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

How important is a championship when you consider a great driver ? Steve Kinser is widely regarded as the best ever and rightfully so with 20 titles . Daryn Pittman's status has been elevated due to his recent success the last few years. But what about the the Jac's of the racing world who never won a woo championship but some people argue he's was one of the best. Or the Saldana's who if not for an injury or two might have 2 titles . If Brian Brown would have been at Knoxville every week he would probably be leading the points. Scahtz wins 23 last year but bad luck early combined with Pittman's consistency finishes second in the standings. Does that mean Pittman was the best driver last year or the most consistent with luck on his side. Luck has to be figured in every championship. Or maybe the true outlaws that just don't care about points ? Just curious to different opinions . What classifies Great , one of the best . Is a championship necessary ? And if you do win one on a given year does that mean your the best driver ? I know what I think , just want some other opinions .

IMO, Great drivers win lots of races, consistency is great and all, but you get paid to WIN and the "glory" is given to teh winner (If you don't run good enough to get "booed" when you win, then you're not "great" IMO.

Steve Kinser - Winner (1987 was his banner year with what, 54 wins?) - don't hear the boo's as much as you used to, but got boo'ed A LOT in the 1980's and 1990's (people were just tired of him winning)

Wolfgang - Winner (1989 he won nearly 50% of the races he entered and finished top 5 90% fo the time) -- don't remember any boo's really, but I'm from Iowa and the midwest is Wolfgang country

Lasoski - Winner (he and Forbrook won TONS of races and would drive all night from track to track and not necessariy chase points except K'ville where the guy that owned the motors wanted to win) - cheers turned to boo's quickly even when he ran the Max Roger's 49 and Forbrook 5 car when he won too much.

Schatz - winner (23 wins in this era is unbelievable)- get's boo'ed a lot (similar to Kinser)

My point is that I could care less if I hired a driver that could be consistent and win a Championship, I want a driver that has that "desire to win" whether the car is perfect or junk.  It just so happens that that desire to "win at all costs" generally will get them into a championship anyway unless they crash alot (Haud would fall into this category).

I am wondering if it speaks just for how good of a driver he was, or how good his competition was or is.  I am from IRA country and Bill Balog has won 6 consecutive championships.  Is he that good, or is his competition that lacking of resources and talent?  I don't think it's for a lack of talent so much as lack of funding.

i would put schatz up in steve's level of greatness and the attention/booing he gets at almost all tracks, heck i mean the guy won the nationals from what was 23rd?

as for balog he more of local great and i mean that with no disrespect to him or the ira, but i base it strictly off the fact that he has never done well outside of the wisconsin, iowa area, but for that series there's almost noone in those 6 years that could touch balog, probably some of the most intersting shows watching him would be at cedar lake battle it out against reinke, tatnell, dobmeier, winters, henderson, and a few others, but outside of that you expect him to win ira shows

Steve, Sammy, Wolfgang, all great I would add both Blaneys , Mark Kinser, Scahtz of course not necessary in this order because I think Schatz ranks 2nd behind Steve because of the level of competition he's doing it with. And a lot more you could add . Rahmer , hodnett an Kreitz great in PA just haven't seen them other places too much . Pittman will probably be there he's got a championship now . Saldana will be there he's approaching 90 woo wins and has 70+ all star wins not to mention various other wins . And he still might nab a championship . Bobby Davis Jr has a title and I don't classify him as great . He was consistent . The list could go on and on .