Smackdown thoughts
 

Yes, it’s that time again. Feel free to post your thoughts and predictions here. I will start this off by predicting Kyle Cummins will leave Saturday with the 35,000 +. Everyone safe travels and enjoy yourself!!!

I’m going with Cole Trickle. Heard they have a special set of “matched tires” ready to to go this weekend.

On the real, i’m going different winner every night.
Thursday- Bacon
Friday- Cummins
Saturday- KTJ after Leary loses a tire with 4 laps to go.

Re: Smackdown thoughts
 

Thurs, Bacon
Fri. Bacon
Sat, Bacon.

And yes, it will be the first, second and third USAC sprint win for him there.

Grant, Cummins, and Seavey are your 3 winners, no prediction on which nights.

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I’ll take the fans all week. They will travel far and wide for the best wknd in sprint car racing of the year. It’ll be intense from the first set of hot laps on thurs all of the way thru to checkers on Sat. We win because the O’Connors give us the best track Indiana has to offer. We win because it’s a go big or go home type event and gets better every year we attend. I sure hope the stands are full. The weather looks fantastic.
Kyle Cummins is starting to get fast at the right time of the season, so if the Mad Man is unable to conquer I hope it’s Kyle. Thx again to the O’Connors for the hard work they put in for this event.

Well even my buddy Mr Funk can’t argue with Yeleyfan76 on that. If the forecast holds true we’re in for an outstanding event. Not only that, many world problems will be solved over some pre-race beers. I’ll tell you what, I’m picking myself up off the floor after I heard Chuck is going with a Bacon brooming. But seriously, I’m going to go out on a limb and take JG to win the big dough on Saturday. Preliminaries to Cummins and KTJ. And I agree with 76, anyone in attendance is an automatic winner! 🏁🏁

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August in Indiana is when tomatoes are at their peak ripedness. So I have no choice. Bacon:22:Bacon:22:Bacon:22:

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It's hard to bet against Seavey this year although Cummins has been fast lately and he is very good at Kokomo. Grant has been off a tick but he is one of the best ever at that track so you never know.

I do want to say this, I am not a big guy on tracks not running against one another, I figure you got to have your schedule for your supporters, but I am dissapointed that Lincoln Park is running against them this Saturday. We have so few "Crown Jewels" in Traditional sprint racing that I wish they would support one another. Nobody of consequence ran against the Bill Gardner and it helps to get the car count up. Maybe I'm dreaming but I think you have the Gardner, Smackdown, Hustler, and the Fall Nationals and I believe that non-wing tracks should help each other out at those races. JMO.

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Originally Posted by mc/rider:
August in Indiana is when tomatoes are at their peak ripedness. So I have no choice. Bacon:22:Bacon:22:Bacon:22:

So let it be written, So let it be DONE!

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The Boycott ends this weekend...Looking forward to some cold beers and good racing with Flagboy and Yeley Fan, under the tents at North End Parking Lot. Anyone but Bacon, dont care who.

I wasn't going to comment, I've actually been staying off of here bc I've been extremely busy lately not only with work but getting ready for Deer Season, getting ready for our annual Fish Fry in September, my kid showing in her last season of 4H at County and State levels, and moving her to Purdue. But here we go.

Ole Smackdown...best 3 day race in the nation. Best weekend of racing in the nation in my opinion. The place where I got to meet AL. The place AL gave me his nickname for me, the Skunk Man lmfao. I hope your watching from above AL and resting with peace now. Tell Don and my Dad I said hello for me if you could and tell him how you call me Skunk Man, he will get a kick out of it!!

So Yeleyfan excellent post. Very well said!! Huge huge thank you from me as well to the O'Connor Family for all the hard work they put into the property all year long to make this the best weekend of racing and best 3 day show in the nation. Living and working nearby I get to see the work they put in when most would assume no work is being done. So again thank you O'Connor Family and your sponsors and partners.

Next, Flagboy I was rolling on the floor with you about the Bacon sweep. Not a snowball's chance in **** that happens. Hope to find you and have a beer with you!!

Next, peak tomato season in Indiana is not August, it's actually the first part of September. My fun job and part time job is working on a farm that raises tomato's for Red Gold, nearly 300 acres of tomato's to be exact. But MCRider you was close on the peakness, about like how Bacon is always close at Kokomo but just can't win there even when he feeds right rears to drivers all night and/or cheats. He still can't win at Kokomo and won't win at Kokomo.

It also puzzles me how many people think Grant is struggling. He's got 6 wins on the season and just come off a complete sweep at Springfield. That's more wins then anyone else in the Sprint Car divison except Seavey who is likely going to break the all time single season win total and who is on his way to his first USAC National Sprint Car Championship. Okay Grant don't have alot of top 5s or top 10s and is all but out of the points championship but does a person realize why? JG is a very very intelligent driver. When he's got his machine maxed out and he's still being passed like he's sitting still, guess what he does, he pulls off and goes to the pits and shuts it down for the night to find the problem before the next race instead of continuing to damage equipment. I wouldn't call that struggling. He would also be coming into Smackdown as the latest Sprint Car winner if it wouldnt have been for the Bloomington rainout. He's just not having the best year of his career that's all.

Nodramazone I'm not sure if you picked up on me and my racing groups phrase or you and your racing group already had thought of it as well. But glad to see your an ABB kind of person. Anyone But Bacon.

In my opinion your winners will be in no order or how many times they win, but JG, Cummins, Seavey. The 2 Xfactors will be KT in the always fast 3R and i wouldn't count out the 12 of the Madman Robert Ballou!! As long as all 3 nights are ABB nights, I'll be a happy camper!! Safe travels to all and I hope some of you I get to meet!!

Thursday: Swanson in the 47
Friday: Danner
Saturday: Cummins flag to flag!

Re: Smackdown thoughts
 

Originally Posted by flagboy55:
Well even my buddy Mr Funk can’t argue with Yeleyfan76 on that. If the forecast holds true we’re in for an outstanding event. Not only that, many world problems will be solved over some pre-race beers. I’ll tell you what, I’m picking myself up off the floor after I heard Chuck is going with a Bacon brooming. But seriously, I’m going to go out on a limb and take JG to win the big dough on Saturday. Preliminaries to Cummins and KTJ. And I agree with 76, anyone in attendance is an automatic winner! 🏁🏁

BLT Time?

Has anyone heard of any other driver changes other than Swanson?

Well one night down and no complaints. Just fun. JG looked mighty stout. Bring on night 2

Yessssssssir Flagboy JG was on it and is on it!! Talked to him and had a beer with him for a lil while over at karaoke at the Turn 4 Bar.

He's feeling good, got his mojo back, car is running really well. I think he should have gotten an award for "Big ***** Of The Night" with that move he made in the Heat Race.

I would expect more of last night to continue tonight. JG is rollin right now!! Felt bad for Kyle, hope he has a better night tonight, same for KT.

Definitely alot of fun yesterday and last night. Good drinks, good eats, good music, and it was an ABB type of night. Need some more of that tonight!! Will be a blast after the race with The Flying Toasters, always a great show at the track on Friday night!!

Any thoughts on Moles’ problem on the opening lap of the feature ? Both torsion bars were sticking out of the torsion tubes. My thoughts are they changed bars and someone forgot to tighten the torsion arms or stops, or both.

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Night 1 in the books. I was concerned with 50 cars the evening could have been a long one, however, basically a 4 Hour program from start to finish is pretty efficient. Lets hope the rest of the weekend is more of the same.

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One close-up showed a torsion arm broken off at the spline.

Track was definitely juiced up last night. Plenty of moisture. It was a challenge in the heat races to get those transfer spots. 🏁

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I'm just amazed that USAC didn't give Bacon his starting spot back, by saying he only stopped because the red flag came out.

Considering the number of reds last night, i’m especially pleased with 49 tonight! Good luck Brayden Clark!

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nothing better than kokomo on the bottom

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Bottom racing's for go karts. Bring the old Kokomo back. I mean it's ok but Kokomo's awesome when someone's rippin the lip as well.

Glad they had a better crowd tonight.

Nothing on usac site yet who won? I had it on then got called out for a car wreck (volunteer firefighter) and missed the feature

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Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Bottom racing's for go karts. Bring the old Kokomo back. I mean it's ok but Kokomo's awesome when someone's rippin the lip as well.

Glad they had a better crowd tonight.

Lol. The old Kokomo was destroyed in 2004. It's just a generic high speed bowl now.

The crowd was kind of puny Thursday but much better tonight. Maybe they should look at only a two day show or maybe run Friday, Saturday and Sunday instead.

I would also kick USAC to the curb and just run the whole thing themselves. They would get just as many cars if not more.

They could then roll whatever they pay USAC into the purse. USAC is useless. It only exists to make the people in charge rich.

My three favorites didn't have a great night. Ballou got taken out by Moles but came back to finish 8th I think. Cummins got upside down but actually made it back to 11th. Cottle had a respectable night finishing 7th. I also pull for the Hazen car with Hoyer. They made the show. But they really don't have the horsepower to compete with the top dogs on this type of track. I think they were 20th or so. I also pull for Osborne but I think he is in the same boat as Hazen. Maybe a little down on horsepower but he did get 14th or so.

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Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Bottom racing's for go karts. Bring the old Kokomo back. I mean it's ok but Kokomo's awesome when someone's rippin the lip as well.

Glad they had a better crowd tonight.

" Let's make Kokomo Great again "

Originally Posted by badcoupe:
Nothing on usac site yet who won? I had it on then got called out for a car wreck (volunteer firefighter) and missed the feature

KTJ won, led green to checkered...he really had the 3R machine rolling. Grant and Moles was coming after him with all they had but it really was never even close. Moles finished P2 and JG was P3.

I'm sorry it was a car accident, prayers for all involved, however thank you for your services as VFD's don't get enough credit for what they do!!

Originally Posted by DirtTrackTherapy16J:
KTJ won, led green to checkered...he really had the 3R machine rolling. Grant and Moles was coming after him with all they had but it really was never even close. Moles finished P2 and JG was P3.

I'm sorry it was a car accident, prayers for all involved, however thank you for your services as VFD's don't get enough credit for what they do!!

Thank you for the kind words, I’m enjoying serving my community many whom are customers and family friends. Fortunately despite a hard collision all involved were ok but easily could have been worse if things happened a second earlier. Not a KTJ fan but when he’s on he’s good. Glad to see that team get a good result, seems like they’ve had their fair share of equipment torn up this year. Was actually at station replacing some switches and wiring on our rescue truck and watching heat race winner interviews when we got toned out. Finished truck up when we got back but races were over.

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Nothing but respect for first responders. They deal with stuff many can't even imagine. Dillsboro IN VFD helped save my ex finance's life. That's all I'll say about that terrible night.

Night 2 in the books. No complaints, just fun. Yes the track was too bottom dominant but nobody gets it right every time. KTJ was good and fortunate to not have to deal with traffic too much. For those of you hating on it , just remember you have options. There’s a couple other tracks running NW 410’s That out of everything is the most puzzling thing to me this weekend

Originally Posted by flagboy55:
Night 2 in the books. No complaints, just fun. Yes the track was too bottom dominant but nobody gets it right every time. KTJ was good and fortunate to not have to deal with traffic too much. For those of you hating on it , just remember you have options. There’s a couple other tracks running NW 410’s That out of everything is the most puzzling thing to me this weekend

You've completed your own "puzzle" with the options or choices as they are called,one event should not and does not shut down racing events.🏁🏁

Re: Smackdown thoughts
 

Originally Posted by Dirtfan:
You've completed your own "puzzle" with the options or choices as they are called,one event should not and does not shut down racing events.🏁🏁

I agree. I don't get the mentality that just because Kokomo is running their big show that all the other tracks should shut down. That's ridiculous. Lincoln Park and other tracks have every right to run as they please. There are really only 7 or 8 teams that have a realistic chance to win Kokomo. Lincoln Park gives the lower budget teams a chance to run and maybe win instead of just being an also ran at Kokomo.

You can look at it that way but also can look at it in the light that any car competing for track championship at Lincoln park now has to decide if they go race there to stay in points battle or come to Kokomo with a chance all be it small at the big prize or $1000+ to start spot in the feature. I for one think it’s crappy for the other tracks to put their regular supporters in the position to have to choose.

I guess I look bigger picture. I’m not asking any track to shut down. First off one of the tracks has no affiliation with USAC at the moment so do what you want. The other. run anything besides non wing 410’s. Flying pigs for all I care. It’s just some of us believe the best way to grow wingless racing is a couple times a year, change it up for what are wingless biggest races. It’s no wonder we can’t get any bigger

At quick glance on My Race Pass, I only saw 1 car at LPS that was at Smackdown the last 2 nights - Pretorious. And none at Paragon.

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Originally Posted by cl124:
You can look at it that way but also can look at it in the light that any car competing for track championship at Lincoln park now has to decide if they go race there to stay in points battle or come to Kokomo with a chance all be it small at the big prize or $1000+ to start spot in the feature. I for one think it’s crappy for the other tracks to put their regular supporters in the position to have to choose.

Using that mentality Outback should shut down anytime Texas Roadhouse has a big special?

LPS, Paragon, Bloomington, whomever are businesses just like many race teams are businesses. Tracks are under no obligation to shut down just because one is running a special event.

And as proven, it really hasn't had much of an effect, now has it?

Brayden Clark - ladies and gentlemen…. Brayden. Clark.

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Very disappointing weekend, Track wasnt good at all and not a lot of action. Went the first 2 nights, skipped the 3rd night and went elsewhere racing and watched feature on flo. A bit of an uneventful year for USAC, hoping things turn around for them and hopefully Kokomo gets their track back to where it used to be! Very uncharacteristic normally the racings great.

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I went to another track tonight and left before the heats were over.

As for Kokomo. They made it great again all the way up to the feature. It was still ok but there's two guys that have that low line mastery when it's available and the Six in a row guy did it again.