Steve Kinser
SprintCarUnlimited.com continues its list of the Top 25 Car Owners since 1985 with Steve Kinser and Steve Kinser Racing. The No. 3 car owner went from driver to owner/driver and back to driver in his racing career. Now retired, he continues to own a car.
Accomplishments: Everybody knows Steve Kinser and his legendary exploits with Karl Kinser in the familiar No. 11 in the late 1970s, 80s, and the early 90s. After winning the 1994 Outlaw title with Karl Kinser, Steve headed to NASCAR. After a short stint, Kinser returned and started his own team with Scott Gerkin turning the wrenches. Kinser responded in 1995 with 18 wins, including the prestigious Knoxville Nationals. Three years later, Kinser climbed to the top of the Sprint Car world, once again, by collecting the World of Outlaws championship. Between 1995 and 2003, Kinser racked up 111 World of Outlaws wins and four World of Outlaws championships. The King added a second car in 2004 for his son Kraig Kinser. The younger Kinser won 2004 Rookie of the Year honors and went on to win the 2005 Knoxville Nationals with his dad owning the car. Steve Kinser won his last World of Outlaws title in 2005, but he continued to be a force in the sport, adding wins to his list of accomplishments before moving over to Tony Stewart Racing in 2010.
Did You Know: Critics will say Steve Kinser failed with his NASCAR aspirations, but you could make a strong argument that he didn’t get a chance to shine. Kenny Bernstein was having problems with his team, and Kinser only lasted two months. Bernstein’s NASCAR operation, which came into existence in 1986, shut down by the end of the 1995 season. Kinser went back to Sprint Car racing and never missed a beat. It should also be noted that Kinser won an IROC event in 1994.
Why Here: Regardless of your name or stature in motorsports, it isn’t easy starting and owning your own team. Steve Kinser put one together in less than a month and went right back to winning. It didn’t stop, as Steve Kinser recorded 167 World of Outlaws wins from 1995 through the 2009 season. He also won two Knoxville Nationals titles, three Kings Royal crowns, three Gold Cups, and a National Open triumph to go along with six World of Outlaws titles. Steve’s son, Kraig, also added a Knoxville Nationals victory and 17 more wins to solidify Steve Kinser Racing as a top-three selection.
They said it: “Him being a former driver, he understands what a driver is going through. That’s helped him out quite a bit. I think him knowing me my whole life, it’s helped him be gentle with me when I needed it and knowing when to push me. He always let me go at my own pace and figure things out myself. I always respected him for letting me do that.” — Sprint Car driver and son Kraig Kinser.
“I was still pretty young when he came back from NASCAR and started owning a team. I knew the gist of it, but I don’t remember the day-to-day deal. I know the team was a little closer to the house than we were accustomed to, and he, along with Scott Gerkin, did a good job. They were able to come back and be competitive right away. I think that says a lot about him. He always wanted to win and knew how to do it.” — Kraig Kinser.
READ ABOUT THE OTHER CAR OWNERS IN THE TOP 25
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