UMRA, AMSA, etc......

davex · 1/11/08, 2:13 PM

I am a huge fan of sprint car racing but also like going to races and watching guys move up in their career to sprint cars. My question is this. How much does TQ midgets, AMSA mini sprints, Micros, etc. help when adapting to driving a sprint? Several UMRA standout drivers have adapted well to the sprints like past Bloomington Speedway champion Derek Schefel (sp?) and just recently Nick Spiedel (sp?) has made it look easy to adapt to sprints. Several have also came from AMSA such as Shane Cottle and recently Coleman Gulick. I think AMSA champion Jason Soudrette would do very well in a sprint as well. Several have also came from micros and adapted well to sprints. How much does it really help coming up through the ranks into sprints? Would sprint car racing suffer if guys could not get experience in other ranks first?

Knoke77 · 1/11/08, 2:26 PM

Before Cecil and Chuck get in here I will go ahead and say they are worthless and need to be removed from the face of the earth or race in cow pastures where people do not have to witness them!! :wink1:

In my opinion they are a necessity when it comes to progressing although there will be people who disagree.

Running these cars gives younger drivers a chance to see tracks they may race on in sprint cars. Plus being open wheel it hopefully teaches them to respect other cars around them or they will end up on their head.

The learning curve would be A LOT steeper in my opinion if these classes weren't around.

AND!!! As you come through the ranks a lot of times you will progress with other people who you race with. When I went from go-karts to TQ's I moved up along with a couple others, and then from TQ's to sprints I once again moved up with people I had raced with for years. In a way it made me comfortable to see others going through the same learning curves and being able to share knowledge between each other because as a rookie not all the veterans were willing to help.

P.S. I'm disappointed I didn't make your list of former TQ stars being that is my only claim to fame! :crying: hehe :redflag:

Charles Nungester · 1/11/08, 2:45 PM

LOL Jake, Your experience is far more than mine and I don't dispute that.

All I say as a fan is they do nothing to improve a show and certainly not 14 races.

I DO DISUPUTE that it's the only and best way to transfer from lower classes to full up sprints, We've seen people come straight from carts, Modifieds and other classes and be very successful. I also think the UMRA has a huge advantage over that crutch however that crutch teaches you to be smooth.

Chuck, Who says if it improves the SPRINT count. I really don't have a problem with it, if thats the way people choose to advance.

fishnman · 1/11/08, 6:23 PM

Well. Davex, your wish to see Jason Soudrette in a sprint car will come true this year. Had a nice visit with his Grandpa at the engine shop my father frequents at and they have purchased a 2003 Comp welding car. Jason, IMHO, should do quite well. I have known him for 8 years dating back to when my daughter was karting, he is a stand on the gas type racer and also a very smart racer with the type of attitude and demeanor that makes it a pleasure to talk to him and his family every time he is at Lawrenceburg. Good luck to Jason on your first year in sprint cars.
Also a good luck to Shawn Westerfeld on your new sprint car ride this season. After years of destroying all Go-kart competition glad to see you moving up.

TQ97 · 1/12/08, 1:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davex

I am a huge fan of sprint car racing but also like going to races and watching guys move up in their career to sprint cars. My question is this. How much does TQ midgets, AMSA mini sprints, Micros, etc. help when adapting to driving a sprint? Several UMRA standout drivers have adapted well to the sprints like past Bloomington Speedway champion Derek Schefel (sp?) and just recently Nick Spiedel (sp?) has made it look easy to adapt to sprints. Several have also came from AMSA such as Shane Cottle and recently Coleman Gulick. I think AMSA champion Jason Soudrette would do very well in a sprint as well. Several have also came from micros and adapted well to sprints. How much does it really help coming up through the ranks into sprints? Would sprint car racing suffer if guys could not get experience in other ranks first?

Obviously I'm biased....but this summary of a statement came straight from the horses mouth about 12 years ago. The horse being Tony Stewart...."TQ's are harder to drive than Sprints or Midgets, sure they aren't as fast, but thats just it, they dont have the power to pull yourself out of a situation and with the narrower wheel base, they react much quicker than anything else."

That being said, I'm not saying Dave Darland, BC, or Coondog couldn't get in my TQ and win.

Joey Woods · 1/12/08, 1:23 AM

[QUOTE=Charles Nungester;24338]LOL Jake, Your experience is far more than mine and I don't dispute that.

All I say as a fan is they do nothing to improve a show and certainly not 14 races.

I DO DISUPUTE that it's the only and best way to transfer from lower classes to full up sprints, We've seen people come straight from carts

Ahem, Its Karts with a K, now you may proeceed.:headbang:

ThaBurgFan · 1/12/08, 10:49 AM

Gotta stand behind Chuck here! I have nothing personal with them and think they are probably fine on a smaller track, just concerned that on the new 3/8 mile track they are going to be very boring to watch. Hopefully they will prove me wrong and put on good competitive show since I make nearly every show.

Just my opinion!

Shane

cecil98 · 1/12/08, 1:22 PM

Jason, a lot of good sprint car drivers have driven TQ's and minis and a lot of good sprint car drivers have never sat in one. I don't believe it is a "must" as a training ground for sprint cars. I think this holds even more true on the big tracks where you simply flat-foot and steer the car around the track straight as an arrow. That, in my opinion, teaches an aspiring driver nothing. Are they fast? absolutely. Are they real race cars? absolutely. I've never denied that. My only point is, that it is a very poor show on the 1/4 mile or larger. That has been my experience everywhere I've seen them run on the larger tracks. They've obviously served you well because, in my opinion, you are an excellent race car driver. I don't begrudge you your love for the little cars, I simply don't enjoy watching them. Nothing more than that.

1/12/08, 2:47 PM

Im just absolutely amazed that on anybody who says that Amsa or Umra dont add to a program on a 1/4 mile or bigger. Well Maybee its not the kind of racing your used to....... I mean what could a driver possibly learn from running wide open and keeping the car as strait as possible, while running through traffic. One thing is for sure, they dont hurt the program any at all, they dont tear up the track ( heavy streat stock bomber ect) They (mini's or Tq's ) dont have enough HP to wear out a track or tear up the cushion . Usualy they have very few cautions. Yes I prefer to watch sprint cars, actually I prefer wings (crutches as some of you like to call them) becouse they go sooooooo much faster. Last time I checked racing was about speed. Several years ago Amsa ran as a support class for the Woo the Terre Haute The two lead cars ran side by side the entire main event. ( Ted Johnson had a fit becouse the announcer raved about what a great show they put on and didnt need push trucks)I have seen several very good races at Bardstown Ky, 3/8. So lets not rush to judge how they will do on the new track till they run a few times. Yes I know that a few of you on here dont like the mini's , All I can tell you is go visit the consession stand, beer stand, or the bathroom like I do when the steetstocks are runing. whats the old saying , if you cant say somthing nice dont say anything at all. A couple of you have made it very clear that you dont like them, but its time to stop saying what a bad show they put on , IN YOUR HONEST OPINION, becouse its just not fair to those of us who do enjoy them way more then some of the other support groups. Stop posting negative , thats all im asking, be nice show a little love for other classes or cars. oh About how much harder its going to be on the motors we allways had less trouble on the bigger tracks becouse the cars got up to speed and had a constant rpm range. Time will tell, I still :kookoo2: everytime I read about sombody complaing about a race driver running wide open. :loser: Im looking foward to seeing little :briscoe: run with wing next year in a sprintcar. I wonder why Kevin is starting him in a car with a wing???????????? oh yah maybe so he will learn to run the car strait and stay on the gas . :emote20:

Mud Packer · 1/12/08, 2:53 PM

[QUOTE=Dale800;24500]Im just absolutely amazed that on anybody who says that Amsa or Umra dont add to a program on a 1/4 mile or bigger.

Yes I prefer to watch sprint cars, actually I prefer wings (crutches as some of you like to call them) becouse they go sooooooo much faster. Last time I checked racing was about speed.

I guess those two sentences say it all! Not much left to debate.:angry-smiley-007:

1/11/08, 2:45 PM	#3 Re: UMRA, AMSA, etc......
Charles Nungester Senior Member Race Count This Year: 6 Race Count Last Year: 14 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 22,031	LOL Jake, Your experience is far more than mine and I don't dispute that. All I say as a fan is they do nothing to improve a show and certainly not 14 races. I DO DISUPUTE that it's the only and best way to transfer from lower classes to full up sprints, We've seen people come straight from carts, Modifieds and other classes and be very successful. I also think the UMRA has a huge advantage over that crutch however that crutch teaches you to be smooth. Chuck, Who says if it improves the SPRINT count. I really don't have a problem with it, if thats the way people choose to advance. __________________ Charles Nungester

1/11/08, 2:13 PM	#1 UMRA, AMSA, etc......
davex Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 69	I am a huge fan of sprint car racing but also like going to races and watching guys move up in their career to sprint cars. My question is this. How much does TQ midgets, AMSA mini sprints, Micros, etc. help when adapting to driving a sprint? Several UMRA standout drivers have adapted well to the sprints like past Bloomington Speedway champion Derek Schefel (sp?) and just recently Nick Spiedel (sp?) has made it look easy to adapt to sprints. Several have also came from AMSA such as Shane Cottle and recently Coleman Gulick. I think AMSA champion Jason Soudrette would do very well in a sprint as well. Several have also came from micros and adapted well to sprints. How much does it really help coming up through the ranks into sprints? Would sprint car racing suffer if guys could not get experience in other ranks first?

1/11/08, 2:26 PM	#2 Re: UMRA, AMSA, etc......
Knoke77 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 381	Before Cecil and Chuck get in here I will go ahead and say they are worthless and need to be removed from the face of the earth or race in cow pastures where people do not have to witness them!! :wink1: In my opinion they are a necessity when it comes to progressing although there will be people who disagree. Running these cars gives younger drivers a chance to see tracks they may race on in sprint cars. Plus being open wheel it hopefully teaches them to respect other cars around them or they will end up on their head. The learning curve would be A LOT steeper in my opinion if these classes weren't around. AND!!! As you come through the ranks a lot of times you will progress with other people who you race with. When I went from go-karts to TQ's I moved up along with a couple others, and then from TQ's to sprints I once again moved up with people I had raced with for years. In a way it made me comfortable to see others going through the same learning curves and being able to share knowledge between each other because as a rookie not all the veterans were willing to help. P.S. I'm disappointed I didn't make your list of former TQ stars being that is my only claim to fame! :crying: hehe :redflag:

1/11/08, 6:23 PM	#4 Re: UMRA, AMSA, etc......
fishnman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,176	Well. Davex, your wish to see Jason Soudrette in a sprint car will come true this year. Had a nice visit with his Grandpa at the engine shop my father frequents at and they have purchased a 2003 Comp welding car. Jason, IMHO, should do quite well. I have known him for 8 years dating back to when my daughter was karting, he is a stand on the gas type racer and also a very smart racer with the type of attitude and demeanor that makes it a pleasure to talk to him and his family every time he is at Lawrenceburg. Good luck to Jason on your first year in sprint cars. Also a good luck to Shawn Westerfeld on your new sprint car ride this season. After years of destroying all Go-kart competition glad to see you moving up.

1/12/08, 1:23 AM	#6 Re: UMRA, AMSA, etc......
Joey Woods Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 573	[QUOTE=Charles Nungester;24338]LOL Jake, Your experience is far more than mine and I don't dispute that. All I say as a fan is they do nothing to improve a show and certainly not 14 races. I DO DISUPUTE that it's the only and best way to transfer from lower classes to full up sprints, We've seen people come straight from carts Ahem, Its Karts with a K, now you may proeceed.:headbang:

1/12/08, 10:49 AM	#7 Re: UMRA, AMSA, etc......
ThaBurgFan Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 177	Gotta stand behind Chuck here! I have nothing personal with them and think they are probably fine on a smaller track, just concerned that on the new 3/8 mile track they are going to be very boring to watch. Hopefully they will prove me wrong and put on good competitive show since I make nearly every show. Just my opinion! Shane

1/12/08, 1:22 PM	#8 Re: UMRA, AMSA, etc......
cecil98 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,399	Jason, a lot of good sprint car drivers have driven TQ's and minis and a lot of good sprint car drivers have never sat in one. I don't believe it is a "must" as a training ground for sprint cars. I think this holds even more true on the big tracks where you simply flat-foot and steer the car around the track straight as an arrow. That, in my opinion, teaches an aspiring driver nothing. Are they fast? absolutely. Are they real race cars? absolutely. I've never denied that. My only point is, that it is a very poor show on the 1/4 mile or larger. That has been my experience everywhere I've seen them run on the larger tracks. They've obviously served you well because, in my opinion, you are an excellent race car driver. I don't begrudge you your love for the little cars, I simply don't enjoy watching them. Nothing more than that.

1/12/08, 2:47 PM	#9 Re: UMRA, AMSA, etc......
Dale800 Posts: n/a	Im just absolutely amazed that on anybody who says that Amsa or Umra dont add to a program on a 1/4 mile or bigger. Well Maybee its not the kind of racing your used to....... I mean what could a driver possibly learn from running wide open and keeping the car as strait as possible, while running through traffic. One thing is for sure, they dont hurt the program any at all, they dont tear up the track ( heavy streat stock bomber ect) They (mini's or Tq's ) dont have enough HP to wear out a track or tear up the cushion . Usualy they have very few cautions. Yes I prefer to watch sprint cars, actually I prefer wings (crutches as some of you like to call them) becouse they go sooooooo much faster. Last time I checked racing was about speed. Several years ago Amsa ran as a support class for the Woo the Terre Haute The two lead cars ran side by side the entire main event. ( Ted Johnson had a fit becouse the announcer raved about what a great show they put on and didnt need push trucks)I have seen several very good races at Bardstown Ky, 3/8. So lets not rush to judge how they will do on the new track till they run a few times. Yes I know that a few of you on here dont like the mini's , All I can tell you is go visit the consession stand, beer stand, or the bathroom like I do when the steetstocks are runing. whats the old saying , if you cant say somthing nice dont say anything at all. A couple of you have made it very clear that you dont like them, but its time to stop saying what a bad show they put on , IN YOUR HONEST OPINION, becouse its just not fair to those of us who do enjoy them way more then some of the other support groups. Stop posting negative , thats all im asking, be nice show a little love for other classes or cars. oh About how much harder its going to be on the motors we allways had less trouble on the bigger tracks becouse the cars got up to speed and had a constant rpm range. Time will tell, I still :kookoo2: everytime I read about sombody complaing about a race driver running wide open. :loser: Im looking foward to seeing little :briscoe: run with wing next year in a sprintcar. I wonder why Kevin is starting him in a car with a wing???????????? oh yah maybe so he will learn to run the car strait and stay on the gas . :emote20:

1/12/08, 2:53 PM	#10 Re: UMRA, AMSA, etc......
Mud Packer Senior Member Race Count Last Year: 59 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,093	[QUOTE=Dale800;24500]Im just absolutely amazed that on anybody who says that Amsa or Umra dont add to a program on a 1/4 mile or bigger. Yes I prefer to watch sprint cars, actually I prefer wings (crutches as some of you like to call them) becouse they go sooooooo much faster. Last time I checked racing was about speed. I guess those two sentences say it all! Not much left to debate.:angry-smiley-007: