What kind of flying insect is this?
... it kinda resembles a dragonfly ...


That's because it is a dragonfly! This is a female Tramea onusta, most commonly known as a "Red Saddlebag", which comes from the red coloration found at the lower regions of the dragonfly's hindwings. 


  ... it had what looked like a stinger on the end of it's tail.


That's exactly correct! Female dragonflies have what look to be a stinger, however, they're used for laying eggs instead (and not as a weapon). (source, p.5)