Icon. Champion. Winner. Motivator. Fierce competitor. Friend. Family man. Being characterized by any one of those descriptors would make most people proud, but to be defined by all of them would certainly result in royalty status. That’s precisely the altitude where Steve Kinser presides.

Kinser is a legend in motorsports. Tabbed “The King of the Outlaws,” the 20-time World of Outlaws (WoO) champion has been described as the best there ever has been racing on dirt ovals. His results back up those claims. More than 800 career victories during his illustrious career earned him those accolades. High praise for a man who started out as southern Indiana boy simply wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps and be a racer. Ultimately, his dream became reality.

Today, 33 seasons after competing in the first-ever WoO race in 1978, the 56-year-old still regularly intimidates the competition he battles on dirt tracks across the country. The same man still thrills the hundreds of thousands of fans who come out to see him perform his magic.

The results of the 2010 WoO season proved “The King” still has plenty of magic up his sleeve. After joining Tony Stewart Racing (TSR), the Bloomington, Ind., native quickly established himself as a championship contender by racing the No. 11 Bass Pro Shops/J.D. Byrider Chevy owned by two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and fellow Hoosier Tony Stewart, to victory in the second WoO A-Feature of the season. Kinser earned his seventh Kings Royal crown in mid-July, the highlight of his way to a nine-win season. In the end, he finished third in the championship standings and in 2011 will again be chasing his 21st WoO title.

There is great pride being from Indiana, and that dignity starts early in life. The third child of parents Bob and Cora Kinser grew up watching his father manhandle open-wheel cars around dirt tracks throughout his home state. His passion for racing matched that of his father.

Toughness has always been part of Kinser’s DNA, surfacing early in his competitive days. He grew up active in athletics and flourished in the sport of wrestling. His days at Bloomington High School included consecutive trips to the Indiana High School Wrestling State Championships. A second-place finish his junior year was followed by his being crowned champion of the 132-pound class as a senior.

Following high school glory, he traded in his wrestling singlet for a helmet and driver’s uniform and began racing at the same venues where his dad learned the craft. Like his father, he also earned a living bricklaying. His days were filled with hard labor on job sites and weekends were filled with slinging dirt and grit at the track.

The King’s ascent to greatness began when America was celebrating its bicentennial. Kinser spent the 1976 season competing primarily on weekends at Indiana dirt ovals. He won 17 times, beginning with his first triumph on June 11, 1976, at his hometown track, Bloomington Speedway.

With a year of competition under his belt, Kinser took on a much more aggressive schedule beginning with Florida races in February 1977. His victory total was five, including two at Bloomington, but the experience he earned positioned him perfectly for what was to come next.

Timing is everything, and Ted Johnson’s vision of creating a Sprint car carnival that traveled coast-to-coast was a perfect opportunity for the talented driver. After accepting a ride in his distant cousin Karl’s potent machine, he gave up his days of laying bricks and traveled across the country racing in 1978 following Johnson’s band of Outlaws from venue to venue.

Kinser totaled 39 wins that season and quickly became a star in the sport. His 1978 WoO title began a championship run that included the first three World of Outlaws crowns. It was just the start and, as he continued his dominance of the Outlaws, he joined some of the sport’s greats by adding his name to the list of winners of the biggest races. His Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals triumphs to start the 1980s only fueled a budding rivalry with Sammy Swindell and Doug Wolfgang. “The Big Three” dominated the sport throughout the decade with Kinser leading the way.

During the 1980s, Kinser’s status continued to evolve as evidenced by his record-setting 1987 campaign. That season, he won 56 short-track races, with 46 them being WoO A-Features, including 24 of the last 26. In total, he won seven WoO championships, six Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals, six Gold Cup Race of Champions victories and a pair of Kings Royal triumphs at Eldora Speedway from 1980 to 1988.

After a season of competing with the United Sprint Association in 1989, “The King” returned to the Outlaws in 1990 and regained his stronghold on the sport. While his rivals battled both injury (Wolfgang) and other motorsports career paths (Swindell), Kinser stayed the course and continued his dominance in the early 1990s, winning four more WoO titles and three more Knoxville Nationals.

His success didn’t go unnoticed by his peers. An invitation to compete in 1994 International Race of Champions (IROC) series validated his place in the motorsports hierarchy during the 1994 season. While he continued to set the pace in World of Outlaws action, he also showed his talent versus some of the sport’s elite drivers. In only his third start with the series, he was victorious at Talladega Superspeedway. That victory not only authenticated his abilities, but it also served as a victory for all short-track racing competitors.

Later that season, he was once again crowned Knoxville Nationals champion, putting him well on his way to WoO title number 14. It was during the Outlaws’ annual fall swing through California when the news that many had expected finally broke. Kinser was headed to NASCAR’s top division after signing a three-year contract with King Racing.

He closed out the Outlaw campaign with another championship and took the well wishes from his droves of fans into an offseason that had him rededicating himself to becoming a fulltime stock car driver. Countless hours of studying and testing were spent in an effort to get up to speed for a NASCAR career that would begin with the 1995 Daytona 500.

Unfortunately, as good as his timing was in 1978 with the Outlaws, the same couldn’t be said in 1995 for Kinser in NASCAR. Too many variables weren’t meshing and his move to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (then known as Winston Cup) clearly wasn’t going in the direction he had hoped. After only seven races, concluding with the First Union 400 on April 9 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, he made the decision to return to Sprint car racing.

Kinser moved quickly and built a team to rejoin the World of Outlaws thanks to his relationship with Quaker State. Thirty-three days after officially leaving NASCAR, he and his team, led by Scott Gerkin, were back competing with the Outlaws at the Action Track in Terre Haute, Ind. His first WoO victory as an owner-driver came in his seventh race and, later that summer, he made it clear he was back on top by scoring the $100,000-to-win Historical Big One and, eight days later, racing from his 14th starting position to win his fifth consecutive Knoxville Nationals. In all, he won 18 WoO features during the 1995 season.

Kinser continued his winning ways with the Outlaws over the next two seasons, winning 15 feature events and finishing fourth and third, respectively, in the championship standings. The highlight of 1997 didn’t come with the Outlaws for Kinser. It was during the month of May, when he realized the dream of qualifying for and then competing in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” He qualified 20th for the 81st annual Indianapolis 500 and finished 14th.  

In 1998, he earned his first WoO championship as a team owner and 15th as a driver. He finished third in 1999 before winning another WoO title in 2000.  

During the 2002 season, Kinser earned his 12th Knoxville Nationals title and started another Kinseresque string of WoO titles by winning 20 A-Features. The run included three more championships and numerous additions to the record books along the way, including his 500th career WoO A-Feature win in March 2004 at Houston Raceway Park. He competed in three consecutive IROC series from 2003 to 2005. His 2005 WoO championship was his 20th and capped a season that saw him pick up his 10th Eagle (Neb.) Nationals, sixth Kings Royal and 12th Gold Cup Race of Champions.

His most recent seasons would be considered successful by most drivers, but not for Kinser. Six wins with the National Sprint Tour in 2006 were followed by a 10-win WoO season in 2007, which included his triumph in the 40th anniversary Don Martin Memorial at Lernerville Speedway. In 2008, he finished third in the WoO championship standings, came home fifth in 2009 and was third in 2010.

Back and neck pain that Kinser believes originated from an IROC crash in 2005 continued to bother the champion in recent seasons. After offseason surgery over the winter, Kinser feels better than he has in quite some time and was eager to chase another championship and continue building the legacy of “The King of the Outlaws.”

Throughout his years behind the wheel and all the accomplishments he’s been part of, it’s still his family that brings him the most joy. His wife Dana has been his life partner and by his side through it all, but spent most of last season recovering from heart surgery. Kinser is anxious to have her back by his side this season. They have raised three children together. Whether it was at their Bloomington home or the countless miles they spent traveling together going from race to race, they have always been a close-knit unit.

The Kinser children all grew up experiencing the excitement of the lifestyle. Their daughter, Stevie, was always by Dad’s side from track to track and, ultimately, graduated from Indiana University. She has been an invaluable part of Steve Kinser Racing (SKR) through years and remains in the family business today.

Son Kraig followed his father into Sprint car racing and earned World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year honors in 2004. It was Kraig who provided Steve with one of his most cherished moments in racing when he won the Knoxville Nationals in 2005. The 20 year-old joined his father to make up the only father-son duo to win the sport’s most prestigious event. This season marks Kraig’s sixth season of competition on the Outlaw circuit.

The Kinsers’ youngest son, Kurt, also followed his father’s path to success. Kurt repeated his dad’s high school wrestling glory by winning the Indiana state championship his senior season after, ironically, finishing second as a junior. Kurt is currently a scholarship wrestler for Indiana University.

BIO:

• Birthdate: June 2, 1954
• Birthplace: Bloomington, Ind.
• Hometown: Bloomington, Ind.
• Residence: Bloomington, Ind.
• Marital Status: Married to Dana
• Children: Sons – Kraig and Kurt; Daughter – Stevie

TONY STEWART RACING:

• Team Owner: Tony Stewart
• Race Director: Jimmy Carr
• Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, J.D. Byrider, Chevy
• Websites: www.tonystewartracing.com
  www.basspro.com
  www.chevrolet.com/chevyracing
  www.jdbyrider.com
  www.aa-ownercenter.com
  www.tonystewart.com
  www.truespeedcommunication.com
  www.stevekinser.com
  
• Series: World of Outlaws Sprint Series
• Car No: No. 11
• Crew Chief: Scott Gerkin

WORLD OF OUTLAWS (WoO) CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Best Point Standings Finish: First (20 times: 1978-80, 1983-88, 1990-94, 1998, 2000, 2002-05)
• WoO A-Feature Starts: 1892
• Competed in the first career WoO race on March 18, 1978 at Devil's Bowl Speedway.
• Has won every major Sprint car race during his racing career.
• Has 561 career WoO A-Feature wins.
• Twelve-time Knoxville (Iowa) Nationals champion.
• Fourteen-time National 410 Sprint Car Driver of the Year.
• Nineteen-time American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association All-American honoree.
• Finished 14th in the 1997 Indianapolis 500. Qualified for the race on May 10 and later that evening won the 415th WoO feature of his career at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.

2010

• Finished third in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won nine WoO feature events, earned 38 top-five finishes and 57 top-10 finishes in 68 starts.
• Won seventh Kings Royal at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway.

2009

• Finished fifth in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won two WoO feature events, earned 32 top-five finishes and 49 top-10 finishes in 64 starts.

2008

• Finished third in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won Don Martin 40th anniversary Silver Cup @ Lernerville Speedway.
• Won seven WoO feature events, earned 32 top-five finishes and 48 top-10 finishes in 63 starts.

2007

• Finished sixth in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won World Finals event at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway.
• Won 10 WoO feature events, earned 32 top-five finishes and 50 top-10 finishes in 74 starts.

2006

• Finished second in National Sprint Tour standings.
• Finished 12th in the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series.
• Won six feature events, earned 26 top-five finishes and 39 top-10 finishes in 49 starts.

2005

• Won his 20th World of Outlaws championship.
• Finished 11th in the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series.
• Won sixth Kings Royal.
• Won 12th Gold Cup Race of Champions.
• Won 20 WoO feature events, earned 48 top-five finishes and 61 top-10 finishes in 64 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

2004

• Won his 19th World of Outlaws championship.
• Finished 11th in the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series.
• Won first World of Outlaws Down Under event.
• Won his 500th career WoO feature event at Houston Raceway Park on March 27.
• Won 18 WoO feature events, earned 47 top-five finishes and 56 top-10 finishes in 64 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

2003

• Won his 18th World of Outlaws championship.
• Finished 11th in the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series.
• Won fifth Kings Royal event.
• Won 11th Gold Cup Race of Champions.
• Won fourth Williams Grove National Open.
• Won 24 WoO feature events, earned 48 top-five finishes and 58 top-10 finishes in 65 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

2002

• Won his 17th World of Outlaws championship.
• Won 12th Knoxville Nationals.
• Won 10th Gold Cup Race of Champions.
• Won his 300th career WoO feature event at San Jose Speedway on September 27.
• Won 20 WoO feature events, earned 46 top-five finishes and 59 top-10 finishes in 67 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

2001

• Finished third in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won six WoO feature events, earned 36 top-five finishes and 49 top-10 finishes in 63 starts.

2000

• Won his 16th World of Outlaws championship.
• Won first $100,000 Historical Big One at Eldora Speedway.
• Won 10 WoO feature events, earned 41 top-five finishes and 51 top-10 finishes in 61 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the AARWBA All-America Team – Short Track.

1999

• Finished third in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won 11 WoO feature events, earned 37 top-five finishes and 53 top-10 finishes in 68 starts.

1998

• Won his 15th World of Outlaws championship.
• Won six WoO feature events, earned 42 top-five finishes and 58 top-10 finishes in 65 starts.
• Was named "Second Team" selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1997

• Finished third in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won fourth Kings Royal event.
• Won five WoO feature events, earned 44 top-five finishes and 63 top-10 finishes in 70 starts.
• Started 20th and finished 14th in the Indianapolis 500.

1996

• Finished fourth in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won 10 WoO feature events, earned 42 top-five finishes and 52 top-10 finishes in 66 starts.
• Finished 11th in the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series.

1995

• Competed in seven NASCAR Winston Cup events to begin season.
• Won 11th Knoxville Nationals.
• Won first $100,000 Historical Big One at Eldora Speedway.
• Won his 400th career WoO feature event at Santa Maria Speedway on September 23.
• Won 18 WoO feature events, earned 44 top-five finishes and 50 top-10 finishes in 51 starts.
• Finished 11th in the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series.
• Was named an "Honorable Mention" selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1994

• Won his 14th World of Outlaws championship.
• Won 10th Knoxville Nationals.
• Won International Race of Champions (IROC) event at Talladega Superspeedway.
• Won 29 WoO feature events, earned 60 top-five finishes and 63 top-10 finishes in 66 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1993

• Won his 13th World of Outlaws championship.
• Won ninth Knoxville Nationals.
• Won 19 WoO feature events, earned 54 top-five finishes and 59 top-10 finishes in 66 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1992

• Won his 12th World of Outlaws championship.
• Won eighth Knoxville Nationals.
• Won 31 WoO feature events, earned 58 top-five finishes and 65 top-10 finishes in 73 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1991

• Won his 11th World of Outlaws championship.
• Won seventh Knoxville Nationals.
• Won third Kings Royal event.
• Won his 300th career WoO feature event at San Jose Speedway on September 27.
• Won 35 WoO feature events, earned 57 top-five finishes and 64 top-10 finishes in 64 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1990

• Won his 10th World of Outlaws championship.
• Won eighth Gold Cup of Champions.
• Won 27 WoO feature events, earned 57 top-five finishes and 61 top-10 finishes in 67 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1989

• Participated in only eight World of Outlaws events, competing primarily with the United Sprint Association.
• Won 23 feature events, earned 65 top-five finishes and 69 top-10 finishes in 74 starts.
• Was named an "Honorable Mention" selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1988

• Won his ninth World of Outlaws championship.
• Won sixth Knoxville Nationals.
• Won second Kings Royal event.
• Won 27 WoO feature events, earned 50 top-five finishes and 54 top-10 finishes in 59 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1987

• Won his eighth World of Outlaws championship.
• Won fifth Knoxville Nationals.
• Won 24 of the final 26 WoO races including his sixth Gold Cup Race of Champions en route to a record 56 overall wins.
• Won 18 WoO feature events, earned 41 top-five finishes and 47 top-10 finishes in 54 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1986

• Won his seventh World of Outlaws championship.
• Won fourth Knoxville Nationals.
• Won 46 WoO feature events, earned 65 top-five finishes and 67 top-10 finishes in 69 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1985

• Won his sixth World of Outlaws championship.
• Won third Western World Championship.
• Won 15 WoO feature events, earned 41 top-five finishes and 47 top-10 finishes in 53 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.

1984

• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Short Track.
• Won first $50,000 Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway.
• Won 19 WoO feature events, earned 39 top-five finishes and 43 top-10 finishes in 45 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – At Large.

1983

• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – At Large.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – At Large.
• Won his 100th career WoO feature event at Big H Speedway on April 20.
• Won 18 WoO feature events, earned 38 top-five finishes and 41 top-10 finishes in 46 starts.
• Won 18 WoO feature events, earned 38 top-five finishes and 41 top-10 finishes in 46 starts.

1982

• Finished second in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won third Knoxville Nationals.
• Won 13 WoO feature events, earned 31 top-five finishes and 34 top-10 finishes in 37 starts.
• Won first Western World Championship at Manzanita Speedway.

1981

• Finished third in World of Outlaws championship standings.
• Won second Knoxville Nationals (final non-wing championship race).
• Won 23 WoO feature events, earned 49 top-five finishes and 52 top-10 finishes in 57 starts.
• Won 23 WoO feature events, earned 49 top-five finishes and 52 top-10 finishes in 57 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – Open Wheel.

1980

• Won his third World of Outlaws championship.
• Won first Knoxville Nationals.
• Won 28 WoO feature events, earned 54 top-five finishes and 58 top-10 finishes in 62 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – At Large.

1979

• Won his second World of Outlaws championship.
• Won 23 WoO feature events, earned 43 top-five finishes and 47 top-10 finishes in 52 starts.
• Was named a First Team selection on the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association All-America Team – At Large.

1978

• Won the inaugural World of Outlaws championship.
• Won first WoO feature event at Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, Ohio) on May 21.
• Won first Gold Cup Race of Champions at West Capitol Speedway.
• Won 10 WoO feature events, earned 20 top-five finishes and 22 top-10 finishes in 31 starts.