Kids
 

Why are all the kids whipping the veterans butts recently?
Boat,Whitt,Sweet seem to be on a roll.

Re: Kids
 

Cause they haven't been racing against Team Foxco?:eek:

:D

Re: Kids
 

Because the equipment is so good today that the value of experience is going away. It is, as a matter of fact, making the sport much less interesting to some of us. While we're getting rid of wings and switching to hard, narrower tires, I'd like to ban power steering.

Re: Kids
 

I agree a little with the equipment line but it still takes driver talent to run up front with USAC, and for these guys to do it at a young age means that there are some young talented drivers coming up. I say give these kids some :respect: They have earned it.

Re: Kids
 

Just my two cents worth but I know Chad, Billy, Glenn and Chris work their butts off every day to make sure that their cars are as well prepared as they can be. Yes, they have good equipment but it is their dedication which makes them successful.

Re: Kids
 

There was a time when Foyt and Andretti were looked at as kids. You've got to start somewhere, and I don't think that it is a fair assumption to make that it is entirely about the car that makes these kids good drivers.

While there is no question it takes good equipment to win, it's meaningless if the driver doesn't know what to do with it. I was at Knoxville this weekend, and I was very impressed with Sweet's performance. Knoxville is a tough track for midgets, and he did exactly what he needed to do to stay in front, keep his car intact and come away with a pair of victories.

Rather than write off their accomplishments, I think we should embrace this new generation of drivers. They're the future of open wheel racing.

I don't understand how the sport can be "much less interesting" if the racing is good and you have a deep pool of talented drivers that are all capable of winning on any given night.

Re: Kids
 

Sure, great equipment is a definite plus, but those are all kids that can drive. Brad hasn't always had the best equipment. I still remember the story Spridge told of Brad leaving Kokomo, after having won the feature, by himself, towing the family car with a pickup truck, with a bed full of junk. And even though Cole and Chad started out with good equipment, they both seized the opportunity, in big races, when it presented it's self. I don't care what kind of equipment you're in, you don't beat Jerry Coons in a Midget or Jon Stanbrough in a Sprinter @ Kokomo if you didn't strap in and come to race, that day.

And there is a very long list of kids, in expensive race cars who couldn't race and after a few races, everybody knew it.

Jerry

Re: Kids
 

Many of these "Kids" have been racing for 10-11 years before they got to sprints and midgets.

I am not going to say that running a mini or quarter midget is the same as running a sprint or midget, but they learn how to "race" long before they get to these cars.

I think what is hard for many fans to get used to is that they are rooting for people MUCH younger than they (average sprint/midget) fan base are. Thing is, if you started watching races when Parnelli, Mario, and A.J. were the youngsters, then almost every driver(besides Mel and Red Farmer) is younger than you.

The "old" guys in the local openwheel scene(No Offense to those I am going to mention) are Jon,Dave, and Tony(Part-Time). Look at NASCAR; Jeff and Tony are now the"Old Guard" or "Seasoned Veterans".

Fact of the matter is, just about anyone who wants to race is going to start at a very young age(5-10) and they are ready to move to Sprints/Midgets by the time they are 15-18. That is how it's going to be for the near future at least and I would say that is how it will be for a very long time. Someone like John Wolfe will still come around every now and then, but it will be rare that they will be able to compete at the high level he did(John) with starting so late.

Times are a changin'. Hopefully for the better. I personally think that the racing right now is excellent on both the local and National Scene. I would say(I know that I am going to get shelled for saying this) that this type of racing is as competitive if not more competitive than it has ever been. It's just that we haven't run long enough for this crop to be "Household" names yet.

Re: Kids
 

Another thing is that these kids have far more racing experience at a very young age than some of the veterans had at that age. The learning curve is shorter now than ever before and with good equipment they perform at a higher level quicker. Add in the experience they gain by running almost year round and helping work on the cars themselves and it isn't surprising that they are showing their muscle. I enjoy watching them run and I am amazed when they win and get out of the car in victory lane and they look like the kid that delivers your morning newspaper.:O:

Re: Kids
 

Originally Posted by petey:
Cause they haven't been racing against Team Foxco?:eek:

:D

If they are indeed that good then WHY are they running just local tracks lately? To run up their win count? It's clear they are a USAC caliber team but instead of running with them, they stay home and run local shows cleaning house. KISS shows and a couple Indiana USAC shows are the only competition they have have had this year. Results were luke-warm with USAC. What gives??

Re: Kids
 

Originally Posted by Moses:
There was a time when Foyt and Andretti were looked at as kids. You've got to start somewhere, and I don't think that it is a fair assumption to make that it is entirely about the car that makes these kids good drivers.

While there is no question it takes good equipment to win, it's meaningless if the driver doesn't know what to do with it. I was at Knoxville this weekend, and I was very impressed with Sweet's performance. Knoxville is a tough track for midgets, and he did exactly what he needed to do to stay in front, keep his car intact and come away with a pair of victories.

Rather than write off their accomplishments, I think we should embrace this new generation of drivers. They're the future of open wheel racing.

I don't understand how the sport can be "much less interesting" if the racing is good and you have a deep pool of talented drivers that are all capable of winning on any given night.

Those kids (Foyt and Andretti) had to be 21y/o just to get into the pits. So, I don't think it's quite the same.

Re: Kids
 

Originally Posted by LEADERS EDGE:
Many of these "Kids" have been racing for 10-11 years before they got to sprints and midgets.

I am not going to say that running a mini or quarter midget is the same as running a sprint or midget, but they learn how to "race" long before they get to these cars.

You stole my answer!! :D Seriously though, by the time these young guys get behind the wheel of a sprinter, they have a lot of laps under their belts. Having good equipment helps, but that experience is big.

Re: Kids
 

I think that with the safety equipment and a premium put on smooth tracks, it makes it easier for the younger guys to have confidence. It is not so much the "ruts and guts" of yesteryear. I seem to always root for the veterans, but some of these new guys are pretty impressive.

Re: Kids
 

Lets remember Team Foxco have full time jobs at Foxco Enigerneering. If you look back at there results from the last two and a half years they have 9 USAC wins and 5 MSCS wins the last 2 years. I would think LOTS of other other teams would like to have there LUKE warm results. Not counting three time in a row KISS Champion that says alot also.

Re: Kids
 

Originally Posted by 1BIGracefan:
Lets remember Team Foxco have full time jobs at Foxco Enigerneering. If you look back at there results from the last two and a half years they have 9 USAC wins and 5 MSCS wins the last 2 years. I would think LOTS of other other teams would like to have there LUKE warm results. Not counting three time in a row KISS Champion that says alot also.

By luke-warm I mean this year. Most of the wins have come while they stay home and outclass the local competition. Anything for the "W" I guess.

Re: Kids
 

Dude, come on. Have some respect for the team that is not making excuses, but instead just going out and winning races. And, at the end of the day, making 1400 to win a local show is better than making a thousand to run third in a USAC show, right?

I only hope you haven't pissed them off so much that they go out and win 8 straight during Sprintweek....I do like to see other teams win every now and then!

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older guys dont heal as quick as the YOUNG GUNS they think money can buy anything ....you got the nascar sponserd teams buying everything top of the line i just love it when a locally funded team like TRUCKERS OR FOX BROS whoops the big money teams...

Re: Kids
 

Another thing that I think might explain why young guys are excelling, they aren't as intimidated by the established drivers. In years past, when a young racer pulled into the pits, drivers like Vogler, Parnelli, Pancho, Dick Gaines, any one of the Kinsers, Hewitt, Stewart and others were waiting for them. These men had an aura about them that had to be intimidating for drivers just starting out.The veteran drivers out there today are great drivers, but I don't sense that "oh my gosh, that's...(fill in driver name) next to us in the pits" reaction from the young drivers. Guys like DD, Clayton, Jones, JS, Coons, Hines and others approach that, but not to the same level. Just an opinion, feel free to punch holes in it as you see fit.:)

Re: Kids
 

A lot of the 15 or 16 year old sprint car rookies who graduated from the micro sprint ranks have already been racing against adults for a few years. Just go to a POWRi show, and you'll see a new crop of 12-14 year olds racing micros right now against adults. These kids will be more than ready to move up in a few years. Kids like Steven Russel, Tyler Reddick, Evan Weyant, Braylon Fitzpatrick, Nic Harris etc.will all be names that we'll all be hearing about in a few years.

Re: Kids
 

I think the annoying thing is these drivers come out of nowhere. We get used to rooting for certain guys at our local tracks in hopes that someday they might get a big ride. As the years pass, the next thing you know they are 25 years old and basically stuck. You are walking thru the pits when one of the big teams pulls in. You watch them unload 2 top of the line cars, then see the 14 or 15 year old kid come out of the trailer. This kids first race, you set back and think, man if ....... was in that car they would probablly win. Instead u know they are only going to run midpack. What a waste. Then in your head your become bias twords that driver. The team runs him all over the country the rest of the year running 2 to 3 nights a week. The next season he is right up there contending. My point is it dosen't seem like you have to pay your dues in a sprint car to get a top ride. many fans don't have respect for the young racer that comes right in to a big time ride. Then he races 3 years worth of races in 1 season. the next year he starts to get respect. These kids have tallent, i just wish there was more of a ladder.