Eldora II: Race report

'King of the Outlaws' wins again at Eldora Speedway

ROSSBURG, OH (May 31) -- Steve Kinser's #11 Quaker State Maxim has crossed the finish line first in both O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series main events at Eldora Speedway this year. His car violated the series weight rule the first time, so his crew made sure his victory wasn't in vain Saturday at "The World's Fastest Half-Mile."

"The King of the Outlaws" passed O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series points leader Danny Lasoski early in the 17th lap en route to his ninth victory of the season -- his second in three days.

"We were disqualified the last time we were here, so we added way too much weight tonight and got it too heavy," Kinser said. "We kind of got going a little better there toward the end, but I think we were blowing a motor the last lap or so. We've had a good car all year long. This place was just flat out fast all the way around tonight, and it gets pretty tough on you -- especially when you're in the shape I'm in."

Kinser appeared to be in great shape throughout the O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series 26th event of the season. He was the sixth-fastest qualifier in the 30-car field, finished second in the First Heat Race and won the First Dash Race for the privilege of starting the 30-lap "A" Feature on the pole.

Lasoski, who has never won at Eldora Speedway, earned the right to start the main event outside the front row by winning the Second Dash Race. Kinser raced wheel-to-wheel with "The Dude" down the front straightaway as the green flag waved in the "A" Feature, and surged ahead between the first and second corners

Lasoski kept pace with "The King of the Outlaws" throughout the first 3 ½ laps, then drove NASCAR Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart's #20 J.D. Byrider Eagle into the lead deep in turn three.

Lasoski was 10 car-lengths ahead of Kinser when he entered lapped traffic six laps into the race. Kinser narrowed the gap to six car-lengths within six laps and was only two car-lengths behind by the 16th lap. Kinser raced around "The Dude" high in turn two the next time around to take the lead.

Donny Schatz steered his #15 Parker Stores J&J deep in the first corner to pass 1996 Kings Royal champion Johnny Herrera for fifth place the next time around. Tyler Walker used a similar move to pass Lasoski for the runner-up spot early in lap 20.

Daryn Pittman, an O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series main event winner at Eldora last July 19th, drove Sher-Don Motorsports' #21 Hop & Sack J&J into the low groove in the second corner to pass Herrera for sixth place one lap later. Mark Kinser relegated Herrera to eighth place with an inside move between turns one and two early in the 24th lap.

Second Heat Race winner Kenny Jacobs slowed the fast-paced main event when he stopped on the front straightaway with a flat right rear tire two laps later. Pittman surrendered sixth place when mechanical problems forced him to pit during the caution period. Both Jacobs and Pittman restarted at the rear of the field when the green flag replaced the yellow.

"The King of the Outlaws" controlled the restart and took the checkered flag as Walker raced into the third corner. The $10,000 victory was Kinser's 27th in O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series competition at Eldora Speedway. With the victory, Kinser closed to within 31 points of Lasoski in the standings, the closest they have been since April 19th when "The King of the Outlaws" was disqualified at Eldora.

Lasoski held off fast qualifier Jason Meyers for third place. Mark Kinser finished fifth, ahead of Herrera, defending Kings Royal champion Joey Saldana, Tim Shaffer, Schatz and Dean Jacobs.

Brian Paulus won the "B" Feature, then drove P and P Motorsports #28 Verdelli Farms Maxim past six cars to finish in 13th place.

Meyers paced the qualifying session with a 139.914-M.P.H. lap around Eldora's high-banked, ½-mile oval.

The O'Reilly World of Outlaws Series will invade Fox Ridge Speedway in Arcadia, WI, for the first time June 10th in preparation for the Sixth Annual Duel in the Dakotas, scheduled for June 12-14 at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND.

-WoO-