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

(I'm not disagreeing with you---just want to add some things)

To keep it fair and compare apples to apples:

AJ Foyt did not compete in his first Nascar race until he was 28---Kyle's age now.  He did not win a race in Nascar until he was 35.  Kyle won his first Nascar race at 24 and had won 6 races by age 26.  I know it's different times, but he's just getting to what is considered "prime" in Nascar years.  He was also beginning to consistently keep the fenders on the car, and above all was competitive in a car that "Nascar sabermetrics" says is a 15th place car/team.  (according to the same study, with Kyle in the seat of that car, the ranking of the car jumps into the top 10 because he is in the seat---cannot find the article but I believe it was 8th)

Now, I know Foyt had a lot of other racing going on besides Nascar.  To also be fair, Foyt won the Indy 500 at age 26.  So, while it's unfair to proclaim the greatness of Larson to Foyt because he hasn't achieved what Foyt did, it's also unfair to proclaim Kyle couldn't end up as good because Kyle's career accomplishments at this point are very similar to Foyt's.  The start of his prime has just begun.  It's too early to tell either way.  However, Stevie Wonder can see the potential for Larson to be every bit as good, accomplished, and versatile as Foyt.  

Comparing ages of drivers then to now is pointless. In earlier generations parents didn't give little Johnnie the best cart money could buy at age five thinking he was going to be the next superstar like they do now. Same with Baseball, Football and every other sport. Years earlier kids were kids and started developing their careers later.

I don't disagree------this makes the Larson argument even stronger though.  Larson did not come with daddy's dollars like many of his competitors.  So, for Kyle to be able to compete with those drivers, without daddy's millions, actually gives him more credit-----not less.  

This statement is absolutely correct!  Larson made it strictly on talent, at a time when it was very hard to make it on talent.  Car owners wanted him because he was going to win in their car, and for as hard as he races, he rarely crashes in open wheel cars (and yes I know he destroyed a car at Husets and Port Royal, but he won 40 of the other 78 races in which he didn't crash). 

To answer an earlier question in this thread, you could tell he was different very early in his career.  I am not sure you can call someone a generational talent when they're still 17 or 18, but it was obvious that he was on a different trajectory from a very early point in his career.  In other words, I'm not surpised by how good he is now, based on what he did early in his career.  

 When Kyle showed up in 2010 at the oval nationals in the #38 Glen Crossno ride, it was very much like it is today. The best of the best was on the track, but everyone had a eye on Kyle. The Crossno #38 had been dusted off just for Kyle. When people on this forum say we saw Kyle coming since he was a youngster, believe them, we did.

 Christopher Bell in the 20 and Kyle Larson in anything, will be enough for me to tune in.

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

I have been fortunate enough to have seen Kyle race for many years now. Watching him win the gold cup where he lapped up to 7th place. Donny was second a half lap back. I got to watch him come into Calistoga and smoke everybody.  I saw him in the Crossno 38 at the Ovals and Crossno himself told me Kyle studied and watched and prepared for a race more than any driver he has ever had. Saw him win the Trophy cup.  I know this for fact is that every generation has the super stars. It pleases me so that I get to watch Kyle drive a race car of any kind. I also know he has all of us talking. Isn't that right Kenny.

We need more sprint car racing at our home track.

I know next to nothing about AJ's record on dirt (I assume he kicked ass?), but comparing them is "apples & oranges"... Kyle has nowhere near the credentials on pavement. On dirt, I lack the information to say... other than that Kyle has been amazing, not just this year. Any time he's on a dirt track, he's the favorite to win

I just Googled AJ.... turns out his father built him a go kart when he was 5!!! I don't think he competed in it tho...

But the best thing I found was this... his Modified racer from the 1950s... REAL HOTROD! Deuce coupe with injected Ardun/flathead conversion:

Those were the days!

I'd love to own it, lose the running boards & channel the body down on the frame rails a few inches, perfect street rod

Tho that would destroy the historic value... how bout one just like it?

From Wikipedia: " Foyt's father built A.J. a toy racer with a lawnmower engine when he was five years old.[3] Tony recalled that when he and his wife left an eleven year old A.J. home to attend a race, they returned to find the boy had done considerable damage to the home driving the family's other race car in the yard, and had caused the car's engine to catch on fire. While angry, the older Foyt did accept the likelihood of A.J. having a future as a driver."

Gravel from the back ran second behind Larson. No question, the phones a ringing.

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

The difference is the 1st and 2nd place finishes are professional race car drivers at this time. 3/4 of the field are just weekend racers or just dont race a whole lot

Absolutely Randy, and that's the short list. 

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

I think this sums it up. Silver Crown for whatever reason has the weakest talent base of the 3 USAC major divisions. Larson is an all-time talent and Gravel is probably in the top 5 of overall Dirt racing talent currently, but them just walking in and taking the top 2 spots says alot about the current Silver Crown talent base.