Charlotte Friday report

MARK KINSER COMPLETES SWEEP OF METROLINA By Richard Day CHARLOTTE, NC (May 19) - No matter who his driver is, Karl Kinser's cars are always among the best on the World of Outlaws' tour. The 14-time series champion has proven that this season, as his son, Mark, has picked up where "King of the Outlaws" Steve Kinser left off. Mark completed the first sweep of a Skoal Outlaw Series double-feature event this year when he recorded a flag-to-flag victory Friday at Metrolina Speedway. He also led every lap in Thursday's Preliminary Feature as the World of Outlaws returned to Charlotte's semi-banked, 1/2-mile oval for the first time in eight years. "The #5M Wirtgen Maxim was absolutely perfect both nights," Mark said following his sixth victory of the year. "All we had to do was put new tires on it." The double-feature sweep was the third of Mark's career. He also won both the Preliminary and "A" Feature races at Knoxville Raceway, June 26- 27, 1993, and at North Texas Motor Speedway, March 16-17, 1990. Kinser beat Preliminary Feature runner-up Danny Lasoski, Dave Blaney, Andy Hillenburg, Stevie Smith and fast-qualifier Sammy Swindell across the finish line in the Snap-on Tools Dash for the right to start the 30-lap main event on the pole. Mark burst into the lead as the green flag fell in the "A" Feature. Lasoski tried to take the lead deep in the first corner during the opening lap, but was unable to complete the pass. That was as close as "The Dude" got to Mark until Greg Hodnett brought out the event's first caution flag midway through the race. Kinser opened a 15-car-length lead within two laps, and entered lapped traffic with a half-straightaway advantage three laps later. Mark increased his lead as Blaney and Hillenburg pressured Lasoski for second place before a dangling oil line forced Hodnett to stop the #8TW Kele & Associates Maxim on the front straightaway. Mark ran away from the field again as the green flag replaced the yellow, opening a 15-car-length advantage by lap 18. His lead diminished again when Tim Kuhn stopped on the back straightaway with 11 laps remaining. Jeff Swindell, who passed four cars during the first 19 laps, steered the #7TW Gold Eagle Maxim deep into the third corner to take third place from Hillenburg on the ensuing restart. Kinser opened a half-straightaway advantage within three laps after the race resumed, only to have Hodnett bring out the caution flag when his oil line problems returned early in the 26th lap. World of Outlaws officials called for the red flag to replace the yellow at this point so the sprinters could be refueled. With plenty of methanol to complete final four laps, Kinser ran away from the field again when the race resumed. Lasoski was racing through turn four when Mark took the checkered flag. The $9,000 victory pushed Kinser to within seven points of "The Dude" in their battle for third place in the Skoal Outlaw Series point standings. Lasoski was only four points behind Blaney, who ranked second. Jeff received his third Wells Lamont Hard Charger Award of the year for racing into third place from his fourth-row starting position. Rounding out the top 10 in the main event were Hillenburg, Sammy Swindell, Blaney, Smith, Joe Gaerte, Aaron Berryhill and point standings leader Jac Haudenschild. WoO 1995 WORLD OF OUTLAWS/SKOAL OUTLAW SERIES Metrolina Speedway, Charlotte, NC, Friday, May 19, Feature Program #15 Qualifications: 1. Sammy Swindell, Swindell 1, 16.840; 2. Stevie Smith, Motter 71M, 16.848; 3. Jac Haudenschild, Elden 22, 16.916; 4. Jeff Swindell, Two Winners 7TW, 16.920; 5. Joe Gaerte, Hamilton 77, 16.956; 6. Aaron Berryhill, Berryhill 97, 17.096; 7. Greg Hodnett, Two Winners 8TW, 17.132; 8. Van Gurley, Jr., Gurley 3B, 17.151; 9. Ed Lynch, Jr., Lynch 2L, 17.163; 10. Rickey Hood, Herrera 45x, 17.196; 11. Randy Hannagan, Hannagan 1x, 17.210; 12. Gus Wasson, Wasson 4G, 17.739; 13. Tim Kuhn, Kuhn 11, 18.373; 14. Chris Pochiro, Pochiro 24, 20.203; 15. Billy Wilburn, Wilburn 5, no time. First Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Greg Hodnett, 2. Jeff Swindell, 3. Rickey Hood, 4. Tim Kuhn, 5. Sammy Swindell. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature) Second Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Van Gurley, Jr., 2. Randy Hannagan, 3. Stevie Smith, 4. Joe Gaerte, 5. Chris Pochiro. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature) Third Heat Race (eight laps): 1. Ed Lynch, Jr., 2. Jac Haudenschild, 3. Aaron Berryhill, 4. Gus Wasson, 5. Billy Wilburn. (first five qualified for the "A" Feature) Finishing 1-4 in Thursday's preliminary program automatically qualified Mark Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Dave Blaney and Andy Hillenburg the first four starting positions in the Snap-on Tools Dash. Snap-on Tools Dash (five laps): 1. Mark Kinser, 2. Danny Lasoski, 3. Dave Blaney, 4. Andy Hillenburg, 5. Stevie Smith, 6. Sammy Swindell. (finish determined the first six starting position in the "A" Feature) A Feature (30 laps): 1. Mark Kinser ($9,000); 2. Danny Lasoski ($5,000); 3. Jeff Swindell ($3,310); 4. Andy Hillenburg ($3,000); 5. Sammy Swindell ($2,260); 6. Dave Blaney ($2,075); 7. Stevie Smith ($1,810); 8. Joe Gaerte ($1,710); 9. Aaron Berryhill ($1,510); 10. Jac Haudenschild ($1,410); 11. Ed Lynch, Jr. ($1,210); 12. Greg Hodnett ($1,110); 13. Van Gurley, Jr. ($1,060); 14. Rickey Hood ($1,010); 15. Randy Hannagan ($710); 16. Gus Wasson ($610); 17. Tim Kuhn ($510); 18. Chris Pochiro ($510); 19. Billy Wilburn ($510). Lap leader: Mark Kinser 1-30 Wells Lamont Hard Charger Award winner: Jeff Swindell WoO*eot