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Topic: All Nationals Team

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July 24, 2012 at 08:19:29 AM

Joined:	08/19/2009
Posts:	54

Lets try this out. We have been discussing who will win the nationals this year, like we can see in the future. There are people that actually know somebody is going to blow their motor on Wed. and Fri. and have to start deep in the field Saturday.

I don't know much about any of that stuff, but I have watched several nationals and hundreds of races at Knoxville. I have put together my top 20 starting order from the years past to today. I am only going on the cars I remember seeing in person, and remember watching, probably as far back as 1986 or so. So if the more "experienced" people would like to chime in and tell me who needs booted out and why, that would be great. I would love to hear some stories about the champions from the past.

Also let me know who you think needs kicked off my list, or how I should change the starting order, but please give reasons behind your post. Again, this is not judging the best drivers in the country, but the best performers at the Nationals.

Thanks to Knoxville Raceways History page for helping me throw this together...Enjoy!

1. Steve Kinser #11 Valvoline (Shouldn't be much debate in the front row)

2. Donny Schatz #15 Parker Stores (Most dominating perfomance over the last decade)

3. Doug Wolfgang #29 Weikerts (Fan Favorite, and had Knoxville mastered)

4. Danny Lasoski #20 JD Byrider (Knoxville Pro, best car he has driven)

5. Mark Kinser #5m Wirtgen America (With Karl on his team he's as good as anyone, EVER)

6. Sammy Swindell #1 TMC (Only 1 championship, but always a threat)

7. Dave Blaney #10 Vivarin (WOO Champion always with fast cars and very consistent)

8. Bobby Allen #1A Allen Enterprises (I thought they were going to burn down the town when he won)

9. Tim Schaffer #83 (See number 8)

10. Bobby Davis Jr. #4 (Wouldn't have made the list until I read his stats, very underappreciated career)

11. Terry McCarl #24 Big Game (Always just a touch off, still Iowa's most realistic shot of getting a winner from their home state)

12. Stevie Smith #77 (Maybe my most memorable nationals finale runner up. Great show, and great person, always a contender during the big dance.)

13. Craig Dollansky #7 (Has came in as the outside contender several years, this may be his year)

14. Jac Haudenschild #22 Elden (Probably the person on this list I'm most surprised that's never won)

15. Joey Saldana #9 Budweiser (It never comes together here for him, but consistency will pay off)

16. Jeff Swindell #7tw (Another career that doesn't get the recognition deserved, but always a threat when taking his car off the hauler)

17. Greg Hodnett #12 (His best years here were probably late 90's, but always creeps his way into the picture at the end of the night)

18. Shane Stewart #57 Rock Star (Would be the hard charger in this race, knows how to drive the big half mile. I wouldn't have put him on this list, until researching, but his record at knoxville speaks for itself)

19. Randy Smith #55 Jenson Construction (Set the bar for track championships, before The Dude came along)

20. Kraig Kinser #11K Kinser Racing (Ok let me hear it!!! But he put himself in position to win, started on the pole and led for 30 laps. There is no reason why a past champion shouldn't make the list)

Oppermanfan

July 24, 2012 at 12:50:45 PM

Joined:	08/06/2008
Posts:	439

I would switch Schatz and Mark Kinser. I would remove Bobby Allen and Terry McCarl. I know Bobby won in 90 and had quick time, I think, the next year but not one of the top 20. Jeff Swindell probably should be up the list farther as he put on some amazing runs from the back. I have to put some thought into who would replace Allen and McCarl. Joe Gaerte maybe. I'll think about this, to be continued...

July 24, 2012 at 01:03:25 PM

Joined:	08/01/2009
Posts:	305

I agree on having Jeff Swindell up farther. In 95' he comes out of the B main to run 2nd pretty impressive. That was the same year Kinser came from 14th to win which is farthest ever back which I believe is where Donny started last year to win it.

vande77

July 24, 2012 at 03:12:19 PM

Joined:	01/20/2005
Posts:	2079

Reply to:

Posted By: LR on July 24 2012 at 01:03:25 PM
I agree on having Jeff Swindell up farther. In 95' he comes out of the B main to run 2nd pretty impressive. That was the same year Kinser came from 14th to win which is farthest ever back which I believe is where Donny started last year to win it.

and they both tied Jerry Richert, Sr. (he did it from 14th first)

Bet n Housen
MyWebsite

July 24, 2012 at 04:34:05 PM

Joined:	03/24/2011
Posts:	471

Bobby Davis,If I remember right I watched an old TNN tape of him or maybe Jeff Swindell in the Vern Kornbrust 14 in a heat at Knoxville,he was absolutely long gone,you could have put a pull tab on the track and was within an inch of it every lap,one of the best performances in 10 or 12 laps I have seen,it was fun to watch him run,if it was Bobby Davis he was the most underrated driver I have seen in years,he was truly awesome and he had bad days too ,they all do,but that run sticks in my mind forever.I still remember when the Fed Ex sprinter came to the Grove with Gods little angel driving,he got out the Master levels and set that car up right on the trailer floor and what a performance in the feature,on that night he was awesome,he had the Jeffery Bros. paying the bills and didn't have that old mean streak he shows sometimes,but I guess if you had as much bad luck in his racing life you would get an attitude about some competitors too. Still one of the, if not, the best mechanic/ driver out there. I have been watching him along time as long as he has been driving. Still not a fan though.

MissouriSprintFan

July 25, 2012 at 01:33:42 AM

Joined:	09/13/2008
Posts:	419

I'm not going to say who I think should removed from your list, but I think any multi-time winner should be included. Kenny Weld was a 4 time winner and Eddie Leavitt a 2 time winner. A couple more I would have to put on would be Ray Lee Goodwin and Earl Wagner. Dick Gaines' last lap pass of Jan Opperman is one of the classics.

meatbag

July 25, 2012 at 02:37:18 AM

Joined:	07/10/2007
Posts:	947

I agree with most of your picks worstofirst....except Shane Stewart should be in the top 10, he has been one of the most dominant drivers at the Nationals for a couple years now, just keeps falling short on Saturday night.

do it in the dirt

darbo42

July 25, 2012 at 09:55:13 AM

Joined:	12/04/2004
Posts:	932

Reply to:

Posted By: MissouriSprintFan on July 25 2012 at 01:33:42 AM
I'm not going to say who I think should removed from your list, but I think any multi-time winner should be included. Kenny Weld was a 4 time winner and Eddie Leavitt a 2 time winner. A couple more I would have to put on would be Ray Lee Goodwin and Earl Wagner. Dick Gaines' last lap pass of Jan Opperman is one of the classics.

I agree with MSFan and also think Shuman should be considered and Kenny Jacobs has had some good runs.

My wife told me if I went to one more Sprint Car race 
she would leave me.................I'm sure gonna miss 
that ol' gal.

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