Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Seeing the discussion about WoO points made me wonder - will Donny get 2 (or 3) more victories at the Nationals to tie or break Steve's record?  A few years ago I assumed that Donny would get there but now I think the odds are against him.

Do you think anyone will ever get to 12 (or even 10) again?  Are the cars too equal for someone to be that dominant at the Nationals?

The Dude won his last one at 45. The King at 48. Sammy would have won in 2010 at 54, so Donny winning 2 more at greater than 45 is possible. I wouldn't count him out for another one, but 13 seems a bit out of reach. 

I believe he has finished 1st or 2nd in 17 of the last 18 Nationals. 2019 was the last and only time since 2002 Donny did not finish 1st or 2nd.

Excluding 2020 which was technically not a Nationals

2002-2005, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2021 - 2nd

2006-2009, 2011-2015, 2017 wins

Maybe if he goes back to the "Chevy".....

Donny's Nationals record is almost unbelievable.  I'm not sure there is another record like that in all of sports.  I'm thinking of the Masters, Daytona 500, Indy 500, etc. as opposed to season-long championships.

A few of Donny's 2nd's could easily have been wins had he not been beaten by some very determined drivers (Shaffer, Johnson).

2004 - Donny was 12th.

Only a stroking expert would know...

He did such a great job of stroking it that he allowed Schatz to pull even with him in turn four...

If they raced to the finish line for their scheduled stop instead of nullify the lap they throw the yellow on, Donny would have started the 2nd half out front, by my memory. May have made the difference....

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Before last year, I thought Donny MAYBE had one more Nats in him, but I thought the stars would have to align.  After seeing how close he was last year again, I would say it's possible he could get 2.  However, it's going to be tough.  If Larson runs the next 10, he has him, Sweet, Gravel, Logan, and Carson to contend with.........................and the pendulum is swinging the right way for those guys.  

He showed last year he is not done yet.  But, he is running out of time as the rest of the world has caught up.  

Schatz, Donny, Minot, ND (23) – 1998, 15, 4 (7)
- 1999, 15, 9 (4)
Fargo, ND - 2000, 15, 2 (2)
- 2001, 15, 23 (1)
- 2002, 15, 2 (7)
- 2003, 15, 2 (1)
- 2004, 15, 12 (6)
- 2005, 15, 2 (3)
- 2006, 15, 1 (1)
- 2007, 15, 1 (1)
- 2008, 15, 1 (4)
- 2009, 15, 1 (6)
- 2010, 15, 2 (4)
- 2011, 15, 1 (13)
- 2012, 15, 1 (5)
- 2013, 15, 1 (21)
- 2014, 15, 1 (1)
- 2015, 15, 1 (1)
- 2016, 15, 2 (5)
- 2017, 15, 1 (2)
- 2018, 15, 2 (4)
- 2019, 15, 9 (18)
- 2021, 15, 2 (5)

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Indeed he did pull away from Schatz coming out of four, but my point is that if was just "stroking it" the last 10 laps there's no way he lets Schatz get that close.   

There is something really funny about this comment if you about it a little bit.

This is an amazing summary of domination.... did some quick math and his average finish for those 23 years is 3.6. Take away the 23rd in 2001 (I think that is when the LR rolled off the rim in turn 1 first lap) and the average moves to 2.7!

The drive he had in 2013 from the 21st spot was probably one of my favorite nationals.

It's one of the great records in all of motorsports, especially the length of time he's been great in that event. The funny thing is, before he won the first one, the big question was, "can he get over the hump?", given he had 4 2nds before his first win. Then from 2006-18 it was, "who can beat him?" And now it's "can he win another one"?

I'm going to get roasted for this by a bunch of "ole timey" rednecks-----but I'll say it anyways.  Before I do, I'm a huge fan of Steve Kinser and the only 2 times I ever cheered for Donny was when he won his 300th race and when he came from the the B-main to win the Nats.  He deserved a hand for both performances.  Otherwise I don't root for him.

Here it goes----------What Donny has accomplished at the Nationals, IMO, is more impressive then what The King accomplished----already.  I know, he's 2 wins short.  It doesn't matter to me.  Donny is the King of Knoxville as far as I'm concerned, and the multitude of cars he beat to get his 10 wins, and incredible run of 2nd's is mind blowing.  

I said it.  If I said it on Facebook, there would be people with torches at my doorstep by night's end.  

It takes a good crew chief. Steve had Karl, Donny had Ricky.  For the majority of there victories at knoxville that's who was turning the wrenches. Can Donny do it again, yes, but the odds of that happening are low I think.

No doubt a good crew chief is needed.  Great drivers attract great rides and with those great rides come great wrenches.  Donny didn't need Ricky to have his hall of fame career.  If Ricky never lays a wrench on Donny's car, Donny's in the hall of fame and in Nationals victory lane multiple times.  (actually, he was anyways)  Ricky crewed for a multitude of other cars and drivers and if I'm not mistaken, never won a Nationals or WoO championship with any other, correct?   (I could be wrong, but I don't recall)  Seems to me the main factor in this equation is Donny.   I love the attention the wrenches get for their work and respect it greatly.  However, for me, the best drivers in the world attract the best wrenches-------but it all starts, and ends, with the guy behind the wheel.