Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Even though he was oje of the best drivers in the country, top 3 for sure, oddly he never stayed with the same team more than 2 years, then either quit or was fired. Was always arguing with crews and owners. He might eventually go back to an owner he drove for another year, but would end the same, him walking out--something he seemed to do a lot of, lose his temper and walk off the track. And it seemed he was only happy in 76 and 77 with that revolutionary lightweight sprinter of Trostel (weighted 350 to 480 pounds less than anyone else) and then again in 85 and 86 with Weikert, winning another bunch of races: Think the wins were 21, 43, 53 and 38. Thought he should win that many every year, didn't understand that with the Trostle car, they were just so much lighter than anyone else they had a huge advantage. He always dreamed of going back to those years. It was a rarity when he got along with mechanics and crew. Repeatedly said he didn't brag, "it wasn't in him", but throughout the book he brags an awful lot aboug his accomplishments and his place in history.He didn't like the media or traveling series. so raced with them only when in his area mostly. And did Doug Howells' wife Jeri really use that kind of language. The Howells, rich farmers from ND, had a husband(Doug) who rarely said a word and a wife (passed on before this book written) who made up for it by cussing out Wolf using drunken sailor-type language whenever anything happened to their car. Oh, yeah, the Gambler car, most sought after ride in the country, they finally hired him and Wolf couldn't get along with any of the crew guys, even hated Kenny Rogers the few times he met him. He especially hated future NHRA funny car star K.C. spurlock, son of CK Spurlock the Gambler owner because he was "too happy go lucky, too outgoing and rowdy", saying "that's just not me", so "I stayed clear of him". He often said he was a mean person to his wife and kids even though they loved him. Over and over referred to himself as "distant", "a ruthless son of a bitch" when dealing with people and admitted to having few friends. The guy was constantly calling car owners bitching about the car. Again, after those first two seasons in the Trostle lightweight car, thought if a crewchief couldn't get him 45-50 wins, the crewchief didn't know what he was doing. I think those first 2 years in that light car crew his headsize, thinking it was all him when it was mostly the light car. He hated Sammy Swindell, Said Sammy never drove him fair, tipped Wolf once so Wolf tipped him over a couple times. Actually, because Sammy was from the Memphis area, Wolfgang immediately had nothing to do or talk about with anyone from Memphis, put them all in the same category: named Mike Ward, Terry Gray, Bobby Davis Jr, Robert Hubbard, Billy Anderson and Gary Deuce Terrill. Jeff Swindell especially came in for some hitting below the belt. He didn't like Jeff because like KC Spurlock I suppose, Jeff was a "fun loving guy,sort of rowdy" and "that's the opposite of me so I kept my distance from Jeff. A little odd I'd say.

He didn't like the media, didn'trust them cuz they always took things out of context---so what, that's what the media always does. He hated Dick Berggren and other writers who blasted him for the lawsuit against everyone his lawyer could think of to blame, even though Wolfie said "it wasn't about the money", you've heard that before.

I was there when we lost the great Kevin Gobrecht at Nebraska Raceway Park in the Amoco car, Jeff Shepherd was hurt very very bad for a long long long time. Brad Doty? Rich Vogler, NCRA champ Steve King killed at Knoxville, Shane Miehl still trying to recover from horrible injuries 3 years ago. The worst thing I ever read about was from Mansfield Raceway when in 2006 a team lost their driver and the very next year (2007), their new driver was also killed in an accident. Then there are the hundreds of brave hero drivers we never hear about from your local area. I could not find another single case of a driver filing a lawsuit after he crashed his car which ended up destroying his career. Not one.

I still believe Wolfgang needed an attitude adjustment when he was a youngster and maybe he would not have had that chip on his should his entire career, blaming everyone else for his car not winning.

PS I apologize for those who got the book at Christmas and have not read it yet. The title above should warn you to not read this and to form your own opinion first.

Lawlessness + liberalism = HELL -  NYC, Detroit, Chicago, 
Seattle, LA  Who the H runs those cities. 

We get it, you don't like Doug. Did you not post something as stupid, err, similiar a while back? How much time have you ever spent with Doug, just curious, eagerly awaiting your reply, thanks....

at dirtraceorbust---I could not find another single case of a driver filing a lawsuit after he crashed his car which ended up destroying his career. Not one.

although not sprint car racing, Kenny Logan and Herm Petersen both sued the drag strip; Orange County International Raceway (CA). Kenny for loss of his legs when his T/F crashed and slid under the armco guardrail. Herm, Petersen and Fitz T/F, sued many others as the result of his crash, but mainly went after the track for not having the fire extinguishers working. He was trapped in the car, watching as three fire extinguishers failed to function. Kenny won millions (before legal fees) and not sure of Herm's legal judgement.

dirtraceorbust,

It's obvious you don't care for Doug Wolfgang. To each his own. I don't know Doug personally, but even though he was competitive (aren't we all??) in the car and expected to win every night, he was ALWAYS the best driver to go meet in the pits following the races that I have EVER met in my lifetime (and that includes all drivers in any division I have ever met since 1980).

Was the lawsuit against the Outlaws a mistake? Maybe, because when you look at it from a distance, the promoters, track owners, and sanctioning bodies saw the verdict (negligence), and then decided to do NOTHING to make improvements. They decided to continue to run the way they always had in the past thinking that a bad accident like that could never happen again.

The differences between what happened to Doug and what happened to the G-Man (RIP), Steve King and Jeff Sheppard are HUGE.

Gobrect was killed instantly per all reports, a proper safety crew would have made no difference. Same as if you got hit in the head by a bowling ball dropped off the Empire State Building.

Steve King may have made it through the night before he died (I don't know for sure, I'm not a family member). What I do know is that the safety crew was to his car within SECONDS of IMPACT with the wall. That's probably at least 10 minutes quicker than if you or I got in an accident on the highway. And those Safety Crew Members are very well trained and many are trained EMT's.

Jeff Sheppard was hurt badly @ Eldora and then returned to racing a few years later. He was then hurt again on the front-stretch @ Knoxville during the Nationals. Again, Safety Crew was to his car within SECONDS of the accident. Luckily, he made a full recovery over time. He CHOSE to end his career after the accident. I have no doubt that if he wanted to, he would still be able to race on a part-time basis (Racing was more of a hobby to him, he owned his own business).

Doug Wolfgang's career (as a Full-Time Racer) was ended by negligence by the sanctioning body, track and promoter by not having properly trained personnel on site and fire extenguishers that were EMPTY. The Lawsuit was would have been dropped if the World of Outlaws would guarantee that a properly trained Safety Crew would be at every race. Ted refused, so the lawsuit proceeded.

If the sanctioning bodies, track owners and promoters had taken heed of what happened in that courtroom that day, we wouldn't see videos of cars on fire at local tracks where the safety workers are wearing jeans and a t-shirt to fight a fire with the wrong tools (water instead of fire retardent foam for example) yet today.

I think you should read the book again. He never said he didn't like Sammy it was just he didn't have much in common with him. Steve and Doug got along better because there personalities were a lot alike. Same with K.C. and Jeff they were younger and liked to party and have a good time. Doug was married with children that traveled with him and he was not into that. I don't think he bragged much he just told about the races he won and some that he did not win. It would have been a boring book if he didn't talk about them. Last most racers blame there crew for the car not performing and most crews blame the driver. I don't think that will ever change. I think Doug was one of the best I have seen in traffic. He won a lot of races in what some might call lesser caliber rides so I don't think it was all about the light weight car of 77. On the lawsuit I would just tell you, if it was you what would you have done? When I was a kid and would walk up to Doug he would always talk to me weather he had just won the Knoxville Nationals or was passed on the last lap. In my eyes he was #1 and always will be!

new-parts sent me the book from S Cali, and now I'm passing it around to my hardcore sprint car friends here in AZ with the stipulation that it comes back to me to pass out again. It's coming back to me Friday at the Winter Challenge, and then out it will go again. There's 6 complete shows in 9 day's for the Challenge, so it could be ready to pass out again right after the last checkered flag. The next person is already picked and looking forward to reading it.

I think that some of the points that dirtraceorbust made are valid, but then again, some may not be. LOL I could have whipped right through the book, but I took my time and enjoyed very much.

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true. 

Did Doug claim to be a saint, or a sprint car driver?

Wasn't the part about "The Money" from the lawsuit in there where it said In the State of Kansas you cannot sue for financial gain ?? Only for the bill(s). The Mansfield Racers were team members & the 1 was the son of the car owner I believe, I can't think of none of the names right now except for the older fella's 1st name was Don.

I posted this back in December, so here it is again. I'm sure if you had any idea who the real Doug is you would not post crap like you did. I worked for him and he nothing like you posted. By the way since you know so much tells us your name and who you are !

I was one of the mechanics that got fired and I will say that Doug Wolfgang was one of the best persons that I ever worked for. He was intense in every thing that he did and he made you a better person while being around him. Did we have some personal issues, yes, but it was not between myself and him. But I'll always admire Doug for the person that he is because he was honest and when he told you something it was the truth. We've seen each other a few times and in fact he even apologized to me for what went on. Every one has something bad to say, but if you really knew Doug then your opinon would change. Before you bash someone, stop and take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself what would you want people to say about yourself ?

Tommy Sanders

The WWO insurance refused to pay for hospital bills, the track ins. refused to pay, Doug had his own ins. company refuse. I think about 4 ins. companys refused. They all said we will not pay, take claim to the other ins. company. Doug had huge hospital bills. I think alot of the lawsuit money went to pay bills.. He never got rich on it. I am sorry but I never got out of the book the same as you. I do know for sure that his son races at knoxville and if you go by his pits and stop to talk he comes right to you and talks and seems happy.

Dirtraceorbust,

Everyone is due his or her own opinion. But my opinion is that if you feel that way on all of those points, you need to read the book again as I don't think you get it. With all of the responses before mine, I totally agree.

Mr. Sanders, it was truly good to hear your response as someone who knew and worked with him during his driving career rather. It is good in contrast to the "armchair racers" that usually fill the message boards.

Of course, I am a bit biased, as Doug was and continues to be one of my hero's. I think that I have told this story here before, but my boy, now 10 years old, has always known my feelings of Mr. Wolfgang. Since we have moved to northcentral SD, more to "Late Model Land", it is a rare occasion to see sprint cars, following them mostly on the net. That said my boy has become a huge Robby Wolfgang fan. A few years ago we took a mini-vacation that involved the races at Huset's so my boy (also named Robby, after my Grandfather) could see Robby W. race. He really wanted to meet his favorite driver. I wanted to meet him to meet him too, but was a bit reserved as my boy had built up the night so big in his mind...what if my boy received the "superstar treatment" in which is like...hey, you bought my shirt and I signed it...see ya later kid. I wanted the night to be special. After the races, in which Robby did very well and made a helluva save and got a top 5, we went to the pits. Robby Wolfgang wasn't there right away, but Doug was, talking with someone. We patiently waited, until Doug was free. I introduced myself and my boy and he took great interest in Robby, thought it was neat that he was a "Robby" too and we visited for about 5 minutes. It was really neat to introduce my boy to my hero. Then Robby Wolfgang showed up and we patiently waited for a chance to visit with him. I had nothing to worry about. Robby took just as much time as Doug, signed his new shirt, posed for pictures with him and my Robby (of which 1 is blown up and hanging in the mancave), showed my boy his car and made him feel like they were buddies for about 20 minutes in his pits. Apples usually don't fall far from trees...Robby had to learn how to be what he is from what he is alway around at home. Something that I'm sure Doug turned into, and he explains that in his book. It is something that I hope I have tought my daughter who is a senior just heading out into the world, and my 10 year old boy.

DakotaDude,

Chad Holsworth

Mr Wolfgang was a real sprint car racer . His livelyhood depended on his race wins not loses. My first encounter with Doug was in 1978 at Ascot.He was guest driver of 98jr sprinter .After races he signed a Ascot program for my wife Conne who was 7 months along with our oldest daughter .She loves the man. He was in good spirits ,very friendly and enjoyable .Decades later Doug and Mr.Trostle were at Osky signing and giving out pictures.I had Doug sign a picture for Connie .Connie really was happy to receive it.I only have good things to say about any racer who can drive a sprint car . They all drive to WIN !!

Lone Wolf was one of my Christmas presents this year and I thought it was a great book. It showed both sides of Doug. The fierce competitor who hated to lose, and it showed the driver who wondered if he would ever win again. I thought it was a great book.

I also agree 100% with the above post. I work in the heavy manufacturing field. We take safety very seriously. The motto at the plant is "all accidents are preventable" It is amazing the conditions that racers will accept. Unprepared fire crews, unprepared EMT crews, bad facilities, the list could go on forever. The lawsuit was trying to make a change in this area.

It is too easy to say "it was a racing deal' It is very hard to ask the tough questions about racing safety. After every accident, we should ask the five whys. It is up to us to change the safety in racing. Look at the great safety improvments made in NASCAR after they made it important. Dirt track racing should be doing the same.

Great book!

Great racer!

I too got the book for Xmas this past. I purposely only read 1 chapter at a time so it will last a long while. I have read maybe 1 book previous in 20 years. I savor the book about the rare heroes of the sport we love. Fact is the real winners have a deep inner drive to win period no matter how many wins are under their belt. They fight inner demons that would make them the worst next door neighbor in the world for our enjoyment. Read the comments from Dana Kinser about living with Steve over the years of racing and his MASSIVE need to win even after years of dominance.

At least Doug tells it like it is/was. Like it or not. When you read "Fast Company" and compare Speedy Bill's comments about Doug, the stories are similar. But when you read Jan Opperman "Dialed In" and compare notes with Bill's book there are TOTALLY different stories.

I met Doug just after reading "Long Wolf". He seemed very humble about his controversial life experiences.

Nevertheless, it is interesting that we have different opinions when reading the same material.

Doug Howells wife's name was JoAnne, not Jeri. She was a very nice lady and kind to everyone who knew her. She was a very good business woman who knew her stuff.

Nice to see you still lurk around these parts Mr. Sanders. Did you go to the Chili Bowl this year? If my fading memory serves me right that used to be a place we'd get to chat (never long enough, lol) each year. The Chili Bowl not only had maybe the best racing all year long but it was likely the best place to meet everybody in the sport as well and they weren't busy working on cars for the most part, really miss those days.....

Since I retired from racing after 43 years of working on race cars I decided to get a real job haha I still keep up with whats going on, I stopped in at Kinsers place last week while working in Indiana, Scott was busy getting things ready for Florida, Steve was on his way to California to visit with some friends. Hope to see you around some time, hope your health gets better ! Take care !