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

I've only been following sprint cars the past 10 years & track prep is still a mystery to me. Can somebody explain what creates conditions  that destroy tires like tonite?

I like to see Schuchart win, but not by default. Attempts to run the last 3 laps were pretty lame....

Sounds like it was a like a replay of the 2004 King's Royal tonight.

That was embarrassing. I think the crate late model feature taking forever played a large part in the track rubbering up. Rubber creates more grip and destroys the tires. 

I agree on both accounts. I turned on dirt vision just before the b mains  & during the late model race I wondered at one point if it would ever end. Sadly the Outlaw feature was a pretty good one until the 5 cautions for blown tires. Think there were 14 drivers who had a flat tire at some point which is embarrassing.

Reminds me of an All Star speedweek race at Sharon around 2012 when I think all but about 6 cars blew a tire. 

Embarrassing.  I couldn't agree more.  Whatever the combination that played into tonight's events, it should never be duplicated again.  That was terrible.  

Congrats Logan.  

Seems like 3 maybe 4 of the tires went flat in the same place on corner 1. Makes me wonder if something sharp was protruding from the track.

Last man standing doesn't seem to be in the definition of racing.

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You gotta love "we weren't going to waste a new tire starting 14th".  I guess those heat cycles on the top shelf of the tire rack toughened that Hoosier up to make it the right tire for tonight.

Yea, I found that interesting too....

Thanks, good point

Charlotte seems to slick off pretty easily to begin with, and it was 95 degrees yesterday and even still in the mid 80s at night. Not hard for the moisture to get sucked out of the surface with those conditions.

From the few videos i have watched it always seems to be a powdery dust bowl. Maybe a good solid track underneath but dusty surface and a gee soft spots. Never seems to turn out perfect.

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

I have to agree with a driver last night on twitter that said this, and no he was not in Charlotte.  I am paraphrasing what he said.  It is track prep that is turning fans and owners  away  from  dirt track racing and lack there of.   I know for myself, I have not gone as much over the last few years because of it.  No one wants to see a track used up before the feature rolls out.   

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

Charlotte is an abrasive surface. It has always been hard on tires. If you remember one of the World Finals races last year there were a few blown tires and it wasn’t even rubbered up. I believe Macedo lead that race until he blew a tire.

I can understand car owners being turned away but in reality I can't think of any cars that should've been there that weren't. Big PA and ASCoC weekend, Knoxville planned a two night weekend and well, I don't know where else you expect 410s to drop from. It's weird, I would imagine a small budget team to be all over Charlotte - yes, you're going to burn up tires, but given the slick surface, you're probably better off than other big tracks that require a ton of motor. 

Feel like this is a misnomer. May be wrong.

charlotee has always been abrasive, after the finals one year in a late model, we went thru 28 tires over 3 days. The problem with the track is it has no middle ground.  if it is to dry it rubbers up but if they get it to wet it can become one of the roughest tracks in the country.  if i remember correctly the first year of the finals it was wet and rough, that was when a couple of sprint cars tried to clear the fence.  and as far as what makes a track more or less abrasive, sand. the more sand in the dirt, the worse it gets.

Chad hit the nail on the head.  In the early days of the Dirt Track at Lowes, they promoted it as the track too tough for the Outlaws.  I recall cars flipping oin qualifying, and the whole night being a rutfest.  At the time it was entertaining as a fan, but after racing on those tracks, I'll take the dry slick rather than trying not to flip, or worrying about how much of this crap my driveline can take before the driveshaft wraps around my ankle.

The Woo would probably have a tough time taming a motocross track too but that would hardly be good advertising. Cant imagine being proud of a poor surface and trying to cash in on said failure.

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

It is Humpy Wheeler, the guy would try to sell you a seat in the electric chair if he thought he could make a buck on it.  He is also the guy who wanted to put starters and fenders on sprint cars.  I'm pretty sure if you look up the word shameless in the dictionary it has a picture of Humpy.

You can have it wet at the beginning of the night and it not being a rutfest.  I do however hate and I mean hate if the track is used up before the feature is pushed off.  I have seen that way too much in the last couple of years!

Last night at Port Royal is a prime example.  I have heard a million times from the powers to be at the Port you can't have a great race when it is wet.   Well,  see last night and last years Tuscarrora 50 with the outlaws.   Both great features and both had wetter than there normal track.  

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

It is very rare that you see great racing when the track is hammer down. Im not saying it never happens, but is the case most of the time. Dry/Slick is where its at. It takes a team effort when its that way. Good set-up and good driver.