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Topic: Greatest races you've ever witnessed in person Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
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Speedbump
June 22, 2015 at 09:53:05 AM
Joined: 11/30/2004
Posts: 1461
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Posted By: egras on June 22 2015 at 07:55:54 AM


Thanks for the details!  I was a little fuzzy on what went on behind the wall--couple too many beers maybe?  (I was camping on site)   I do remember hearing "broken axle" and "out of the race" and now that you mention it, I do remember him coming on the track a 1/2 lap behind everyone.  I already had a great memory of that race, but you brought out some extra memories that I had tucked in my brain under the barley and hops!  Smile



I think it was one week later when Birky lapped the entire field at the Liberty 100.     We got 21 or so laps in on Saturday night when a rainstorm killed the track, so we finished it on Sunday afternoon.    Only about 16 or so of the cars still running returned to finish off the race,  so the task was not quite as difficult as it could have been,  but very impressive none the less.    

My biggest memory from that afternoon was watching Dave (Brian's dad) giving signals on the backstretch to slow down,  you got a huge lead, etc.    Brian kept going harder and harder (his last 10 laps were among the fastest of the race), and Dave kept getting more animated with his signals and more agitated that he was being ignored.   He finally throws his arms up just before Brian lapped second place with a "I f'ing give up!"  and starts walking towards victory lane.  



digs
June 22, 2015 at 11:09:12 AM
Joined: 12/03/2004
Posts: 300
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1995 - All Star Speedweek Finale, Attica Raceway Park.

Some guy who left NASCAR, shows up for his first sprint car race after a failed Cup adventure. They role in with a brand new featherlite double decker race trailer, one of the first of it's kind, decked out in green, Quacker State. Not having any seat time, one wonder how he will perform after being away from sprints for 6+ months.

After qualifying, heats and dash, the green machine starts the feature up front. He gains the lead and runs away from the followers.

But coming up from mid-pack is a local, one legendary rcers from the Attica and fremont ranks, now retired. Mark Keegan in the white and orange "X", chases down the green machine. Rim riding thru the corners, Mark gained and finally passed The STEVE KINSER. The crowd went nuts, Kinser was in town cherry picking before going out on tour with the WoO gang.

Mark Keegan your 1995 Ohio Sprint Speed Week Finale winner.

It's now 20 years later, I am figuring  afew people will add this memory and comment on that magical night.



Lefty Wilbury
June 22, 2015 at 11:21:33 AM
Joined: 08/09/2009
Posts: 506
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1. Steve Kinser and Dude in the mid 90's on twin features at Knoxville. 1st race they lapped to about 4th place while battling each other the whole way. The 2nd feature with the full invert they passed cars like they were jet fighters racing bi-planes and finished 1 and 2 again. Can't remember who won which but they split the night at #1 and #2 in both races. Kinser in the Valvaline and Dude in Sonners 47.

2. Kinser trying to get by Carmen Manzardo in the world ugliest sprintcar, lap after lap. A legend was made that night at Knoxville.

3. Wolfgang and Max Dumsney in the Race of States during Nationals in the mid to late 80's.

Honorable mention. Gary Lee Meyer (sp?) starting from the tail of the 360 Nationals and catching David Hesmer from the pole.




darnall
June 22, 2015 at 11:25:55 AM
Joined: 09/02/2009
Posts: 454
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Somewhere around 1983-85 I70 speedway in Odessa, MO had a dirt track invitational for sprintcars and latemodels in the fall... all the fast guys across the country showed up in both classes..

 

It rained a ton the night before and the track was treacherous but still fast as hell. I watched Wolfgand and Keith Kauffman pass each other in turn 4 lap after lap after lap. Kauffman was in the Hamilton car with a big block and man did it have a sound all its own.

 

I've seen plenty of good ones since then...but that one still takes the cake.


Loose is when you hit the wall with the rear of the
car, tight is when you hit the wall with the front of
the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and
torque is how far you move the wall.

wishiwasarichkidracin
June 22, 2015 at 11:27:22 AM
Joined: 03/17/2010
Posts: 78
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Reply to:
Posted By: digs on June 22 2015 at 11:09:12 AM

1995 - All Star Speedweek Finale, Attica Raceway Park.

Some guy who left NASCAR, shows up for his first sprint car race after a failed Cup adventure. They role in with a brand new featherlite double decker race trailer, one of the first of it's kind, decked out in green, Quacker State. Not having any seat time, one wonder how he will perform after being away from sprints for 6+ months.

After qualifying, heats and dash, the green machine starts the feature up front. He gains the lead and runs away from the followers.

But coming up from mid-pack is a local, one legendary rcers from the Attica and fremont ranks, now retired. Mark Keegan in the white and orange "X", chases down the green machine. Rim riding thru the corners, Mark gained and finally passed The STEVE KINSER. The crowd went nuts, Kinser was in town cherry picking before going out on tour with the WoO gang.

Mark Keegan your 1995 Ohio Sprint Speed Week Finale winner.

It's now 20 years later, I am figuring  afew people will add this memory and comment on that magical night.



My all-time favorite was in early 2000's Gold cup (not certain of yr.) TK and The King trading slide jobs the entire race with lapped traffic adding to the excitement.  Upon prevailing, The King sought out TK (who was busy burning up the motor with an incredible display of doughnuts) and wanted to congratulate him on in his words one of the best races he's ever raced in.  If the King said it it had to have been one of the best!

Allard beat Sweet to the line at the Bradway on the last lap , last corner which was amazing.  Sad to see the special Lamar car lose but it was an epic finish.

Last would be Donny at KNoxville.  Doesn't really matter the yr. he is fast as hell!



Super Chuck
June 22, 2015 at 11:49:14 AM
Joined: 11/27/2004
Posts: 194
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Posted By: Lefty Wilbury on June 22 2015 at 11:21:33 AM

1. Steve Kinser and Dude in the mid 90's on twin features at Knoxville. 1st race they lapped to about 4th place while battling each other the whole way. The 2nd feature with the full invert they passed cars like they were jet fighters racing bi-planes and finished 1 and 2 again. Can't remember who won which but they split the night at #1 and #2 in both races. Kinser in the Valvaline and Dude in Sonners 47.

2. Kinser trying to get by Carmen Manzardo in the world ugliest sprintcar, lap after lap. A legend was made that night at Knoxville.

3. Wolfgang and Max Dumsney in the Race of States during Nationals in the mid to late 80's.

Honorable mention. Gary Lee Meyer (sp?) starting from the tail of the 360 Nationals and catching David Hesmer from the pole.



Hey Lefty.  Super Chuck says that was the '94 Ethanol Classic.  And that was a PHENOMINAL night of racing.  Those two were clearly in a class of their own that night.  The jet fighter/bi-plane analogy is spot on.  Steve won the first and Dude won the second, but they were fighting each other through both shows.

Speaking of which, can you imagine the WoO doing a twin features show at Knoxville nowadays?  That would be awesome.  But the way that Donny Schultz guy has been running, Super Chuck's money might be on him to win both!

Super Chuck




Super Chuck
June 22, 2015 at 12:20:53 PM
Joined: 11/27/2004
Posts: 194
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Reading all of these has Super Chuck fired up.  He'll throw a couple out there:

1)  Hawker mentioned it, but the Channellock dash at Pevely was crazy.  Yes, the dash.  There was so much action happening it was hard to watch it all.  Yes, the DASH.  Would love to see a video of that to see if it was as cool as Super Chuck remembers.

2)  98 Knoxville Nationals.  Seeing Dude and Sammy battling with a last lap pass for the Nationals win.  The crowd went absolutely NUTS on that one.  One of the few times you couldn't hear the cars over the crowd noise.

3)  Not sure if this one is even on anyone's radar, but this one was really cool for Super Chuck.  2003 360 Nationals.  Dennis Moore, Jr. had been out west driving the Morrie William's zero car.  DMJ came home to run the 360 Nationals for Booby Thompson and Doug Brown.  In the pits before Saturday's finale, Dennis explained that his dad was very sick and was coming to see Dennis race for the last time, so needless to say his motivation to win was high.  Problem was, they had hurt the motor on the qualifying night and Dennis was just hoping for it to stay together long enough to finish the race.  DMJ started like 7th and was rolling around decent until he dropped a cylinder late in the race.  The Jockos 75x suddenly sounded like a limping LawnBoy out there...and that's when it happened.  The high side was waaaay slick.  DMJ dropped to the bottom of the track and had the throttle matted, no wheel spin.  He reeled the leaders in quickly, passed Travis Rilat for the lead and then just disappeared.  He won by like 25 car lengths on seven cylinders.  Watched the whole thing unfold and never seen anything like it.  Seeing Dennis put that trophy in his dad's lap was awesome....not a dry eye around.  Goosebumps as Super Chuck is typing this.

There are many, many more, but those are just some that come to mind.

Super Chuck



cubfan07
June 22, 2015 at 12:32:53 PM
Joined: 06/01/2007
Posts: 586
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Posted By: egras on June 22 2015 at 09:01:55 AM


Didn't Heskin battle Sammy on the qualifying night also?  I thought they exchanged the lead back and forth during the qualifying night A-main.  ????   Can't remember which one of them won that night though.  ??  That Nationals was awesome thru and thru. 




that was in 2011. Hell of a race that was!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGDyam_jKDY&index=39&list=PLm798pyKjelVOVtj7OW_ui0jjPOruoXyf


-Austin Rankin

Beersprinter
June 22, 2015 at 12:41:50 PM
Joined: 06/22/2015
Posts: 1
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Posted By: egras on June 21 2015 at 08:05:49 PM


Let's have some fun.  What are the 3 greatest races you have ever witnessed in person?  Any type of racing.  Can be your favorite for any reason--great racing throughout the event, popularity of the victory, favorite driver, etc.

1.  For me Knoxville Nationals 2010 tops the list--no need to explain-not just for the last 25 laps but also the buildup to the race

2.  IROC race at Michigan international speedway--1999 or 2000?   Sr. vs.  Jr. down to the last lap-smoke rolling off of the tires to the checkered flag.  They were bumping and swapping the lead for the last 5 laps.

3.  Brian Birkofer at the Yankee Dirt Track Classic in Farley Iowa years back.  He started on the pole and had problems on lap 1.  Started smoking so bad I thought he blew up.  He went into the pits numerous times under yellow after one lap.  Came back out and started 23rd or 24th.  Took him about 60 laps to take the lead and run away from everyone else-against a very good field of cars mind you.  Was a very popular win with the fans too. 

 

 

 



1. Sometime in the 90's, Krietz and Rahmer run wheel to wheel for the entire feature at Susquehanna during a Sunday night show.  Rahmer wheelstands the whole front stretch, lapped cars are split and disposed off.  Krietz wins it.

2. Steve Kinser's enraged charge from the rear of the National Open (again the 90's) FTW after been put back for having too many people working on the car during a red.  "I'm just trying to win a race."

3. Still working on this one.




GULF81
June 22, 2015 at 02:19:11 PM
Joined: 08/03/2008
Posts: 73
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usa race at riverside   sammy and steve swapping the lead 3 or 4 times a lap

 


Curtis Davis

UTRockets
June 22, 2015 at 02:25:57 PM
Joined: 06/22/2015
Posts: 137
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1) Earlier in the season that Steve won the National Open from the tail I saw what was probably the best individual race I've ever seen from a driver from him and he didn't even win the race. Steve was running away with race at Millstream when the car began missing and spitting fire all over the place about halfway. He stopped on the back stretch and got out and fixed whatever was wrong (lose plug wire?) and rejoined on the tail. He charged through the field in about 10 laps and was putting a slider on Sammy for the lead and they made contact and Steve flipped. They towed him the pits and straightened the wing a little and pushed him back out and he came from the tail again up to about 5th in the last couple of laps.  

2) Jac Haudenschild coming from the tail in Ed Watson's 78 in a 20 lap Eldora Nationals prelim to win on a last corner pass of Charlie Fisher in the mid 80s

3) Jack Hewitt winning all 4 legs of the 4 Crown.



renninjm
June 22, 2015 at 03:40:05 PM
Joined: 08/04/2010
Posts: 10
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2010 Ironman 55.  On the last lap Lucas Wolfe pulls off a turn 4 slider on Jason Meyers, Meyers crosses over under Wolfe, Meyers and Wolfe side by side bouncing off each other as they crossed the finish line.  If I remember correctly, it was, at the time, the closest finish in WOO history.




19 Posse
June 22, 2015 at 03:51:54 PM
Joined: 12/24/2012
Posts: 364
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2001 or 2002 Williams Gove National Open.....Lance Dewease Started 12th and won..I think it was 2002...He won back to back years...

2003 or 2004 Port Royal Speedweek Race - Mark Smith and Lance threw slider after slider..Mark Smith won...It was the last car and the last motor the Keen Team had available at that time.  I'm not sure how long then ran after that..

I remember one race from when I was a child...It was at the Silver Springs Speedway (RIP)...My driver Smokey Snelbaker won....I really don't know much about that race except won...'87, 88'?? All I know is he won...



BigRightRear
June 22, 2015 at 04:29:36 PM
Joined: 11/27/2004
Posts: 3751
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I remember this one...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wUVXgxeLZc

 


Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

dirt till death
June 22, 2015 at 05:17:54 PM
Joined: 07/16/2014
Posts: 76
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the 2000 chili bowl i believe was the years kevin doty and stewart went at it for about 20 laps and smoke won by a foot




tenter
June 22, 2015 at 06:23:35 PM
Joined: 07/16/2008
Posts: 1039
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Both years at Bristol with the dirt track. The best EVENTS I've ever been to.



muddy
June 22, 2015 at 06:33:56 PM
Joined: 11/30/2004
Posts: 450
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That was a good one Super Chuck.....DMJ winning the 360 Nats.

Jac winning the Front Row challange

Birky last year at Knoxville

 



Nick14
June 22, 2015 at 07:40:31 PM
Joined: 06/04/2012
Posts: 1810
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2008 Brad Doty Classic Jason Meyers last corner slide job on Steve Kinser for the win.

2010 Kings Royal, Steve Kinser pulls a slide job on a Green White Checkered restart on Kerry Madsen for the win.

2013 Sprintacula at Eldora, Wild Child holds off Shane Stewart and Randy Hannigan in the final laps for the win. Beat Hannigan by about half a car link or less

Honorable Mention, 2012 All Star race at Attica Craig Mintz races with Stevie Smith in the final laps and makes the pass in turn 4, wins by half of a car link.




Michael2air
June 22, 2015 at 08:11:48 PM
Joined: 06/15/2015
Posts: 4
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I remember a race at the Jackson Nationals in, I think 1988, with Bobby Davis Jr. in the Gambler house car and Bobby Allen running side by side for what seemed like 29 laps. Scruffy of course on the bottom and Davis Jr. on the top. I believe Bobby Davis Jr. won it. Does anyone else remember this race?



stana
June 22, 2015 at 09:12:49 PM
Joined: 07/18/2007
Posts: 37
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When Schatz came from the B to win the Nationals.  I don't know if any of you were there but at the Red River Valley speedway in Fargo Gordy Lamb was competing at an outlaw show. It was just a heat race but he was way out in front of the whole group and just increasing his lead when his engine let go on the last lap. It was the best a local had ever run with the outlaws and the crowd was just going crazy. Just loved going to the Buffalo River Speedway when I was a kid. Watched Donny Mack, Bucky Peterson, George Swangler, Wyman Wade, Harry Thurlow, Kenny Chapman, Donny Speaker, Linus Mack, Dave Skari, Lou Kennedy, just to name a few. They put on great shows and were the highlight of my week. Seems crazy thats 45-50 years ago.





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