Eldora 'Night Before The Big One' report

Kinser Takes 'Night Before The Big One' Race
By Richard Day

ROSSBURG, OH (August 3) - Defending Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series champion Steve Kinser and 2000 World of Outlaws Gumout Series titleist Craig Dollansky conducted driving clinics Friday at Eldora Speedway during the "Night Before The Big One" race.

Kinser, who won the Historical Big One a year ago, drove his #11 Quaker State Maxim to victory from outside the eighth row, while Dollansky raced past 17 cars to finish in seventh place. In all, six drivers passed more than six cars in the Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series' 44th "A" Feature of the season.

"We've been pretty fast all year long, but I've crashed a few times too, so we're just trying to be consistent and get some good runs," Kinser said following his fourth victory of the season. "Craig's (Dollansky) been running strong all year, and we've been back and forth in the points a few times. There are still a lot of races left. I remember when I was one of the youngest guys in the pits, but I guess that was a long time ago. It still feels pretty good to out-run these guys."

Kinser, the ninth-fastest qualifier in the 31-car field, followed Johnny Herrera across the finish line in the Third O'Reilly Heat Race. He earned the right to start the 35-lap main event outside the fourth row by finishing eighth in the Channellock Dash.

Herrera, who started next to pole-sitter Danny Lasoski on the front row, raced into the lead from the pole as the green flag fell in the "A" Feature. The 1996 Kings Royal champion was approaching lapped traffic three laps later when a mechanical malfunction caused Dean Jacobs to stop in turn two.

Kinser passed Second O'Reilly Heat Race winner P.J. Chesson and Randy Hannagan during the first four laps, then took the low line through the first and second corners to pass Donny Schatz for fifth place as the race resumed.

Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series points leader Mark Kinser used an identical move to pass Schatz the next time around. A broken drive line coupler on his family's #15 Parker Stores J&J forced Schatz to stop in turn one early in the sixth lap.

Joey Saldana was challenging Lasoski for second place when Kraig Kinser spun in turn two. Kenny Jacobs flipped in the second corner to bring out the red flag five laps later.

"The King of the Outlaws" was on the move between the caution and red periods, racing into third place. He took the low line through turns one and two to pass Lasoski for second as the green flag replaced the red. Kinser was three car-lengths behind Herrera when the leaders entered lapped traffic during the 21st lap.

Herrera increased his advantage two laps later when he lapped Kraig Kinser and Steve followed his son for 1½ laps. Kinser caught Herrera early in lap 25, but was unable to surge ahead between the first and second corners. Kinser took the lead with a similar move in the same place the next time around.

"Kraig had some problems there and got toward the back," Kinser said. "I knew I could get a pretty strong run on Johnny once I got by, but I just didn't know who behind me might be running pretty good."

Lasoski battled Herrera for the runner-up spot throughout the final nine laps, but had to settle for the third-place finish.

Dollansky drove Karavan Racing's #7 Polydome Maxim around Mark Kinser high in turn four for sixth place late in the 30th lap, only to have Hannagan come back with an inside move between the first and second corners to take the position.

"The King of the Outlaws" was eight car-lengths ahead of Herrera when he took the checkered flag. The $10,000 was the 24th of his career at "The World's Fastest Half-Mile."

Saldana finished in fourth place, ahead of 12th-starting Paul McMahan, Hannagan, Dollansky, Chesson, 18th-starting Shane Stewart and Mark Kinser.

Stevie Smith drove his #19 Ingersoll-Rand Maxim past nine cars to finish 11th, while provisional starter Jason Meyers raced into 13th place from the 25th starting position.

Jeff Swindell, who came out of retirement to drive injured brother Sammy's #1 Channellock Stealth, finished 15th in the main event.

Andy Hillenburg, who won two of the last four Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series main events at Eldora Speedway, was running fourth in the "B" Feature when his #2 Luxaire J&J hit the wall in turn four and flipped into Meyers. Hillenburg was taken to Coldwater Community Hospital for observation and released.

The Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series will sanction the 41st Annual Amoco Ultimate Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA, Wednesday through Saturday.

-WoO