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

There is a BIG difference of flipping out over the fence.....than spinning into the infield out of harms way.  Sorry, HUGE difference between the two.  You are comparing apples and oranges on this one.

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

Well said sir.

If one car spun out and was sitting there, either outside the track or in the infield, in a unprotected spot there is a chance another car could do the same.  In this age that is so safety focused why wouldnt they throw a caution? 

By what I saw and what the officals saw.  He was out of harms way in the infield.  So no caution was thrown.  

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

As others have said, he didn't spin out, he was turned.

I remember very clearly being upset with the Outlaws in the past about them throwing a yellow when someone spun well off of the track.   The response was that if the first car could get there it is reasonable to assume that another car can spin to the same spot.

So, if history states that you throw a yellow when a driver is turned, and you throw a yellow when a car is in danger, why are we surprised that Sheldon reacted the way he did?

Sheldon should be suspended for a couple of races his actions of throwing his helmet on the racing surface.   He was out of harms way.  Sorry guys not buying this story you are telling and I like Sheldon....he is very exciting to watch!

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

Sheldon's car wasn't the only risk factor in the infield. I'm sure there were some people and other vehicles of various sorts as well. The infield isn't a barren desert.  More than likely he was stopped out of harms way to a degree no more or less than other people or misc objects around the area. 

I'll ask you the same question. If you were Haudenschild and felt you had been wonged. What should you have done? I  know that throwing the helmet is the wrong answer, but what about the time leading up to that?

Just curious too----the Outlaws are saying they did not see Sheldon spin.  Is it possible they missed the spin, but saw him sitting off the track and thought he simply pulled off and tried to get off the racing surface?  (Asking because I did not see it)

If they didn't see him spin, shame on them. Don't they have spotters other than the flagman watching for safety reasons? Or, do they do a car count at the checkers to see if they've lost any along the way? At our local tracks, if a car tries pulling in off the track and doesn't make it in far enough to be safe, the throw a yellow and push the car in, rather than riask someone getting hurt. 

If they didn't see him spin, they were fine leaving him sitting there where another car could hit him? Seems like an odd explanation. 

I certainly hope the WOO organization puts out a statement.  I'd like to know the spin-out rule/s, followed up by 1)  their thought process for why they didn't through a yellow in this case, and 2)  explain any driver penalty...or lack of.  As fans, we deserve to get this one resolved.

I like Sheldon.  How was he wronged?  I don't see where he was wronged.  Sorry he was not in harms way.  No caution should have been thrown.  The only thing I see is Sheldon found out race cars continue to go around without him on the track and again I like sheldon, but he was out of harms way. 

Now he did wrong when he threw his helmet. 

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

Team Sheldon 100% on this. Its insane to think we now have to debate "safe spaces" off the track for cars to stall, spin, or crash into. Like mentioned before, do we need to throw a red if a driver safely flips over into a "safe space" and is out of the "danger zone"? Just check with him on radio or have somebody quickly attend to him. If fine, keep racing huh??  Good lord. This is such a dumb debate. WoO messed up terribly here and they need to eat the helmet throw IMO. There are NO safe spaces around or just off the track if you didnt willingly go park it there yourself / stalled.  Another car touched Sheldon...enough said.  I mean how they gonna keep racing if 2 cars touch like that and be 100% sure debris isnt on the track or somebody about to break and cause another car to run over their debris?  Those of you saying Sheldon was just fine and no yellow should be thrown are really making me question why you watch racing let alone what you understand or comprehend about competitive 410 sprint car racing. 

He was out of HARMS WAY.  Whether you like it or not.  

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

How so? He ended up there being pushed there. You telling me that zero others could end up there and youre 100% sure its impossible?  If not, then beat it. And it doesnt matter if he was out of harms way...that is asinine that a driver can get spun into a stall and the race continue.  Just opens up racing to become some sort of rubbing and pushing others off the track (safely of course) to they can pass and end the night for another racer.  Good lord.  There is NO debate on this. None. 

To be clear, I said if he felt he had been wronged. You don't feel he had been wronged. I understand that. And I agree that throwing the helmet was wrong. On that, we agree. 

What, in your opinion should he have done? Just sit there in the car and hope no one else spun off the track and ran into his parked car?

You know, I wonder...

If Danny Dietrich takes out another car on purpose and it flips into the infield and out of harm's way, do they throw a yellow, or just have a WoO official tackle somebody after the race?

Sheldon's reaction had NOTHING to do with him being worried about getting hit by another car. He would probably tell you that himself. All he wanted was to get back out there preferably without going down a lap. Since the WoO has no "two caution rule" there was nothing to lose by throwing a caution which they have done countless times. Throwing the helmet just takes the spotlight off of what the real issue here is and for that I'm sure Sheldon regrets it. When you consider the points hit getting a DNF vs. a top 15ish finish any WoO platinum member should have gotten better treatment. A yellow should have been thrown in line with the WoO "always taking care of their own" which the more experienced fan among us knows actually exists.

He was out of harms way.  Sorry to disappoint you!!  Good lord.  Some people!

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

He wouldn't have passed very many cars.  The track was junk all night long. Kind of reminded me of another slip and slide track.

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!