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

I got to thinking about young up and coming drivers after watching video blogger Tanner Holmes make his 410 debut.  He got his start at the Red Bluff karting facility in California among other places in that region and that was the path taken by many of our young drivers.  I came up in a time when Sprint Car drivers were still mostly WWII veterans looking for civilian thrills, no cages, no power steering and they usually started out in some kind of home built coupe.

The reason I bring this up is that California seems to be putting out a lot of talented drivers and their skills transfer well to full up Sprints.  Caged/winged Outlaw karts, Micros and limited winged and non-wing series are popular and another step that they're taking on the way up the ladder.  My neighbor's son learned at the Menominie, Wisconsin, Kart track Thunder Hill and has landed a limited non-wing ride this coming sesason.

I would sometimes give opinions about younger drivers that were formed by my age and life experience but after watching clips of these indoor Karts and how fast things happen I can see how they're so good at such young ages.  It has opened my eyes and changed my opinion as these kids have been putting on some amazing displays of driving skills.  Kyle Larson, Rico, Kofoid, and the list goes on.  I think California stands out but Oklahoma and a few other areas are also grooming great drivers. 

I have no other point except to say that there is going to be a constant stream of well developed talent coming into the Sprint Car ranks.  I don't think that Sprint Car racing has ever had a better "farm system" for up and coming drivers. 

Stan Meissner

Thanks, Stan. Apprecate you sharing a positive perspective. Looking forward to the years ahead. 

At my local track (Skagit in WA state) we have a smaller feeder program just north of it (Deming). I'm looking forward to see what comes out of that area in the near future. 

Our plan before everything locked down was to take a trip to the PNW and Skagit was on my must see list.  The track is still bucket list but I'm not sure when.

Stan Meissner

     As the great philosopher Winnie the Pooh once said, "Sometimes I sits and thinks. Other times I just sits". I've started to wonder where the sprintcar racers and champions of the future are going to come from. Stan probably has it about right. They will come out of go-carts.

     It seems like the old pipeline, and the expectations of sprintcar racers have changed, or maybe just evolved? It used to be that a guy started out racing hobby stock and worked his way up from there. But as the upper ends of the sprint car classes evolved, it seemed like the lower classes of entry racers devolved. Hobby stocks gave way to pure stocks, bombers, B-mods, etc.... The sprint classes wnet everywhere but affordable.

From Oregon originally now reside in TN.  If they ever schedule Outlaws at Cottage Grove again, you should try and make that show.  Skagit is a awesome track.  Grays Harbor and Willamette speedway are good ones too.