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

The 461 team was gearing up for a run on the road. Problem was central PA pays to well and they were they were taking home most of that money. It was said Al Hamilton always told LD, The seat is yours to take on the road. He had oppourtunities there is no question about that.  

Of course his entire career is considered. First off, there are two Halls of Fame in Knoxville. The Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Now, if you are insinuating that McCarl got in to the NSCHoF becuase of some sort of bias because of his years racing at Knoxville, maybe you should do some homework.......like ask the NSCHoF for an explanation of how the nominating process works (or google it online). Regardless, if you think the integrity level is such that an individual gets in under biased voting, I suggest you run for a Board of Directors position (you don't have to be from the area!).  Are you even a Member of the NSCHoF?  A base annual membership is just $25.00.

Of course Lance Dewease is going to be inducted into the NSCHoF (should already be there).  He is one of the smartest drivers that I've ever seen on the race track.  If he doesn't ever get in, then it's a flawed system that doesn't deserve recognition in the first place.

Dewease has wins in 8  states besides Pa.......Md, NY, NJ, OH, NC, IA, MI, and FL. He's done well in FL with wins at Volusia, East Bay, Ocala, and Putnam Co. Did win at Knoxville on Hamilton HoF induction from P11. Not too bad for someone who doesn't travel. Agree that the struggles in the 27 and 14 didn't help. I think another factor that helped McCarl is he is owner in addition to driver.

Great sprint car drivers, mechanics, owners, and promoters deserve to be in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame despite where they achieved their greatness.

If Lance's circumstances would have landed him on the road, there would be no discussion here - he'd be in already. Hell, he deserves to be in just for proving that he wasn't what he appeared to be a just a few years ago.

The guys that  are great, then far from great, then great again are the real deal - Hall of Fame material. 

Laugh all you want at this comment, but the reason that Lance didn't get in the HoF on his first try is that ihad to many credentials.  Yes, to many.  The HoF want all the credentials on one piece of paper and the turned in two pieces of paper with his stats.  By the time it was sent back with an explanation, there wasn't enough time to condense it and get it turned back in.  Check it out before you call bull on this.  That is why he wasn't on the ballot the first year

I doubt there are any stats in the HOF that disclose frequent flier miles for haulers / rigs...Motel 6 friends and family VIP cards etc.

Lance has been a factor every time they unloaded the car except for maybe 1 or 2 instances...can't say that about too many drivers across the country no matter how far they were away from their residence - including guy already in the HOF and still trying to be a "factor" on a nightly basis.

many of us who have been active on this board for the last 20 years saw the evolution of the myth of valor attached to "travel" start as a carnie's wild dream and end in a puff of smoke when Ted Johnson checked out and the cash / carry business dried up.

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

When interviewing Lance on our show we asked him about why he wasn;t in already and his thoughts if not running ever with the Outlaws hurt him. He said he had been offered a few rides on the tour very early in his career, but felt an allegience and loyalty to Walt Dyer for all he had done for him and he never  even really considered taking it as a result. Lance also won an All Star Championship when he went out in the 30c car...(i believe it was split by regions) but he did quite a bit of traveling in those few years, including a win at Charlotte. He basically said that he thought because he is a rather shy guy and isn;t quite as vocal about his career and stats as some others, that he thought frankjly it was more of a politics thing than anything. Said he wasn;t worried about it and thought he would get in at some time but chalked most of it up to a lack of self promotion and politics

Talk about panties in a bunch...lol

If you want to hear it straight from Lance check out the sprintcarunlimited.com podcast episode 4 from 2017.

I can understand the NSCHoF voters saving first time ballot Yes votes for a select few (like Schatz) and not voting Yes for other deserving guys (like Lance) until sometime after their first year of elgibility.

Not at all....and that's funny coming from you. First, the process of getting in to the NSCHoF is questioned, and now some Dewease supporters and Dewease himself are also claiming politics are involved?  Good grief! Any other stones that need turned over? 

I'm not insinuating bias or saying TMac doesn't deserve it. I'm just saying Lance deserves it too

Wouldn't it be natural for Knoxville based National HOF to honor a guy who's done so well over the years at their track?

The one ride he turned down was the Ecowater#71. I think Stevie took the ride instead.

A

If Lance doesn't deserve to get in because of never running an Outlaw schedule or very limited non-PA schedule, then other Posse drivers didn't deserve it either. Paxton, Rahmer, Snellbaker, Steve Smith, Mitch Smith, Williamson, his current boss Kreitz, etc. 

They all deserved it including McCarl! 

Winning often and winning many championships in Central PA is not an easy task and these guys (not including T-Mac) all did it.

I think a guy like Todd Shaffer has a shot at the Hall in Fame.  Over 200 career wins (like Kreitz) and multiple championships.  Doesn't have the Kings Royal or as many Outlaw wins in the bag, but he's won some big races including, of course, the Tuscarora 50 and the Selinsgrove National Open (both many times) and also the Sharon Nationals.

     Wow! With all the talent on that team, there was no one who could have written the word "OVER >" at the bottom of page one?

     I guess before I call bull on this, I'd like to see some sort of proof that you didn't just make this up off the cuff. Would  you by chance have a copy of the credentials where the HoF committe wrote "D-  too much info" on his application?

Based on the eligibility requirements, and the backgrounds of the 72 member election committee, no, I don't think his having raced at Knoxville influenced a thing. Only three drivers per year can be inducted, and of those nominated, to be inducted a driver must recieve votes on 25% of the 72 voter panel ballots in order to be inducted. As an active driver McCarl was actually eligible in 2015 (the year after turning age 50, born in 1964).  So, in his third year of eligibility, McCarl makes it in. Lance Dewease became eligible in 2016, the year after he turned 50 (born in 1965).  So, should Dewease be inducted in 2018, he would match the swiftness that McCarl enjoyed. Third year of eligibility. I would certainly think that Dewease will be inducted next year. Based on his career, I too would be disapointed if he isn't. I can see where a select few would make it in during their first year of eligibility, and even their second year. So that alone could get in the way of some being nominated getting in during a certain time frame. So it can all depend on who becomes eligible and when. Stevie Smith Jr will be eligible for the first time, next year I believe. If he makes it in during his first year, that will leave just two driving spots open. Who else has just turne 50 his year? Or has been retired 5 years?

Go to http://www.sprintcarhof.com/Pages/Policies and read for yourself.

Read the third one down "Instructions to put a Person’s Name up for Consideration"

you are correct on both

   I went there and read it. I see what you're saying, but who submitted it without reading the instructions? To be fair, the instructions seem a bit overdone. It's almost like a test to see how close you can follow the instructions. Do they really send it back if it's done wrong, or do they just simply set it aside?

We're splitting hairs now. I think we agree that both drivers should be in the HOF