This is sure to rustle some feathers. What if? For one year, they run the Knoxville Raceway Nationals WITHOUT wings? What do you all think?
Personally, I'm partial to non wings, as most of the people on this site probably are. I just wanted to see what people had to say and wanted to see some of your thoughts.
Save your breath! My August "must see" is the Kokomo Smackdown. These 3 days are simply the best three days in a row for non wing sprint car racing anywhere.
I went to 20 Knoxville Nationals without wings, 1961-1981, for some reason they ran wings in 1973. Knoxville was just too big and fast to continue without wings at that time. A lot of bad stuff happened during this time. After the Gary Scott fatality in 1982 wings have been the norm at Knoxville. I know people that stopped going because they didn't like wings. Now most people there wouldn't go if they didn't run wings. Crowds were never very good the few times they ran wingless since.
It would be great, but will never happen. Wings are cool too, in my opinion. I would love it of they could incorporate both somehow. I don't have a clue how that could be done, though.
Originally Posted by UberKuhlMan:
This is sure to rustle some feathers. What if? For one year, they run the Knoxville Raceway Nationals WITHOUT wings? What do you all think?
Personally, I'm partial to non wings, as most of the people on this site probably are. I just wanted to see what people had to say and wanted to see some of your thoughts.
No doubt that the wingless sprint cars put on a better display of driver abilities but the Knoxville fan base are jaded and without wings the gate would suffer. When the USAC sprints ran Knoxville two years ago it was among the best sprint car races ever held at Knoxville with a lot of passing and two and three abreast racing through the corners, and this is just the opinion of an old man who has seen wingless, winged and CAGELESS sprint cars.
Chris, I think you forget that Sammy Won a Non-Wing race there just a few years ago and I watched the King take the Wing off and spank the CRA boys at Eldora in 1990. More guys would than you think when the money is up for grabs! Haud, Stevie Smith, even Saldana may give it a go. The best Winged Drivers make great Non-Wing drivers. It has been proven many times.
If this were to happen, I'd be sure the BOSS non wing series was not only off that night, I would try to help my top 10 in points attend.
And as far as Kinser, Schatz, etc not attending and "would it be a nationals?" ....... heck yeah it would .......... it'd be open to anyone BRAVE enough to run without the wing.
Problem would be that the winged groups would see it as a threat and schedule races that night just to keep their stars away from this show.
