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

Just noticed that Greg Hodnett has entered the 360 Nationals. I believe this would be his first time competing in the 360 Nationals. Has he ran many (or any) 360 races this year?

Ask Frank

This will help him with his 410 nationals setup I'm sure. Knock off the rust a little before heading into the next week. He has been a legit contender making the A main most of the time. Always found that to be quite impressive.

Yes, Greg has participated in some 360 events this year. No spectacular results though. He's not having a very good year behind wheel.

is this still considered cherry picking?

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Cherry picking?? Take a look at the all time winners list, and the list of pre-entries. Hardly cherry picking!

http://www.terrymccarl.com/news/?i=32716

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Year -Driver, Number,Owner
1991 -David Hesmer, 1,Action Auto Racing
1992 -Garry Lee Maier 11x,Jimmie Rogers
1993 -Garry Lee Maier, 11x,Jimmie Rogers
1994 -Lee Nelson, 26,Bob Brody
1995 -Danny Lasoski, 45,Ray Lipsey
1996 -Terry McCarl, 51,Brad Gray
1997 -David Hesmer,11,Ergenbright Motorsports
1998 -Gary Wright,9,Gary Wright
1999 -Dennis Moore Jr.,71,Dennis Moore Jr.
2000 -Wayne Johnson,29J,Fred and Jo Threatt
2001 -Terry McCarl,24x,Terry McCarl
2002 -Jeff Swindell,6s,Don Goodson
2003 -Dennis Moore Jr.,75x,Doug Brown
2004 -Billy Alley,22,Stewart and Susette Alley
2005 - Billy Alley, 22, Stewart and Susette Alley
2006 - Jesse Giannetto, D1, Bulldogg Motorsports
2007 - Shane Stewart, 1HD, Mike Doyle
2008 - Wayne Johnson, 94, Mike and Tim Hammers/Robbie Forbes
2009 - Terry McCarl, 24, Tod Quiring
2010 - Shane Stewart, 57, Paul Silva
2011 - Shane Stewart, 57, Paul Silva
2012 - Shane Stewart, 57, Paul Silva
2013 - Shane Stewart, 57, Paul Silva
2014 - Brian Brown, 21, Brian Brown
2015 - Terry McCarl, 24, Terry McCarl
2016 - Sammy Swindell, 3s, A.G. Rains

Its been 410 drivers since 2006 when Billy Alley and Jesse Giannetto won it for 3 years. (Man I miss that yellow 22)

So with these caliber of drivers winning it, the question is... Are they all cherry picking cause they are 410 drivers in a 360 race or is it not cherry picking cause all of these high caliber drivers are running it?

I have to disagree with you.

Outside of David Hesmer, ALL of the drivers on the list spent a considerable amount of time behind the wheel of a 410, but I don't consider anyone a 410 driver only.  Most of these guys ran 360's and 410's through the season (including Giannetto in 2006).

However, many of those drivers raced 360's almost exclusively the years they won the 360 Nationals (Wayne in 2008, Shane in 2010-2013.

The only times it's been won by a 410 driver/team were 1996 (McCarl), 1999 (Dennis Moore, Jr), 2001 (McCarl), 2009 (McCarl), 2014 (Brown) and 2015 (McCarl).    The rest of those winning "teams" were 360 teams with good drivers behind the wheel.

Lasoski ran Ray Lipsey's 45 that was a 360 team.  Garry Lee Maier was a 360 team.  Gary Wright was following the ASCS National Tour.  Wayne Johnson was following the ASCS Ntional Tour both times he won.  Jeff Swindell was running a 360 out of Florida when he won.  Stewart and Silva's 57 followed the ASCS National Tour and the 1HD was a local team out of Washington state.  Even Sammy was running a 360 Team (A.G. Rains was a 360 only team until basically the King's Royal a couple weeks ago).

The fact is that the quality of drivers racing 360's has dramatically increased since 1990.  IMO, the racing in the 360 class at Knoxville usually far surpasses the quality of racing in the 410 class (this past week they were both spectacular).

I think he was bring sarcastic....

Indeed.