BUFFALO TWP — Talk about climbing the ladder.

Butler resident Mark Angerett Jr. can get no higher in the world of Sprint car racing.

Angerett, 33, is in his first year as a crew member with Steve Kinser, the all-time victory and points championship leader with the World of Outlaws.

“It was strange when I first joined them,” Angerett admitted. “For the first couple of weeks, I was really conscious of saying or doing the wrong thing.

“But they've been great to work with. They've been helpful to me and I've learned a lot.”

Angerett has been in the racing game for 20 years. His godfather is longtime Pure Stock driver Jeff Walters.

“I practically grew up on racing,” Angerett said.

He was previously a member of Butler Sprint driver Brian Ellenberger's crew and was with Ellenberger when the latter decided to run the full WoO series in 2010.

Through three-quarters of that season, Ellenberger decided to leave the series and return home.

“You meet different people when you're running a series because you see the same faces at every race,” Angerett said. “You can build a reputation if you do quality work.”

Angerett wound up getting an offer to join Kraig Kinser's crew on the WoO tour. Kraig Kinser is Steve's son.

“Brian had no problem with my staying with the series and Kraig's team is where I wound up,” Angerett said.

When Mike Kuemper left Steve Kinser's crew to take over as Kraig's crew chief, a rare opening existed on the elder Kinser's race team.

Scott Gerkin, Steve Kinser's crew chief, and Gary DuBois have been on the crew since 1995.

“You don't see much change on crews at this level, especially when the team is successful,” Gerkin said. “You grow comfortable with each other and trust each other.

“You need that continuity as a race team. Stuff needs to be done quickly and needs to be done right.”

The crew had to replace an engine in Kinser's No. 11 car Tuesday night at Lernerville Speedway after replacing one a couple of days earlier.

Gerkin said Angerett was welcomed on board because of his performance with the Kraig Kinser team.

“Mark has a great work ethic and he's a highly intelligent guy,” Gerkin said. “He's fit right in with us. He's been doing a very good job.”

And Kinser, as usual, has been winning.

He entered the 21st annual Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup race this week leading the WoO points race. He has three feature wins on the season and a record 570 in his WoO career to go with 20 points championships.

Angerett mounts and works on the tires of Kinser's car. He does general maintenance work as well and drives the Kinser T-shirt trailer from track to track.

“Whatever they need me to do, I'm here to do,” Angerett said.

“Like in any other business, if you put the time in and excel at what you do, you get noticed by people,” Gerkin said. “That's what happened for Mark. We know we can count on him.”

The team has counted on each other through an extremely hot racing season this summer.

“The last 10 or 12 races, temperatures have been in the mid-90's, if not higher,” Angerett said. “At a recent race in Kansas, the heat index was 112.

“You just stay hydrated and stay with it. This is a team sport and I need to do my job as part of this team.

“I'm working for my idol growing up. It's hard to believe at times. It's been a fantastic experience and I just want to do my share to see that (Kinser) success continue,” Angerett added.