In the Groove
Sunday, June 5, 2005
by Stacy Ervin - There was no doubt that Knoxville Raceway had been extremely lucky so far
this year with weather. Yes, it had been freezing cold for a couple of weeks. Yes, it had been windier than average. But rain had not been issue on any occasion until last Saturday night.
But when the rain did pose a problem, it certainly grabbed attention. After a successful show on Friday, June 3, in which Roger Rager won the annual Masters Classic for drivers age 50 and older and Danny Stratton won the King Doodlebug midget title, the crowd returned on Saturday, June 4.
Saturday’s program was to include the finale of the Midget Nationals, with about 50 entries from all over the country. It would also include the regular Knoxville 410 cubic-inch sprint cars.
But the night was not to be. Just after 410 time trials and one midget heat race, the sky turned dark and threats of severe weather loomed. Before long, the tornado sirens were wailing and rumors of softball-sized hail in nearby Pleasantville were making the rounds. Shortly after, the pit area and grandstand were cleared and the show was called off.
While it is unfortunate that the show had to be cut short, particularly with a national event on the card which drew fans and competitors from across the nation, it’s just a good reminder that no one can change the weather.
One event for the weekend that was not affected by the weather was the induction ceremony for the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame class of 2005. Among those getting the nod this year were Steve Kinser, Steve Butler, Robbie Stanley and Kenny Woodruff. Kinser, Butler and Stanley all hail from Indiana, with Butler as a former driver and Stanley as a former driver who was killed in a racing accident just over 10 years ago. Woodruff is a legendary crew chief and mechanic who has helped countless drivers over a long career.
Kinser of course is just, well, Kinser. The guy is such a big legend now that even the most seasoned scribes have simply run out of fresh ways to describe him. Still competitive and nearly dominant on the World of Outlaws trail, the 50-plus driver shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. At a time when most racers his age are competing once a year in the Masters Classic, Kinser is still chasing over 100 races a year and cris-crossing the country with the WoO.
While a hall of fame induction seems like the perfect opportunity to look back upon careers well done, it also provides a great opportunity to look ahead.
It¹s interesting to ponder the drivers of the present day and speculate on how many of them will be inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in the future. For instance, Steve’s son, Kraig, has just started his career, but he already seems destined for greatness. Steve Kinser¹s longtime rival, Sammy Swindell, also has a young son just starting his career. Are we truly in for another generation of the Kinser vs. Swindell rivalry? And if so, will it be as exciting as the first round?
Former Knoxville track champions Danny Lasoski and Terry McCarl are now on the Outlaws circuit. They¹re certainly shoo-ins for the Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame someday. But will they amass enough credentials on a national level to make entry into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame?
What about Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Jason Meyers, Daryn Pittman or Shane Stewart? What about other Knoxville regulars Kerry Madsen, Wayne Johnson, Ricky Logan or Don Droud Jr.?
For the answers to those questions, we’ll have to wait many more years. But it sure will be fun to keep on speculating.
This is also a good time to reflect on how far the Knoxville Raceway and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame have come. Of course, the hallowed half-mile has been here for decades and has changed by leaps and bounds. The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum became a topic of heavy conversation in about the mid-1980s and the actual facility became a reality a few years later. It’s now a staple of turn two and a hub of activity every race night.
On the other side of the big dirt oval, many of the changes at Knoxville Raceway are evident thanks to the large suites atop the immense grandstands. For someone who’s been around since the mid-1970s, when Internet broadcasts and the World Wide Web weren¹t even a thought, it¹s amazing to consider how far we’ve come.
And of course, it’s a testament to the importance of Knoxville. Whatever happens here on race night, be it fantastic finishes or rainouts, is of utmost significance to the rest of the sprint-car racing world. That’s what keeps throngs of people from all over the world tuning in to hear Web broadcasters Rod Pattison, Bill Wright and Derek Cardwell. That’s what keeps throngs of people from all over the world tuning their Internet browsers to
www.knoxvilleraceway.com to follow along with the program thanks to those of us who spend our race nights entering lineups and results.
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