BUFFALO TWP - Three down, 517 to go.

Kraig Kinser, 20, has a long way to go to approach the legendary status of his father in World of Outlaws Sprint car racing circles.

But he is out from under Steve Kinser's formidable shadow - and he admits it feels good basking in his own spotlight.

"I don't mind at all growing up a Kinser in this sport," Kraig Kinser said. "I was practically born into racing. They've been bringing me to the track since I was a baby."

Kraig Kinser owns three World of Outlaws wins, grabbing his first on Aug. 31, 2004, with his No. 11K car, passing his father, who finished second, to do it.

But Steve Kinser won his 520th career Outlaw feature at Lernerville Speedway last Saturday. He also owns 19 Outlaw points championships.

He will turn 51 next week, but shows no signs of slowing down. The elder Kinser has seven Outlaws feature wins this year and had 100 such wins on his resume before his son was born.

"You can still see the fire in his eyes, the passion he has for Sprint racing," his son said. "Everybody's equipment at this level is pretty much equal. The will to win isn't.

"Dad just hates to lose. He's such a competitor. I'm hoping some of that rubs off on me."

It already has.

Kraig Kinser won the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year award on the Outlaws circuit last year, finishing seventh in points and packaging 17 top-five and 34 top-10 finishes with his first career Outlaws feature win.

So far this year, he ranks fourth in points and picked up career wins Numbers 2 and 3 on consecutive April nights in Indiana.

NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne had talked about putting young Kinser in several USAC Silver Crown events this year. That would have marked the first time he had raced on asphalt.

"Those plans have been put on hold for now," Steve Kinser said. "Kraig's program is getting better and better. He wants to keep pursuing the Sprint game and it's a good decision."

Kraig Kinser graduated from high school in 2002 - and finished 15th in the Outlaws points race in 2003.

He's been racing a Sprint car since he was 16.

"It's tough when you're still in school, though," the young Kinser said. "You can't really travel anywhere, so you're limited in how many series events you can run.

"The only way you get competitive in this series is by consistently running this series."

Kinser won the first feature he ran in the Great Lakes Outlaw Sprint Series in 2002 and won five features in that series that season - more than any other driver.

The series is a regionalized Sprint program Kinser wishes there was more of.

"It's a great way to get seat time," he said. "That series helped me tremendously and I know it's helped other guys. Not everybody can travel from coast to coast all the time."

Gary Dubois is a member of young Kinser's pit crew and has worked with the Kinser family race team for 12 years. Father and son pit side by side on race nights.

"There are a lot of similarities between the two," Dubois said. "They have the same driving style, the same ability to get through traffic.

"Kraig's having a breakthrough year. I think he's gonna be the next big driver in this series, I really do.

"What's made the biggest difference for him? … He decided this is what he wants to do for a living," Dubois added.

Kinser might never make the transformation to asphalt racing.

"If I stay with the Outlaws, doing what I'm doing right now, that's fine with me," Kinser said. "I love this.

"I won't be like my Dad, though. I won't win that many and I won't race that long. I doubt anybody will."