STEVE KINSER- Rivalries, Friendships, Marriage and Retirement. Life Wisdom with Humility and Humor
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- From racing to a more personal side of Steve Kinser, we go from Sammy Swindell to son Craig Kinser, dedication to crews, rivals, friendships, every type of car and track. Life after retirement and thoughts on today's racing. Thank you for your support and feel free to share!
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#karlkinser #indianapolismotorspeedway #cart #openwheel #usac #craigkinser #bloomingtonspeedway #racinglegends #racingchamps #kenschrader #racingtrophies #racingshops #racecars #racers #racetracks #checkeredflag #SteveKinser #DanaKinser #Sammy Swindell #usac #indy500 #worldofoutlaws #nascar #indianapolismotorspeedway #racingmusclememory
The world is a better place with Steve Kinser. Class Act, humble, soft spoken, and friendly. Thanks so much for doing this series.
You're welcome Chuck; thanks for watching...HMM
Lol we pitted next to him in Arizona and yes top notch but he did have a grumpy spot too lol
@@dustyceradsky2967 I like to call it 'focused!" Thanks! HMM
Steve Kinser was so approachable one day in the pits. His wife offered to take a photo of Steve with my wife and then with us both. Thanks for being the wonderful people and racers that you are. So humble always.
boy his wife was "HOT" back in the day!
Thats for sure he would always take time out to say hello with my Dad and I. Very nice guy indeed. 👍
We traveled to Las Vegas from Fairbanks Alaska To watch Steve I had one of his Tee Shirts until 2016 would still have it if I didn’t wear it so much. Between our families we had 35 people. God Bless you all.
Wow...long haul award for you and yours! Did you fly to LV from Alaska? Thanks for your feedback. HMM
Steve and Sammy were so much fun to watch even if they were running in the back they would race each other so hard
Steve Kinser thanks for setting the example as a champion for the younger generation I've enjoyed watching you and the outlaws the saying right you are the greatest sprint car driver ever
I agree on S. Kinser being the GOAT. Thanks John...HMM
Thats why i love Steve! "I lean on Sammy more then any driver"
#TheKing 🏁
Gotta love the GOAT! Thanks Dan...HMM
Saw him run many times at lernerville back in the good old days but will never forget watching eldora race on TV mid ninety's when his throttle stuck and hit the wall at 140 mph. Nothing left from firewall forward, motor laying on the track, he climbed out looked at the car stretched a little bit and walked back to the pits.
The King is the ultimate badass in sprint car racing...that won't change. Thanks for your feedback, Kevin. HMM
Had the great pleasure of watching Steve battle Wolfgang and Swindell many times with the Pennsylvania Posse ! Great times !!
Great times! Thanks dave...HMM
I took a vintage Steve Kinser tee shirt to Knoxville last year to have Steve sign it and somehow or another I lost it in the stands. It was from the 80’s and had a gold King Crown on it. Whoever found it I hope you’re enjoying it !!
Wow...cool story. You'll never forget that shirt...the one that got away. Thanks...HMM
Awesome series.. I grew up in the Kinser dominant era and had so many great drivers then . Steve will always be the greatest wheelman of my lifetime.
Thanks again, Joe. S. Kinser's the GOAT!
Great series of interviews. Never met Steve but seen him race many times. The man has a genuine humbleness and no nonsense attitude. Especially liked the props he gave Karl Kinser in the second part. Well done as always my friend.
Thanks for your support...I appreciate you. HMM
When I was a kid watching World of Outlaws in Terre Haute Indiana (prob 30 years ago) , Steve got caught up in a crash first lap of the A-main and flipped. They towed his car into the pits. After the race we went to see his car and they were making repairs to get it into the trailer. The front wing was damaged and laying on the ground. I asked one of the crew members if they were going to throw it out , I asked if the weren't if i could have it. They went over to Steve and asked him and he came over personally and asked if i wanted him to sign it . Amazing memory and something ill never forget .
That's an awesome story! Do you still have the wing? Thanks...HMM
One Saturday it was raining and I stopped by this cafe on the other side of the road from the race track (decked out in Steve Kinser gear). It was filled with drivers and crew waiting for the rain to stop so I sat at the bar. Next thing I know a couple of people sat beside me and one was Steve. I'm not the star struck kind of person so even though it was cool, I didn't want to bother him... after a few minutes he says, "Hey". I said hey back. He said, "Do you know who I am?" (or something like that). I said something like, yes, you're Steve Kinser. So basically he said to not be scared to talk and I said I wasn't scared, I just didn't want to bother him. So we talked a little and every year when I would come to his trailer him & Stevie remembered me. Good times!
Super interesting, inside story...thanks for sharing it here. HMM
Thanks for all of the wonderful memories Steve.
That's a good question. I thought about asking him about it; but I didn't want to resurrect any potential bad memories for him, but I can understand why you'd wonder. Outside of the "sabotage" theory, the team he was with sucked. Thanks! HMM
My Father loved Steve Kinser and we followed his racing career thru the years. Whenever the Outlaws came up to Skagit Speedway my Father and Mother always tried going tio to these races. Steve Kinser was amazing thats for sure. We saw Kinser go from last place in the A Main to first place in one lap and thats no BS... Thanks Steve for all the memories.
Steve Kinser was/is beyond amazing. His numbers/stats will never be equaled or surpassed. Thanks Steven, for watching! HMM
I still have a right rear from a win from Steve at Lebanon speedway. Watched him ride the cushion in turn 1 and pass 4 cars heading into the backstretch. I'll never forget that for the rest of my life. Steve Kinser grew my passion for motorsports and I am forever grateful for being able to watch him drive.
He's the King! Thanks for watching...HMM
When Steve said that he loved running at Eldora, that kind of hit home for me, as I remember watching him win the 22nd King's Royal there back in 2005. After the race, when he and Tony Stewart went up to the press box so Steve could collect his winnings, my family and I were exiting the grandstands as he and Tony were leaving the press box. I called out to him, trying to get an autograph. Steve turned around and looked right at me. I got star struck, and stupidly waved to him, never getting that autograph. My sister was able to get his autograph on a Gutswear Racing T-shirt. Just the memory of Steve "The King" Kinser waving to me, a 14 year-old kid from Leslie, MI, will stick with me throughout the rest of my life. Thank you, Steve, for waving to me.
But the wave from Kinser is an awesome story, and one you'll always carry with you. Thanks for sharing it here, Kevin. HMM
Thanks for the memories Steve and Dana @ Lernerville 🏁🏆
You're welcome...thanks for watching! HMM
Thank you so much for the interview’s. You do an awesome job.
You're always welcome Judy...good to hear from you again...HMM
I love these videos! I was lucky enough to see Steve win several races in New York from the early ‘90’s until near his retirement. I always enjoyed watching Steve drive and Karl work on the cars during their time together. They were very talented and professional! I hope you are able to get an interview with Doug Wolfgang some day!
I plan to do an interview with Wolfgang in the kinda near future. Thanks for your kind words, Jason...HMM
Will Always be my hero. Glad that I got to meet him and get all of his diecast autograph that will be with me till the day I die. Still wish they would have made that coors light car diecast he raced in a short time. Good too see you interview him. He was nice the first time at Kokomo to let us park at his camper.
Thanks for watching, Kyle...so appreciated. Love your Steve Kinser stories...parking at his camper at Kokomo. That sounds like a book! "Steve Kinser's Camper at Kokomo" HMM
I sure am glad Steve took the time to do this. He redefined the Sport.
Steve set the bar so high; I doubt anyone will ever top it. Thanks Kevin...HMM
I was there the night at Williams Grove when he was put to the rear. The fans were loving it. I turned to my son and told him this will be night you will never forget. The stands were silenced. A night I never ever forgotten
Your words to your son were right on! Would have loved to have been there...for the iconic finish at an iconic track. Thanks for watching, Marie! HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan also I got to see Kraig when he was little walking around the Grove grounds with Dad and sister. I got too meet Kraig 2 years and got his autograph with his Dad in my autograph book. I told him about my memories of his Dad's win and him as a child. He said it's tough to get Steve to a track.
@@mariebeasley1269 Fortunately, I was able to interview Steve about this time last year. The 4-part series is available on my channel...thanks!
Thanks Allen and Steve great stories. Great competitors push each other to greatness. Thanks Don, another great interview. Oh yes, Rockford Files!
And Columbo! Thanks for your support, Mark...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan absolutely
Great piece on Steve...the GOAT...🏎️🏎️🏎️
Thanks again, Jimmy! HMM
The Rockford Files and Columbo! Hell yes!
I'll have to watch some Rockford Files; but Columbo is my favorite! Thanks Don...HMM
STEVE has always been down to earth race car driver.
So humble..thanks James. HMM
I had the privilege to watch Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Jac Haudenschild several times. Steve was one of the best at reading the dirt track conditions. A lot of good Sprint Car racing in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania some good local drivers as well Ed Lynch Jr " The Apollo Rocket " could be an interesting interview as well as Jack Sodeman Sr and Jack Sodeman Jr. Really enjoy your videos.
That's a great idea on Ed Lynch; thanks for sharing that...and thanks for your support, Paul. HMM
I Feel So Luck To Have SEEN Steve Race AT SantaFe Speedway along with Sammy ,and Blaney and On and On ...
Great memories...thanks! HMM
A fantastic series that I enjoyed! Thank you HMM!
Thanks for your support, Janene...HMM
Great interview! Loved watching him wheel a sprint car !
He's the GOAT...kinda like Robbin Slaughter of the ARCA Truck Series.
Fantastic!
So appreciated...HMM
I just watching it again so good 👍
Wow! That's huge..watching it twice! Thanks Nicholas...HMM
I remember seeing Steve race in Australia when I was a kid he just wiped the floor with everyone and he was the only guy running about an inch off of the wall nobody else was getting up that high it was insane to see
That's a cool story...I love it! Still in Australia? Thanks...
@@HistoryMysteryMan yeah still in Australia
Another great video thanks for sharing
Thanks Jim! HMM
Great vid👍👊
One of Steve's greatest wins was at the Denver track, and it was a race that didn't finish until around 3:00 AM. I think Steve may have ended up at the back of the back at least twice or maybe even 3x's. At one point a rock punctured the oil canister in Steve's car. I went from the stands into the pits and asked him somewhat sarcastically if he could win the race. He said he was going to try. There were so many red flags in that race, he finally worked his way up on every restart to eventually win it. All in all, it was a pretty amazing win.
And there are so many stories about Kinser coming from the back to win races; thanks for sharing your story here! HMM
Freekin Awesome 😎
Txs
Thanks Mark...HMM
Another great series
Thanks Ross...HMM
Awesome man!!!
I agree! Thanks Shirley...HMM
The 👑 what a great guy and one of my all time favorites
Mine too...thanks! HMM
Best sprint car race I've ever seen was when cra had a bounty on any non-cra regular to beat them at eldora, non-wing.
I remember that! Pretty sure I was there. I remember Rusty McClure winning the race, at least the one I saw...then Rusty won the next night at Millstream too. Thanks for watching...HMM
Great video!!!
Thanks again, C Porter...HMM
Many many years ago when Steve was still a force to be reckoned with every night they were racing at Hartford Mi at the Wicked 1/2 mile that was craaaaazy fast. So I had seen Steve driving out of a track earlier in the year and I just remembered what his motorcoach looked like. So, it's probably 2 months later and my step brother and I are walking along the road to get in and I happened to notice that The King was pulling his motorcoach in and rolling slowly along with traffic so my step bro and I got down on our knees and started going up and down with our hands extended out like you salute the "The King" Steve had the biggest smile on his face and you could tell he was getting a good laugh out of it. He gave us a big ol' smile and a thumbs-up. It just all fell into place and it turned out to be pretty cool
Peace
Now that's a great story...thanks for sharing it here. Salute to the King! Thanks Rich...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan I am 54 and attended my first dirt sprint car race at Butler Motorspeedway at the age of 4yrs old. I probably remember the things that happened starting around 7-8 yrs old. I can probably get you to the point of telling me to shutup with the stories. LOL I have seen some crazy, crazy things. From a guy flying out of his sprint car as it flipped to watching 2 sprint cars end up stands and guy getting run over by his own sprint car....... try that one out in your brain for a few.
Peace
@@richrinehart1083 I thought being ejected from a sprint car was a thing from the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s...
@@HistoryMysteryMan It was an Outlaw show at Butler Motorspeedway my favorite track. Well they would light the whole place up with 3 100watt light bulbs and 2 were in the bathrooms. So anyway in the old days lighting wasn't all that great and there were definitely some pretty dark spots in between each light. So they go down into turn 3 and this guy who had picked the absolute worst day EVER to make his debut in a what had to be an old pavement sprint car because it never even leaned over. So he is out front and they just swallow him up and into 3 he gets flipping. The first time it rips the top wing off and the second time around he comes flying out of the top of the cage and he is still in the seated position (like you sit in a sprint car) and he lands onto Doug Wolfgangs nose wing. I don't think it hurt the guy but later they said that he had bolted a kids school chair into that car only 1 bolt was still through the chair leg with a nut on it but it was a total disaster. I also watched a younger kid. this is when I was helping on a 410 dirt sprinter. Well we were at the Dealers Choice, the last big week of racing. From Monday to Sunday. 10-12 classes of cars and I am pretty sure that there is close to 450 race cars or even more. So anyway I watch this kid during hot laps and the car stands straight up and plows in every turn. So I walked over and asked very politely if I could give him a hand on the car. At first he was kind like "no man I got this" and then his girlfriend pulled him over and he turn back to me and said...... Ok sure. Man oh man... He had bought someones complete sprint car operation and it was a 410 pavement car.
So with Chuck's (my driver I help with) help he got 4 torsion bars picked out for him and we made some complete wholesale changes to the car and when he came back in after the next hot laps session he was so wound up and he grabbed me and gave me a big ass hug and he said "DUDE!!!, I rode the F'kin cushion all the way around the whole track" He was so funny tellin me every single detail on how he did this and the car did that etc.
That was one of the coolest moments for me.
Peace
Eyes wide open for the next installment Don, looking forward to more 👍
Should be soon...thanks Don. Need some more ideas too...on who's next. Thanks...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan You know, Superduke from Sydney might be someone...
@@donolbers9446 Now there's an idea. I wonder how he's doing. Thanks for that idea Don
Enjoyed this video!
Thanks Beth...so appreciated. HMM
Another great video!
Thanks George! HMM
Amazing interviews.
Thanks again, Robert...HMM
What a great champion…
The King! Thanks for watching...HMM
Steve could make millions mentoring young racers , his knowledge of racing and how to win is something you can only find in an “ old timer “ that’s been there and done that, raced through the innovation period to the production period, and the difference it makes . As always great interview HMM🏁🇺🇸🏁🇺🇸🏁🇺🇸
Thanks again, Pete...always appreciated. HMM
Great video Don as a kinser fan of all the kinser i always thought it wasn't a sprint car race if a kinser wasn't there
Yeah...I miss seeing Steve on the WoO tour. Thanks again, Alan...HMM
Steve Kinser was the Greatest Sprint Car Driver ever; He never refused me a autograph or photo !
He's the GOAT! Thanks Jeffrey...HMM
I like the story of Syracuse the year the woo car was in California, Steve took an old car and some friends to the Moody mile and won it.
Love these stories! Thanks...HMM
Predicting Steve's answer...."I'd say, it'd be hard to argue against that."
They don't make 'em like they used to..... That's all that needs to be said.
I'm buying all of this. Thanks, Terry...HMM
Nice video and waiting for the last one.
Should be soon...thanks Adrian. I'm still going to figure out what kind of car that was behind Karl in his shop. HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan Thank You.
Great American!
I'll buy that! Thanks for watching, Tony...HMM
Steve so funny. Good guy
He's the best! Thanks Nicholas...HMM
Funny Steve brings up the Grove and being sent to the rear it was National Open in 1990 and just recently i asked him about it as i was there that night he was candid as he was pissed which i could see the way he ripped through the field gained a lot more respect from me for sure great guy
Man I would have loved to have been there for that one...thanks Mike! HMM
@@HistoryMysteryManthinking he could only win from the pole man did he put on a driving lesson for the other drivers greatest sprint driver on Earth
@@mikebaxter87 Greatest sprint car driver on earth...I'm buying every bit of that. Thanks again, Mike
The king and always will be the king
The GOAT! Thanks Paul...HMM
He was one of the hottest drivers around
39 years I was born in 82 lol
really cool interview one thing i ve always wanted to ask steve was about his nascar stint cause it seemed to me that someone sabotaged his ride. i ve always wondered his thoughts on that
when is part 5 coming out? these interviews are great.
The final part is coming soon...maybe Thursday or Friday. Thanks for your support...HMM
I've talked to Steve twice at Tulsa Speedway and once at Salina HighBanks Speedway here in Oklahoma...
I would have liked to have listened in on those conversations. Thanks for watching...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan Well he was the same person that he is in these interviews.
Steve was my favorite outlaw driver growing up
Mine too! Thanks for watching...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan thank you for doing these great interviews if you get a chance to get over to Ohio you should do one on gene Lee Gibson the son of the legendary Todd Gibson
@@speedylee69x That's a great idea. I know Gene Lee too, having worked at ARCA full-time for 22 years...when Gene was an ARCA Midget champion. Thanks for watching...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan yeah jeans a great guy Goodwill Man allso. Hope to see more great interviews with these legendary short-track heroes
@@speedylee69x On the way SpeedyLee...thanks again! HMM
I have that same picture on my wall with Sammy and Steve but reversed with Steve on the inside and their both Pulling Willie's
Cool! Thanks for watching...HMM
I have a couple of 1/25 model cars in my collection of Steve. #11 silver bullet sprint car and #26 Quaker state nascar ford. A never produced kit. I bought the kit and decals separately. I wanted to meet Steve when he was in Edmonton but never got close enough
Never knew Steve was in Edmonton. Thanks for watching, Peter...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan the WoO toured up to Canada a few years ago. I was a protégé of Tim Gee, the Canadian outlaw, an old friend of Steve. Unfortunately we weren’t on good terms at the time because I quit to pursue other interests.
@@peterb695 I guess I never realized that the WoO raced in Canada...very cool. Probably be super challenging to make it happen today. Thanks for watching...HMM
Seen a lot of his races.
But the one that stands out was when the CRA came east with their non wing races....the stop at Eldora someone put up a bounty of I think ,$10,000 if someone beat the California racers....Steve and Karl rolled in ...took off the wing.....and before the race when Karl was interviewed he was asked what his chances were....he said the wingless 11 was fast enough to win but he wasn't sure if the driver was up to it....he showed those CRA guys the short way around The Big E
Great story! Thanks for sharing it here! HMM
I can attest to his smoking. After he retired, he bummed more than one cigarette from me while in the pits at Knoxville and Kraig was on the track. Haha
Ha! That's hysterical! Thanks for sharing that story here...HMM
If Karl mounted the right rear on the left front Steve could win with it. They were the best in their time.
lol. Reminds me of the time my uncle did a similar thing at Fremont Speedway in hot laps once.....putting a LR on the LF just to see.
I'll buy this! Thanks...HMM
I grew up at Fremont Speedway! Thanks...HMM
You can buy all of the parts that billyjoejimbob has bought for his car but for some reason he is almost a second faster than you on the stopwatch. It takes a man that can turn the wrenches just enough to have it do what the driver wants and then he also has to sell the changes to the driver. When I was about 11 years old at a 2 day outlaw show and so during the day I was sitting on a right rear tire watching Kieth Kauffman and his crew guy groove and sipe tires for that nights racing and I asked Kieth what the biggest difference between a midget and a sprint car is and he answered me without hesitation and said "A midget goes where you want it to and you kind of just AIM! a sprint car. I'll never forget that. Man that was probably 1979 or 1980 and I think Sammy was driving the Nance house car in a enclosed trailer when I think Steve had the only other enclosed trailer. That's when a world of outlaws show at the Butler speedway by Coldwater, MI would have 45+ sprint cars show up. The 70's and then the wings brought on the 80's when I guy could race a sprint car for $300 dollars a night...... Now its atleast $1000. to pull in the pits and unload. Probably closer to $1500 and they are racing for $2500 $=100 to start the feature.... maybe. Sprint cars should race every night for $5000 to win..... you would get 30 cars or more I
I need to win the lottery and build the baddest dirt track ever.
Peace
Great stories and interesting observations...thanks for sharing them here. The Kauffman story is super cool...he's a great guy by the way. Yeah...the costs...it's a math problem for sure. Thanks Rich...HMM
The King just living a quiet life without a care in the world. What a absolute Legend.
One question I was hoping for is why he does not help Kraig out with the Outlaws ? 🍻👍🏻🇦🇺
How do we know Steve isn't helping? Through advice, contacts, mentorship, money? Just because we might not see Steve at most of Kraig's races, doesn't mean lack of Steve's support. But it would be interesting to delve more into this subject.
@@chuckg6039 Yes you are correct, maybe I worded it wrong. I should Of said, Steve are you involved in any way with Kraigs racing?
Apologies Chuck, and by the way Kraigs name is spelt with a K not a C .
@@geoffpowe5558 Yeap. It's Kraig. My auto spell check did that.
I understand why you'd want to know that. I didn't want to dig too hard into their personal affairs. I have heard that Kraig wants to make it on his own merit...admirable! Thanks...HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan Good call Don to hold short or really personal subjects. I'll support you on that.
I have a question , the terme "hoosiers for the habitant of indianna is pejoratif or no ? ( i am french i learn the english in solo )
Ok so my question is the motors cost 60 now like u said but back when u talking about did you have that top of the line 5 grand motor that the others didn't have and was u in the best equipment at that time
Many back in that day regarded Karl Kinser's equipment as the best. Thanks...HMM
dude dumb questions???? respect the GOAT!
A well known Midwest sprint car owner lost his prized-possession Model A that had belonged to his grandfather in a poker game so don't gamble kids. Steer clear of alcohol too. Not only did he lose his grandfather's' Model A, he lost his life to liver issues. There's a lesson there if you chose to pay attention.
Nascar had Richard Petty
The Outlaws had Steve Kinser
Perfectly said...could not agree more. HMM
I hope he got a better personality then rest of those driver
The bigger question in Bloomington is who isn't a Kinder lol
There are a million of them. Thanks...HMM
He’s working really hard to stay neutral on those personal questions, isn’t he?
Smart guy! Thanks...HMM
You ask some good questions, Don, but you gotta learn to choose and phrase a lot of queries better, to shut up more and let them talk. Too often, you interrupt with some inane comment just as they seem to be ready to expound.
And especially, with guys like Kinser, get him a good mike and/or clean it up in post production! Both are so easy to do. Again, we want to listen to him ... not you!!
We admire the good access you get, and the efforts you go through. Don't blow it!
Thanks for your input/advice. HMM
@@HistoryMysteryMan Thank you for taking my observations with grace, and hope you found value in them ... as intended. You have great access and energy, and your videos will keep these achievers alive, while so many of their predecessors get forgotten with lack of video or print coverage.
@@robertstorck3271 You're welcome Robert. It was good advice. I have a bad habit of interrupting. It started a long time ago when I would get a short answer from someone...and I'd always have to jump in. Now I jump in too much. I'm pretty sure I can fix it! Thanks!
@@HistoryMysteryMan I've found that most being interviewed will respond to silence, and usually will fill it.
If it drags on, I'd hope you could edit some out in post production.
@@robertstorck3271 More good advice...
History Mystery Man,,,, You Are Tops,,, Just Like The King,,,, He's Tops Too,,, The Best Ever,,,