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

After talking with Knoxville Raceway, and them reading your feedback on here, it's time for another discussion.

Friday night's program will be left as is. Saturday will be the same with the E through the A Mains as always. (or more or less features as needed) Basically what we're focused on in this discussion is the A Main on Saturday night.

The tentative plan is 40 laps in '09 and 50 laps in '10. I realise that most people hate a fuel stop, but do the math. Knoxville's 1/2 mile track usually becomes 5/8 by the end of the night. With a full 33 gal. tank, it will be entirely too close to make it 40 laps. Thus, 2-20 lap segments is probably the way to go, and 2-25's for 50.

There is also talk for more prize money for most cars passed on the night, and other new contingencies.

Remember, officials, racers, owners will be reading this. Your feedback, if not just sarcastic, will be taken seriously and considered.

Discuss...

Savage

I like the idea of a 40 lap A, But I dont like the fuel stops. The mediacom shoot out used to be a 40 lap race and there werent any fuel stops, just make the drivers use the bigger tank. I like the idea for 50 laps also, but I do not want there to be a fuel stop at all!

'01 was the last time a 40 lap feature was run for 410 Sprint Cars. Here's a video link to reference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSg-Gkv89Kg

It comes in two parts, part two can be accessed on the right side.

Savage

Fuels stops? Don't they make tail tanks that would go 40 laps at Knoxville? 50 laps?

I understand you don't want to make the racers buy tail tanks for one event...but you're gonna jack up the purse for one event, right? quid pro quo as far as I'm concerned.

(2) segments/fuel stops reeks of NAPCAR.

If they don't make tanks big enough for the event, ok, fuel stops it is.

Then, open red or closed? Fuel only? No work?

Member of this message board since 1997

They can certainly de-tune the engines in order to sip less fuel and make it 50 laps on a single tank. I bet it wouldn't take much mechanical work and wouldn't affect lap times for the A main that much.

Add a fuel stop, they can have my tickets.

www.teamwmotorsports.webs.com

Twin 25's is fine with me, IF they have a closed red. Make them set up for the long haul.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

i don't believe it! what a bunch of whiney, self serving ingrates. savage has already said that with a 33 gal tank, which is bigger than what is run now, it would be too close on fuel to try to run non stop. yet you peons, who post on here that there should be ways to make racing cheaper, want teams to have to spend an extra 1300 bucks or more for a tank to race one race with. and detuning engines? right. the biggest race of the season and teams are going to detune motors that they have invested THOUSANDS in for this one race. i am seeing the biggest problem with racing today and it is right here. savage is working on trying to give you guys something but you are too ungrateful to realize it.

'01 was not the last time there was a 40 lap A feature. They ran a forty lap WoO feature in '04 at Knoxville. Mark Kinser won, but then was DQ'd for being under the weight limit, and Sammy was driving the 12x and was also DQ'd for being under weight. Thats what made it excitting people were blowing tires, running out of gas, coming in under weight and make charges through the field. If you have fuel stop it will take away from the suspense of will they make it to the finish or not.

Racin buddy, be careful who you call peons( as you spell it), it may come back to haunt you! Some guy's have been running 33 galon tanks for years for lower center of gravity, just only adding the amount needed.

Beauty is in the eye of the Beer Holder!!!!

Has there been any talk of changing the heat inversions for the two qualifying nights.

In my opinion it should be 8, to keep the rookies off the front row. Look at what happened last year.

I will be returning for my 2nd Nationals in 2010 & I say if they can't run 50 without a fuel stop, keep it at 40 laps.

If they decide on a 50 lap event and they MUST have a fuel stop. Eliminate the scheduled fuel stop if a red flag comes out before that point. JMO

I'm used to a lap 25 fuel stop in our Tuscarora 50 @ Port...doesn't matter to me, I'll be there regardless.

_

That was a great race. Mark ran through the mud that the push trucks dumped on the inside of the back straightaway because he knew he was light and Sammy threw his steering wheel at the official at the scales. Great night of racing. I think Mark was driving the Roth 83 car and Karl was wrenching. Probably one of their last races.

My wife told me if I went to one more Sprint Car race 
she would leave me.................I'm sure gonna miss 
that ol' gal. 

Savage, I don't like fuel stops but wouldn't want something like that affecting the outcome. Possibly, could it be set beforehand, if there is a red along the way, say, after the 10th lap, they may add fuel and fuel only and that is it. Or, and I don't know if this would be a little complicated, if there is a set number of yellow laps determined beforehand, say, 12 or so, before the 15th in the 40 lapper or 20th in the 50 lapper, that is it. No fuel stop. Just food for thought. Good topic. I really don't think the 50 lapper on this track is a good idea even though I understand the reason for it. JMO

My wife told me if I went to one more Sprint Car race 
she would leave me.................I'm sure gonna miss 
that ol' gal. 

They won't be able to change to this format for several years. They'll have to wait for the vaccine to be developed. Currently, there is no vaccine for stupid. An attempt to fix something that isn't broken would be really stupid.

The fans already get agitated waiting for delays intended to accomodate TV coverage. I think such a format would hurt attendance and possibly car count....that is exactly what we don't need.

This year or next is the 50th year, I think. (It seems like we've been going up to Knoxville for at least 60 years). If the intent is do so something different for the 50th celebration that all the fans and drivers would enjoy, have all concessions, including beer sell for 50 cents.

Leave the format well enough alone. Scrap the idea. If you want to find a way to make fans and drivers happy, start over with the thinking process. This idea is a really bad one.

Don't make me use UPPERCASE!!!!

Member of this message board since 1997

they run 40 laps at Eldora... while not as long as Knoxville (i know they are both "1/2" miles, but Knoxville widens out A LOT), it's faster and harder on equipment, i.e. tires, motors, wings, etc. i think they could do 40 w/o a stop at knoxville, or just do a fuel stop without allowing someone to work on the car...

I've been going to Knoxville for about 15 years and the winner's list would be different over that span if they had ran 40...

tires blowing is dangerous though... but the night Jason Sides won the King's Royal when Lasoski blew a tire they almost tore the stand down cheering... it was one of the better races i have seen... kemenah got a flat 1st, i think, and ended up back in 2nd after everyone rotated through the field...

do anything to get rid of 30 laps...

i also wish there was a way to negate some of the importance of WHEN you qualify... with the exception of old Schatz, who always qualifies good (grr...), it seems WHEN you qualify is as important as anything all week...

I wish Earl still did Eldora's track prep.  

The night Sides won the Kings Royal, I was walking out the gate before the checkered dropped. Lasoski set quick time in the rubber, and went out 33rd. That's what I personally want to avoid. If laps are extended, I do not want the last 5 laps interrupted by cautions due to cars running out of fuel. I'm sure everyone has been through one of these excruciating races.

I think what it comes down to, is how many of you, or people you know, have thought the Nats. have become predictive, or stagnant. Change isn't always a bad thing, if it's done right.

Savage

Here's food for thought.................how will tire wear affect the race at 40-50 laps? Most right rears are pretty well worn after a 30 lap race. The number of tire changes will vary according to the track conditions. How will excessive yellow laps or red flags affect the fuel usage? Restarting after a red flag will use twice the fuel on the first lap compared to a lap raced at top speed. Very many reds, and you've used quite a bit of fuel. Running out of fuel is always a concern of mine. At a regular race at Knoxville, we've used 26 gallons to run a 25 lap race due to a lot of red and yellow flags. I was sweating it, believe me.......lol.

There are many factors to be taken into consideration for the Knoxville folks making the decisions abut a 40 lap race. I know fans hate yellow/red flags, fuel stops, etc., but at a track like Knoxville, sometimes it's inevitable.

jmho