during the meeting were “Delaware Double File” restarts for all races in the series in 2013. In addition, all races conducted on half-mile ovals will constitute 50 laps with yellow-flag laps not counted.

	"An open invitation was extended to all Traxxas Silver Crown teams to discuss the upcoming season,” said USAC’s Silver Crown Director James Spink. “I was very happy to see some new car owners, those who have been on the sidelines, and our staunch series supporters attend to discuss the upcoming season in a positive manner. The schedule offers to be one of our most entertaining in years and it was met with positive feedback from all involved."

	Defending Series Champion Bobby East, who won races on the pavement at Newton, Iowa and on the dirt at Terre Haute, Ind., was delighted at the proposed schedule and is ready for a repeat championship. “It’s great that USAC has taken the initiative to move this series forward and everything I’ve heard has been positive. The title in 2012 was huge and I’d like nothing more than to do it again. Belleville has always been a favorite for me and that race is going to be fun and the fans should see a great race. My focus is on repeating as the champion next year!”

	Daryl Guiducci, whose cars are tied for the most ever in Silver Crown competition with Stewart at 27, said, despite his retirement from the series as an owner after a long tenure: “I’m pleased at James’ direction and the fact the series is receiving the most attention it’s had in years. People will make this work, obviously, and just because I’ve taken a back seat doesn’t mean I’m not 150 percent behind this. This year should be a turning point for the series and everything right now points in the right direction. The negative feedback certainly does not help the situation so I hope everybody continues on this recent positive track. My cars should all be continuing in the series even though my name won’t be affixed. At present Brian Tyler doesn’t have a solid ride but he hopes to compete in 2013.”

	Long-time car owner Galen Fox who competed only in this year’s Hoosier Hundred, commented: “This was the most productive meeting in years. There were a lot of participants and 2013 sounds exciting. I’m really looking forward to Belleville. In all the years I’ve been in this game I’ve never been there!”

	Gene Nolen, who has fielded cars for many years and most recently fielded driver Shane Hollingsworth, noted: “The positive atmosphere was refreshing. The interest in the series among the participants seems to be at a high and if things that came from the meeting come together it should be a great year. Like Galen, I’ve never been to Belleville before and I can’t wait to get there.”

	Indianapolis 500 veteran Davey Hamilton, whose son Davey Jr. is among USAC’s new talent pool, is also excited about the direction of the series. “I feel that USAC is on track to bring back the series we all dearly love with bigger fields and the right cars under a stable rules package. The mix of pavement and dirt with the expansion of premier venues will obviously create an interest in series investment and I hope to be involved with one or two cars myself in 2013. The true test of a champion is to have a split between dirt and pavement and it appears that has been achieved.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 14, 2012
DICK JORDAN 12-215

CLAUSON EYES TURKEY “TRIPLE” AT PERRIS NOVEMBER 22

In the past 78 years only two drivers have been able to win at least three “Turkey Night Grand Prix” victories. On November 22 three-time USAC National Drivers Champion Bryan Clauson could join that list!

Clauson, the Noblesville, Ind. driver who has already locked up his third consecutive USAC National Drivers title, won the 2010 and 2011 classics at Irwindale, Calif. If he wins the November 22 race at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway he’ll become only the third driver in history to win the race on pavement and dirt. Mel Kenyon won the 1963 race at the Ascot Park dirt in Gardena, Calif. and the 1975 race on the pavement at 605 Speedway in Irwindale, Calif. Stan Fox won 1990 and 1991 back-to-back wins in the Ascot Park finale and at the paved Saugus (Calif.) Speedway.

Ron Shuman owns the all-time Turkey Night records with an incredible eight wins, while Boat’s three wins in 1995-1996-1997 also established a Turkey Night record with wins in three consecutive races at different tracks.

Clauson ranks third in the 2012 Mopar National Midget standings and recently wrapped up the 2012 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car crown. In the USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Series he ranked 12th.

Clauson and Bobby East are the only drivers to win in all three USAC National Series this year. Clauson, who has two Midget wins this year, has seven Sprint wins and a Silver Crown victory. He also accomplished the three-peat in 2010.

Clauson and East are expected to be joined at Perris by former Turkey Night champions Dave Darland, Jason Leffler and defending winner Caleb Armstrong. Any one of the three would qualify as Turkey Night pavement-dirt winners if they were victorious Thursday.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 13, 2012
DICK JORDAN

MOPAR .25s EXTEND TO KEYSTONE STATE IN 2013

USAC’s Mopar .25 Midgets are heading to northeastern Pennsylvania in 2013 with the addition of the latest club to join the organization.

The West End Quarter Midget Club is headquartered on the grounds of the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert, Pa. In 2013 they will be hosting one of USAC’s National “Dirt” events.

The West End club was organized in 1994 and debuted in 1995. During one of the club’s recent events, NASCAR star Joey Logano was an interested spectator who spent time with the competitors.

Activity during 2012 spanned March through October at the facility, located southwest of Stroudsburg.

In 2012 Kyle Lee of Mercersburg, Pa. became the first Keystone State driver to win a USAC Mopar .25 “Generation Next” championship, in the Heavy AA class.

No doubt the state of Pennsylvania is one of America’s racing hotbeds,” admits USAC’s Kyle McCain. “It’s great to include these Eastern youngsters and their families as part of the USAC family and we look forward to a great season of racing at West End.”

“We are truly excited to be joining part of USAC’s great heritage,” says West End President Damon Edwards. “It’s going to be a landmark year for our organization and we are all looking forward to a truly competitive series.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 12, 2012
DICK JORDAN NDC-21

CLAUSON CLOSES OUT 3RD NDC TITLE AT PERRIS;
NDC “TOP-10” UNCHANGED AFTER “WESTERN CLASSIC”

No changes were effected in the “top-10” positions in USAC’s National Driving Championship as a result of Saturday night’s “Western Classic” Mopar Midget race at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Ariz.

Defending two-time titlist Bryan Clauson enjoys a 70-point lead over Tracy Hines entering the November 22 “Turkey Night Grand Prix” Midget USAC finale at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

Dave Darland continues to hold down third in the standings, followed by the idle Levi Jones and Darren Hagen.

2012 USAC National Drivers Championship Standings

1-Bryan Clauson-1,102, 2-Tracy Hines-1,032, 3-Dave Darland-1,016, 4-Levi Jones-974, 5-Darren Hagen-971, 6-Jon Stanbrough-956, 7-Jerry Coons Jr.-932, 8- Chris Windom-916, 9-Damion Gardner-866, 20-Robert Ballou-843.