Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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WoO levies "first offense penalty" against Brian Lay for neglecting a drug test and fines Schatz $500 for the incident with Haud. 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/New17/?p=6193

     After reading that article about rules, fines, suspensions, appeals, etc. it seems only fair to suggest that the word "Outlaw" be phased out of the official name of this racing corporation.

Yes, I agree - let's throw the rulebook out the window, let drivers drive doped up and/or drunk, let drivers fight on the track and if we're lucky another Kevin Ward incident - all of the above. No need for any kind of oversight, lets just let these guys go "OLE SCHOOL OUTLAW" with zero disregard for any competitors or fans well being.

     I'm not saying that safety rules aren't important. They are. I'm saying that with a rulebook this thick, and the various ways to interpret those rules, appeal those rules, ignore those rules, etc. is so far removed from where the *outlaw* movement started that maybe it's time to update the name to something more in tune with what the WoO has become- a somewhat exclusive rich owner's racing club.

     Hired drivers racing for wealthy car owners has a lot of similarities to Nascar, or the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby at least has some grassroots appeal thanks to the horses eating grass. Racing looks a lot more like politics every day.

     How long before they fine a WoO driver for improper use of turn signals, or performing a slide job without properly tootling his horn first? If they fine Schatz for this infraction they'll have to fine everbody for it going forward. You'll know the jig is up when some owner's corporate lawyer is the one filing the appeal for a rule infraction.

    

Correct me if i'm wrong but when I see the word outlaws I feel like its referring to the cars themselves, not the drivers?

Either way, glad they took action. Too bad they won't give that money to Haud for a new front end. 

Could you imagine rebranding the Outlaws? The money, the time, and confusion with what payback long term? Its still badass what these guys do week in week out. Its just a cool name and it is just that.

Yes, because those two red herrings you spell out are very comparable to a driver refusing a drug test and another intentionally damaging a fellow competitors car...

Actually, the term as it was originally used referred to the drivers.   If you didn't run USAC or some other sanction for points, and just run wherever the money was good, then you were "Outlaw".    It probably became a reference to the cars not having any limits either though.      

good to know. Thanks Dryslick

Most of us would trip over each other to see the original outlaws back on track. 500.00 fine should have went straight to sheldon's bank account. Today's racers are not true outlaws. This is series racing. Back in the day guys chased $$$  Today guys get money for loyalty to a series.  WRG does not have the racer's best interest in there playbook or the fan.  Sure they have the sprint cars locked up, but look at the SLM series. LUCAS Oil, has the top drivers following there tour, they back the ASCS.  I wish they would back a 410 traveling show. Less travel,  more crown jewel races, and on those dates the WRG doesn't  go head to head with them. They would lose and they no it. 

     I don't see where there was a yes or no question there in my post, but I see your point.

     Consider this- The rule book for the WoO has grown from  virtualy nothing, to what it is today. Today's WoO is a lot closer to what NASCAR is now than what the WoO was 39(?) or so seasons ago when it started.

     Who would have believed back then, that the WoO would be a sanctioning body in the image of USAC? And who would have believed that 39 years in the future, they be racing limited sprint cars? (Limited to 410 cu in, limited to 5x5 top wings, limited to minimum weight).

So Rico Abreu is an outlaw cause he hangs around home till there is a string of big money shows in a row. I am not familiar with too many drivers. I am sure there are more. Tim Shaffer maybe.

I was told ascoc and woo drivers can not race at unsanctioned events. Is this true? The seires controlling car counts and keeping their drivers from making anyone elses event successful.

Is that why Schatz has a late model so he can do something of his own without ticking off the wrg?

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

You got it. I don't recall the details but one of the groups at one time had a rule if you raced in say a all star show the same day as a outlaw show you lost points and money. I think the rule got axed, can't remember. 

Remember..... anything remotely outlaw was outlawed many years ago.  

Luna's Ford engine style that won 2 WoO titles and 3 
Kings Royals before a weight rule against the best EVER
in their prime and now DOMINATES super dirt late model
racing is no longer allowed/wanted in a WoO sprint
car.... Was Luna a miracle worker?

Yes, what Rico does is technically an "outlaw style" schedule.    During silly season, that's what some people call it when a driver or team announces their plans for the next season.  If they're not running the WoO tour or some other sanction, then some folks call that an outlaw style schedule.   You would probably say the same thing about someone who primarily runs Knoxville but misses a show sometimes to go to a high paying race or WoO race in the area.   

With the World of Outlaws, they do have rules about running other tracks or series if you're a "platinum" member.   I think they can run other tracks if it's a track that has a WoO race during the season or something like that.   If it's a non sanction track or another sanction then they have to have permission from WoO.   The platinum agreement has tow money tied to it, and I believe the point fund too.   Someone who knows more can chime in on that one.   

Rico could be considered a outlaw. He doesn't chase any points. He can show up at a midget race, 360 race, or a high profile money race. Why not ? He pulls thru the pit gate at any show and he is automatically a guy that can win. West coast to East coast, he has proven that already, and dam few can say that...

The Outlaws have been tamed and the rules and cars of the top teams are very close.A high percentage of races are won from the pole.No one likes rubber down tracks.Still no excuse for showing your displeasure over being raced hard.$500 isnt much but they needed to do something.No place for drugs in any sport but we all know they are there sometimes.The best thing Ted Johnson did was the name He called his series.

Back in the days of the "original" Outlaws, an asskicking valued at around $500 would have most likely been taken out of someone's ass after the race in the pits....not on the track tearing up equipment.  Then things would just proceed on to the next race.  That's the way the men of the day rolled.  I think the reason being was back in those days, there wasn't near as much money and/or high profile owners/teams/etc. on the circuit and most every driver and team owner worked their asses off for what they had.  This brought about a certain, albeit limited at times, level of respect among each other.  I witnessed on more than one occasion a pair of drivers rolling around in the dirt "discussing" their gripes with each and the following week sitting together on the back of the car trailer drinking a beer and burning a Marlboro. :-)

Attempting to be a voice of reason in a world full of
irrationality. 

The biggest thing that has changed since then is that in those days, there wasn't social media or internet and everyone didn't have the world at their fingertips via a small device in their pocket. Back then, there was a much higher likelihood that what happens in the pits after the race, stays there. People back then got their news from the papers and now, we mostly get it from each other the moment it happens. More than likely, if 2 guys get into a scrap, there will be 3 or 4 cellphone cameras recording the action and within minutes, it's on Twitter or YouTube for all the world to see. Things have changed. Some things are better, some not so much so. I will always believe that a problem between 2 men is best resolved by those 2 men dealing with it among themselves. If that means yelling obscenities at each other or throwing a few punches, so be it. Like you said, more times than not, while the fans are still talking and arguing about it, the drivers involved are way over it. That said, I still like the WoO. They're a lot more polished than they once were but they're still outlaws. They travel across the country all season racing at different tracks every night while taking on the locals & the "true outlaw" guys. It's the toughest gig in all of sprint car racing and it isn't for the faint of heart. I wish we could restore many aspects of the past but it is what it is and for my money, I still enjoy going to their shows.

Plus nowadays if there was any fisticuffs , there would be lawyers and lawsuits.