Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

Ok most track rules state the "Drivers are responsible for their crew or anyone in their pits actions".

Ok, say Person A is involved with 3 cars in random classes. Person A goes into another pit to start an altercation. Person A ends up in the hospital, and Person B (the pit in whom Person A went into) goes to jail.

Person B is barred for the season and possibly as long as the current owner owns the track. Person A who actually started the whole deal is barred for 2 weeks along with 1 car he/she is affiliated with.

What would you do to handle it with all fairness? Just curious.

Mr. opinion here.

Fighting is bad for the short track business. Hospital time for person A, jail time for person B. It sets a bad tone for the paying fans who don't have a clue as to whom is deserved of the outcome.

Insurance liabilities need to be considered too.

I assume we're talking about Lawton here. Believe me, the school of hard knocks has been well attended by Lanny over the last 45+ years. He saved Devils Bowl by curtailing the fighting there. Even if the business survives and the promoter gets to stay in the game, lean times are ahead if a message isn't sent to all of the particapants and spectators.

It's not about right and wrong, it's about business.

I don't think that he is talking about Lawton but another track that he has some close ties to..but is trying to be fair as posting as a General question.

My response.. ban them all for the season if they want to come watch then watch from the grandstands.

Living it, Loving it, Enjoying it.. stock car racing 
at it's finest every weekend. JAR Racing #47 Pure 
Stock.

Debbie Ratliff

I understand being upset about being wronged on the race track but there is absolutely no reason for a person to end up in the hospital and another person to go to jail over some altercation during a race. That is definitely taking it above and beyond. Ultimately, at the end of the day, it is just a race and we are all just doing this for fun...right? My biggest question is if you are not speaking of Lawton then where? I know that you are asking a general question but details would greatly be appreciated. I am sorry---I am nosey!!!

http://dirttrackracin.proboards42.com

perhaps that will put a light on the subject for you. Not that much details of the altercation are being discussed but may help you out understanding the true thoughts behind the original question.

Living it, Loving it, Enjoying it.. stock car racing 
at it's finest every weekend. JAR Racing #47 Pure 
Stock.

Debbie Ratliff

The track is West Siloam Speedway. If I recall, this has been brewing for awhile if I remember reading previous posts correctly when I would go to that message board to see what all was happening.

After reading and hearing of this and hearing of what happened at SFS on Friday night and seeing something not very common at Ardmore last night (Saturday), I feel compelled to post my thoughts on this thread instead of the front page, which I may do when I update anyhoot.

What good does fighting do at a racetrack in the first place? In dirt track racing there are bumps and bangs but I don't think drivers really do it intentionally (not talking about spinning people out). When you or your crew people fight, you are or should be barred from the racetrack from a period of time. This instance at WSS, somebody got seriously hurt and is in the hospital. Whether they mouthed or not is not really the story as a serious fight occured. Could have been one at SFS Friday night but don't think it came to that.

There are the majority of drivers at tracks, especially at SFS, that don't respect each other. I think drivers respect drivers from other classes more than they do their competitors themsevles. There are drivers that have no class about themselves so naturally they aren't going to respect anybody else. That is sad as it is a one night a week gathering with drivers doing what they love to do and are doing family things togther like all families should. Fighting or brawls over something that happened at a racetrack in order to make $200, $400 or $750 is stupid, especially considering if you are caught fighting then your suspended from the track. Makes no sense to me.

Went to Ardmore Saturday night where there was a couple of very questionable rough driving calls, which I thought were all just "one of those racing deals." What happened after each feature was completed scared me. The winner was on the front stretch infield receiving his trophy when his compititors would pull up and congratulate him, then drive off. That is respect for your fellow competitor and also shows alot of class.

It is a shame that every year around this time, when the temperatures heat up then so do the drivers. This time, somebody got seriously injured and now both parties involved sounds as if they are not racing at all. All because "grown" people don't have enough class or respect for their competitors to let things go and leave things alone.

Just my opinion and no, I am not Jerry Springer.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Thanks for the link. It helped explain the reasoning behind the question. Sounds like a really bad deal. Nobody should end up in the hospital over an altercation on or off the track. It is just not worth it!!! Thanks again for the info.