Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Matt Moro was in a nasty crash coming out of turn 4 on the front stretch at Knoxville. Sammy Swindell may have been involved. For some reason I was thinking it was the 1200lb Nationals... Does anyone recall this incident and what race it was?

Only thing I can think of is the 2017 Knoxville Nationals when Matt had a nasty tumble

That's not the one. This was closer to 15 years ago. Some say Sammy pinched him into the front stretch fence, others say he did not!!! It was a real nasty crash just past the pit gate on the frontstretch. 

For some reason I don't think it was a WoO event.

I can't recall the year but it was the 1200# Nationals but I believe they had changed the name by that time.  A few friends and I had organized a camping trip for the event and we were sitting close to where it happened.  Sammy was inside and his rr kicked out coming out of four closing up what little space Moro had on the outside.  It was one of those deals where we fans will never know what caused Sammy's car to do that but it was a nasty wreck and some were pretty upset with Sammy.  

My main memory from that weekend was that it was hot as hell and none of us had AC.  We spent a good portion of the afternoons drinking beer indoors to stay out of the heat.  Minnesota softies when it comes to that 100 degree stuff.

Stan Meissner

Speaking ot he 1200 Pound Nationals, that is one of the races that I very dearly hope Knoxivlle has footage of and posts on their YouTube in addition to the stuff they're always posting. It was jsut such an amazing event. 100sih cars in the pits, split show on Friday, and one of the most dramatic filled features I've ever seen on Saturday. Going off memory, which may be a little hazy, but I recall Don Droud Jr and Tmac starting up front and wrecking very early - maybe even the first corner. They then restarted, and several people led throughout the race - I know Kerry Madsen had it seemingly locked up in the 82 car (can't remember who owned it) before a magneto issue. Dennis Moore Jr at some point led laps before running out of fuel. I believe Kenny Jacobs did the same as well. DDJ who came all the way back up through the field to win. It was also weight-gate, where DDJ I believe had extra weight duct taped or bolted to the chassis. A lot of guys had issue making weight because of the fuel burnoff - I specifically recall Danny Smith spinnig his car into the mud at the bottom of the straightaway after the checkered flag to try and pick up as much as possible to add weight.

Probably one of my favorite races ever. Would really, really love to relive teh whole weekend. 

I thought Kenny Jacobs won the race but was DQ because of weight.  I think he was DQ about a week later at another track for same issue.  Lost alot of purse money in 2 weeks.  I am sure Knoxville has tape/disc  and would be nice if they put it on for viewing.  My facts could be wrong as it was a while ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi-tbz1TyFQ

Holy crap. The timing on this is unreal, didn't even realize they posted it yesterday. Now hopefully night two will be shortly behind. Awesome!!!

Somebody clue me in on 1200 lb. Nationals.... was that the standard weight limit back then? or a special event? 360s or 410s?

Pre 2001-ish, there was no weight limit for winged 410s. Some of the cars were becoming carbon fiber'd out, holes drilled through anything and everything (to save weight).  Some cars weighed around 1,100 lbs or less. Saldana's car was one I recall that was very, very lightweight.  It was really expensive & becoming borderline unsafe.  Car counts were starting to really suffer.  Knoxville had the foresight to implement a weight rule before anybody else... 1,200 pounds.  To help give it some traction, they put on the 1,200 lb Nationals.  It was a special event and an event that the All Stars and IRA supported.  I don't recall the exact timelines (too many beers ago!), but believe PA implemented a weight rule next... and between Knoxville & PA, they pretty much forced the hand of the Outlaws to go to a weight rule too.  

It was either 2000 or 2001.  The 1200 lb. rule was without driver.  Driver would exit the car, then it was weighed. Everyone was runnning low on  and / or running out of fuel,  but  Ralph Capitani wouldn't listen to plea's from the All Star management  to throw a red ( I was there and in the scoring tower ).  Kenny Jacobs did win and even pulled into victory lane.  Then the car  was  weighed and he was DQ'd.  Kind of a bad deal due to the failure to use the ( dreaded ) " fuel stop ".

I watched the replay of the 2001 1200# Nationals on You Tube again a couple of days ago.  I seen where Matt Moro was enterered but Sammy Swindell was not... I don't recall the year but it seemed like it was the Inaugeral Race! It also seems to me like it was the same night that they had laid new dirt on the track and it was not the traditional "Gumbo" that thet normally use and it was throwing a lot of rocks up and the drivers were not very happy with it at all! Danny Lasoski specifically told me after the race when I asked him and his reply was "You want me to lie or you want the truth?, He continued by saying a week ago this was one of the best tracks in the Country, Tonight it was one of the worst!....

And that evening and all through the night I believe they got some heavy equipment and stripped the entire racing surface off and replaced it with the good stuff.....

What was the dirt on the track that night is now in the lower West end of the North Campgronds leveled out for Camping.

I agree the 1200# Nationals were fantastic events to my recolection... I remember KJ not making weight but it also seems like 2nd place was questionable at making weight but ended up he barely cleared the scales.

Thanks... I had it reversed, didn't know that there was no weight rule at the time. Based on today's rules, i thought they were allowing lighter cars

I also remember if a car was lite, they would turn car around on scales and weigh it again.  This was done in case wind had an effect on car.

Hope they get final nite on soon.  Check out drivers names, most no longer race.

".....and between Knoxville and PA, they pretty much forced the hand of the Outlaws to go to a weight rule too."

So, does this make Knoxville Posse?   

Of course... right on the banks of the Mighty Susquehanna!

It'a been too many years, so I don't remember who won. But speaking of the "weight-gate," if I remember correctly, the winner did have weight duct taped on. The rules stated no "bolted" on weight. They tried to disqualify the winner because of the duct taped weight. They argued they were in compliance because the weight wasn't bolted on and were awarded the win.