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

Although I don't post as regularly as some of you, I feel that I must start a new thread regarding the Eldora/Schatz/Kinser ordeal. Personally, Donny got a HUGE break...don't know if he asked for it or if it was simply GIVEN to him. Nonetheless, what happened with Steve has seriously caused me to reconsider if I even want to associate his number with my login name. Verbally berating and shoving an official he appeared to be a 2-year old getting his candy taken from him. After all the press releases about fines and probations...my question is where is the fine for him regarding this situation?? A mechanic from the 21 team got fined for considerably less contact with an official previously. I am simply mortified that Steve (who had a valid point by the way) is being treated exactly the way he was upset about to begin with. Special treatment, pure and simple. He should be fined for his physical outburst with the official, or this scene will never end. Better yet, the next time an official is being man-handled, how could they possibly fine the crew and or driver?? The WoO officials need to get this reigned in before it get's out of control.

I have to agree (not that anyone cares if I agree or not) but Kinser's actions with the officials was not right no matter what the situation was. I agree 100% with Kinser in his protest, but shoving officials is uncalled for. If they indeed did follow protocol with the rules of "interference", then the officials did their job. My earlier thread was aimed more at the fact that Schatz claimed he was interfered with and got a "mulligan" on his qualifying run. I still don't get how he timed like crap on BOTH laps, but that is another story. Back to Kinser - even if he had a right to be angry as most drivers and fans were at that time - he shouldn't be going around shoving the officials or whatever he did. I got that info second & thrid hand about what he actually did. If you touch an official in an angry protest, there should be some sort of action taken per the rule book that should apply to EVERY driver in any given series. Those who know me know that I HATE favoritism when it comes to rules. I have no other reason to care in this matter other than for fairness for all drivers across the board.

Former Owner/President of FAST and Black Swamp Media
Group. Currently just another fan in the stands.

From the WoO rule book:

9-d: Physically abusing any event official including pushing, punching, touching, grabbing official's equipment, etc will be subject to fine, suspension, legal action or any other action deemed appropriate by the World of Outlaws. Maximun fine-$5000

9-e: Verbally abusing any event official. Maximum fine-$500

Looks like the King is getting a little prefered treatment as well. Where's the fine or suspension for shoving an official at Mr. Kinser???

I would also like to add that I did not see any mention of mulligan's in the rule book. :-)

I agree that his tantrum at the track was unbecoming of a professional in any sport - no matter the situation. Additionally the biased statement on his web site was even less mature. Carlton told it like it happened on Katich's show - three WoO officials made the call when it happened - which backs up Mermaid's account of what she heard on the scanner and posted in that lengthy thread here on this message board.

Phil Taylor

home-theater-systems-advice.com

Thank god for all this political correctness....

GO KINSER!!!!

I think they should suspend him for a few races or maybe even the rest of the year. For that matter, anyone that raises their voice should be imediately escorted from the track herr comadant.

Steve should not have shoved anybody, but from a racers perspective...the perception of altering a show in favor of someone else other than You, is the perception that they are altering your livlihood. Simply put, your paycheck. I feel this as a local racer, yet couldn't imagine the pressure this puts on you when your mortgage relies on your racing ability. You get angry if somebody is blatenly STEALING (not saying they are, only he might have felt that way) a large sum of money out of your wallet. Any one of us would feel just as passionate about your boss pulling the same stunt at work. On the other hand, as a business owner, if an employee felt this way about a decision that I had made, and shoved me in a dispute over it, I guarantee that he wouldn't step foot in the facility again! But then again, I don't work for $50K a day, so I guess I will just be quiet now :)

I understand being upset. But the bottom line is still that working woody called in to the officials and even said a push truck was out on the track when schatz was out there - in the line Donny was using, at that point they called off his first lap. They maybe should rewrite the rule and keep the guy out there for his 2nd timed lap while he's still out there, then all of this would have been avoided. Everyone has their own opinion on this, but we should also accept what proof is there and let it be. This is not the first time something like this has ever happened, and it's not only Schatz that gets the break once in awhile. As for the one who posted this thread - why change? The man is still something to be proud of!!! Give him another chance or two!!

Cheers!

I was there and the official bumped into Steve. The official bounced back and Steve didn't budge.

Its been the talk of this message board for a week. The whole thing sounds very bush league to me. I think its time to move on already!!!

Knoxville Natioanls attendee since '95
Favorite Tracks...River Cities, Knoxville, Cedar Lake
Favorite Drivers...S.Kinser, T.Kaeding, K.Madsen, S.Smith
Proud Canadian 

Hmmm, there was no fine levied for this? Sounds to me that the Outlaw brass knew they were wrong.

If this abuse story is even true...

so what else is new these days?

If Steve's mortgage still relies on his racing ability now that he's in his mid 50's he must have made some unwise investments. He might have beat Sammy on the track more often than not but it appears that Sammy won the savings account battle.

Given the high price of fuel and the state of the economy it's not going to get any easier running up and down the highway. I'd sure hate to have to put all my eggs in that basket anymore.

Stan Meissner

Good thing Bob or Dick Gaines didn't bump into that official. He would have gotten a "fith thanwich".

Which one of you was standing right there when this alleged shoving happened? I mean actually standing within 5 feet of it? Not "my brother's wife's second cousin twice-removed got a phone call from the guy who was selling hot dogs and heard someone in the line say that they heard....".

Just curious.

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

i believe that question was already answered by joe kidd

no mention of being allowed to ask for an extra lap in the rules? then how did that rumor get started? are we going to refer back then to the post that said woo officials called off the first lap after hearing from workin woody? what was the difinitive reason donny was given the lap? did he ask, or was he told. if he was given the lap by officials, why did they not leave him out for the extra lap? why did that not just tell him over the one way radio that they felt he should get another lap? more drama than TNT here!

If I recall, the rule for time trials is that if interference happens to ANY driver, they will be sent back out for the one or two laps it happened, after all have timed in. But, alot of confusion can happen and did in this case because someone might not agree or see what caused it. All this could be avoided simply if they keep the driver out and run the lap or laps while their still on the track. There was a push truck on the track in Schatz's line and woody called it in to the officials before completing the lap, hence the extra lap. I'm a Schatz fan and WoO fan, but not all is perfect with either. After reading Kinsers website article, it sounded to me he was just upset that Donny pushed him off the front row or something like that - not sure without rereading it. It's happened to other drivers - recieving an extra lap, not just Donny like some on here feel. The rule should be changed - my opinion though.

not trying to argue, but..... if jholz says they found nothing in the rules to substanciate the mulligan.....

i guess i could go over the rules with a magnifying glass, but am just lazy right now!