Probably need to worry more about people like me who is currently hoping to be a 59 year old sprint car rookie.

I feel the same as the original poster. I have always wondered if you took that 14 -16 yr. old kid out of the sprint car and told his or her parents O K now we want your little hero to ride this 2200 pound bull here for 8 seconds ......the parents would probably look at you and say , our kid isn't riding that bull it could hurt them??????????????????***

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I totally understand what could happen in a worse case scenario but on the other hand lets not confuse concern for jealousy cause I feel like some of the posts on this thread are just that.

i wonder why

There might be a few younger racers out there that are in over their heads when it comes to jumping into sprint car with that much horsepower. On the other hand, there are quite a few very talented drivers that just flat out get up on the wheel. I've been to many different types of races (karts, Qm's, micro, midget, sprint, etc.) and I have seen just as violent crashes in the little cars. YOu don't think parents have had to witness their kids get karted off on a stretcher @ a go kart race? It don't make much sense to say that a 14 year old can't wheel a sprint car but a 7 year old can run a non-caged kart around a 1/4 mile asphalt track and get upside down and skid across pavement for a 100 yards. Racing is dangerous period no matter what the form, level or divsion!

You are so correct Cale. I wish I could be the 14 year old so of an irresponsible parent that thinks I am expendable enough to be put in full body sprintcar.

Dear God, give me a break people. In this country you are a legal adult at age 18. That should be the age that people are allowed to be in sprintcars. Until then there is nothing wrong with spending time in TQ's, Micro's and quarters getting seat time and running everywhere possible. Sprintcar racing is a top level racing and should only have those who have shown proper responsibility in feeder series to get a ride.

If parents don't respect their kids that well, then maybe a sanctioning body should step up and do it for them.

i think you're right on on the jealousy issue. this topic comes up on this board quite frequently and it's always the same people saying the same thing.

Let me say that most race fans go to see race drivers with experence not kids! Why do you think tonys nascar race is sold out! Names!!!!!! Not a bunch of rich kids starting out! Think about it! How many of this kids could go out and get started driving race cars without there parents money??? Pay to play! Hell you can't buy these kids a beer for another 7 years!

That's probably because it's the same people who don't want to see a 13 year old die. Especially when it's avoidable.
I love the "jealousy" angle. Whenever I see it, it just says "I got nothin for this discussion, lets accuse them of jealousy". It's laughable. What POSSIBLE connection is there between not wanting to watch a child die vs jealousy? Jealous of what exactly?

Here's my humble opinion.
I have seen a driver knocked out then burn to death.
I have seen a driver die when his head hit the wall so hard it cracked his helmet (and his head) wide open.
I have seen a driver die when he broke his neck, and by the time the crash ended, I thought his head was going to come off.
Those were seasoned, winning sprint and midget veterans, well over 20 years old.
These were all a horrible thing to witness. Yet, they were fully grown adults who understood the risk.
I simply can't imagine watching a 13 yr old's head, trying to remove itself from his shoulders. Are you ok with it?

Oh....for the record, I have raced quarter midgets, go-carts and mini sprints as you guys have mentioned. I have never witnessed anything near to what I have seen in midgets or sprints. Yes you can get hurt. But, has anyone seen what I described above, occur in any of these vehicles? 800 hp sprint vs.....a go cart?
Again, just my humble opinion.
David.

ps....please, PLEASE bring something a bit more adult to the conversation than "jealousy".