Wednesday, March 3, 2004 | 10:07 a.m.
All the stars were lined up for Steve Kinser to make a little history at the World of Outlaws sprint series stop at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Thursday and Friday night.
But that was before the retaining wall and Mother Nature got in the way.
Kinser, reverently known as "The King of the Outlaws," was just 2 1/2 laps from victory No. 499 of his illustrious career Saturday night at Lake Perris, Calif., when his car hit the wall on the back straight, causing a flat tire and ultimately a crash that removed the 18-time series champion from contention.
Any thoughts of LVMS being the scene of Kinser's milestone victory were further deflated by torrential rains that postponed Tuesday night's Outlaws card at Hanford, Calif.
So unless he experiences the longest dry spell of his extraordinary career and is forced to come back in the fall for No. 500, it won't happen here. But suffice it to say that Kinser bagging No. 499 at LVMS is a distinct possibility.
"Las Vegas has been good to me," he said. "We have won some big races there and celebrated a few championships there, too. It's a great track and a great city. I think everyone associated with the World of Outlaws enjoys coming to Las Vegas."
Kinser enjoyed coming here a little more in 2002, when he swept the spring and fall races, than he did last year, when he finished 13th and third behind the wheel of the familiar green No. 11 Quaker State car, which he also owns.
He heads to Las Vegas third in points after three races, which in the WoO is like the top of the first inning. The barnstorming "Fastest Show on Dirt" will run close to 100 races before crowning its champion.
Kinser plans to be at most if not all of them. At 48, and despite having opportunities in other forms of motor racing, he is showing no signs of slowing down.
"I watched my father race and I've had a love for racing my whole life," he said. "Growing up, I knew I was going to race cars, and I've been fortunate enough to be able to make a living doing it. I'm having as much fun now as I have my whole career. I don't want to quit. I'd just as soon go ahead and keep racing."
As for NASCAR or Indy-car racing, he's tried both. If you could do them on dirt, he might be more interested.
Nothing against Indianapolis and Daytona, but Kinser prefers to go 'round in circles at Knoxville, Iowa. He's won the Knoxville Nationals, the Super Bowl of sprint car racing, an unprecedented 12 times.
But if you don't think he's capable of going fast on pavement, guess again. Kinser finished 14th at the 1997 Indy 500 and was running ninth with just 12 laps to go when he crashed. And he also has shown some ability in the hard tops, winning an IROC (International Race of Champions) event at Talladega in 1994 in just his third start.
"I've had opportunities to drive other kinds of cars and opportunities to fly with the Blue Angels jets," said Kinser, who still makes his home in Bloomington, Ind. "But there's nothing more exciting and fun than fighting a sprint car around a little bullring, a half-mile or a mile track, with a wing or without a wing.
"A sprint car is an animal all its own that has given me a lot of leisure over the years. Second to having my family, my wife and kids, it's been the biggest love of my life."
Tickets for the World of Outlaws are scaled from $25 to $35. Kids are half-price. Racing begins at 6 p.m. both nights. For tickets, call 644-4444 or visit LVMS.com.
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