Motorsport: Speedway royalty on grid for WxC Western Springs

Steve Kinser, driver of the #11 Bass Pro Shops. Photo / Getty Images

The "King" is in West Auckland.

American speedway legend Steve Kinser will race a sprintcar at WxC Speedway Western Springs in Auckland tonight as part of his "Salute to the King" New Zealand tour.

The 61-year-old Indiana native has been racing in the famous World of Outlaws sprintcar series for an amazing 36 years, more incredibly though, he has been champion 20 times; a feat earning him the nickname King.

Kinser's never-ending list of motorsport accomplishments features a record 12 victories in the most sought-after sprintcar race in the world, the Knoxville Nationals. He has also raced in Nascar and Indy Car and, in 2008, he was named one of ESPN's top 25 drivers of all time.

Having raced in Australia regularly throughout the 1980s and visited New Zealand once before, Kinser was eager to meet and salute his Kiwi fans on what will be his final overseas tour.

"I have come to New Zealand once before and always wanted to come back," he said. "Hopefully this time I can enjoy a little of the countryside as well as the racing."

Kinser is a well-respected man of few words and very much does his talking on the race track. He is expecting a stiff challenge from the Kiwis, despite the fact many of them will simply be content to have shared the dirt with him.

"Obviously he is named the King for a reason," former New Zealand sprintcar champion Jamie McDonald said of Kinser. "It's a privilege to race with him and certainly winning a race with the likes of Steve in it would be a career highlight.

"We seem to be spoilt in terms of getting to race against the best in the world here at the Springs; and while the New Zealand guys will always struggle as we just don't do anywhere near enough laps compared with the full-time overseas racers, if you get the car right and you're having a good night ... anything is possible."

Kinser will begin his New Zealand tour alongside fellow American Brad Loyet at Western Springs tonight, before travelling to Palmerston North for round two of the Porter Hire International Sprintcar Series on December 1, then returning to Auckland for his final hurrah on December 5.

Tonight's racing will also feature midgets, TQs, F2 midgets and the Kiwi Kidz class. For more information, including online ticketing, visit www.springsspeedway.com.