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

Let's say that the leader of a random sprint car race bonks into another car while trying to lap it. The encounter puts the lapped car into the fence and upside down. If the instigator of the crash keeps going until the red flag flies, he keeps the lead. Is that consistent with other sanctions and tracks? Why not just bonk all the lap cars out of the way?

The Macedo Torpedo had a direct hit. Or bonk as you put it. Once he gets radar lock it's ass over tea kettle for you.

A lapped car is considered fair game you can run over, through, send them to the moon with no consequence. I raced for 17 years and ive been going to races all my life and ive actually seen several occassions where it was blatantly obvious that the leader spun a lapper out on purpose either because he was having trouble getting around or he just wanting a caution so he didnt have to deal with traffic. Ive used a few up myself because i knew if i didnt get around quick i was going to get passed. The answer is no, there is no consequense for sending a lapper they are merely considered  an obstacle.

The only groups that I know of that do the stupid penalizing with sending people to the tail over racing contact is local pavement tracks and kids racing. I have never been to a World of Outlaws race, All Star, or a weekly show around here where contact was made between two cars racing that ended with 1 car stopped and the other being penalized and sent to the tail. Yet for some reason this year with multiple wrecks we see many rocket scientists get on the comment section and state so and so should have been sent to the tail or DQ'd. I dont't know if it is something that is just sour grapes because they do not like a driver, or if more pavement people are watching sprint cars now because of the streaming platforms and just do not understand the rules. 

I am sure if there is a 100% certainty that a driver used his car as a weapon and just drove straight into someone then yes they would be DQ'd. But 2 cars racing, 1 guy misjudges or miss times a move, or a fast car comes up on a slow car and gets into him trying to maintain his lead then no they are not going to be penalized. 

Agree.  I've not seen it either.  Back in the day in Nascar maybe?  But not recently.  Hell, you can spin out now even in Nascar and blend in if you don't stop.  Like you said, has to be blatant driving straight through someone else maliciously.  

You don't bonk all the lappers out of the way because payback is a bitch.  The guy may be a lapper tonight, but he may qualify better than you next week, and you don't want to have a target on your back when you are trying to pass him.

Back when I raced I wouldnt run over lap cars because I have a conscience and didnt want to junk someone elses equipment that is probably having a tough time getting a car together in the first place. Find a way to pass'em!!! If I didnt have a conscience though I'd be living that #BonkLife for sure.

Haven't seen it recently but in the past I've seen a few drivers get the black flag for rough riding. 

A

I felt that way too, but apparently that thinking is in the past.  It seems to be that current thinking is if you can't afford 5 of everything, you don't belong out there.

I think the problem is that the WoO has a rule that says: 

 “Any cars that are involved in a red flag situation will be required to restart at the rear of the field, including cars that go to the pits during a red flag situation.”

Call me “crazy” (or would that be “bonkers" in this case ? ) or a “rocket scientist” if you wish….. but I think that rule should be removed, modified, or enforced.

Macedo was clearly "involved in a red flag situation" since he bonked the lap car that crashed and came to a stop.  

I guess "involved in a red flag situation" needs to be cleared up then.  I didn't see Sheldon's car stopped anywhere on the track.  I think some of you are taking this rule out of context.  "Involved in the red flag" is meant to distinguish cars that are stopped on the track.  There are going to be cars stopped on the track that were a part of the accident, and possibly cars stopped near or at the accident that were not a part of the accident, but simply came to a stop with nowhere else to go.  "Involved in the red flag situation" is meant to allow the other cars that immediately stopped to get their spots back as they were not involved in the actual wreck itself.  

Sheldon did not stop.  This is a moot point.  Not only was he not stopped on the track from the wreck, he never stopped near the wreck because of the red flag.  He only stopped as he was wheeling around the track away from the wreck.  And the most important part of all of this-----he got hit from behind anyways---some of ya'll acting like he drove through someone.  

Didn't see Macedo's wreck.  Did he come to a stop with the car that caused the red, or continue on?  If he continued on, he's not involved in the red flag, and neither is any other car that stopped because of the wreck in front of them.  The only car going to the back are those that were in the wreck, and didn't continue on.  The only way Macedo now goes to the back is if he goes to the pits.  

What you say is true.  The rules are pretty clear on this.  I think the vibe here is it's disapointing to see the car that actually caused the wreck continue on with no consequences.  It happens a lot.  Macedo clearly hit the lap car and caused it to end up on its lid.  And simply continued on.  It actually helped him because it got him out of traffic. He did admit fault in his interview.  I know we don't usually want more judgement calls........until we do.  Lol. 

Are we talking about Play Station here or real Sprint Cars? "Bonking" as you call it in Sprint cars poses the risk of injuring someone or eating up their pocket book! And possibly someone getting bonked in the eye afterwards in the pits.

I guess it's safe to say that Macedo is living the #Bonklife.

I want less and less judgement calls in all sports, period.  If you put Sheldon or Macedo to the back, then hypothethically, do you have to put the next car in line to the back if it drives through trying to avoid the accident but lightly bumps tires?  What about a car 30 feet ahead that gets loose, causes everyone to check up, never makes contact with anyone, but 3 cars pile up behind him?  Should he go to the back too?  Where does it end?  

Black and white:  the car doesn't stop, he retains his spot.  Period.  Over the period of 80 races, this all works its way out.  Everyone is just in 2024 conspiracy mode over every damned decision made in sports.  It's become an epidemic.  I sure miss the old days where a few old guys just complained about the call on Monday night Football at the coffee house in the morning.  

You guys continue to act like it's a nightly event. Sheldon wrecks himself more than Carson "bonks" others. Gravel in one week tore up more cars than Macedo has this season. Hell Brad has tore JMac up more than Macedo has anybody this season. 

Thru the years macedo has junked alot of others equipment. It will be interesting next year with both macedos pulling dumb moves wrecking others stuff.

Obviously you're a JJR fan so you're POV is scewed. I have heard Carson say he was being less agressive b/c the perception was that he was too aggressive. 

Regardless both drivers are good. 

Keep It Real

Ideally imo anyone who causes a yellow or a red should be penalized somehow. The back would be a serious penalty worthy of an attitide adjustment. But it is so hard to determine who wrecked who most of the time and as someone else said , cut and dried rules are easier to uphold.

I watched Carson on replay several times. Hard to say if it was intentional or just a bad timed effort to do the right thing in the wrong place.

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Very difficult to determine---as you state.

Did Sheldon cause that wreck at WG?  Sure.  He got sideways, and Chase ran over the back of him.  Even though Sheldon did not hit him, and Chase initiated the contact, it's pretty obvious that Sheldon getting sideways was the reason for the wreck.  Let's change the scenario ever so slightly.  Let's say Sheldon and Chase are nose to tail going into the corner, and Sheldon bobbles ever so slightly causing Chase to run over him in the same fashion-----a small enough bobble that only Sheldon, Chase, and maybe someone close to the contact would see it.  Do you throw Sheldon to the back in both scenarios?  Probably not.  Where's the line?  How much of a bobble would be grounds for "causing the wreck?"  I'm happy this isn't part of the decision----even more fuel to the conspiracy fires!

The driver continues on under their own power, and they blend in where they were at.  Cut and dried.  Take as much opinion and feelings out of every decision.