Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

I understand the interest in talking about drivers... Yeah... It's always about them drivers.:D:rolleyes:

I know first hand that some of the drivers out there could not do what they do if it weren't for the guys turning the wrenchs. These guys deserve some attention too.

Who do you think are best guys wrenching today??? You know, the guy that can make a turd go fast :O:

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Bill , I appreciate you thinking of all the "unsung heros" as they say ...

I can tell you , there are a hell of a lot of owners & drivers that wouldn't make very many races without these guys that you speak of !

This gives me cause to publically thank again all of my guys who are so appreciated for everything they do !!

Included are :

* Joey Vallone - Crew Chief .... Joey is a IRL Indy Car gear box specialist when not wrenching on the midget.

* Jan Slesinski - Pit Assistant .... Jan is a retired SCCA racer.

* Bill Benefiel - Consultant .... Bill was hired to share 35 years of midget knowledge to our benefit.

* Jimmy Mc Phearson - Mechanic .... Jimmy was the head wrench for our 2 indoor midget entries / Ft. Wayne.

* Charles "Skeet" Bushor - Engine Builder .... accompanied our team to races ; is developing a new Honda midget engine for introduction in '09.

* Martie Gray - Car Owner .... does whatever she chooses !

We were fortunate in putting together such a great group for a first year team ! :respect:


Paul Gray

:greenflag: www.paulgray28.com

:checkered: www.talk2drivers.com

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

My .02 worth

I think Steve Fox does a real good job ( Stevies maintance is 2nd to none)

Scott Gerkin is a guy that can do it all, that guy has got to be one of the hardest workin guys i know & has a full plate workin on King Kinsers stuff.

Ricky Warner is one of the best to spin a wrench.

DJ Lindsey is another guy that bust his ass on race cars.

Daryl Saucier does a good job ( takin a car to the Knoxville nats & setting the quickest lap of the week stands out)

Paul Hazen comes to mind

Matt Draskovic that works for KKR now is pretty sharp

Kenny Woodruff is a guy i have tons of respect for ( His maintence was top notch)

Galen Fox stands out as one of the all time best to work on race cars. He can do it all !( Galen is another i have tons of respect for. Workin for him was the best....when that QUACK in the engine room wasn't gettin on my nerves LOL)

Steve Brazier is a hard workin Aussie ( I spent a summer with him & He taught me a ton)

I see the list of guys that can do IT ALL getting smaller

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

bump to the top

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Thanks guys those are some pretty interesting names... Anybody else?

Do you think a guy needs to be able to drive a sprinter or midget to be a good wrench???

Who gets excited about qualifying?? me personally... I always loved listening to qualifying rather than watching... Anybody else or am I just weird... :D

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Present-
Jack French
Bubby Jones
Galen Fox & Sons
Clinton Wilson

Past
Glen Neibel

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

I think being a former driver helps
Frank Kerr comes to mind when it comes to driver / Mechanic. Frank was a better wrench than he was a driver.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Well you are a little weird Bill, but not because of that. :wink: :O:
I too love to see and hear one car at a time qualifying. One of the special events of a racing program to me. Pill draws.....not so much, although watching Cecil sling his #72 pill for a new track record was pretty entertaining. :applaud:

Concerning the mechanics, I'm completely unqualified to discuss this topic but that's never kept me from expressing an opinion before. Soooo, I'll go on record as touting Kevin Besecker as one of the up and coming make 'em go fast wrench handlers. The guy is smart and well liked all through the pits which doesn't hurt a thing when looking for tips from other setup artists. JMO, as always.:checkered:

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

I'll forget a ton but here goes nothing

ALL TIME? KARL KINSER! Sammy Swindell, Duece Turrill, DIzz Wilson, Ken Woodruff, Steve Smith Sr.

There are litterally to many to name above average wrenches like Bubby ect.

Whoevers wrenching for Shatz right now is awesome as Donnie still doesn't use adjustables, SOmething that UNFORTUNATELY teams think they have to have.

Chuck, who understands why teams have them but like somebody else said it's a Keeping up with the jones' cost rising investment of the sport that isn't really necessary for good racing.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Did I miss something. How about the obvious and corrrect me
if I'm wrong.

1) Keith Kunz,

2) Bob East


3) Scott Benic (?)


Just to name a few.

Sincerely,

Larry "O":thumb

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Can't believe Brian Cripe has yet to be mentioned.....

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

I think we can add Daryl Tate to that Good List. :thumb

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Kevin is only good because he listens to what Nic tells him to do...:rolling:rolling:rolling

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

:D That was a dumb question...:doh:

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

How about Phil Poor.

Crew Chief for Steve Butler for 3 USAC Sprint titles (1986-88) and a USAC Silver Crown Title in 1992

Crew Chief for Terry Shepherd for the 1990 All Star Title

Crew Chief for Brian Tyler, Derek Davidson, Dave Darland, Jack Hewitt, Brent Kaeding and more in 1991 through early 2000's taking multiple feature wins with these drivers.

One of the rare crew chiefs who scored wins in nonwinged, winged, and pavement over the years.

You can still find Phil spinning wrenches on various cars including last year with Sammy Imel.

Definetly a guy with a full resume.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

I would have to give a tip of the cap to Billy Hess and Rick King for the work they have done on Mike Hess's car.

Steve Savage and Rich Corson should be listed too. Anyone who has Tony Stewart come and talk to them about car setup sure as hell must be doing something right.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

ALL TIME? KARL KINSER! Sammy Swindell, Duece Turrill, DIzz Wilson, Ken Woodruff, Steve Smith Sr.

The only one I dont see on your list Chuck is Davey Brown Jr. I would put him right up there with Woodruff. Like Slammy on the list to, like him or not he is about the best at making a car work, winged or not

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Dont forget about the"PLOWBOY"!!!!:) i truly believe there are alot more out their that we will forget an some that will never be discovered! thanks for a great topic!!!

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Lawrence county Indiana produced three of the best in the setup business. Karl Kinser, Dizz Wilson and Richard Briscoe I am partial to the last one. I would put these three up against any in there own time.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

1) Keith Kunz
2) Scott Benic
3) Scott Pedersen
4) Red Pedersen
5) Tom Miller
6) Paul Hazen

Some good non-wing guys IMO

Todd Kimmel
Todd Kimmel Racing/ Longs Bakery/ Oakley/ DRC

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Davey Brown SR
Mike Cool
Lee Stauffer
Jimmy Jones
Barry Jackson

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

There is one name missing that definatly deserves to be on this list. Danny Smith welder,fabracator,moter man, setup man, and truck driver.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Daryl Tate JMO

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Recent Sprint Car HoF inductee Bob Hampshire.
Builds his own power, has won in All Stars, USAC Sprint & Silver Crown, USAC Silver Crown Entrant champ 1986 & '87 (Hewitt).

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

If we are allowed to use names from the past, I would add Jim McQueen to the list.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

You guys forget about "The Bopper"? Raced, designed, built, owned sprint cars for 40 years and still wrenching today. And oh yah, had the record for career feature wins untill a few years ago.

Here is a cool link and great article wrote just a couple weeks ago.

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.co...racing-history

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Have to agree with Aero on Davey Brown Sr. He has wrenched winners for over forty years from modifieds at Reading to Central Pa. sprints and all the touring series sprints. And the Fox brothers need to be mentioned here as well. They have run up a pretty good record here lately!:wink

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

I gotta add one to the All time list.

Bobby Allen, Not only wrenched his own cars, He built em and often gave advice or help to people that turned around and beat him with it.

Chuck

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

WOW im on my 2nd list now (some have been mentioned already but..)

Karl Kinser
Davey Brown SR
Kenny Woodruff
Robert Hubbard
Rob Hart
Ed Stauffer
Guy Forbrook
Moon Byers
Dennis Kohler
Mike Cool
John Singer

Man way to many to list

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

I read all these names and I am reminded just how short my time around racing has been.

Rob Hoffman... Don't the Hoffmans have more USAC championships than anyone?

I have to give props to the guys that had patience enough to teach a computer geek(ME) the ins & outs of spint car racing....

Bottomline folks... if it weren't for these three guys my interest in sprint car racing would not be what it is... this website surely would not exist if not for these three... Brian Hayden, Danny Williams Jr. and Derrek Williams, While Hayden can't turn on a dam computer... I know that Danny and Derrek occasionally visit this site... Thanks guys!!

Where's the grease... I need to cover my shirt with it... :O:

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Dean "Bonzai" Bruns
Chris Santuci
the late Donnie "Rooster" Conley who worked for Ok. Andy Hillenburg for a long time on the WoO tour
Davey Jones
Willie Kahne (schooled by Karl Kinser)
Bruce Bromme
Mike Nigh
Mike Thurman (wrenched Haud to the Mopar Million win)

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Andy Bondio

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

How about Glen Niebel what driver did win in his V6.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

The best I ever worked with and a good teacher is Jerry Rone. Drivers Pancho Carter,Ricky Hood and Kevin Huntley to name a few.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Not very many didn`t win in it. I can only think of 4 off the top of my head lol

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

i know im not a great mechanic, my mechanical skills are marginal at best, but i think this list would be incomplete to not add all the dads,and moms, brothers and sisters and family that bust there butts all week at work and that cant afford a high priced mechanic, but are there for the love of the sport and for the love for there son or daughter, to me they are the great ones that desreve our respect right along with all those awesome mechanics you have already mentioned.:headbang
John Paynter Sr.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Steve Jones, Vern Kornburst, Duke McMillin, Doug Howells for Don Mack, Doug Grove's Son for Nikitenko,Chuck Delu, John Boy, Randy Tiner, Billy Albini, Banzi, Jack Gardner.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Can't believe noone has mentioned the late Bob Darland, one of the best nonwing wrenches ever.

Also would like to add Skip and Jim Forman, both are great guys and good at what they do.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

jack steck. he's been around for a while.

Re: Everybody talks about drivers... what about the guys turning the wrenchs??
 

Tray house:thumb:thumb