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

Looks like from all indications Kevin Swindell will make a start back at the Chili Bowl . Whether you like him or his father , you have to give him so much credit for what he's done to come back from the injury at Knoxville in August . He is in my opinion one of most underated drivers out there . I personally would  like to see him with a full time ride in NASCAR ,as this is where he wants to be .With this injury , his up coming marriage to Jordan , he has overcome so much . Can you imagine what the Chili Bowl will be like when he comes out , if he does make his next start there ......WOW ,it will be rockin . By the way if you've never attended the Chili Bowl it's something that should be on your bucket list . Please write to Kevin and give him your support regardless , thanks .

While it is extremely encouraging that Bulldog is even thinking about running the ChilI Bowl,  he had the following twitter post on Dec 18th.  (obviously after his entry was filed) 

So the @cbnationals entry is a little preliminary. There's still a month worth of progress to be made an we'll make the best decision then.

I hope Kevin can make as full of a recovery as possible, but do feel that even considering to drive in the Chili Bowl where crashing is second to none in every event would only hinder his ability to continue to make a full recovery. More to life than wheeling a race car. He has nothing to prove with another Golden Driller trophy & the measly $$$ that is the payout. Lanny & Emmitt oughta be ashamed to not offer more for a once a year event.

Heard from a friend who is close to them, they are working on some hand controls for Kevin to experiment with.

Why do you have to turn everything into a bash on the Chili Bowl?      I disagree that it should pay more....300+ drivers per year seem to think it is enough as well.    I don't know how you are so sure about the economics of this one show,  but the expenses cannot be compared to a "regular" show (renting an arena for over a month and completely rebuilding the track/grandstands as one example) and even if they do make millions,  good for them!     

Umm... You are not a driver are you? know one is against them making money but for you to try and justify the payout is just insane. If them 300 drivers had another race that payed what it should for an event of that caliber they would spend there money there not in tulsa. 

By filing an entry, a driver agrees that the payout is acceptable.   If they don't like it they can stay home.   What would doubling or tripling the purse accomplish.....400, 500 cars and even higher ticket prices?    If someone else can re-create the event and give Lanny and Emmet some competition then so be it.   I fully support the promoters right and ability to make every dollar they can (glad to see someone in race promotion is extremely successful) ,  it is a free market and that is always the ultimate goal for public and privately held companies.

But this thread is not about the economics of the Chili Bowl, it is about Kevin Swindell.   It was rudely highjacked by someone that thinks they know something about the business of race promotion and it's economics.      

As someone who endured a neck fusion fifteen years ago I'd strongly discourage him from doing any driving until he's at least a year into his recovery.  That's the practical 64 year old father of four and grandfather of seven talking.

On the other hand, if the lure of getting back into a race car is what motivates him I say go for it. 

Stan Meissner

I'm interested to see how many of alllll those boo birds that couldn't keep their disrespectful mouths shut when Kevin's name was even mentioned let alone drove onto the track last year, will now somehow be rampant supporters. I NEVER EVER boo drivers, EVER. Every time they strap in might b their last.   If u are one of those people that booed him before, would u tell people as ur cheering for him or keep it to yourself ? If u blow me shit about this , it's prolly a good bet u were one of them.

Good luck Kevin, I wish u luck if u enter and ultimately a full recovery and fruitful life.

I'm a big fan of Kevin, but wish he would NOT race. I don't think he's ready, too much at stake. His life & health are more important. Maybe next year?

Well i have a little more faith in race fans. I expect to hear nothing but one of the loudest cheers ever in that bulding for him if he makes it on to the track. Should he decide not to race maybe he could make some non competitive laps like pacing the A main saturday. You would see some big support for him for sure.

He won't be racing!

do it in the dirt

I don't have a horse or pony or dog in this race, but I do have an opinion on what you said.  I, along with many others, who may or may not like his Father, may have looked at Kevin Swindell in the same way.  It's only natural. Sammy Swindell's spawn, he must be an ass like his Dad blah, blah, or whatever your opinion is.  You hear the hype about his old man, you hear the hype about Kevin, etc...etc.....  You kind of lump the two together.  If I was to be at a race where Kevin Swindell decided to come back to racing, you bet your ass that I would be on my feet and clapping and hootin' and hollerin' ONLY because of what he has gone through to get there.  I resent the wording in your statement "WILL NOW BE RAMPANT SUPPORTERS"  What he has gone through would not make me be a fan of his, but it would give me another reason to cheer for someone that puts there livelihood and or LIFE on the line for my general entertainment.  I would not be a fan, but I would show my respect.  I would be a 'RAMPANT SUPPORTER' of all the excrutiatingly hard work that he has put in to get where he is. I reserve the right to BOO drivers.  I paid my admission.  With that being said, I would NEVER, EVER wish harm upon those that I BOO....... 

I was just getting ready to type almost the same message...lol... I hope Kevin can make a comeback and wish him success in making it back to racing and in his family/personal life. It might sound crazy but the best anaology I can think of is "jesus needs the devil" Now not to that extent but sports need figures in them that people love and then ones you root against... I've always found Sammy to be an arrogant prick and Kevin to be a whiny baby. But that is all on the race track...I don't know what their like at home and truthfully I don't care... I wish them the best either way on their personal lives... When Sammy isn't at a race I go to I must admit there is something missing... When Stewart passed Schatz last year at the kings royal the place went crazy! Had he passed Jason Sides... not so much. 

With all that said I wish Kevin and his family the best of luck in life and I hope he's at the track again soon so I can boo him

I can understand some people's concerns and I share the same concerns but at the end of the day, its his life and we all only live once. If this is what he wants to do, if its what drives him to no end to make the incredible progress that he's already made to this point, I'm all for it. He knows the risk better than most sprint car drivers even do because very few (thankfully) have been in his position. I say give em hell Kevin and I only wish I could be there to see it. Just imagine if he's able to pull off a win? It would quite possibly be the greatest comeback story in the history of sprint car and midget racing. If it were me, I wouldn't do it. Hell, I wouldn't even get into a sprint car in the first place but that risk is what drives these guys. I've been fortunate enough to talk with quite a few drivers over the years and one thing I've picked up upon, is that these guys are wired much differently than the "normal" person. The risk, the danger, the speed, the competition.....it pumps through them like the very blood in their veins and they need it just like food, water and oxygen. It's really hard for people like us to understand the dynamics of it but its very real. They live for it and it lives for them. Without it, many of them feel empty hence the reason why we see so many guys hang on far past their prime and/or retire just to come back a year later. As a fan, I feel kinda feel the same connection. I don't even wanna think about life without sprint car racing. Literally scares the shit out of me and I thank God every day that I have it because aside from family and friends, its what gets me out of bed every day. If Kevin does come back, I'll be nervous for him but at the same time, you can bet he'll have a smile on his face that's 10 miles wide the whole time and that alone makes it worth it if that's what he wants to do.

Well said Mr. Fixxxer , I couldn't say it better . It's simply up to Kevin to make his choice . He is a great driver , I saw this kid do things that other drivers don't do .

Well said MadDog. 

I wish him all the best.He was in same league as Abrue,Larson,and Bell and what happened shows what risk even with the best safety equiptment can happen.Not everyone has the desire that Kevin has.

Well you have a good point but I still hope he doesn't race. Give it another year

By the way, you & R.A. have now agreed twice!

Christmas cheer!

Thanks for bringing that up about me and Altman agreeing. I'm gonna go find some rope and a tree.........lol.  Hope you have a great Christmas too.