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

Sorry to bust your bubble here dude, but for the last few years it was definetly about the tires.    He's good in ASCS, but that's a different Hoosier tire than the WoO runs.   He was great on Goodyears but since the switch back to Hoosier he never found a setup that worked for him.   Look at his results in 410 the last five or six years and it oughta be obvious to you.   However if it's not, then I have an even better reason for saying that.   I happened to be standing right next to him at the Chili Bowl one year (the year B.C. won) when he told someone that he had not been able to figure out the new tire.    

Yet somehow several hundred other drivers HAVE figured it out. Things that make you go wtf? Despite Sammy's perception the world revolves around him the reality thankfully is that it does not.....

True.   I also wondered how Sammy could be struggling to make the A at Knoxville and yet Kevin could jump in the Indy Race Parts car and be much more faster and competitive.   

Didn’t he win a prelim night in The Rose car? 

Hes also a 2 time National Open champ, and has nearly 40 WoO wins, when did he become a schmuck? 

That and a perfect 500 at the Nationals is tougher to get today than it has ever been. Too many guys can lay down a good enough lap to be quick time, but only a few get the right break to win their heat from the 8th starting position. It takes more than just being fast, or being the better driver, it's just too easy for the guys up front to get away from the field with the clean air. And Yes, the King did it, Wolfgang did it, I think Sammy and Mark did it and a couple others. It was tough, but more common back then. And some did it more than once.

I don't think luck has much to do with it. Thats for throwing dice or buying Lotto tickets.

Cars are built & driven by conscious humans, some guys are better than others

So do you think Steve Kinser & Schatz are just the "luckiest" drivers ever?

where did the crew guys end up?

What's obvious to me is that the competition level with ASCS is no where near as high as with WoO and All-Stars.  Sammy has went through tire changes his whole career.  He was always able to figure it out and keep winning at the highest level.  To say the newest version of tires is one he can't figure out and that's why he can't win at the highest level anymore doesn't really hold water with me.  Age is the biggest reason he can't do it like he could 20 years ago.  That's not a knock.  Being able to win anywhere at his age is a testimate to his knowledge, skill and and particularly fitness.  But doing it at the highest level isn't likely to happen much if at all, regardless of what tires they run.  It's just something called father time.  Some, like Sammy, give it a better run that others.  But no one has conquered it yet and no one ever will.  

This 'dude' is still gonna call BS anytime there is any reference to a change in tires being the sole reason of the alleged demise of Sammy Swindell.

Me thinks the ASCS is plenty of good competition for a 60 year old - especially when this 57 year old has to "compete" just to stay awake past 10   

We'll just have to agree to disagree.  I really don't think Sammy has lost much as a driver.   In 410 racing he still qualifies good sometimes, but when the track slicks off he backpedals.    Yes he has figured out numerous different tires in his career, but I do know what I heard him say at the Chili Bowl and what he has told my brother quite a few times.   You're free to think whatever you like though.    I do think Sammy is doing well for his age too, and I'm a 52 year old that can't stay awake past 10 either....

The Rose car you speak of was actually Gravel's 89G with Bill Rose's number, so Bill would get the owner's points.