For Kraig Kinser, the 2008 racing season will be marked by a return to his dirt track racing roots.

With the announcement that Kinser would return to the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Series as part of Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) on Nov. 3, 2007, the three months that preceded the 2008 racing season were a blur for all parties, including driver and team. For the past few seasons, Kinser had been competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck (NCTS) and Nationwide Series (NNS), as well as the Auto Racing Club of America (ARCA) RE/MAX Series. After the reorganization of the former Ginn Racing team, Kinser found himself at a crossroads in his career. After weighing the options, the son of legendary 20-time WoO Sprint Series champion Steve Kinser made the decision to join the TSR team.

“I’m excited about joining forces with such an established team,” Kinser said. “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. I’m also looking forward to working with such a great group of sponsors, as Bass Pro Shops, Chevy and J.D. Byrider have provided us a lot of support heading into the season.”

The talent that Kinser brings to TSR’s racing stables is especially evident to team owner Tony Stewart. The two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) champion was quick to recognize Kinser’s prowess upon announcing that he would drive the No. 20 TSR/Bass Pro Shops/Chevrolet/J.D. Byrider entry.

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Kraig Kinser to our race team,” Stewart said. “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 and Tracy Hines have helped to step up our USAC program, we expect Kraig (Kinser) and his teammate, Donny Schatz, to do the same with our World of Outlaws team this season.”

The 2007 racing season saw Kinser strap into the seats of several different types of race cars, including the Ginn Racing/Morgan-Dollar Motorsports NCTS entry. Making 13 NCTS starts, Kinser also proved to not to have forgotten his dirt racing skills, as he made one Midwest All Stars Series (MASS) start and two All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) Series starts. Quickly returning to his winning ways, Kinser picked up a victory at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway on Sept. 15, 2007, in ASCoC Series competition. As the TSR team makes its way through the 2008 season, Kinser and company will look to find their way into a winning rhythm in the early months of the schedule. More importantly, Kinser and the team will look to mesh their styles into one that will produce consistent results.

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel with my family on the Outlaw tour growing up,” Kinser said. “In doing so, I was able to form a really good relationship with my crew chief, Jimmy Carr. We both know what it takes to win in this series and I think that finding balance with the team as a whole will be our biggest challenge. We’ve got great equipment and a lot of knowledge to work with and I am confident that we’re going to have a good year.”

While Kinser’s young career has spanned several racing series over the past seven years, the winged Sprint car ranks are where he has excelled. In 2000, Kinser made his WoO Sprint Series debut at Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.). He also competed with the Interstate Racing Association (IRA) Series, the WoO Gumout Series and in many non-sanctioned events to make 22 A-main starts. That season, Kinser earned one top-five finish and six top-10 finishes, making a solid impression on the racing community.

In 2001, Kinser made 38 winged Sprint car starts, competing in events with the Great Lakes Outlaw Sprint Series (GLOSS,) the WoO Sprint Series and the ASCoC Series. He earned six top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes while honing his skills. In 2002, he made 46 winged Sprint car starts, and won his first-ever A-main event with the GLOSS Series at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway. Kinser capped off the 2002 season with 15 top-five finishes and 18 top-10 finishes.

The 2003 racing season saw Kinser start 61 winged Sprint car series events, earning 11 top-five finishes and 22 top-10 finishes with several series. In 2004, a 19-year-old Kinser made his first run at the full WoO Sprint Series schedule, earning one victory, 18 top-five finishes and 39 top-10 finishes en route to earning the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award. Kinser’s victory at Cottage Grove (Ore.) Speedway on Aug. 31, 2004, marked his first career WoO Sprint Series victory. He also made his United States Auto Club (USAC) Silver Crown Series debut for Kasey Kahne Racing at Phoenix International Raceway.

The 2005 racing season served as Kinser’s breakout year as he won seven WoO Sprint Series A-main events and an ASCoC Series feature. His biggest victory of the year came in the 45th Annual Knoxville Nationals as Kinser and his father, Steve, became the first father-son duo to have won the prestigious event to date. After being named to the Ginn Racing driver development program and only a few days after his Knoxville triumph, Kinser made his ARCA RE/MAX Series debut at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, where he started on the pole.

On Oct. 1, 2005, Kinser made his second ARCA RE/MAX Series start at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where he won and promptly served notice that he could also be a threat on pavement. The 2005 season also saw Kinser make his Chili Bowl Midget Nationals debut. In 2006, Kinser made 18 NCTS starts, posting a best finish of ninth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Not straying too far from his short-track roots, Kinser also made two WoO Sprint Series starts and one National Sprint Tour Series (NST) start that year.

Kinser and his wife, Danielle, currently reside in Mooresville, N.C., with their infant son, Kash. When not racing, Kinser enjoys hunting, fishing and playing with the family dogs. He also enjoys spending time with Danielle and Kash, who was born in January.