Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Could there be a Winged Sprint Car event where they run inside like or even at the same sight that the Chili Bowl is held?  I was thinking maybe a week after or before or even a couple week after.  I think that there would be a intrest by fan, owners and driver.   Has this been done or thought of? 

Just a thought.

seen them try a sprint on that track,to much car and motor .stomp the gas get sideways, get completly out of the gas in the corners.....they used to raffle off tickets for a ride in that double seater sprint ,it runs the same way .........

I've always wondered the same thing. I've seen the sprinter take laps at the Chili Bowl and agree, not a big enough track for sprints.  But that building is big enough to have a bigger track installed.  I think a non-wing and/or winged indoor nationals would be cool.

maybe on the upper level? ....

I have never been there how many leaves are there?  and could they run maybe a 1/3 mile track with more banking?

I don’t know how true it is, but I once heard that Emmet and Lanny’s original plan for the Tulsa Expo Center didn't involve midgets.  The original plan was for it to be an indoor event for winged sprint cars.  The track was to be constructed in that larger upper level where the pits are now.  The insurance companies put the kabash on the idea.

Building a bigger track on the upper level for sprint cars sounds like a good idea but I bet Emmitt has already considered it and decided against it.  For lots of reasons.  More clay material would be required, more concrete K-rails and fencing.  All costing more money.  But the biggest challenge probably is scheduling the event.  Expo Square is booked up nearly every weekend during the winter months.  The time to build the track, hold the event and demolish the track most likely could not be scheduled.  And even it could, there are other Horseshow related events and other events at other Expo facilities that depend on the parking areas around the main building that could be a factor.  Another consideration would be the grandstands for the event.  The ceiling height is much lower at the upper level than the lower one used for the Chili Bowl.  It seems to me that there are just too many issues to overcome to make it happen.  Another consideration is all the work and resources it takes before during and after the Chili Bowl probably spans a 6 weeks or so period.  To do this twice a winter just doesn't seem possible.

there was an indoor 410 wing sprint race in florida maybe 20-25 years ago. I dont recall who sancitioned it. It was in tampa and I was there and it seems maybe somr or all of the racers didnt get paid 

It was a WoO event and the checks never cleared...

Member of this message board since 1997

speeking of just a thought, it seems someone at sometime has come up with something new.. anyboy witnessed a wing on a midget?  often pondered this?

They should do it in Cowboy Stadium, the week after the Chili Bowl, the Cowboys don't use it then! 

The Cowboys & about 20 other teams.  Pits would be the issue... have to be outside or in temporary structures I'd imagine.

Kevin Swindell won an indoor winged sprint race on the concrete floor of some indoor deal several years ago in the family #1.  Don't recall the venue.

Indoor racing has an appeal because of the timing... it happens when no other racing is going on stateside.  Narrow, small race tracks aren't a recipe for greatness... so I'd say stick with midgets & pass on sprints.

Yes, winged midgets aren't something new.  ARDC did it for years.  They'd look kind of cool at the Chili Bowl-type of event but hooking up the cars more isn't a priority or solution for better racing IMO.  UNHOOKING the cars is better.

Hoosierdome... in the middle of USAC midget country... doesn't hold races anymore, does it?  That makes it tough to tough to be optimistic for the concept of indoor winter racing.  The Chili Bowl just hit something that works due in no small part to the facility & the right guys putting it together.  I wish they'd do it in another location as well.  3-5 winter race midget series on dirt culminating in the Chili Bowl Championships.  That would be pretty awesome.  Indoor baseball facility would likely have enough room for a decent track bordering on true 1/4.

The noise and fumes are the biggest issues.

The Cowboys sure didn't use it much this year, did they?     wink.

" it happens when no other racing is going on stateside."

 Hey some guy, oh yes there is! We have 6 races in 9 days this month, the Winter Challenge; then the Copper on Dirt at the end of the month...http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/

....http://www.canyonspeedwaypark.com/schedule/

 Tracy Hines was the big winner the first year and then Clauson stole the show last year..good stuff!!..http://www.hoseheadforums.com/forum.cfm?ThreadID=83643

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true. 

To the best of my knowledge, these are the only three venues to have hosted indoor sprint car racing :

SUNCOAST DOME (St Petersburg FL): 2/7/1992: A World of Outlaws sprint car event was held on a temporary dirt oval inside the Dome.  Steve Kinser was the winner of night one.  2/8/1992: Night two of the World of Outlaws show was won by Sammy Swindell.  This is the event in which the promoter ran off without paying the purse.

RCA DOME a.k.a HOOSIER DOME (Indianapolis IN): 2/8/2003: A non-sanctioned, non-wing sprint car show was held on the RCA Dome’s concrete floor.  Tony Elliot was the winner.  The sprints were a companion event to the Dome’s annual midget race. The RCA Dome’s oval was big enough that race cars were pitted in it’s infield.  However, re-fueling had to take place outdoors. The RCA Dome is no longer.  It was torn down in 2008. 

DEVOS PLACE CONVENTION CENTER (Grand Rapids MI): 12/16/2005: Night two of a three night show featured the Auto Value Super Sprint (A.V.S.S.) winged 410’s. (Night one featured late models). Racing was held on the center’s concrete floor which was coated in Coke syrup.  The sprint feature as halted on the 15^th lap and race leader Kevin Swindell was declared the winner.  The race was stopped when an overhead door collapsed in the building's loading area, killing a security guard.  The third and final night of racing on 12/17, which was to be another night of A.V.S.S. sprint cars, was cancelled due to the tragedy.

Found an entry list for the one held in 2005 at Grand Rapids

1 Kevin Swindell Bartlett, TN Swindell Motorsports 
1s Scott Seaton Cedar Springs, MI 
2 Levi Jones Olny, IL 
3a Mike Astrauskas Pierson, MI Mike Astrauskas 
4 Troy Underwood Jackson, MI Thunder Chassis 
4a Kenny Adams Malabar, FL 
4b Doug Berryman Fremont, OH 
6 John Batts Advance, IN John Batts 
7 Tyler Underwood Jackson, MI Thunder Chassis 
8 Ryan Davis Charlotte, MI Ryan Davis 
10 Tracy Rice Marshall, MI Tracy Rice 
10g Terry Gray Bartlett, TN 
10x Curt Shumaker Ortanville, MI 
18 Shane Butler Bushnell, FL Butler Motorsports 
20 Mike Ling Mt. Brydges, ONT Katz Racing 
21 Rocky Fisher Ft. Wayne, IN Rocky Fisher 
24 Bill Tyler Parma, MI Bill Tyler Racing 
24m Terry McCarl Altoona, IA 
26 Jeff Bloom Bangor, MI Jeff Bloom Racing 
31 Harry Parish Leslie, MI Robert Eberly 
33 Steve Irwin Columbiaville, MI Art Payne 
34 Johnny Scherer White Lake, MI Tim Scherer 
35 Ryan Katz Battle Creek, MI Katz Racing 
42 Tommy Fedewa Leslie, MI T&T Promotions 
44j Bill Jacoby Marshall, MI 
50 RAM Engineering 
61 Marv Carman Motorsports 
61a Marv Carman Motorsports 
69 Tim Ryan Flushing, MI Tracy Rice 
70 Dennis Craft Eaton Rapids, MI George Gustafson 
75 John Hotchkiss Potterville, MI John Hotchkiss 
99 Dorman Snyder Union City, MI Wayne Stickney 
118 Stan Butler Bushnell, FL Butler Motorsports 
142 T&T Promotions 
Dave Blaney Hartford, OH 
Dale Blaney Hartford, OH 
Carl Edwards Columbia, MO 
Bill Heeney Jr Stockbridge, MI 
Patrick Stewart Jamestown, IN 

And here's a link to the article about Kevin Swindell winning the race: 

http://www.supersprints.com/2005/kevin-swindell-wins-indoor-sprint-event/

Ask Frank

That is what I also heard, never paid the drivers.  It was in the new Tropican Field where the Tampa Bay Rays play baseball.  The race was won by Steve Kinser.   Although it work out and some passing the track was to small.