Steve Kinser has teamed up with Tony Stewart, and that appears to be bad news for his World of Outlaws racing rivals heading into the series's 11th visit to Tulare's Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway this weekend.

Kinser has won 20 series titles -- but none since 2005, the longest drought of his 31 seasons on the touring 410 sprint car series. He's won 553 main events, but only two last year.

But he joined forces this year with Tony Stewart Racing, the team owned by the NASCAR Sprint Cup star, and the results have been encouraging. The Bloomington, Ind., resident won the Outlaws' second race of the season at Volusia (Fla.) Speedway and has top-five finishes in each of the other two races to hold a two-point lead over TSR teammate and four-time defending series champion Donny Schatz.

Kinser, Schatz and Clovis' Jason Meyers lead the Outlaws into races tonight and Saturday in Tulare. Hot laps are scheduled for 6 p.m. each night, with the West Coast Late Models serving as the support class tonight and the USAC West Coast 360 Sprinters on the undercard Saturday.

Meyers is one of five drivers within 27 points of the series lead after coming from 18th starting position to win the most recent Outlaws race Feb. 26 in Las Vegas.

Meyers, who has never won an Outlaws race at Tulare, is fourth in the points, 16 behind Kinser and four back of third-place Joey Saldana, who won the last Outlaws race at the Thunderbowl on March 21.

With a victory, a fourth and a sixth-place finish this season, Meyers is third in earnings with $15,000.

In his eighth season with the Outlaws, Meyers is seeking his first title. He finished second the past two seasons.

Tickets -- priced at $35 (bleachers) or $40 (grandstands) tonight, and $40 (bleachers) or $45 (grandstands) Saturday -- are available by calling (559) 688-0909.