BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Steve Kinser now has 553 career World of Outlaw sprint-car victories, but Sunday night at Volusia Speedway Park was a first for the 20-time Outlaws champion.
Kinser, 55, of Bloomington, Ind., held off a determined Tim Kaeding and Joey Saldana to win his first feature since joining Tony Stewart Racing.
“We have the same race team, same crew chief, same guys, it took a little relief off of me financially,” Kinser said. “Getting healed up has helped me more than anything. I’ve had neck problems, I didn’t really think it was hurting me in the car, but now that I’m better, I think it has been.”
Kinser worked hard for his 553rd victory.
Kaeding started on the pole and drove into the lead with Kinser in tow. Kaeding built an early lead, but by lap 10 he had Kinser and eighth-starting Joey Saldana on his bumper in lapped traffic.
Kinser took the lead from Kaeding on the frontstretch on lap 12, but the racing remained close in traffic. The battle was slowed by caution on lap 14.
Kaeding stayed up top and regained the lead for two laps before Kinser used the bottom to drive back past Kaeding off turn two on lap 18.
Saldana passed Kaeding and got a great run at Kinser down the frontstretch on lap 19. Kinser slammed the door on Saldana as they entered turn one.
Kinser survived one more double-file restart and pulled away from Saldana over the closing laps as Danny Lasoski worked his way up from 14th to finish third.
Saturday night winner Donny Schatz and Kaeding completed the top five.