Forum: SCRAFAN.COM Forum (go)
Moderators: ljennings

Okay, I understand that I am of the minority (at least on this Message Board), being a "Purist" Sprint Car Fan (as opposed to either a "Traditional" Sprint Car Fan or a "Barn Door" Sprint Car Fan).  If it looks like a Sprint Car, smells like a Sprint Car, and acts like a Sprint Car, then I'm going to call it a Sprint Car and I'm looking forward to seeing it race...period.

I am already suffering from Sprint Car racing withdrawals, and the winter off-season has really just started.  We haven't even made it to "Silly Season" yet.  March seems an eternity from now!  Just imagine how much worse the anticipation will be come late February, when we're forced to tune in to whatever-the-hell channel will be covering the train races (Nascar Cup Series) to try and get our fix by watching Kyle Larson make his season debut on the beach in the Target-Ganassi #42.  Sure, its gonna be like sipping decaf while driving through the Tule fog on Highway 99 in the dark…it just ain't gonna wake your ass up...but it’s better than nothing.

With that said, AS A FAN I am really, really frustrated with the 2014 schedules released recently.  Right out of the gate, we have a serious choice to make as Sprint Car fans on Saturday, March 15^th.  After waiting all friggin’ winter long for some Sprint Car racing excitement, us Southern Cali fans are going to be forced to decide whether to stay in Tulare, California to watch Night #2 of the World of Outlaws duke it out at one of the best clay ovals in the country, or to stay home (missing not one, but two incredible nights of badass winged Sprint Car racing) and be present to see the debut of the “Mystery Driver” in the Moose Mobile #92, as Tom, Laurie & Gang take on the West Coast’s finest group of “Traditional” Sprint Car teams.  

What happened here?  How did this come to be?  There is only one (1) race at PAS in March…Saturday the 15^th…and it falls on a weekend when SoCal fans have an opportunity to see “The King” Steve Kinser battle it out with “Slammin’ Sammy” Swindell, as he kicks off the California leg of his “World of Outlaws Farewell Tour 2014”.  Why, Racing Gods…why?! 

Just thinking about the King being gone from the WoO gets me teary-eyed!  Think about this…I just turned 43 years old last week.  I have been going to Sprint Car races since I was only a few months old.  The WoO was started when I was in elementary school….seven years old to be exact.  I have NEVER seen a World of Outlaws race without Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell in the field.  It has only happened a few times since Ted Johnson’s inception of the series in 1978.  This is truly the “changing of the guard” in Sprint Car racing as I’ve known it my entire life…as we have all known it.     

With all the hoopla over the King saying goodbye to his fans and to the sport (as a driver), I’m sure Sammy Swindell will get just that much more up on the wheel and try to steal as much of the King’s thunder as possible.  After all, 2013 was not a banner year for Slammin’ Sam.  He spent a good part of the year trying to put together a new set of notes for setting up his Eagle chassis on Hoosier tires…quite a change from the Maxim/Goodyear combo.  Add to that the fact that, I for one am personally terribly excited to see Shane Stewart behind the wheel of the all-new Larson-Marks Racing, Go-Pro #2 entry.  The car looks bitchen, and knowing Kyle and Jason, it will be top-notch equipment.  Shane has not had this type of deal yet on the tour.  The competition better beware.  Also, David Gravel will be behind the wheel of the #59 all year.  He could be the upset of the season.  So much to look forward to!

Then there is the other side.  Mike Spencer is now a “wiley veteran” of non-wing Sprint Cars in SoCal and has been dominant the last half-decade. Last year, however, during his homecoming tour, the Demon had something to prove to himself and to his fans…that he still knows how to kick some ass in Cali…and he loves the heavier tracks out West!  Nic Faas gave them both a serious run for the money, appearing on the podium on nearly every time out.  David Cardey was the 2013 URA Champion, and had he made all the USAC-CRA shows in 2013, I guarantee you the points championship would have turned out differently.  Hall-O-Famer Rip Williams proved that he still knows how to get a Spike chassis around the ovals.  Rickie Gaunt has some stuff up his sleeve for 2014.  Throw in the “Young Guns” like Logan Williams and Jake & Cody Swanson into the mix (and possibly Darren Hagen and Dominic Scelzi) and we’re gonna see some killer battles this year!

I don’t want to miss either show.  This sucks.

Doug Bushey

Passionate Fan / Announcer / Media & Public Relations 
Agent 

Doug I saw this also. So here's my plans as of today. I will be at Tulare on Friday and then at the PAS on Saturday seeing as it is the home track and I will support it to the end. So I hope I can order up the Saturday show at Tulare  on my Ipad and ppl sitting by me at the PAS can watch also. Or I may be stuck with race monitor which is a very cool app. Now here's the twist. What if Friday at Tulare has a finish like Gravel and TK at the trophy cup ?  Do you stay for Saturday or Go watch our favorites at the PAS. Hey Dave  NON  WINGS RULE.

We need more sprint car racing at our home track.

I hear what your saying,so please don't get me wrong when I say that as a race car driver and a fan I have never see a better year coming up for sprint cars on the west coast.

The trifecta challenge says it all.

3 different sprint car clubs running all year long with NO conflicting date's is amazing.The fact that somebody could really go after a 3 championship year in the same state is amazing!!!!

USAC / CRA dosen't even support much racing past the grape vine.They don't even bring the top 10 up to Calistoga for the 2 day show.

The non-wing sprint cars could have better ground to stand on ,but let's face it.Teams are once agin going to sway toward saving there cars for these winged shows manly because there going to be running all these different tracks with NO conficting obligations to be at there clubs event.

I could go into greater detail but I'm going to stop right here,and go blow my nose and wipe the tears of sadness from my eye's because of all the traditional sprint car shows that are going to draw 18 car fields,and get no respect like they should have gotten.

5 cents....

Oh well!!...theres always an alternative tho!!...if they dont come to you,then you mite consider as I did!!....I moved from Austin to Yuma,to be split in btween the PAS' & Manzanita!!....when that did'nt work anymore for me,I moved again, here (Phx) to where it did,does now!!...now, theres more races than I can make!!...Canyon,Az.Spdwy,Casa Grande all within an hr.!!...Tucson Wings 2hrs.??.. Perris!! is only 41/2...JMO,of coarse,it helps if (work) don't get in the way anymore!!!!...eh Kenny!!.......

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Brucer'(Brewskis')

Not sure what you mean Bruce as I, as I have for the last 10 years this month, put in a 40 hour week at Yavapai College. 

 See ya at the Winter Challenge.

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