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Topic: Craig Dollansky Retiring
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Page 1 of 2 of 22 replies
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March 27, 2018 at
01:37:39 PM
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01/29/2014
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430
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Congrats to the Crowd Pleaser on a great career. He announced today via Facebook that he was calling it a career due to multipl injuries received over multiple seasons. It;s been a pleasure to watch you run all over the country!
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March 27, 2018 at
02:57:57 PM
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10/19/2016
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840
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Agree 100%. He certainly lived up to his nickname over the years. Thanks for the memories.
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March 27, 2018 at
02:58:29 PM
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02/13/2017
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420
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I never got to see him and wasn't really into racing when he was in his prime. I know that he was well liked though.
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March 27, 2018 at
03:10:16 PM
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09/14/2010
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7607
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The 2 older ladies sitting next to me at Knoxville Nats a few years ago will be crushed... they both though he was a "dreamboat"!
Glad he got out with most of his body still intact!
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March 27, 2018 at
04:07:15 PM
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08/10/2010
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299
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He was a hell of a driver! Shame the injuries shortened up his time racing. Would have loved to see him finish his career on his terms: Thanks Craig for all the highlights!!!
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March 28, 2018 at
03:08:31 AM
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12/01/2004
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633
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The first time I saw him race was at Knoxville early in his career. I was impressed with his aggressive driving but especially with his control of the sprint car. When he was about to hit a slower car in between one & two he lifted to avoid hitting him... didn't put a slide job on him or take him out. This was refreshing with racing at that time. I've been a fan ever since then.
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March 28, 2018 at
09:19:48 AM
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09/15/2005
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5174
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Beyond his obvious skills piloting a race car, Craig is a super nice and genuine guy to work with as a customer too...which made him a great ambassador for the sport.
He was always very appreciative, and that just made me want to work even harder to keep pleasing the Crowd Pleaser. 
Congrats on a stellar racing career and for the future ahead.
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March 28, 2018 at
10:22:40 AM
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11/30/2004
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Is his son still racing? I don't think I saw his name in any races last year.
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March 28, 2018 at
02:22:48 PM
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03/16/2017
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He will be missed.
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March 28, 2018 at
08:06:59 PM
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12/01/2004
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He definitely could wheel a sprint car!! Wish him and his family all the best in the future. Thanks for all the memories #7
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March 28, 2018 at
08:31:54 PM
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04/22/2006
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278
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I will ALWAYS be his #1 fan! He will surely be missed by my family! There will never be anyone better than him, and his amazing family!
The Crowd Pleaser IS THE BEST ever!
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March 28, 2018 at
08:37:37 PM
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04/22/2006
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278
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Lucas isnt racing...he got married a few years ago and I think he lives in Pa? Think he married a Darah? Garrett isnt racing either, not sure why though?
The Crowd Pleaser IS THE BEST ever!
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March 29, 2018 at
05:01:34 AM
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10/26/2014
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Reply to:
Posted By: Dollanskyfan1.1 on March 28 2018 at 08:37:37 PM
Lucas isnt racing...he got married a few years ago and I think he lives in Pa? Think he married a Darah? Garrett isnt racing either, not sure why though?
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Craig is a class act and a great wheelman. He will definitely be missed. Speaking of Darrah, I wonder if we'll ever see Cody behind the wheel of a sprint car again?
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March 29, 2018 at
05:01:44 AM
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10/26/2014
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2482
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Reply to:
Posted By: Dollanskyfan1.1 on March 28 2018 at 08:37:37 PM
Lucas isnt racing...he got married a few years ago and I think he lives in Pa? Think he married a Darah? Garrett isnt racing either, not sure why though?
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Craig is a class act and a great wheelman. He will definitely be missed. Speaking of Darrah, I wonder if we'll ever see Cody behind the wheel of a sprint car again?
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March 29, 2018 at
07:12:25 AM
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784
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on March 29 2018 at 05:01:44 AM
Craig is a class act and a great wheelman. He will definitely be missed. Speaking of Darrah, I wonder if we'll ever see Cody behind the wheel of a sprint car again?
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One of the best for many years.Injuries can happen in any sport or everyday activities but sounds like the Indy crash was the begining of a painful several years.Hope He can continue with his driving school plan as racing has been his life. It has became harder for veterans to secure a ride no matter how good and there are.
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March 29, 2018 at
07:48:04 AM
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11/20/2006
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297
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There was a rumor back in Januaury Craig and a group of investors had made an offer on Husets for 6 mil and Chuck turned them down. Any truth to the rumor?
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March 29, 2018 at
10:18:58 AM
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11/07/2006
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5575
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It sounds like Craig is about to undergo some serious back surgery with a long recovery so I'm hoping that goes well for him. I first met him in at a Gumout race in Superior and interviewed him at the 2003 Billy Anderson Memorial while he was in a body cast. The interview was for a TV show we were doing on local Twin Cities channel 45 and I had just had a neck fusion two years prior to that so the subject of injuries and surgery was one of the topics that came up. I don't do the reporting anymore but expect that I'll be running into him again at one of the area races as we have been on a first name basis since then. His dad bought his first Sprint Car from one of my cousins so I had that connection going as well. I hope that the surgery and recovery goes well so that he can enjoy the best quality of life possible going forward.
Stan Meissner
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March 29, 2018 at
03:27:38 PM
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04/22/2006
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278
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This message was edited on
March 29, 2018 at
03:28:16 PM by Dollanskyfan1.1
Reply to:
Posted By: StanM on March 29 2018 at 10:18:58 AM
It sounds like Craig is about to undergo some serious back surgery with a long recovery so I'm hoping that goes well for him. I first met him in at a Gumout race in Superior and interviewed him at the 2003 Billy Anderson Memorial while he was in a body cast. The interview was for a TV show we were doing on local Twin Cities channel 45 and I had just had a neck fusion two years prior to that so the subject of injuries and surgery was one of the topics that came up. I don't do the reporting anymore but expect that I'll be running into him again at one of the area races as we have been on a first name basis since then. His dad bought his first Sprint Car from one of my cousins so I had that connection going as well. I hope that the surgery and recovery goes well so that he can enjoy the best quality of life possible going forward.
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You must be talking about 2000 then, the first year of the Gumout series... He raced that year full time, and won the championship! Remember the names in the first year: Craig Dollansky, Daryn Pittman, Ron Laney, Brad Furr, Mike Goodman, Jeff Shepard, Jason Meyers, Shane Stewart, Bob Bennett... I am sure I missed a few!
Was Awesome when they had a support series, and still had a strong field!
The Crowd Pleaser IS THE BEST ever!
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March 29, 2018 at
03:38:51 PM
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Joined:
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10/26/2014
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2482
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Reply to:
Posted By: Dollanskyfan1.1 on March 29 2018 at 03:27:38 PM
You must be talking about 2000 then, the first year of the Gumout series... He raced that year full time, and won the championship! Remember the names in the first year: Craig Dollansky, Daryn Pittman, Ron Laney, Brad Furr, Mike Goodman, Jeff Shepard, Jason Meyers, Shane Stewart, Bob Bennett... I am sure I missed a few!
Was Awesome when they had a support series, and still had a strong field!
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Paul McMahan in the U2, Jason Sides and Tyler Walker also ran with them at one time or another. It was a great series. Too bad it didn't last.
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March 31, 2018 at
08:35:42 AM
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11/07/2006
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5575
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This message was edited on
March 31, 2018 at
08:39:27 AM by StanM
Reply to:
Posted By: Dollanskyfan1.1 on March 29 2018 at 03:27:38 PM
You must be talking about 2000 then, the first year of the Gumout series... He raced that year full time, and won the championship! Remember the names in the first year: Craig Dollansky, Daryn Pittman, Ron Laney, Brad Furr, Mike Goodman, Jeff Shepard, Jason Meyers, Shane Stewart, Bob Bennett... I am sure I missed a few!
Was Awesome when they had a support series, and still had a strong field!
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I met Ronald Laney at Superior the night Gumout ran there and we sat on the wall and had a nice chat but I don't believe that was in 2000. The Gumout race I think was a year or so later, that's the night Jerry Richert Jr. hitched a ride with me and introduced me to Banzia. I'm too lazy to go through my files and verify dates right now but I know I met Craig at an IRA race up there and am posting a link to the Feature. The IRA ran up at Superior for the Friday night portion of the Northern Nationals in September of 2000 and that is the first time I recall talking to Craig. A guy I know who lives in the Twin Ports area caught the Feature that night on camera and posted it here. https://youtu.be/yfbTlsVKGig
Stan Meissner
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