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

They suck.  In fact, I almost did not renew my Knoxville Nationals tickets this year (have been going since the 80's), because the stopping of the race is HORRIBLE. 

Both A mains this season have been 20 laps. They announced 25 opening night but the scoreboard said 20. And they ran 20.

Ok, Im sick of hearing fans bitch.  You comlain about small fields, then you complain Bout fuel stops.  Well not everyone can afford an extra 33 gallon tank, thats  2600 dollars, or 3 nights of racing.  So quit spending other people's mo ey, or bitching that they don't spend it.  

I agree 100%.  Go watch NASCAR if you want fuel stops.  These are Sprint cars.  The ONLY need for stopping should be because of a bad wreck.  Plan ahead or pull off.

To me the fuel stop at the Knoxville Nationals sucks. I view the race up to the fuel stop as a glorified hot lap session. Then it is basically a 25 lap race.

Simple, just run the older (larger) type cells/tails. Longer races were much more exciting then because so much could happen in a longer race. Tires and tire management always became an issue, driving strategy, track change always come into play on longer races. The longer races seemed to have an equalizer effect between competitors for various reasons.

Why should a race and its possible excitement be limited by technology of the cars, especially in this day and age.

You all must be a bunch of youngsters. There was a time when there were no fuel stops. And do you know what? The cars had as much HP as the 360's today and the racing was better. The 360 Nationals and the Short Track Nationals are 10 times more competitive than the Knoxville Nationals.

Although, since Knoxville went to 50 laps, we've seen some of the best nationals races in history. I remember back when it was 30 laps, that race would normally last about 10 mins and then the biggest race of the year is over just like that.

Love the format and the drama where anyone in the field can win! I only wish they would not allow the crews to make any adjustments other than fuel and tires.

yes they were 20 laps and how does Vandee77 know what size tanks people have by setting in grandstands?  My eye sight is not that good.

There were more fuel stops back in the day than today! They used to open up every red flag which would allow crews to refuel. Closed reds are the problem 

I would agree with you.....I too recall more open reds years back where fuel and adjustments were allowed. Even on closed reds today, I think fuel should be allowed to be added on the first red at each teams discretion. That may prevent the need for a fuel stop under yellow later in the race.....and if a team chooses to gamble and not take fuel on a red when it's allowed (say early in a race) and that team or those teams that don't should run out before the finish because of yellows....too damn bad. Push them in to the pits, they had their chance. With no reds, if a race has numerous yellows, then of course there may be a need for fuel. I have no opinion on fuel capacity requirements.

If there is a red flag, why not let them refuel? The cars are stopped anyway! And saves having to stop them later on. I recall the glory days and one my favorite parts was watching Karl Kinser and other great mechanics come out on a red and make adjustments. 

I'd bet Karl and Steve won more races than anyone after an open red.  Lol.  

According to the official results on knoxvilleraceway.com , the opening night race was 25 laps with no time due to red flag.

As far as fuel tank size, go down to the pits and look and ask.  They don't hide the fact that they aren't running the big tanks nor are they hiding it that they don't fill the tanks they run today.

Score board started at 20 laps and counted down to 0. Checkers flew at 0. I looked as the leader crossed the line every lap. At no time did the # of laps do anything but change by 1. I looked each lap because I did hear it announced as 25 but only 20 put on the score board.

Bill W's report says 20 laps for both 410 A mains this season.

his write up says 20 laps, the official results state 25.

I personally don't count the laps or really look at the scoreboard except when the yellow flies to see how many laps are left.

I did say to allow adding fuel and making adjustments on a red flag. My position is to allow it on the first red flag of a race. The exception being if a red comes within the first say five laps. How many times do you feel teams should get to get it right? And if you allow a top wrench to adjust a car 2,3,4 times a race because of red flags the majority of the field is screwed. I don't agree with open reds at every red flag. JMO

You're right. Definitely not every red flag, but do it early instead of stopping the race later and pissing everyone off 

What time period are you calling "back in the day"?