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

Looked like the crowd was big, and it sounded like they enjoyed the show.  Other than the light issue, which wasn't an Oultaw problem, it looked like a success.  Anyone have any positive and/or negative input from those that were there?  Hoping they can keep adding different tracks to the regular schedule.  

I agree, the electrical issue created a longer than usual event.  My only question is, when they knew they had an issue with the lighting, they still had over an hour of daylight before needing lighting, why didn't they go ahead with hot laps and time trials?

I was following Tanner Holmes on Facebook, and he did a video and stated that the Outlaws "polled" the drivers and asked them if they wanted to race.  Some were okay with it, but some expressed concerns about how dark it was/would be soon in certain areas.  I'm fine with them deciding to err on the side of caution and don't blame some of the drivers for voting no and waiting for the lighting to be corrected.  

No complaints.  I was at Jackson, Minnesota, one time.  Beautiful night, 40+ cars, a tall hauler catches a hanging cable and takes out the lights.  It ended up being a four hundred mile round trip with nothing to show for it.  Aside from the long delay the racing was good last night.  I like quarter mile tracks when they catch up and start working lapped traffic.  Some say that half miles will make you fast, places like Husets and Kennendale will make you a race car driver.  

Stan Meissner

The track was WAY to wet to hotlap or TT before the sun went down. At one point they were going to try it, but it would have taken at least two sets of hot laps to get the track ready. They called an audible and went ahead and ran the doorbanger hotlaps and heats first.

We thought the exact same way.  I remember Knoxville having same problem a couuple of times.  Many years ago at Hawkeye downs they ended out with cars in infield lined up around track with lights on.

It was a 2 1/2 Hour delay.  The TV cameras have an auto iris function so watching on streaming does not represent what the people on site and the drivers actually see.  The funny part was Johnny telling us what was going on. He clearly knows very little about what really goes on behind the scenes and how electricity works. It was impressive they had an electrician that was there and he got it all switched over and working in 2 1/2 hours.

Balog started on the front row and he ended up gradually losing spots until the end. Wonder if he needs more motor, better car setup, to improve his driving or all three?

Balog is a good driver with good equipment.  If he nailed the setup, he would have been right there just like he was at his stomping grounds in Wilmot last year.  However, I don't think he, nor the car are at the caliber needed to win if they miss the setup by a bit.  JMO.  I love watching him race, and root for him every time he's on the track.  Guys like Larson, Schatz, Gravel etc, can make up for small misses in the setup with ability and equipment.  (I know this contradicts another Hoser's genius thoughts that Schatz could only compete because of Ricky----but that simply isn't true)   

Lol you make it sound like he started 2nd and finished 15th. He dropped 2 spots in a 35 lap feature. Have none of the outlaws ever lost 2 spots in a feature? Balog is a great guy and I hope everyone is buying his merchandise to help him continue to chase his dream of running a full year with the outlaws. He's nipping at the heels of Kofoid for ROTY so far. Something that not a lot of people would have guessed before the year started

Real race cars don't have fenders...

Balog has been a pleasant surprise. Making a mistake at the WoO level will cost you spots 90% of the time from which you arent likely to make up for it. At the IRA level he could make up for any mistakes much more easily. 

True. He never really battled for the lead I seem to recall. Many drivers starting #2 would have won . . . . . .

First of all....macedo was like a half a second quicker than anyone in the heat and the dash, so to say that many drivers starting 2nd would have won is ridiculous.  Secondly, you must have watched a different race.   Bill was 4th quick out of 42 cars and the 31st to take time so motor seems just fine.  In the feature, he absolutely was roping in macedo in lapped traffic and had an opportunity to take the lead when macedo bobbled but erred on the safe side because it was a tight fit with a lapper. If he sneaks by there, he very well could have won that race.  The reason he lost a few spots is he was fed a few RR's courtesy of Sheldon and a-aron.  The only car that legit passed him was gravel and was he was hanging with him at the end.  I do believe balog also turned the 3rd fastest lap of the feature as well.  He's a clean racer that usually chooses to be a little more passive and thinks big picture versus some of the big budget teams.  He's doing great and off to a really good start despite the engine setback at volusia to start the season.

Many drivers start second and win. Others might have won . . . . . .

I like Balog.  He needs a crew chief then perhaps?  Or are the others better, smarter, luckier, take more chances, what?

Wow, talk about an uninformed statment. The guy starts 2nd and finished 4th after biking it up and losing several spots and charging back. He drove his ass off and did one hell of a job driving a car the setup was not optimal on against some of the best in the business. How about giving him credit for staying in the top 5 with a car that wasn't handling as well as it could ? I thought he did a pretty damn good job all things considered...

The older I get the faster I was

The best crew chief in the business and an extra $1 million would probably do him wonders.  Until that happens, he, and his crew, are doing a hell of a job.  Take more chances?  Doesn't sound like a sound business model for a "low-budget" team.  Maybe Sheldon can get away with that with the big NOS on the car, but not Bill.  He's just fine the way he is.  He'll win a race or 2 this year.  

Sounds like an experienced crew chief is badly needed?  He had great success running IRA 410 as a full timer against many part time racers. He is now with the big boys with big sponsors. Would High Limit be a better choice for him?

Absolutlely not!   Then he'd have to compete against Cory Eliason every night....

There are simply not enough crew chiefs in the world to solve the Cory Eliason juggernaut................................

Hate to tell you...the HL has a deeper field than do the outlaws.

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

Whatever deep is supposed to mean. I think most fans would rather have a field that is fast.