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

I've seen several commentors refer to drivers not having adapted to the new tire.  What new tire?  Did Hoosier change something before the 2017 season started?

I agree. Sammy was as sharp as they come about figuring out how to make a car go fast. He may be a better engineer than he was'is a driver. I have no doubt he'd figure it out if it were the tires. Age you can't do anything about.

As already stated, he was good on Goodyears and when they went back to Hoosier is when his problems started.    As I understand it, Sammy is very good on ASCS but I think that's a different Hoosier tire than the 410s use???   Someone can correct me if I'm mistaken on that one.

I know he was good on the Goodyear tire but I remember some very public bashing of Goodyear by Sammy, especially at Knoxville one year.  I thought I remembered reading he was happy to go back to Hoosier but I am probably mistaken.

Sammy obviously is a very smart guy and I personally doubt he's lost anything as a driver.   The reason I know it's for sure the tires is because I've heard Sammy say that myself!    I was in a conversation with him at the Chili Bowl a few years ago along with a couple of other guys and that's exactly what he said.    He had not figured out the setup with those tires and he was hoping they had made progress on it, but the results since then have been about the same.      

Not disputing Father Time and the inevitable, but then how, at age 60, did Sammy ever win the 2016 Knoxville 360 Nationals? I agree, not the same animal as a 410, but still one hell of an acheivement regardless the driver's age. I don't think Sammy has the same passion and desire he once did. That would make a difference. But I still believe he can hold his own in the right 410 car/team combination. He has kept himself in remarkable condition.

It is funny how different article authors see things.  Quite a few years ago a article said if Sammy would just quit trying to engineer every thing and just drive the car he would do better.

That may be correct.   Personally I wondered why Sammy was struggling to make the A at the Nationals, and yet Kevin seemed to be able to jump into the Indy Race Parts car and instantly be competitive.   

Yes, the Hoosier "Medium" is the norm for most 360's, at both local and national levels, and is the spec tire for ASCS. Quite a bit harder then a 410 tire.

Interesting...I'm an old school fan who did most of my race chasing in the 80s and early 90s. Now I'm limited to a couple of races a year and following along on the internet. There may be a point in saying that with today's cars and rules there isn't much a guy tinkering with a car can find to give themselves an advantage. Back in the 80s there was a lot more wiggle room. I remember Sammy spending a whole winter figuring out the most effecient way to wire and plumb the engine to save something like 2 pounds of weight.

DO U REMEMBER when  There were # 3  Tire Manu  that sold Sprint Tires >>>. Hoosier  Goodyear & McReary ,Guess what eveyone had preferances > Also Sammy did ALOT of TESTING for GOODYEAR back then & GOODYEARS were successful for a while IN Dirt RACING . I worked with the New GOODYEARS & the Sidewall was so Stiff That when  MOUNTING Them we  would Leave them in ths SUN for up to 4 Hours to make them Workable buy One Person :::::

Dryslick is  close. The Goodyear side walls were nut busters. Stiffer than all get out sidewalls that under acceleration kept you up on the RR. It was heavily rumoured, yes Sammy did a great deal of testing for Goodyear along with another driver, that  other driver had tires that year for the nat's that no one else had. Sammy I'm sure was not happy and Goodyear was gone the next season. Makes you wonder. Long time ago and many just really didn't care. 

I saw Sammy win the short track nationals at I-30 speedway 5-6 years ago with the left front completely flat.  During the post race interview he stated, hell, I didn't need four tires to beat these guys!  Classic Sammy...

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...