Kraig Kinser to Join Tony
Stewart Racing’s
World
of Outlaws Sprint Series Team
Kinser and Donny Schatz Form Potent Two-Car Lineup in
2008
CONCORD,
N.C. (Nov. 3, 2007) – Two-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Tony Stewart
announced tonight that World of Outlaws (WoO)
Sprint Series driver Kraig Kinser
will join Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) beginning with
the 2008 season. Kinser will replace Paul
McMahan in the No. 20 Bass Pro Shops/J.D. Byrider/Chevrolet
entry.
“I’m
excited about joining forces with such an established team,” said Kinser, an eight-time WoO
race winner, which includes a victory at the prestigious Knoxville
( Iowa
) Nationals in 2005. “Tony Stewart Racing
has a proven track record with the World of Outlaws, and I’m looking
forward to making a return to the series with a team of this caliber.”
Kinser’s teammate will be reigning WoO
Sprint Series driver Donny Schatz, who will join TSR beginning with the
2008 season in the No. 15 Armor All/ParkerStore/Chevrolet
machine.
“I
am extremely pleased to welcome Kraig Kinser to our race team,” said Stewart, TSR team
owner. “To be able to work with a driver of Kraig’s
talent is a great opportunity for all of us. His proven skill behind
the wheel will continue to help TSR grow into a stronger organization.
“Just
as Levi
Jones, Tracy Hines and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., helped step up
our USAC program, we expect Kraig Kinser and Donny Schatz to do the same with our World
of Outlaws team.”
Bass
Pro Shops, recently voted the No. 1 outdoor
retailer in America
by Sporting
Goods Business Magazine and the primary sponsor of
the No. 20 Chevrolet-powered entry that Kinser
will pilot next season, welcomes Kinser to the
TSR family.
“Bass
Pro Shops is extremely proud of our relationship with Tony Stewart
Racing,” said Jim Hagale, president of Bass Pro
Shops. “While we’ve been very happy with the performance of the No.
20 team, the addition of Kraig Kinser for 2008 takes our program to another
level. Kraig’s past performance and his
family’s racing heritage will provide the opportunity for Bass Pro Shops
and TSR to contend for the WoO Sprint Series
championship.”
The
familiar Bass Pro Shops paint scheme will continue to adorn the No. 20 for
the 2008 season. The Chevrolet-powered winged sprint car will be
overseen by longtime TSR crew chief Jimmy Carr, who will head up both of TSR’s WoO Sprint Series
programs.
Since
its formation in November 2000, TSR has earned seven owner
championships. Danny Lasoski earned TSR’s first championship in its inaugural season
competing in the WoO Sprint Series, taking the
2001 title. J.J. Yeley, Stewart’s teammate
at Joe Gibbs Racing, earned a USAC Sprint car championship for TSR in
2003. And in a co-owner role with Bob East, TSR won four straight
USAC Silver Crown championships from 2002 to 2005 with a handful of drivers
that included Yeley, Kasey Kahne and Dave
Steele. In 2006, TSR earned the USAC Sprint car title with Josh
Wise. Additionally, TSR has three Knoxville Nationals championships
in the WoO Sprint Series, as Lasoski
captured wins in the famed winged sprint car event in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
For
more information regarding TSR or Bass Pro Shops, visit www.tonystewartracing.com or www.basspro.com.
