Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

My buddy and I were taling about feuds in sprint car racing, that kind of were 'under the radar' of the media so to speak.

He mentioned a big one was between Kinser and Craig Dollansky to the point of being ugly at times. 

He also mentioned Dean Jacobs and Sammy as such.

Anybody witness/know of any truth to such?  Or know of anymore rivalries/fueds?

I don't know if there is actually a feud but it got pretty exciting one night at the Princeton Speedway.  There was an incident I believe night one of the first Princeton National at the Princeton Speedway, Minnesota.  Princeton is about an hour north of Minneapolis and Craig promoted their first of several World of Outlaws shows. 

Craig and Kraig got together and Kraig dumped it coming out of two.  Steve didn't agree and things got pretty crazy until Princeton's finest were called in to restore order.  I was standing down in victory lane waiting to take photos and things were a bit tense but I didn't see what happened at the scale which is where the incident took place. 

I believe it might have been prior to that Craig was quoted in Flat Out I think it was as having said "I can beat anybody" or something to that effect.  I don't recall the context or exact words but some considered it a bold statement. 

The way I look at it Steve and Craig are both retired and likely not holding grudges about any of that day to day chatter while they were racing.  Craig is about to embark on a new career managing a track and likely has other things on his mind as he transitions to his new duties.  I know Craig a little from when I was writing and see his social media posts.  I'm not sure what he has been doing during the summer but sometimes I see that he posts photos of him clearing out parking lots after it snows. 

Even if they're not exchanging Christmas cards I'm sure they have both moved on and have other things on their minds.  Sometimes this banter between drivers borders on pro wrestling smack talking.  I don't take it seriously, these guys were all professionals and to let a grudge go too far would have cost them sponsors and rides.  I think the fans like to fabricate these rivalries but usually they don't amount to much if anything at all.

My buddy and I were taling about feuds in sprint car racing, that kind of were 'under the radar' of the media so to speak.

He mentioned a big one was between Kinser and Craig Dollansky to the point of being ugly at times. 

He also mentioned Dean Jacobs and Sammy as such.

Anybody witness/know of any truth to such?  Or know of anymore rivalries/fueds?

I don't know if there is actually a feud but it got pretty exciting one night at the Princeton Speedway.  There was an incident I believe night one of the first Princeton National at the Princeton Speedway, Minnesota.  Princeton is about an hour north of Minneapolis and Craig promoted their first of several World of Outlaws shows. 

Craig and Kraig got together and Kraig dumped it coming out of two.  Steve didn't agree and things got pretty crazy until Princeton's finest were called in to restore order.  I was standing down in victory lane waiting to take photos and things were a bit tense but I didn't see what happened at the scale which is where the incident took place. 

I believe it might have been prior to that Craig was quoted in Flat Out I think it was as having said "I can beat anybody" or something to that effect.  I don't recall the context or exact words but some considered it a bold statement. 

The way I look at it Steve and Craig are both retired and likely not holding grudges about any of that day to day chatter while they were racing.  Craig is about to embark on a new career managing a track and likely has other things on his mind as he transitions to his new duties.  I know Craig a little from when I was writing and see his social media posts.  I'm not sure what he has been doing during the summer but sometimes I see that he posts photos of him clearing out parking lots after it snows. 

Even if they're not exchanging Christmas cards I'm sure they have both moved on and have other things on their minds.  Sometimes this banter between drivers borders on pro wrestling smack talking.  I don't take it seriously, these guys were all professionals and to let a grudge go too far would have cost them sponsors and rides.  I think the fans like to fabricate these rivalries but usually they don't amount to much if anything at all.

Thank you for your insight.  I seem to remember when he was on the Woo tour there was always a slight disagreement in the stands whether he came from money or was self made through racing.  I always kind of liked his 'indenpedent' type team, seems like he had some good longtime supporters involved and ran a nice operation.  Just never seemed to catch the eye of the media hype or something, and maybe he liked it that way I'm not sure.

Thank you for your insight.  I seem to remember when he was on the Woo tour there was always a slight disagreement in the stands whether he came from money or was self made through racing.  I always kind of liked his 'indenpedent' type team, seems like he had some good longtime supporters involved and ran a nice operation.  Just never seemed to catch the eye of the media hype or something, and maybe he liked it that way I'm not sure.

Thank you for your insight.  I seem to remember when he was on the Woo tour there was always a slight disagreement in the stands whether he came from money or was self made through racing.  I always kind of liked his 'indenpedent' type team, seems like he had some good longtime supporters involved and ran a nice operation.  Just never seemed to catch the eye of the media hype or something, and maybe he liked it that way I'm not sure.

I dont think sammy and steve were really very fond of each other. Heard schatz make a comment on gravel once sounded like he didnt really care for him.

I don't know how much money it takes to be considered as "coming from money" but they are an average working family and not wealthy.  Craig always impressed me how he put some of those teams together and courted sponsorship.  He was very good at that but that 2003 Indy lights crash that wrecked his back ended up worsening and ultimately would end his driving career.

I think he recognized the importance of media coverage but was never that guy that demanded a lot of attention.  I think of him as all business and hard work.  He was a second generation driver, his father Bill wasnt a household name all over the country but he ran Sprint Cars up here in Minnesota and the upper Midwest.  I have a lot of respect for Craig and I think he will do well in his new gig running a dirt track.  I'm happy for him, this had to have been a rough stretch having to stop doing what he loved.  I wish him success I. his new venture.

I remember hearing about the Dean Jacobs/ Sammy fued back in the day, if course Sammy has been on the wrong side of many people. Also, whatever happened between Kenny Jacobs & Gary Brazier was pretty hot too. 

I don't think it's anything between Schatz and Gravel really.  No one out there racing likes Gravel.  Schatz was just the messenger at the time.

One rivalry I've always been kind of interested in is the Kinser family.  I started thinking about it again when Scott Gerkin Passed but thought it was the wrong time to ask.  But my questions about it are, first off why were Steve and Karl pissed at eachother when Steve went to NASCAR?  Or maybe it wasn't until he came back to sprint cars?  Either way I guess I never understood why either of them would be upset with eachother.  Did they ever get over it?  I guess I've never heard either of them say anything about the other recently or since Karl and Mark retired.  I know Karl talked about Steve in his open red podcast but from what I remember he just kind of talked about how they initially hooked up. 

But then in another post someone said that Scott Gerkin was always Steve's right hand man, so that got me wondering.  I'm assuming Gerkin didn't go to NASCAR with Steve?  I would also assume Gerkin was working with Karl and Mark while Steve was in NASCAR?  Or was he sitting at home?  Or does this have something to do with why Karl was upset with Steve, that he took a crew member away?

Karl seems like one of the nicest guys there is and Steve seems like he's, well, for lack of a better term the complete opposite of Karl.  While both of them were successful after splitting up neither of them was as dominant after splitting up either though both of them had their streaks it was nothing like the dominance they had through the 80s and early 90s.  I guess I would think enough time has passed they would maybe both appreciate eachother today?  Just curious, it was a pretty high profile breakup at the time and there hasn't really been any details about it that I know of.

I remember back in the early 2000s Craig had a gorgeous website chalk full of info when many drivers lacked in that department. They also seemed to be on the early side of running things like a business - issuing releases recapping weekly performance and also info on special things. He seemed to be way ahead on that - I'm sure had he continued racing full time into the 2010s he would have been on the front edge of many things (social media for sure). It seems that he (or someone in his camp) had a great mind for that aspect of things.

I know the person who used to do his website during those years.  He runs one of the many PPV services now but they don't cover much in the way of Sprints so most on here wouldn't be familiar with it.  Craig was always a leader in keeping fans informed and taking a very business like approach to the race team.  They built a big shop up by Princeton and their race team always kept things spotless.  He definitely helped change the standard to the mores professional approach we see today.  

One rivalry I've always been kind of interested in is the Kinser family.  I started thinking about it again when Scott Gerkin Passed but thought it was the wrong time to ask.  But my questions about it are, first off why were Steve and Karl pissed at eachother when Steve went to NASCAR?  Or maybe it wasn't until he came back to sprint cars?  Either way I guess I never understood why either of them would be upset with eachother.  Did they ever get over it?  I guess I've never heard either of them say anything about the other recently or since Karl and Mark retired.  I know Karl talked about Steve in his open red podcast but from what I remember he just kind of talked about how they initially hooked up. 

But then in another post someone said that Scott Gerkin was always Steve's right hand man, so that got me wondering.  I'm assuming Gerkin didn't go to NASCAR with Steve?  I would also assume Gerkin was working with Karl and Mark while Steve was in NASCAR?  Or was he sitting at home?  Or does this have something to do with why Karl was upset with Steve, that he took a crew member away?

Karl seems like one of the nicest guys there is and Steve seems like he's, well, for lack of a better term the complete opposite of Karl.  While both of them were successful after splitting up neither of them was as dominant after splitting up either though both of them had their streaks it was nothing like the dominance they had through the 80s and early 90s.  I guess I would think enough time has passed they would maybe both appreciate eachother today?  Just curious, it was a pretty high profile breakup at the time and there hasn't really been any details about it that I know of.

If you dont mind me asking, what is the ppv service you mention?  Only reason i ask is I simply enjoy seeing how many ppl sprint car racing influences and where some end up outside of racing.