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

Looks like a small crowd for night 1 of the taxi cab nationals!

I used to go all 3 nights of this event back when it started. Recently I only go to Saturday night just due to other things demanding my time. This event seems to be fading and doesn't generate much buzz anymore.

One thing I see is the late model drivers/crews seem like a bunch of whiners. Always complaining it's hard on motors, fuel can't go 100 laps anymore so now its 75, tracks too heavy. You name it they complain about it.

Back in the day this was a pretty good race to watch. Too bad they let the racers ruin it.

Davenport called the place a dump for some strange reason. I do believe them's fightin' words. 

He obviously doesn't like the place. But to say that in an interview (even in the heat of the moment) isn't very professional. It's no wonder they have a hard time filling the stands at Knoxville for Late Models when their own driver just sit there and complain about everything. Heard it from them for years. It's too heavy, there is only two lanes, now it's narrow and too aero dependent. Looks like a good race to me on a very nicely prepped surface. He was taking out frustrations by saying that but dang that's low.

These heavily subsidized LM races at sprint car tracks (Husets and Knoxville in particular) should be a thing of the past. I have no inside knowledge on who pays for these shows but surely it is not the front gate. Flo or LucasOil have to paying some of it or else the tracks would be losing their shirts. 

And if the drivers don't like it, there is no fan base for it, why have them?

Lol. Called one of the best dirt tracks in the country a dump. What a dipsh!t. He can load up and go anywhere he wants.

He was crying about the track even during the heat race winner interview when he went 5th to 1st, dude is whine ass.  Only thing I liked about the race last night was it was easier to watch the racing because they are 2 seconds slower than the sprints and you don't miss as much since it takes longer to get around the track in them boats. 

Why do they need more than two lanes when it takes them 4 laps to pass someone?  That's the beauty of sprints. Having 5 lead changes per lap. 
 

one thing I like about most sprint car winners is they make a point of thanking fans and even when the track is less than perfect many will acknowledge the effort even if it failed. 
 

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Great racing though, coming from someone who lives in Knoxville. The problem, to me, is they bumped up the event to follow the World 100. A lot of drivers don't have the equipment to go spend 3 days at Eldora tearing equipment up at one 1/2 mile, only to go do it again the following week. Same can be said for fans. Not enough vacation for both.

Crowd was better when it was in October, tbh. 

I disagree. Like I previously mentioned, crowd was 10X better when ran later in the year, and driver attendance seemed to be better in October, too. Fairboard could certainly do themselves a favor and move the event. 

They should run it when they allow the 410 guys to go to Husets or Eldora for non-point events. The racing has always been good with the Late Models at Knoxville. 

No way Eldora is a half mile. More likely a 4 tenths.

I like Sprint Cars, Late Models, and Northeast big-block Modifieds. But "five lead changes per lap" at a Sprint Car race? Come on now, I don't recall seeing too many of those five lead changes per lap races you mentioned.

I passively watch a fair amount of late models. I like watching late model really just don't seek it out like sprints. Never had a reason to dislike JD but ya he lost a lot of respect from me after last night. Didn't watch the heats as I was loading corn but thats even worse to have two opportunities at the mic and use BOTH of them to whine. Especially after he won the race anyhow...

I don't think he was calling Knoxville a dump.  I think he was trying to say he didn't like having to take a (formally) good car to the dump.  If he was in fact calling Knoxville a dump he might as well go race asphalt full time.

"I just hate bringing a good car to a dump like this." -JD 

IDK you may be right but we will have to decise for ourselves. This was also after constant complaining about the track.

Sounded to me like he was talking about the racetrack.

RTJ must be getting to the old Horn farmer!!!! The Best 1/2 mile dirt car track in the country is now a dump???  Go race on the pavement ya Whiner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If in fact it is!! Then Knoxville is not!!  Eldora looks like it will fit inside of Knoxvilles infield.

I went on Saturday and they had a pretty good crowd. This event struggles to get fans the first 2 nights but Saturday has always drew a decent crowd. 

The lates always have some good racing it's just different. Things race side by side alot more and there are fewer slide job style passes. Sprints are more of a blow your doors off passing.

It was a good night and got finished at a good time, with no freaking track rework.

Great to hear.  The 2 Late Model Nationals I have attended were both fantastic events.  Those that want this to fail, or go away----I don't understand it.  A failure of this race is bad for racing in general.  You want to see events like this succeed.