[midgetmaniac]

Originally Posted by Tom Re-read your comments about Kevin Swindell,Brad Loyet and now Dakoda Armstrong and re-think this position. If I am to take your latest screed seriously, you are advocating for Dave Darland (age 43), Jerry Coons Jr (age 37), Jon Stanbrough (42 in October), Tracy Hines (there and back - age 37) as better candidates for a developmental program than high school senior Dakoda Armstrong. You would also begrudge Dakoda the chance to run ARCA so Brad Sweet can (Brad is already racing ARCA events). Better yet, you figure Levi Jones is more deserving (consider how many midget races he has been asked to run since TSR shut him down). Dominating success in non-wing sprint cars on dirt alone does not guarantee stock car success or Brad Noffsinger would be in the chase this year. Who's left from that list? Cole Whitt: an extremely underfunded, but hard working kid who would surely capture the eyes of the developmental gurus at the higher levels if only his funding were better? That doesn't sound like an accurate description of his program to me. I believe he will be moving on eventually anyway. He seems to have everything needed to be a success in professional pavement racing. Driving talent, youth, funding and a great personality. Brad Kuhn. The real reason you rag on all of the other up and coming midget guys. I don't know if you're a relative or just a fan, but you are not nearly as objective as you claim. Although Devin has the screenname, you are the #1 Brad Kuhn fan in my book. Brad is starting to get to the age (28 in October) where his chances for success at any level higher than the one he is at are declining rapidly. Your posts suggest bitterness about that and if there is, I don't blame Brad for that. Short of winning some of the major titles (USAC, Chili Bowl, Belleville etc.) there isn't much more for him to accomplish in midgets. He has done enough to prove that he has special talent. If he is to have any chance at all of advancement, he is going to have to show a car owner how that talent will carry over into driving long events on pavement. I am surprised that he isn't a Silver Crown regular. I think that would help. Now, if I may get back on topic. Congratulations to Dakoda Armstrong for his strong finish at Salem. One of only three cars left on the lead lap! Looking at the results, I also see ex-midget competitor Tom Hessert notched an 8th place finish.

Yes you can take me seriously, I would put those drivers in my car before I would a high school senior, especially if it is my dime. If I am investing that kind of $ in a ARCA car, I want a proven mature driver who will take care of equipment. But here in lies the difference , it is not the owners dime anymore , it is the drivers or family of drivers dime. Everyone on this site knows how hard I have been on Kevin S.and Brad L. , but I even think they are more deserving than Dakoda in getting a ride like this. I have only been tough on these 3 young drivers but their are serveral young talented drivers that are very impessive to me. Bryan Clauson has kept Brad Kuhn from having the most dominate year in midget racing since Tony was racing at this level. BC is the real deal. Bobby S. is very good on pavement (I wish he would try dirt once) in all 3 classes whether it be midget , sprint or silver crown. I know BS and CW are running some races at the next level and they will do very well. Now as far as being Brad Kuhn's #1 fan I don't know , but I imagine there are some race fans in Wisconsin who would argue otherwise. Still no one has told me where he started but good job for finishing 3rd at Salem Dakoda.