Kraig Kinser (Credit: Tony Stewart Racing)
Former Knoxville Nationals champion Kraig Kinser has been released from his contract with Tony Stewart Racing, according to a statement from the team. Kinser spent the past two seasons at Tony Stewart Racing after returning to the World of Outlaws following a two-year sabbatical while he pursued a career in NASCAR, serving as the No. 2 driver behind four-time series champion Donny Schatz.
“Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) has decided to move in another direction for the upcoming 2010 racing season and replace driver Kraig Kinser,” said the statement. “The decision to make a change was not reached lightly, as Kraig has exemplified outstanding character during his time with Tony Stewart Racing and has been a great asset in representing our partners and the TSR brand. At this time, a driver has not been named as Kinser’s replacement. Tony Stewart Racing will make an announcement in the coming weeks.”
Expectations were high when Kinser joined Tony Stewart Racing at the start of the 2008 season. Kinser had been named World of Outlaws series Rookie of the Year in 2004 after winning his first career feature at Cottage Grove Speedway in Oregon and finishing seventh in points. The biggest win in his career came in 2005, when he won the Knoxville Nationals to join his dad Steve as the only father-son combination to win the race.
However, Kraig Kinser struggled as the secondary driver in his two seasons with Tony Stewart Racing. He was winless in 2009 after winning twice in 2008, finishing eighth in World of Outlaws points while only finishing inside the Top 10 in 10 of the 62 series races he entered this past season.
At the World of Outlaws World Finals in early November, Tony Stewart Racing announced that Jessica Zemken will be driving a team car in national 360 and 410 races in 2010, including select All Star Series and World of Outlaws races.
UPDATE: Kraig Kinser told Examiner.com on Friday that his plans for the 2010 season were up in the air.
"I really don't have much to comment on. It was a great two-year opportunity and I'm happy for all the time that Tony gave me at TSR," he said. "It's only been a few days since (leaving TSR), so we're just seeing what's going on for next year and hope to have a plan at the start of the year."
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