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

After last night's very serious incident, is it time to rethink how the Chili Bowl is marketed? I've seen social media discussion that having a corporate sponsered flip count really downplays the fact that its still racing and its inherently dangerous. I also wonder if that contributes to some of the really bone-headed driving we're seeing the first few nights? 

T

The crash last night was very ugly, it sounds like Ashton will be okay. The CB has had a flip count for a long time now and it is part of the event. Its tough to make the feature and lots of people driive over their heads. Unfortunately midget racing has become a contact sport where rich kid money rules but I don't think any of them are crashing to increase the flip count unless they are gambling on the over/ under line.

So thankful that his injuries are not life threatening. That being said, last night's crash proved there needs to be a MINIMAL AGE requirement in place for not only the Chilli Bowl, but ALL Open wheel racing. I understand there is an exciting new crop of young phenom racers like Timms, Day. Boschele, Crews and Avedisian etc who are very agreessive but the sport is still dangerous and last night was a major wake up call for the sport.

I'm torn. Lots of crashes shouldn't really be a badge of honor worthy of sponshorship. Yet, I don't want my sport to turn into a padded room full of wokeness. Not sure what the correct answer is. One thing that does need to be addressed is how could this have happened? That wasn't that violent compared to stuff most of us have seen. Glad that kid is OK, it could have been way worse.

The flip count is not making drivers do things they shouldnt. Is the corporate nascar race sponsoring the flip count tacky? Yeah probably, but I'll put it in the same category as alcohol advertising at any automobile event. 

Here's a suggestion, the flips are going to happen anyway at the chili bowl and people are going to count how many no mater what. How about raising awareness to dangerous situations, safety products, non profits, etc... Ideally something safety related or cause awareness related. 

"tonight's flip count is going to raise awareness of ________ cause." I saw a gal being interviewed promoting ovarian cancer awareness on her car. "crashes happen no matter what at the chili bowl and ovarian cancer happens no matter what in life, lets bring awareness to the cause and give a link to donate some money for tonights cause" 

I have always thought a free will dontation for a "tip" to be split by the safety crew at the end of the night would be a great cause as well. 

Just a couple of thoughts

That was scary as hell. I know we get lulled into indoor racing as being pretty darn safe but these cars and/or circumstances can still bite you in the ass as Tim McCreadie can attest. 

Unbelievable no Ambulance, no excuse for this. shouldn't fire another car off until this is taken care off!!!

Track delay waiting on for a Ambulance and i have witn races being called off over this.

5 minutes after the accident they said they was working on a plan to get the Ambulance to the seen. At that point they should have been getting the Ambulance a clear path to leave the congested facility!!

Very weak and discusting Drivers and teams to stand up, this is basic and a lot more important than the BS payout, does it cost to much to provide a Ambulance? 

I saw Billy Wease take a ride at the Hoosier Dome when his throttle stuck that still ranks as one of the hardest crashes I've seen in racing indoor or outdoor. I'm like someone else said on here...torn. I do think some the the young kids are driving way over their heads and don't respect how much they can get bit in the ass. 

Yeah,  let's overreact over a 1 in a million flip. 

If anything find out how this could happen. 

They will find out.

The flip count is classless and disrespectful to our sport. 

No ambulance on site...what the actual F#%K! 

After what we all witnessed in the NFL game last week and racing is a sport where the potential for serious injury is much higher...I'll say it again...what the actual F#%K! 

Well, did they put the put the number up on the board after this accident? Or unplug it? I think I would just unplug it for the rest of the week. 

Who cares about the stupid Flip count. The real issue here is what happened to cause him to be ejected. That's what really needs investigated, to make sure it doesnt happen again. Everybody is crying about bs, young drivers, Flip counts, Yada Yada. 

I believe it was Brad Doty who tweeted, and then some other drivers in replies to his tweet, who said that driver's arm restraints can get caught in the seat belt latch and actually unlatch the belts. 

Seen a ASCS race hotlap have a driver get invlolved in a cockpit fire that burned his legs.  Grandson called grandpa cancelled the whole show because there was NO AMBULANCE ON SITE... granted you can see the hospital from the track but they threw a big fit about it........NOW at there event they don't have one?????? 

ODD HOW THAT WORKS

Who has said that this will not be investigated? Do you seriously believe they will not get to the bottom of what happened very quickly?

Doesn't need to investigate the Ambulance not provided. They are very fortunate to have the safety crew from the Warrior region, these guys are top notch! But there's no way that should substitute not having a Ambulance ready on site. If they don't have one tonight that would be totally unacceptable.

These cars are not what they was in 1987, nor the drivers as respectful to each other. There is a lot of things that could get real ugly and could devastate this sport. The safety fence is very sketchy coming off the corners especially off turn 2. There needs to be a solid investment in those areas to enhance spectator safety and the sport! The wrong unfortunate circumstances could lead to needing multiple Ambulances 

Chili Bowl is a low er speed track, and this shows what can happen at any speed.  I never saw it but was told it was a seat belt failure or not propertly atrtached.  I was told driver came out of car.  I watched race but went to something else during delay.  This has happened to drivers at all ages.   I know of 2 adult drivers that died because shoulder belts were not tight, one when seat was not properly bolted in car and another when all belts were loose and crouch strap was not fastened at all.   What do you do in those  cases.        Belts should be tightened till they are sort of uncomportable.  The chili bowel driver is lucky and I hope he or someone else learned a lesson.  I hear he is ok and there is no reason for fans to over react.  I think a age limit of 15 would be OK but we do not need some 10 year old wonder boy out there.

Agreed!   There's the McCreadie accident, but also the young man that endoed into the fence on one end of the track.   I think his name was Peyton Williams possibly?  He wound up with a damaged roll cage when it came down on the wall.   This is still very serious business.   

The flip count doesn't make drivers drive any different. Take it or leave it I don't care if it stays or go I just want to watch good racing. I do think younger folk have less foresight and fear causing them to make more risky moves. Some kids at 16 are ready for it, some are not. How do you distinguish? When it comes down to it, it sounds like a freak incident and likely the fault of the operator/team. Maybe they need to have a belt check before the race and a pre tech for safety before their qualifying night. Don't make wholesale changes penalizing teams doing things right. We continue to dumb down America with new rules protecting us from ourselves...