10 Things We Learned about Sprint Cars from This Past Week of August 8th – 14th

This past week was so big. I needed to take a week off. Or I really didn’t have anything to say last week. I digress. Anyways. The FOMO from not being a drunken mess at the dingus and turns 3 and 4 have passed. I’m not hungover on a flight that will probably get canceled in Chicago. I mean that’s a win I guess. But it’s all apart of the experience ( 2021 was the experience. ) But anyways I’l stop rambling and get on with Ten Things We Learned about Sprint Cars from This Past Week of August 8th – 14th

1. SCHATZ-VILLE IS BACK

If you didn’t nearly cry during victory lane Saturday night. You are not human or you are a A-Hole. I heard in this media business you’re supposed to hide your emotions. But let’s be honest. If you know the backstory of why Donny Schatz’s 11th Knoxville Nationals win was the most emotional one. You’d be on the verge of tears. I was on Saturday Night seeing Schatz in victory lane. Sure it was his 11th Nationals. But it’s his first without his father, Danny. That raw emotions shown in victory lane is a man who knew he had a higher power on his side last night. It showed in the second half of the Knoxville Nationals. 

Schatz had a strong week with a second in his prelim night to Logan Schuchart. He was one of the fastest cars in the second half  after falling back to 5th with 25 laps to go. Schatz  chased down David Gravel to get his 11th Knoxville Nationals. Which I didn’t think was going to happen when Gravel got around Tyler Courtney. But Schatz used the bottom and the berm to perfection to blow by Gravel with 5 to go as the crowd went wild.

2. Shark Racing is Chomping 

The Shark boys were smelling blood all week long at Knoxville. Logan Schuchart won everything at Knoxville except the big one. But still had to come through the B main to get into the National ( I’ll get into that in a few minutes). But to come from 17th to 3rd is just pure determination after being a victim of the format. He also held off Schatz for the prelim win on Wednesday lest we forget. 

On the other side of the trailer, Jacob Allen’s coming of age party continues. Kind of a mild upset win on Thursday night gave Shark Racing a prelim sweep. Almost identical to his win at Cedar Lake in July. Allen had to hold off a late charge from current points leader Brad Sweet for the win. But again on Saturday Allen charged from 11th to a 5th place run. Shark Racing is not just a one car team. They are officially a school. 

3. The Knoxville Format has flaws. But the hardest race to win should have the hardest format.

I was wondering where to put this one in the ten this week. Let’s knock it out now. Knoxville format is flawed. Slightly. The richest sprint car race in the world should be hard to win. But not because of the track. Usually the crew at Knoxville has a fantastic track. We saw its full potential on Saturday night during the A-Main. But for the first 8 heat races ran on Wednesday and Thursday, along with Wednesday nights constellations events and feature. It was way too wet. I Understand when you have 53 cars taking time you need to have the track juiced up. But it just never slowed down. It seemed like it would get a second lane going most of the night up until the 3rd heat on Thursday. 

Now as far as the format goes. It can be a fun format. I don’t have an issue with an 8 invert either. But if you are going to have that 8 invert. There needs to be passing points involved. I think the Weikert Memorial format at port has that down pretty good. Where you get points for everything to line up the feature. But it has passing points with the invert after qualifying. But I also don’t mind the heads up format either where it encourages fast guys to prove they are fast. Also to discourage tanking because sure you can tank and get low in the invert. But it just screws you for the weekend then and you risk having to run the lower mains on Saturday. But it all circles back to my first paragraph.. You just need the track to match it. 

4.I betcha No one had Austin McCarl and Sunshine on the front row.

I definitely didn’t see it coming. But Austin McCarl had a quiet night on Thursday. But was loud when he needed to clinch the pole for the Nationals. I truly believe that if McCarl didn’t shred a Hoosier he would have been a top 10 car no doubt. Tyler Courtney was a little more louder being the first car to make the feature after being inverted from qualifying on Thursday night. Held on to lead some laps until David Gravel pulled a slider that sent him all the way to Des Moines to gain the lead. Sunshine would end up 4th

5. If Anyone Can Come Back From a Flat Tire. It’s Kyle Larson

I thought Wade Aunger said it best on Saturday during the feature. If anyone can come back from a tire issue. It’s Kyle Larson. Sure as hell he did. Larson made his way back to 6th. Which begs the what if question. Would it have been Larson vs Schatz for the second year in a row for the Nationals? The world will never know. 

But he was the victim of the track on Thursday during his heat. Finished 2nd in the B to start 21st in the A. The Charge was on from there to go 21st to 4th. Again begs the question. What if a yellow came out? It could have been a very different looking Knoxville Nationals for the 2021 winner. But a win at The Front Row Challenge at Oskaloosa definitely helped. 

6. The Posse Came. But was Kinda Quiet

Outside the Shark boys. PA Cars were kinda quite this week. Brent Marks finished 7th and Daryn Pittman in the Hefner 27 finished 10th. But besides them Macri DNQ. Dylan Cisney did win his heat race on Wednesday night so that was cool! Both Wagners and Sutts were quiet. But good to see some of the local boys and cars go out and fight with 100 of the best cars in the country Oh and to the scumbag who stole the Money from the Wagners merch trailer. I hope you step on a lego. 

7. Wagaman could finally break through ! 

I’ve been waiting to say that for a long time. But even with all the competition out in Iowa. 35 cars still signed in to Lincoln on Saturday Night which is incredible to me anyways. So it made Troy Wagamans first Lincoln win that much sweeter.

Troy has been on the doorstep of a win most of the season. But finally broke through for the win finally on Saturday night. It was such a good story for a team that rolls into the Pigeon on an open trailer. Congratulation Buddy

8. We had Our Own Fun This Weekend in PA

The beautiful thing about Knoxville week. Is that the Grove and Port are off. So that opens up some dates. Big Diamond and Clinton County took advantage of it and did succeed! Huge crowds at both tracks with long lines to get in and absolutely BE A U TE FUL weather both tracks. Along with 27 cars at Big Diamond and 26 at Clinton County. I keep saying this for a year that’s supposed to be a down year. It’s not that down. 

9. Mark Smith Owns Big Diamond

Mark Smith is one of those guys who if he gets out front. He’s gone. He was for the most part on Friday Night at Big Diamond. A late charge by Jeff Halllagan was held off by Smith. Smith picked up his 2nd sprint car win of the year at The Diamond. He won the URC feature event back in July for his 3rd sprint car win at Big Diamond in the last 4 races. 

But a massive shout out to Jake Smulley and everyone at Big Diamond. The surface was incredible. A tad fast on the cushion. But a smooth track that didn’t eat tires is a driver’s best friend right now. I have been so encouraged by what Big Diamond has done this year. I hope this leads to more sprint car shows here in DA SKOOK. I am starting a petition for a Speedweek show here. If not, YO, ALL STARS BOT!

10. Billy Dietirch is as much of a BADASS as Clinton County!

How can anyone be upset at Billy Dietrich getting his first win of the year at Clinton County. He set a new track record and came from 7th on a slick surface to get around Kyle Smith ( in a 360) to get the $6300 Phil Walter Classic win !

I said it a few weeks ago when I first started this article about how awesome Clinton County is! It showed Saturday night. Again another surface with no tire issue. It had some character and allowed for absolute HAYMAKERS being thrown on each other. The racing was outstanding. Shout out to Phil Walter for working his ass off to make this event for his old man just that. An event. Phil is one of the best at promoting stuff in the area. I’m proud to call him and his Dad Phil and Mom Lori friends and I am so appreciative they allowed me to be a part of this event. Also Jason McCahn is an animal as a everything man at Clinton County. I can’t thank him enough for allowing me to return to announcing 410s at his track alongside him. He is a damn good announcer but he does everything behind the scenes and deserves a ton of credit for the work he does every night at Clinton County. Another track we need more 410 shows at. This is one track out west I will say let’s go Speedweek or All Stars ! 

Honorable Mentions

11. Get Well Soon PPM

Can we get this kid some luck. One person doesn’t deserve what he’s been through this year. He got involved in a wreck on lap 1 of the feature and fractured his C7 and T5 vertebrae. Luckily no surgery is needed and sounds like a full recovery is on tap. He’ll fight this like everything else he has !

12. Brian Brown is the Dale Earnhardt of the Knoxville Nationals

Another year. Another Brian Brown not winning the Knoxville Nationals. I just don’t get it. I hope one day we see Black Jack in Nationals Victory lane and Knoxville will be a rubble of dust come Sunday Morning when the church bells ring. 

13. The best people are in Sprint Car Racing Hands Down

I have to send a shout out to everyone who chipped in for the bonuses for the 360s and 305s. Nearly $700 in bonuses paid out for those who attempted it. Congrats to Chris Frank, Kyle Smith for highest 358/360s and Josh Beamer highest 305 at Clinton County