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Jonr (Offline)
  #1 6/5/25 7:59 AM
Is the turn four wall at Paragon as dangerous as it looks like on TV. When I saw it on Flo last night, I was very surprised on what they had. I don't know if there is a history of cars getting into it or if is far enough from the racing grove that it is not a concern.

I know it is only money, but it looks like there are a couple of choices to make it a lot less dangerous than the blunt point that they have now.
Rapid Rick (Offline)
  #2 6/5/25 9:09 AM
Red Bledsoe hit that wall back in the early 80's and sustained some serious injuries. He recovered and raced again, but after that they went to the tractor tires. Better than the concrete that Red hit, but still not ideal. And old tires tend to harden year by year.
Likes: tirespinner
bsmith8 (Online)
  #3 6/5/25 11:13 AM
Its looks dangerous but its not as close to the track as it looks, I have been going to Paragon for 50 plus years, some as a fan some as a sprint car driver with and without a wing so that tells you how long its been. I have only seen one car hit that wall and it was Johnny Johnson, it shook him up bad but I do not think it hurt him. You have to go over the banking to hit it and usually you spin out before you hit it. I have seen more cars in the pond than hit that wall.
3 Likes: Ilovedirttrackracing, tirespinner, TQ29m
interpreter66 (Offline)
  #4 6/5/25 3:30 PM
Originally Posted by bsmith8:
Its looks dangerous but its not as close to the track as it looks, I have been going to Paragon for 50 plus years, some as a fan some as a sprint car driver with and without a wing so that tells you how long its been. I have only seen one car hit that wall and it was Johnny Johnson, it shook him up bad but I do not think it hurt him. You have to go over the banking to hit it and usually you spin out before you hit it. I have seen more cars in the pond than hit that wall.
That’s not a fair assessment ,that wall was scared Once it found out it was Johnny Johnson.😂😂
3 Likes: bsmith8, Hustlin-Hoosier, tirespinner
Vertigo (Offline)
  #5 6/5/25 9:01 PM
I used to shoot video right at that spot and several bombers ended up in those tires. The hardest hit I filmed was Rocky Hodges during an All Star Sprint show around 1990. It stunned him or stuck the throttle because he caromed off the end of the wall and shot into the infield, motor roaring, where he eventually spun some donuts until the motor stalled just short of turn 2.
3 Likes: DaveP63, ronmil, tirespinner
Grocery Guy (Offline)
  #6 6/6/25 11:37 AM
On a different Paragon note, KUDOS to the track and USAC for running a quick and efficient program on a Wed night. With weather potentially coming the track did an awesome job! Track was prepped early, warmups started at 6:15, qualifying was quick, and sprint cars qualified during hot laps. First midget heat race was on track at 7:28pm. Bravo! I believe the midget feature was over about 9:15pm. Too many times, we're quick to point out of shows start late and drag on. Compliments to Paragon!
21 Likes: 2fast4u, cowboyhar69, Dirtfan, erich45, GlobalSpeedway Tours, Hubie48, Hustlin-Hoosier, Ilovedirttrackracing, interpreter66, JJMooney, Jonr, luckybuc97, mc/rider, mlamb, PAW, PJ Wright, racenut69, Rapid Rick, spicoli, tirespinner, WingSideUp
B99 (Offline)
  #7 6/6/25 12:01 PM
One of the better Paragon tracks I've seen over the years. The complaint over the T4 wall is silly at best. Been that way for years and in 50 years of going on and off I've seen 1 car hit it. If it was a real safety concern USAC shouldn't have raced there.
4 Likes: Grocery Guy, Hustlin-Hoosier, ronmil, tirespinner
The55 (Offline)
  #8 6/6/25 1:51 PM
Originally Posted by Grocery Guy:
On a different Paragon note, KUDOS to the track and USAC for running a quick and efficient program on a Wed night. With weather potentially coming the track did an awesome job! Track was prepped early, warmups started at 6:15, qualifying was quick, and sprint cars qualified during hot laps. First midget heat race was on track at 7:28pm. Bravo! I believe the midget feature was over about 9:15pm. Too many times, we're quick to point out of shows start late and drag on. Compliments to Paragon!
Thanks for commenting about the show. Glad to hear the guys at Paragon ran an efficient program and had a well prepped track. They have done a nice job of upgrading the place and hope they are able to get more USAC races. I would have been there but it was the Brides birthday.
5 Likes: Grocery Guy, Hustlin-Hoosier, ronmil, tirespinner, TQ29m
Rapid Rick (Offline)
  #9 6/6/25 3:32 PM
A great night of racing for sure. Paragon has never been better. It would sure be cool to see an Indiana Sprint Week show there next year.
9 Likes: Chief Wahoo, Dirtfan, Dougherty20, Grocery Guy, Hustlin-Hoosier, racenut69, The55, TQ29m, WingSideUp
ronmil (Offline)
  #10 6/6/25 5:47 PM
I think worst wall hit I ever saw was Trey House at Putnamville.

Ron Miller
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