“The King of the Outlaws, Steve Kinser, came to New Zealand for the first time — only to win the shortest feature race of his career.” 2026 marks 20 years since that massive event landed on New Zealand shores. Will it make a comeback? Outlaws VS High Limit, which has more stars? Who would the Kiwis prefer to see here? We take a look back at the huge event and the excitement that the man known as the king was heading down under for ‘The Best Of The Outlaws’, who graced Baypark Speedway
Baypark Speedway etched itself into the history books in 2006 when the “Best of the Outlaws” toured New Zealand and Australia, and most notably, Steve Kinser, one of the most decorated names in world of Sprintcar racing, made his first appearance in New Zealand. But in a twist at Baypark in 2006, no one expected, his highly anticipated feature debut would become the shortest of his career.
Sprintcar fans from across the country packed the Mount Maunganui venue for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Kinser, a multiple World of Outlaws champion, take on local and international competition. Alongside fellow American legends Sammy Swindell and Danny Lasoski, Kinser was headlining the Best of the Outlaws three-night international extravaganza.
But things didn’t go to plan. Baypark’s strict noise curfew, unpredictable weather, and a massive 52-car entry list caused delays and disruptions, particularly on opening night. The Thursday night feature — the one Kinser had qualified on pole for — was suddenly cut to just 10 laps due to time constraints, making it the shortest feature Kinser had ever won in his storied career, and he went on to win 577 in total before retiring in 2016. This also includes 20 World of Outlaw Championships
Despite the anticlimactic opener, up-and-coming American Jason Solwold, would go on to steal the spotlight from the veterans.
Solwold Stuns the Field
Solwold, driving for Carnahan Motorsports, delivered a standout performance over all three nights. With consistent second-place finishes on Thursday and Friday, he cemented his dominance by winning the 40-lap Saturday night A-Main, the only full-distance feature of the weekend.
Brandon Wimmer, a teenager from Indiana, and Australian star Kerry Madsen joined Solwold on the podium across the event’s preliminaries. While Kinser, Swindell, and Lasoski brought the prestige, it was clear the new generation of Outlaws weren’t just there to make up the numbers.
Kiwis gave it everything
While the visiting Americans brought the star power, New Zealand’s Sprintcar elite rose to the occasion. Eight-time national champion Allan Wakeling was in top form, finishing sixth in the Thursday and Friday features and frequently mixing it with the Outlaw heavyweights.
North Shore’s Jamie McDonald impressed early on with a charge into the top six during Saturday’s A-Main before a late-race crash ended his night. Meanwhile, `Te Atatū racer Ossie Sokol became the top-performing Kiwi overall, qualifying for all three A-Mains and claiming a best result of 10th on Saturday.
The Kiwi contingent proved they could hold their own, with multiple drivers transferring through heats and B-Mains to make the final fields. Among the highlights: Kerry Jones won a heat, Andy Gudgeon took out a B-Main, and Wakeling outran Lasoski to finish ahead of the Outlaws ace on Friday night.
Heartbreak and Highs
Saturday night delivered drama, triumph, and heartbreak. Wakeling had worked his way into the top five before mechanical failure ended his campaign. McDonald crashed out shortly after a multi-car tangle involving Joey Saldana and Craig Dollansky.
That left Ossie Sokol and Kerry Jones to battle for top Kiwi honours. In a gripping final stint, Sokol emerged as the leading local in 10th place.
“I’m rapt,” said the 38-year-old, driving the Ted Tracey-sponsored JBJ machine. “I came here hoping just to make one A-Main — and we made all three. To finish top-10 against the Outlaws is the highlight of my Sprintcar career.”
Legacy of a Wild Weekend
Kinser, Swindell, and Lasoski brought global attention to Baypark, but the event’s legacy was more than just star appearances. It was a proving ground for rising talent, a platform for Kiwi racers to shine, and a weekend that lifted the standard of Sprintcar racing in Aotearoa.
For Steve Kinser, the trip may be remembered for its frustratingly brief opening race. But for New Zealand fans, it was a historic moment: the day the King of the Outlaws raced on Kiwi soil — even if only for 10 laps.