Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Received word that Sammy Swindell will be racing with the All Stars Friday and Benton, MO. and Saturday at West Memphis, AR. I believe this will be his first race in something like 12 years at Memphis and his first All Stars race in about 20 years. Sounds like he'll be driving a car owned by Randy Dukes.

There may be one other big announcement concerning a big name driver racing down there coming up in mid-week.

Good for Sammy..he proved at Knoxville that he still has it..He should be racing regularly...but Katich I have to give it to ya a little...The All-star point leader doesnt even show up at the nationals and the 410 crowd is supposed to take this circuit serious...#2 Dewease 4th D-main, #3 Hannigan 7th B-main, #4 Wilson 12th D main, #5 Ellensberger 19th D main, #8 Mays 14th in the C.....Not nocking the All Stars but come on...when your point leader doesnt even attend the biggest sprint car race in the world what does that tell us..I know the All stars are a fantastic circuit on the east side of the country..blaney, Dewease, Hannigan, they are gassers...but I'm trying to figure out this regional concept when there are not enough cars to compete on a regular basis on the few weekly tracks that are operating ....other than trying to hurt a track in Missouri...What is the All-Stars Business Plan ?

"The All-star point leader doesnt even show up at the nationals"

Not true, I saw Blaney several times at the track in Knoxville, but he chose to not race there. Apparently he and the car owner felt that the risk was greater than the reward.

Dale Blaney didn't race the Nationals because George Fisher, his car owner, wasn't there. Fisher funds the team out of his own pocket and they don't have a big sponsor to pay the bills. The team's focus is on winning the 50k season championship with the series. It's a true working class team.

I thought the All Stars teams would struggle at Knoxville and they did. The only one who had any track time at Knoxville this season was Randy Hannagan, who raced there two or three times. Dewease seems to have been struggling some with qualifying lately and I think he drew the last pill on his qualifying night, too. Regardless, he never really got going. Wilson never has done much at Knoxville over the years. Tim Shaffer got caught up in a wreck during his qualifying heat which ruined any chance for real success.

Looking at the way the Nationals played out...of the 24 cars/drivers that started the A Main on Saturday, you had thirteen from WoO, eight with considerable experience at Knoxville this season (including Forbrook/Swindell) and three others...Walker, Solwold and Wright. I don't anyone was surprised that Walker made the field, Solwold maybe a bit of a surprise and Wright had the advantage of a track where he could featherfoot the bottom.

Bottom line is this...track time at Knoxville is a big part of success at the Nationals. The PA. Posse didn't have it, the All Stars didn't have it. That really puts them behind the eight ball, start with qualifying, which is the most important two laps of the week.

As for the All Stars and the regional concept, assuming you are talking about the Midwest All Stars in Missouri and Illinois, remember that before the series started last year, sprint car racing was dying in the area. The series paid/pays a decent purse, more than what the tracks you are concerned with were/are paying. There seems to be, slowly, a building of interest again for sprint cars in the region. I believe the key to growing back a high quality of sprint car racing around the country starts with good regional racing, where racers can run different tracks and race for a decent purse. I think you'll see more of the regional concept take hold, not just with the All Stars based plans, but other series as well.

Would be nice if the All Stars could get a date at Knoxville next year to give those guys one shot at the track before their 2 hotlaps at the Nationals. Good drivers, little Knoxville experience.

I agree, a Knoxville date would be great. Not sure why K-ville doesn't invite them out or work with the series to bring them out at least once within the schedule.

The All Star shows in Benton and Riverside should make for a great weekend. It's a haul for many of the Knoxville familiar, but I am certain that it will be worth while. Heck, I live in Des Moines, I will be there.

As if bringing the great Sammy Swindell to Benton Race Park and back home to RIS wasn't enough, the excitment just got bigger.

In true All Star form, the series is looking to make 1 lucky fan $2,000 richer both nights. At both Benton Race Park and Riverside International Speedway, 1 fan will be picked through ticket sales to have the opportunity to win $2,000. The choosen fan will draw one of 24 envelopes with the starting position of the A Feature. If the car that begins the race in that position wins, the fan will get $2,000.

Also, Ray Bugg will be on hand at Riverside International Speedway performing with his Blue Grass band to entertain the crowd before the nights events get underway.

Another exciting night of O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and O'Reilly Midwest All Star Series action is on it's way!