MOTORSPORT: King hangs up Nomex, kinda

Steve Kinser has dominated World of Outlaws in a way that few athletes have dominated their sport. His record of 20 WoO championships and 12 Knoxville National titles may go unchallenged for decades.

Kinser at the end of this season will retire from World of Outlaws, but by his own definition of retirement he’ll still race in chosen events.

At 60, with a few greys and a veranda over the beltline, he’s still damn fast with a steering wheel in hand or with a pen. He’s the fans’ favourite and will be missed.

“I saw the world racing a sprint car,” he said at a recent meeting after walking from his trailer to talk with the fans standing several deep, then signing autographs until everyone has shared a minute with the legend. “And that’s not bad for a kid from Bloomington, Indiana.”

Kinser started travelling to Australia in the late 1970s and was soon followed Down Under by many American drivers including Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. Their influence cannot be ignored by the current generation of Aussie drivers.

“I ran borrowed equipment then started shipping my own equipment to Australia for the summer months,” he recalls. “It was great fun, good beer and we eventually bought cars to drive across the continent and see the country.”

“I’d like to go back to Australia,” he admits, but won’t confirm plans. If you’re a poker player, you can bet Kinser is probably holding a pair of airline tickets.

Ultimately, Kinser will be remembered for his skill and ability to win, but how does he compare to other drivers?

John Force tallied 16 NHRA Top Fuel national drag racing titles, Giacomo Agostini earned 15 world grand prix motorcycle championships and Spaniard Angel Nieto won 13 world titles on two wheels. So even in retirement, he’s sitting on the sofa in pole position.