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

I don't see Casey Luna in the hall of fame. I am convinced Steve and Karl would be ignored if they used Ford power. I regret every dollar of my donations over the years if my research is correct.

I am writing to promote Casey Luna's induction into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. While feeling such efforts are completely unnecessary due to Mr. Luna's blatant and tremendous success, his impact on the sport and unmatched passion must be recognized!

My father took me to World of Outlaws sprint races as far back as I can remember. Throughout the early 1980's, we enjoyed Sammy Swindell's spotless equipment and Steve Kinser's unmatched determination. As the announcers screamed in vein about the unkempt guy from Hanover and the crazy young man from Wooster, I struggled to find equal excitement as their machines were so similar to each other. When we would invite our friends to the races, they would always refuse as we would have to admit all the engines would be chevies. These friends remembered a Ford powered sprint car absolutely dominating for many years a decade earlier. They and countless others were convinced since not one WoO regular ran their favored and superior type of power; they would fail to witness something worth paying to see. I struggled to disagree with their viewpoint as the sport enjoyed minimal growth.

Amid biased politics in NASCAR, foreigners at Indy and cookie cutter race cars at the dirt tracks, Casey Luna single handedly brought something worth following in national sprint car racing. In 1986, Luna's Ford outran well over a hundred chevies at its very first Nationals finishing fourth. After some struggles and simple insults in 1987, Luna was embarrassing the detractors by 1988. A very close Nationals second to the greatest team in history and a third in points was the result in only his second full season. A second in the final standings was missed only because of driver absence. Steve Kinser in his absolute prime an inch from the fence couldn't deny the first of three Kings Royal victories in 1989. The first of two WoO championships followed later that year. It seemed like everyone was wearing a Casey Luna Ford Racing t-shirt due to a fresh idea people appreciated, refined engineering and Casey's unrivaled faith in his equipment. Many owners with more funding came and went with nothing to truly believe in and lesser results.

The early nineties brought crew chief health problems but still more solid finishes. Only some of the wildest moves ever seen from the King kept the Ford from victory lane at Syracuse in 1992. Luna's lonely Ford was the car to beat at the fastest dirt track in the land finishing no worse than second from 1992 till the final race run there in 1995. From 1993 till his last season in 1996, Luna finished no worse than second in the final points standings with a second WoO title in 1995 and multiple team of the year awards. Only slick tracks kept the number ten from dominating. The current WoO champion and NSCHoF engine builder Ron Shaver was quoted saying even the King can't keep pace if it's tacky! Well over 20 second place finishes including the Nationals and many victories came in Luna's final campaign. It would have been a dominating year had it not been for a shafted and irate Karl Kinser on an absolute mission.

Every night for eleven years, Luna's cars raced those driven by the best the sport has ever seen in their prime. Every interview he ever gave was genuine with unmatched enthusiasm because he truly loved his race car and our sport. The sport benefited immensely from his efforts. Without the Ford/Chevy rivalry, the sport has been floundering since his departure. Casey Luna not included in our hall of fame is unexplainable and very plainly displays why the sport is not what it could easily be.

I am writing to promote Casey Luna's induction into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. While feeling such efforts are completely unnecessary due to Mr. Luna's blatant and tremendous success, his impact on the sport and unmatched passion must be recognized!

I read with interest this complaint about the HoF and one that was submitted earlier concerning the failure of the nominating committee to induct another deserving individual. This is a very emotional topic and unfortunately an extremely large number of our sport's best have been nominated and voted on, only to join an awe-inspiring list of also-rans. The process was described in a recent newsletter by the HoF Executive Director, Bob Baker. It is a tough group to join and as a member of the Induction Committee, I can assure all that I have been gravely disappointed many times but aware that the honor bestowed is well deserved and am proud of each inductee.

Casey Luna's name has appeared on the final ballot before, along with a written recommendation for induction. The process is strict. There are likely two problems with your letter minthess. Only one such letter is permitted for each of the 72-member board and Casey's has already been sent. Also each written recommendation MUST FIT ON ONE TYPEWRITTEN PAGE. One major indication for hope for Casey and others is that at least four individuals will be inducted this year after being rejected in the past.

I sympathize with minthess on this matter but would also like to point out that her research is seriously flawed. Both Karl and Steve Kinser would have been inducted even if they entered Nashs instead of Fords.

Its not a perfect system or HoF but it's the only one we've got and well deserves every fan's support. My recommendation for concerned individuals would be a call to the HoF at 614-842-6176.

Tony Martin

I read with interest this complaint about the HoF and one that was submitted earlier concerning the failure of the nominating committee to induct another deserving individual. This is a very emotional topic and unfortunately an extremely large number of our sport's best have been nominated and voted on, only to join an awe-inspiring list of also-rans. The process was described in a recent newsletter by the HoF Executive Director, Bob Baker. It is a tough group to join and as a member of the Induction Committee, I can assure all that I have been gravely disappointed many times but aware that the honor bestowed is well deserved and am proud of each inductee.

Casey Luna's name has appeared on the final ballot before, along with a written recommendation for induction. The process is strict. There are likely two problems with your letter minthess. Only one such letter is permitted for each of the 72-member board and Casey's has already been sent. Also each written recommendation MUST FIT ON ONE TYPEWRITTEN PAGE. One major indication for hope for Casey and others is that at least four individuals will be inducted this year after being rejected in the past.

I sympathize with minthess on this matter but would also like to point out that her research is seriously flawed. Both Karl and Steve Kinser would have been inducted even if they entered Nashs instead of Fords.

Its not a perfect system or HoF but it's the only one we've got and well deserves every fan's support. My recommendation for concerned individuals would be a call to the HoF at 614-842-6176.

Tony Martin

I read with interest this complaint about the HoF and one that was submitted earlier concerning the failure of the nominating committee to induct another deserving individual. This is a very emotional topic and unfortunately an extremely large number of our sport's best have been nominated and voted on, only to join an awe-inspiring list of also-rans. The process was described in a recent newsletter by the HoF Executive Director, Bob Baker. It is a tough group to join and as a member of the Induction Committee, I can assure all that I have been gravely disappointed many times but aware that the honor bestowed is well deserved and am proud of each inductee.

Casey Luna's name has appeared on the final ballot before, along with a written recommendation for induction. The process is strict. There are likely two problems with your letter minthess. Only one such letter is permitted for each of the 72-member board and Casey's has already been sent. Also each written recommendation MUST FIT ON ONE TYPEWRITTEN PAGE. One major indication for hope for Casey and others is that at least four individuals will be inducted this year after being rejected in the past.

I sympathize with minthess on this matter but would also like to point out that her research is seriously flawed. Both Karl and Steve Kinser would have been inducted even if they entered Nashs instead of Fords.

Its not a perfect system or HoF but it's the only one we've got and well deserves every fan's support. My recommendation for concerned individuals would be a call to the HoF at 614-842-6176.

Tony Martin

Very true in more ways than you probably even realize.

Hey minthess (if that is indeed your real name) - you've been a member here for little over a month and are already becoming one of my lesser favorite posters here... Just remember you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. You seem to me like the type that will stand in a 7-11 and push and push and then push some more trying to get out through a door labeled "PULL" ... and then cuss at the door the door for being stupid because it didn't do what you wanted it to.