Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

A few observations that I have made from high atop the grandstands as we are well into the season...

The Buntin boys - Wow they have certainly improved into competitive sprint car drivers. I love it that thay jumped from the factorys to the sprints and have done so well. I was there for the pre-season practice and they were all over the place getting used to the new car. The difference from that Sunday afternoon to last Friday just goes to show that they are students of racing and real racecar drivers and are fun to watch come up through the ranks.

Shane Sellers - I understand Garnett cannot hold a line apparently, but to take a tumble then get out of the car and try to go after the other guy just shows no maturity and even less class. You can't really blame the kid since a couple years ago his Dad was rolling around on the backstretch with Clevenger in a post crash tantrum, so I guess it's okay to him. I respect Robert and we even sponsored the car he was in a couple years during the early 90's. Also, his boy has turned into quite a good driver but now they are into the sleeveless shirts and weight lifting and beating people up I guess. It's always a bummer to tear up a lot of equipment and I certainly appreciate the hard work all the crews put in, but flipping a guy off in front of the grandstand while being towed back is a real low point for him in my opinion.

Track conditions - I am curious to hear from drivers as to the shaping of turn one and two. Is it not mis-shaped? It seems like the only line into one is right where the pesky rut has been all season and hell, last week they didn't even put any water on the top side. If you went searching for moisture you got dust, which led to a lot of spinouts and half the crowd leaving early because of the lack of rythym in the program. Shane got his stuff tore up I think partly to that corner being so dry. How do you set up a car for four different track conditions on one lap? But I want to hear about the shaping of 1 and 2 from drivers. Do you have to alter your approach because of the shape or am I just crazy about the whole thing?

Larry Neighbors - He's right, the only person I saw him hit last week was Danny going into one during the heat, but hell you gotta try stuff to come from the back. I think he's a good driver and yeah, he's a little weird, but hell that's the villan. Pure balls to paint it on the side of the car. No problems with me about Larry, just stay away from my wife...lol.

Flagman - Although doing a little better than last year, still so dependant on the headset to waive a yellow. I think the flagman should be competant enough to run the show on his own and I wouldn't do it any other way. You don't see the ASCS flagman grabbing his hear if someone spins out. Let him do his job and if he can't do it on his own, then hire me. I know everything.

Thanks, and I will be atop the grandstands this week still watching and acting like a racing know it all, because that's what I love to do. Later.

"They're steering them sum bi***es with their right 
foot!"

That is an interesting read - and I mean that.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

you people bitch about the track conditions but there is more passing on a dry track than a heavy one hell i could even win when it's heavy ha ha

i still dont think you could win when its heavy!!!!!! lmao. jk

Bobby Springer #25

I agree generally drier tracks OWN that heavy, sloppy crap when it comes to a good show.

I like dirt!

Great observation !!! I'd like to see em get rid of the intermissions. To long and boring. I don't care if they get done before 10:00 either. Just more time to visit my friends afterwards in the pits. Intermission sucks !!!

We're always in a hurry to get to the show but in hurry to get it done too. Kinda ironic I guess but the truth it seems like. Just racing in the blood maybe.

Track conditions; If it were me I'm guessing that I'd try to get my car to go good in the tacky stuff and be real careful in the dry areas. Kinda like Steve Smith did a couple of weeks ago. He drove a very smart race in both classes that night. I think he said they coulda' been better too.

You didn't mention how most the mod drivers move over when Reed gets a nose under em. Wonder why they do that? Fast car, impatient driver? Just my observation there.

Dry slick they get single file and hug the bottom. That is no fun to watch either until the track takes rubber which is the last ten laps of the last race usually. Heavy tracks create more speed. Sure there is little passing but listening to the perfromance of the motor of a sprinter flat footin it around a tacky surface is one of the greatest things in racing.

"They're steering them sum bi***es with their right 
foot!"

From the other side of things, intermission allows the human beings who score, announce, officiate etc. the opportunity to answer the call of mother nature, get a drink, figure out line-ups, etc. Try going from 5pm to 10pm or so without doing the above. Now, how long intermission should last is completely another subject.

"Shane Sellers - I understand Garnett cannot hold a line apparently, but to take a tumble then get out of the car and try to go after the other guy just shows no maturity and even less class. You can't really blame the kid since a couple years ago his Dad was rolling around on the backstretch with Clevenger in a post crash tantrum, so I guess it's okay to him. I respect Robert and we even sponsored the car he was in a couple years during the early 90's. Also, his boy has turned into quite a good driver but now they are into the sleeveless shirts and weight lifting and beating people up I guess. It's always a bummer to tear up a lot of equipment and I certainly appreciate the hard work all the crews put in, but flipping a guy off in front of the grandstand while being towed back is a real low point for him in my opinion."

You try busting your butt all week getting these cars ready, and then go out there and race and get the adrenaline flowing and the blood pumping, only to have it come to an sudden end by somebody who cant drive their way out of a paper bag tearing up your car, and knowing you have a whole lot more work and expense ahead of you, and see how you react at the moment you get out of the car. I do agree that saluting him with one finger in front of the grandstand was not the best thing he could have done, and I don't condone the throwing of fisticuffs. But if I owned the car and Shane had not let Garnett hear about it, I would have been a little unhappy.

As far as Robert and Clevenger, think back and recall exactly what happened there. If you remember right, you will recall that Clevenger came after Robert while Robert was still in the car.

I understand being unhappy about destroying a car and I think something needed to be said to Garnett but in a more mature way back in the pits would be fine. I think it is just that Shane is young and you are right the adrenaline is definitely flowing so I understand what he did I'm just saying there is a better way of doing things. You're not racing for a living it is just an expensive hobby more or less so I don't think you need to resort to beating people up over it. I know you said you don't condone it as you said but I was just stating my opinion like I said. I don't mean to ruffle anyones feathers on here but I will speak my opinion because that is what I like about this board. I love to watch the Sellers' guys and I think Shane is a good driver like as I said above. I was just saying that was one of his lower points......just an observation.

"They're steering them sum bi***es with their right 
foot!"

I can't help but remembering when I ran into Garnett and was able to continue on, that it was Garnett shaking his fists at me on the track.

just making observations from the stands to wake up a quite board. Don't take too seriously.

"They're steering them sum bi***es with their right 
foot!"

How long have you people been race fans. Garnett been tearing other peoples cars up since he started. As long as he has been racing (trying) you would think he could at least drive a straight line.

Actually, my deal was a racing incident (my involvement was certainly a lot more innocent than what Garnett has been capable of doing). I got pinched down going into turn 3 and slid my back end into his front end. Later that year, he was surprised when I was a bit mad after he spun me out of a solid transferr in the heat race.

Point being, he would be the first one to cause a scene if the shoe was on the other foot.

I did not know all of this about Garnett. Been going all of my life to the races but never really paid attention to the guy. Like I said, I just sit atop the stands and say what I see but am not fully aware of what really goes on while on the track. But still going after a guy on the track isn't cool, but I could see where obviously a few people wouldn't mind if Jeff was on the receiving end of that. I AM STICKING WITH MY FLAGMAN RANT THOUGH!!! LOL

"They're steering them sum bi***es with their right 
foot!"

He cost Christi Passmore an ASCS win at Lawton back in 2000 or 2001 when he took her out with just a hand full of laps to go when she went to pass him.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

THE HAMMER.

I was standing beside a fan one time when the hammer was involved in a lilttle on track skirmish. The fan said, "He couldn't drive a nail." I started cracking up and the person just looked at me. I then had to explain that the side of his car has Jeff "The Hammer" Garnett on it. It was awesome.

What hasn't Biscuit Lips hit? He's even nailed other guys trailers...........................

some weeks he is worse than others. it aint no thang that he doesn't really compete to high degree. each cars presence is or should be appreciated at any track................but when the dude poses a threat to anyone or anything near..............

In knowing that - I don't think it would be too bright an idea to try to pass the guy on the outside. Garnett is the champ sprint version of the F2. Are the wind speeds in an F2 tornado around 98 mph. I think it actually might be. hmm.....

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

I was wondering how long it would be before somebody was going to finally say what Garnett's real nickname was "BISCUIT LIPS".