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

How is He hard to compare to Ricky? The biggest difference is he didn’t want to stay on the road full time. I believe he’s one of the best in the country and he also learned/honed his skills by working under someone else. Just like Ricky he was able to take what he’s learned and add to it with his own ideas.  How long did Paul work under Jimmy Carr? 

I think being hands on  crew chief is probably more beneficial to the team than being manager.

Like people said, probably got tired of the road. That must be an awful grind....

Ricky is the best going i will agree but he has also been with the same driver for yrs....  there is a crew cheif here in Calif that continues to win with several different drivers behind the wheel so i consider him one of the best and that is Paul Baines who wrenches on the Tarlton cars

 Speed with the WoO is a crazy thing- remember when Sammy made the Big Game the fastest car for a year and then made it slow? Those don't normally go together 

I believe Finley Farms is a farm supply company in far northern California close to Fort Jones, just west of Yreka.  About 30-35 miles from Oregon border.  There is a dirt track at the Siskiyou Co. fairgrounds which Kyle Larson has won at.

I think the problem Sammy had from the one year to the next was tire related. Wasn't that when the WoO switched from Goodyear to Hoosier? Not sure......

yes, once they switched tires he wasnt the same.

 Paul and Shane did more with a lot less than other teams during their time together.

 When we did his engines (2006-2013) we would put spark plug wire separators on his engine to keep them from rubbing on the headers and not look like shit.  I think they were like around $15 a set at the time.  He would take them off give them back to us and put zip ties on them.  I asked him why and he said "because I have about a dollar in these zip ties so I saved myself $14."

 Hence the nickname "Pockets"

That's exactly when it was.   Sammy was as fast as anybody on Goodyears, but he never got the new Hoosier tire completely figured out.   

Yep: Sammy loved the Goodyear’s at Knoxville.�

Wonder if Ricoand Silva split is because Rico wanted a national road schedule and Zsilva wanted fewer races. Either that or a better offer from Larson. Seems like Rico could have had the bank roll however to keep him.

So I read it here and there that Sammy never got the Hoosier figured out and that confuses me. I dont want to be a hair splitter but isnt it the crew chief's job to figure out the set up? I know driver and chief need to communicate but i also assume Sammy has had a new crew chief with every new seat he sits in unless its a Sammy and Chief combo. I'm not the most knowledgable poster [just ask Ford]  but is it really up to the driver to figure that out?

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

It's up to the driver to manage the tires. He's out on track. There's a million different grooving/siping patterns and with compounds changing yearly, it's tough to find the perfect tire prep/management.  It's even tougher in the Late Model world. Good thing I dope......j/k.......but seriously....

This exactly! I think it is sad for a person to have a job that they dislike, but only in it for the money! Life is too short to be unhappy in my opinion. Do people really think people become lawyers because they love their job?! Haha fat chance, it's all for the $$$. NASCAR drivers race in NASCAR for the money and fame. I am a little biased, but sprint cars are the best form of racing out there and sure you wont make millions racing, but still making good money at around $500,00 being in the top 10 of the World of Outlaws!  I would be trilled to make that kind of money personally. Kyle even admitted in an interview that his main goal was to race with the WoO, so I hope he decides to make the move sooner rather than later. Ever since loosing my mom 8 years ago I have come to realize that every day is a gift and I believe in living your life to the fullest and doing what makes you happy . 

Looking forward to the new Golden State King of the 
West series schedule! 

Winged sprintcars = the fastest and most exciting 
racecars on dirt! 

And Eldora as well, correct?

I always laugh when I hear someone say "You'll wish you hadn't spent so much time working and you would have spent more time enjoyig life"             ?????    The only reason I spent all of that time working is because all of the things I enjoy cost money.   I hate sitting around doing nothing.  I'm not a hiker or runner.  I don't paint or draw.  All of my hobbies cost money and I still have 2 kids in the house.

I think it's silly to say someone shouldn't do something they don't enjoy simply for the money.  Sometimes you have to do what's best for your bottom line and what's best for the time you're not working.  

Kyle knows what he's doing.  I'm sorry, but $50,000 per year on the road is poverty level without some additional income.  So, when YOU would be thrilled with $50,000 per year, that's because you are likely not travelling 9-10 months per year. 

I understand what you're saying----don't do something you hate.  I don't think he hates Nascar and he's doing the right thing right now for his future. 

I have been watching Paul and that 57 car for years now. Every time that car hits the track you will know it’s been there. The most dominating win I’ve seen in that car was the 2012 Gold Cup when Kyle lapped the field  up to 7th place And Donnie was second a half lap behind. If that 57 car is on the track it will be hanging around the front.

We need more sprint car racing at our home track.

3/4 of the outlaws could get in that 57 and put it in victory lane.

I read the top 10 in World of Outlaws points make around $500,000 a year. So just add more 0 to what you wrote above.  A starting teachers salary around where I live is $50,000, so yes I would be happy making $50,000 a year and doing something I enjoy and am passionate about.

Looking forward to the new Golden State King of the 
West series schedule! 

Winged sprintcars = the fastest and most exciting 
racecars on dirt! 

Sammy is his own crew chief.