Terre Haute, Ind. – Old habits are hard to break, but Steve Kinser is competing for the World of Outlaws title one last time. The 20-time series champion from Bloomington, Ind., Kinser is known as the King of the Outlaws, but he’s making one last run at the title and one more swing through the United States while driving the Tony Stewart Racing entry in the famed series, including the stop at the Action Track in Terre Haute Wednesday.
“Racing in the Outlaws has been my life for almost 40 years,’’ Kinser said. “It’s all I’ve known. My family has been around it. I’ve had the pleasure of running up and down the road racing all across the country, and even in Canada, Mexico and Australia with this series. I knew it wasn’t going to last forever.’’
The Salute to the King kicked off in February as Kinser made his way through his 37th season. In his remarkable career, Kinser has won Outlaws events at 142 race tracks, including 42 on this year’s grueling schedule. He has 34 wins at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, 34 more at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway and 26 Outlaws triumphs at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa. World of Outlaws races in Indiana in the 1980s were can’t-miss attractions to a kid from Columbus, Ind., named Tony Stewart.
“I never missed at Outlaw show in the area when I was growing up,’’ Stewart said. “We waited for all those nights like they were holidays. It was incredible watching Steve race with Sammy (Swindell) and Doug (Wolfgang). He was our guy, being from Indiana. When he won, it gave us all something to brag about.’’
Kinser will go for bragging rights one more time at the Action Track, where he won four straight events in 1993 and 1994. The series makes its first appearance at the Action Track since 2006 as part of a unique two-night doubleheader. After the World of Outlaws on Wednesday, the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint car series returns for the Jim Hurtubise Classic on Thursday.
The back-to-back racing brings some of the best drivers in the world to the same track on the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds. There’s great camping right outside the track. Spend a night or two. See the fearless World of Outlaws and those wing sprint cars fly around the Action Track in their first appearance here since Joe Saldana won here in 2006. On the following night, watch the USAC non-wing sprints roar around the track in their first race since the Indiana Sprint Week thriller won by Bryan Clauson in July.
Joey Saldana looks to win again at the Action Track after taking the victory here in 2006. Don’t forget your retro Kinser gear for one last autograph. Tickets for the World of Outlaws are $35 for reserved seats, $30 for non-reserved grandstand seats and $20 for infield tickets. Pit passes are $40. Pits open at 2 p.m. while grandstands and infield seating open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. (all times Eastern). Go to Terrehauteactiontrack.net to order tickets.
On Sept. 18, USAC sprint cars return to one of their favorite stops. Already this season, Dave Darland took the checkered flag in the Tony Hulman Classic before Bryan Clauson scored the victory in a thrilling feature during Indiana Sprint Week. Later in the summer, Darland surpassed Tom Bigelow with 53 wins to set the record in a USAC sprint car. Clauson is the two-time defending USAC AMSOIL Spring Car National Champion, but his first win at the Action Track earlier summer was Clauson’s first in Terre Haute. Expect a major battle on Indiana soil.
Tickets USAC sprint cars are $25 for grandstand seating and $15 for infield tickets. Pit passes are $35. Pits open at 3 p.m. with the grandstands and infield open at 4 p.m. with hot laps starting at 6:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).
Modifieds will race for UMP national points on both nights. NASCAR stars Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace are scheduled to compete.
The Action Track ticket office can be reached by calling 812-232-4040.