7/31/2014
Sprint Source
Kraig Kinser Takes on the Ironman 55 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
The Ironman 55 is always a challenging event for drivers, with 55 laps around the lightning fast, high-banked bullring at Federated Auto Parts at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri. Throw in the traditional summer heat and humidity of the St. Louis area and every fiber of a driver, their car and team is tested. Kraig Kinser enjoys such challenges as he travels the country with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series competing 80-plus times a season.
The Monroe Shocks and Struts Prelude to the Ironman is set for Friday, August 1 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. The Federated Auto Parts & Batteries Ironman 55 Presented by Walker will hit the track on Saturday, August 2.
“Pevely is a track that has always been a lot of fun to race at,” said Kinser, who drives the Mesilla Valley Transportation/Casey’s General Store/King Racing Products Maxim. “It’s a tight bullring, but with the banking you also carry quite a bit of speed and momentum around there. We were pretty good there the first time this year, but it’s always a bit different going back in the heat of the summer.”
Kinser has made one start at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 this season, finishing eighth on April 26. He opened the event as the 12th-fastest driver in time trials and won the third heat race to earn a spot in the dash. A seventh-place finish in the dash put him on the inside of the fourth row for the 40-lap A-Feature.
Last season, the opening night of the Ironman 55 was rained out, thus making the event a single-night contest. Kinser finished 12th in what is the longest race of the season for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series. He opened the night as the 13th-fastest driver in time trials of the 34 entries. He started on the pole of the first heat race and finished second, which put him in the dash. He lined up eighth in that six-lap contest and crossed the line seventh.
“The Ironman is a fantastic event,” Kinser said. “I like the longer races and 55 laps is a great number there. You always hope the race runs straight through without too many cautions, so you don't have to have a stop during it. Coming off the short tracks we can up in Canada should help and we were pretty good most of the nights up there and had some good speed.”
Kinser was victorious at Pevely with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series in 2005. He has a total of nine career top-10 finishes with the series at the high-banked bullring, with five of those being top-five performances. Kinser has finished eighth or better in five of his last six starts at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.
The native of Bloomington, Indiana, most recently competed in a trio of races north of the border in Canada. He finished fifth at Cornwall Motor Speedway, was 14th at Autodrome Drummond and came home 24th at Ohsweken Speedway, after getting caught up in an opening lap incident. Kinser heads to the Ironman 55 ninth in points with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.
Kraig Kinser Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, Mesilla Valley Transportation, King Racing Products, Maxim, Aerodine Composites, Sander Engineering, Integra Shocks, All Star Performance, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bell, KSE Racing Products, ButlerBuilt, Schoenfeld Headers, Donovan Engineering, Fel-Pro, Brodix, Wilwood, Dyer’s, Barnes Systems, Ringer Gloves, Jakes Custom Golf Carts, and Ben Cook Racing Limited for their continued support.
Kraig Kinser By the Numbers: Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
0.33- Miles around Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
2- Nights of racing that comprise the Ironman 55 weekend
3- Total nights of racing for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at the track in 2014
4- Consecutive top-10 finishes at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
5- Career top-five finishes at Pevely
9- Career top-10 finishes at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
10.189- Track record at I-55
12- Average finish in 19 main events starts at Pevely
19- Main event starts with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
20- Top-10 finishes this season with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series
30- Laps scheduled for the main event at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on Friday, August 1
55- Laps in the Ironman 55 on Saturday, August 2
740- Miles from Ohsweken Speedway in Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada, where the World of Outlaws raced on July 29 to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Missouri
2001- Year of first start at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
2005- Year of first win at Pevely
2009- Year of the first Ironman 55
6972- Points earned this season through July 29
Article Credit: Kraig Kinser Racing PR
