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42-553: Notable former drivers in the NST included 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser (Steve Kinser Racing), Danny Lasoski (Roth Motorsports), and Tim Kaeding (Previously Steve Kinser Racing). Lasoski won the inaugural NST championship. In 2003, changes in sprint car racing began when Boundless Motorsports, a Texas-based organization, had purchased the leading organization of dirt-track modifieds, Drivers Independent Race Tracks ("DIRT"), from Glenn Donnelly. Boundless stated their goal

84-519: A VW -powered Midget (called a Speedcar in Australia) and won the 38th Australian Speedcar Grand Prix at Sydney 's Liverpool City Raceway . Kinser began touring Australia in 1979, before returning many times during the 1980s and 1990s, generally teaming with his brother Randy in Gambler chassis Sprint cars distinctively sponsored by cigarette companies, including the black and gold of JPS , and

126-520: A 2006 schedule, the schedule had only 45 dates. There was intense speculation in October 2006 about the future of the series. The NST had not announced a racing schedule for 2007, and most of the prominent industry promoters decided to sanction World of Outlaws events. Prominent drivers Danny Lasoski and Steve Kinser announced that they would be racing full time with the World of Outlaws beginning with

168-591: A 26-year-old rookie, Kinser failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 when his month was ended by a practice crash. He returned in 1997 driving a Dallara - Oldsmobile , where he qualified 20th and finished 14th after a late race accident in Turn 4. It was his only Indy Racing League start. During his many tours of Australia racing Sprint cars, Kinser won many feature races and drew large crowds wherever he raced, but on January 4, 1986 he swapped his Sprinter for

210-560: A Late Model series in 1988, with the first race held at the speedway. The inaugural event was won by Larry Phillips. Notable Drivers: Lynn Paxton, Keith Kauffman , Doug Wolfgang , Bobby Davis Jr, Jim Nace, Van May, Bobby Allen Notable Races: National Open, Summer Nationals, Twin 20s, Early Bird Championship Racing at the speedway saw a new youth movement. Now familiar names like Kreitz, Rahmer, Shaffer and Dewease were just beginning to find victory lane, but were doing it nearly every week. The popularity and following of sprint car racing in

252-516: A best finish of 27th at Rockingham along with 3 DNF's and 2 DNQ's. His family is also involved in racing, as his younger brother Randy Kinser and cousins Kelly Kinser and Mark Kinser , who was also a championship winning driver on the World of Outlaws circuit. His son Kraig Kinser races for Steve Kinser Racing in the number 11k World of Outlaws sprint car. Kraig won the 2005 Knoxville Nationals . He has two other children, Stevie and Kurt. His second cousin, once removed Sheldon Kinser competed in

294-432: A generational shift in racing from open wheel to flathead-powered "fendered" cars. Big cars were still a very popular attraction on select Sunday afternoons, but Jalopy Stocks became the weekly division on Fridays. These pre-war coupe's flathead engines were quickly replaced by OHV (overhead valve) power plants as post-war auto production increased and renamed Modified Stocks. Stock Cars also made numerous appearances including

336-570: A handful of appearances on Saturday’s in the first few years of the series. Sunday Enduros were held once a month throughout most of the decade. In 2008, speedway owner Morgan Hughes died. He left the speedway to his family for his daughter, Kathleen, to run. Notable Drivers: Fred Rahmer, Don Kreitz Jr., Lance Dewease, Keith Kauffman , Todd Shaffer, Greg Hodnett, Chad Layton, Pat Cannon, Cory Haas, Frankie Herr, Mike Lehman Notable Races: National Open, Summer Nationals, Mitch Smith Memorial, Twin 20s, Triple 20s, Early Bird Championship The new decade saw

378-526: A major evolution of the dirt track racing centered in Central Pennsylvania. The Flathead-powered coupes of the 1950s gave way to Modified stock cars and their more powerful engines proved a boon to The Grove with its long straightaways and tight turns Originally built on stock frames, the full-sized prewar coupe-bodied Modifieds were powered by OHV V8 engines. Drivers like Bobby Hersh and Johnny Mackison Sr. were frequent visitors to victory lane in

420-579: Is a half-mile dirt racing track located in Mechanicsburg , Pennsylvania , United States . The speedway opened on May 21, 1939, it has been owned by the Hughes family for over 50 years and has hosted many of the most notable national touring series and some of those most prestigious races in the country. The speedway is entering its 81st year of operation, with racing every Friday from March to October and other special events. One of these special events

462-570: Is the $ 75,000 to win National Open for sprint cars sanctioned by the World of Outlaws racing series held in late September or early October each year. In late 1937, car owner at that time, Emmett Shelley convinced Williams Grove Park Owner Roy Richwine to build a speedway across the street from the park and on May 21, 1939, Williams Grove Speedway held its first race. The race was won by Tommy Hinnershitz . The speedway ran "big car" races under

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504-506: The American Automobile Association (AAA) sanction as well as select American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Pro Flat track races in its first few years of operation. In 1942, the speedway halted operation due to World War II until after its completion in 1945. In 1947, a year after the continuation of racing, major improvements at the speedway were made including lighting for night racing, a pedestrian tunnel at

546-527: The CART series and raced in the Indianapolis 500 six times. Steve is the son of Bob Kinser . Steve's third cousin Karl Kinser (Mark Kinser's father) was Steve's car owner 1978 to 1994, and was crew chief for Steve and Randy's cars on their frequent tours to Australia in the 1980s. Karl has been the winning car owner and mechanic for 16 World of Outlaws championships and 12 Knoxville Nationals wins. Karl

588-593: The International Race of Champions , winning a race at Talladega Superspeedway in 1994 . That year he also finished a career best 6th in IROC points. In 1995 Kinser landed a NASCAR Winston Cup Series ride as drag racing legend Kenny Bernstein hired Kinser to drive his No. 26 Quaker State Ford , but after the first 7 races of 1995, Kinser was released and replaced by Hut Stricklin after posting no wins and no top tens with an average finish of 35.2 and

630-722: The Knoxville Nationals a record 12 times, the Gold Cup Race of Champions 12 times, and the Kings Royal at Eldora 7 times. He won twenty WoO championships and 690 "A" features (including full-field preliminary night wins). He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2005. He has been described as the best sprint racer ever by both columnists and even his rivals. In August 2016, Kinser retired from Sprint Car racing. In 1981,

672-697: The NASCAR Grand National division in 1954. On the open wheel side, sanctioning changed from AAA to the newly formed United States Auto Club (USAC) in 1956. Champ Cars ran at the speedway yearly until 1959 for the Indianapolis Sweepstakes race. AMA Motorcycles and Midgets were also recurring divisions throughout the 1950s. Notable Drivers: Tommy Hinnershitz , Johnny Thomson , Johnny Mackison Sr., Dick Tobias Notable Races: Horn/Schindler Memorial, NASCAR Grand National, Indy Sweepstakes, Midget 100 Lap Championship The 1960s saw

714-596: The Williams Grove Speedway , Steve became the oldest driver ever to win a World of Outlaws main event at the age of 57, although this record would be broken in May of 2021 when Dave Blaney won the World Of Outlaws feature race at Sharon Speedway at age 58. He became a World of Outlaws driver in 1978. In 1987, he won 46 features, including 12 in a row, and 24 of the last 26 events. He has won

756-545: The World of Outlaws (WoO) series. Kinser left the World of Outlaws in 2006 to compete with the National Sprint Tour series, but returned to the World of Outlaws for the 2007 season. ESPN named him 25th on their top drivers of all-time in 2008. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2017. Kinser was a high school wrestler . He finished second in state as a junior, and

798-478: The 1970s, modern Sprint Car racing and Late Models were the weekly divisions along with Midgets, Street Stocks and Limited Late Models making routine appearances throughout the decade. In 1972, 4 July weekend Jim Adams won both features of a double header in a Late Model Friday night and another win Saturday night at Selinsgrove for three feature wins in 24 hours. By 1970, Jack Gunn was in his 3rd year of promoting

840-410: The 1980s, more drivers were migrating to the area and the local talent was arguably at its best. Each week was a "who’s-who" of sprint car racing. With the newly formed World of Outlaws making regular appearances at the speedway and claiming to have the best talent in sprint car racing, a new rivalry was beginning. Through this, the term "Pennsylvania Posse" was coined for the regular sprint car drivers at

882-624: The 2007 season. The World of Outlaws announced it would be nationally broadcast on the Speed Channel and ESPN2 in 2007. NST announced over the 2006-2007 offseason that it would fold as a national tour, while selling its remaining Northwest-based tour, now the Northwest Sprint Challenge Series. Steve Kinser Dennis Steven Kinser (born June 2, 1954), nicknamed "The King" , is a former professional sprint car racing driver. He has won 20 championships in

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924-586: The Sprint Car touring divisions, the All-Star Circuit of Champions and World of Outlaws , which would add even bigger races to the speedway’s schedule. Notable Drivers: Kenny Weld, Mitch Smith, Smokey Snellbaker, Kramer Williamson , Bobby Allen , Lynn Paxton, Jan Opperman , Steve Smith, Gary Snellbaker, Bobby Goodling, Ed Spencer Notable Races: National Open, Horn/Schindler Memorial, Summer Nationals, Twin 25s, Williams Grove Late Model 100 In

966-591: The WoO name and big block modified racing, and began signing teams to a new concept where a set number of teams would appear at every race, earning special bonuses (the "Mean 15" for the Sprint Car Series). In September 2006, under new management DIRT announced that it was moving its headquarters to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2007. Some drivers were angered by WoO's contract with The Outdoor Channel television contract being unfriendly to some contestants given

1008-408: The area led to a plea for more racing which meant an earlier start to the season. Late February/early March races were being scheduled, which allowed more drivers out of the area to come into town before their season would naturally begin. The depth of weekly talent at each area speedway led to the formation of Pennsylvania Speedweek in 1991, a week-long series of higher paying races as a way to showcase

1050-415: The best drivers in the region. Williams Grove held the first race in the series on July 3, 1991 which was won by Steve Smith. 358 sprint cars were now a very promising division, drawing large car counts and acting as a development division for the 410 sprint cars. Late Models were having less weekly races at the speedway in large part because of the growing 358 sprint car division, but had a large presence when

1092-481: The bodywork while Bobby Abel built a tube-framed Bug that weighed only 1200 pounds. The modern tubular framed integrated roll cage Sprint car emerged from these and similar developments and that basic design has now dominated both dirt and pavement racing for more than 50 years. On October 20, 1963, the "Biggest Race in the East," The National Open was born. Eventual two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Gordon Johncock would be

1134-491: The early 1960s. By 1963, the Modifieds continued to evolve, now with still-recognizable stock bodies which had been narrowed, chopped and lightened. In 1964 the first Bugs (30 x 90 frames) Super Modifieds appeared. These featured drastically cut-down and sometimes custom bodies on narrowed stock frames. Kenny Weld shortly built a Modified for Bob Weikert featuring light torsion bar front suspension and down-force wings as part of

1176-594: The end of the 'big block' Sprint cars which, with a nod from Gambler frames, were king at The Grove until Ted Johnson threatened a boycott of Williams Grove if his Outlaws had to compete with the 520 ci aluminium engines used by the PA Posse's top teams. The main division would become 410 ci Sprint cars with aluminium blocks for national touring series but, for a time, PA's local racers were limited to iron block motors for local weekly racing. A new weekly attraction, 358 sprint cars, were added in 1989. The World of Outlaws began

1218-784: The entrance to turn one and the "famous" bridge across the backstretch. In 1949, the American Championship Car Racing National Championship would make an appearance, drawing a large crowd in a race won by Johnny Mantz . At the end of the 1940s the National Roadster Championships were held at the speedway, which would help greatly influence the future of racing in the next decade. Notable Drivers: Tommy Hinnershitz , Ted Horn , Joie Chitwood , Jimmy Chann Notable Races: AAA East National Championship, Indy Sweepstakes, National Roadster Championship The 1950s saw

1260-573: The first winner of the Open. Ray Tilley would obtain a record that is still in place today by first winning 17 races in 1965 and then breaking his own record with 21 wins in 1966. The late 1960s saw another evolution in racing at The Grove, with the switch to a weekly program of Sprint cars. Late Models were also a featured division for a few years Notable Drivers: Ray Tilley, Bobbie Adamson, Mitch Smith, Bobby Hersh, Johnny Mackison Notable Races: Horn/Schindler Memorial, National Open, Spring Championship In

1302-732: The limited exposure provided by the Outdoor Channel. Noted driver Danny Lasoski mentioned the lack of media coverage since MTV's mistreatment of the World of Outlaws (see American Speed Association ). In late 2005, the Richard Petty Driving Experience attempted to organize a rival tour to the Outlaws, and gained support from Tony Stewart . While this effort failed, Brownfield Promotions, a Northwest-based track owner and sanctioning body of lower-level sprint cars in that region, assumed control and contracts of

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1344-497: The most events in the history of the speedway with two nights of racing throughout most of the season. The Saturday Night Series had expanded to a 15+ race schedule. In May 2011, to expand the rivalry formed between the World of Outlaws and Pennsylvania Posse, the Morgan Cup challenge was formed. The winning faction (World of Outlaws or Williams Grove Speedway) of the race was given the Morgan Cup trophy to keep at their facility for

1386-539: The names of Ray Tilley, Lynn Paxton and Mitch Smith for spots on the All-Time win list. In 2006, the speedway expanded its racing program to two nights a week to incorporate the continuation of racing divisions from the closing Silver Springs Speedway. While most of the divisions from the former speedway had raced previously at Williams Grove, the "Saturday Night Series" officially began on April 15, 2006. The Super Sportsman, 358 Late Models, Street Stocks and 4 Cylinders made

1428-493: The national touring series STARS made their yearly appearance. Notable Drivers: Don Kreitz Jr., Lance Dewease, Keith Kauffman , Todd Shaffer, Billy Pauch , Fred Rahmer, Cris Eash, Jeff Shepard, Mike Lehman Notable Races: National Open, Summer Nationals, Twin 20s, Early Bird Championship, Mitch Smith Memorial Most records were broken in the new century, not only because the cars were getting faster but also because Fred Rahmer, Lance Dewease and Don Kreitz Jr., were now surpassing

1470-477: The sky blue and white Commodore brand. In 1985/86, Steve Kinser headlined a four driver tour of Australia which included his brother Randy and cousins Mark and Kelly. The JPS sponsored Kinser's virtually cleaned-up on their 1985/86 Australian tour, winning races at the major speedways in the country against Australia's best drivers including multiple Australian Champions Garry Rush, George Tatnell and Max Dumesny . Kinser has been selected several times to compete in

1512-454: The speedway to signify that there was a "new sheriff in town." While drivers such as Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell were tearing up the national scene, Central Pennsylvania proved to house the toughest challengers. The names of Lynn Paxton, Bobby Davis Jr., Keith Kauffman and Bobby Allen among others, were leveling the playing field. The 1980s also brought on the classification of sprint car racing by engine size. Unfortunately, it also spelled

1554-415: The speedway. He was instrumental in bringing the best talent to the area to race each week, many who decided to stay and call Central Pennsylvania home. In 1972, new ownership came to the speedway when Morgan Hughes came from New Jersey to purchase the park and speedway. The Hughes family is just the second family to ever own the famed speedway. The 1970s also brought a new era into racing with the formation of

1596-587: The stillborn Petty tour, renamed it the National Sprint Tour, and began its 2006 season. Fred Brownfield was killed in June 2006, and with the series future in question, its assets were sold in early July to three team owners in order to finish the 2006 season-- Don Lamberti and Lonnie Parsons (#6 Casey's General Store), Guy Stockbridge (#14 Elite Racing), and Steve Kinser (#11 Quaker State) for $ 250,000. Since Brownfield had only 2 months to put together

1638-668: The year. In 2013, the All-Time winningest driver at the speedway, Fred Rahmer retired after winning his first National Open. In 2015, the National Open was expanded into a 3-day event, making it one of the richest events in sprint car racing. Notable Drivers: Fred Rahmer, Greg Hodnett, Don Kreitz Jr., Lance Dewease, Kevin Nouse, Frankie Herr, Gene Knaub Notable Races: National Open, Summer Nationals, Morgan Cup; Mitch Smith Memorial, Twin 20s, Early Bird Championship The speedway has had numerous races broadcast on national television. It has been featured in many books, magazines and documentaries. It

1680-573: Was a state champion wrestler as a senior. Both of his sons also wrestled in high school. His youngest son Kurt, won the Indiana state tournament as a senior as well, capping off the Bloomington High School South team's excellent season. Kurt wrestled at Indiana University , competing at the 149 and 157-pound weight classes, and later became a professional mixed martial artist . After Kinser's win on Saturday May 12, 2012 at

1722-492: Was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame . Even though Karl is his third cousin, Steve Kinser often joked to reporters that the pair weren't really related. ( key ) ( Bold  – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics  – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ) ( key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Williams Grove Speedway Williams Grove Speedway

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1764-402: Was to consolidate dirt track racing of all classes to provide consistent rule and equipment standards and to create a national platform for this popular grass roots sport. In August 2003, Ted Johnson announced the sale of the World of Outlaws to Boundless. After the sale, Boundless (now known as DIRT Motorsports) completed a series of acquisitions of race tracks and added late model racing under

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