USAC 2019

That was a great race, and though I wasn't wishing misfortune on Bell, it was nice to see the regular midget guys battling for the big win.
 
It's been interesting to see Helton join the AMA flat track series and now Darby join USAC. There is a lot of experience there for sure.
 
Tucker / Boat Motorsports
TMC TO ACT AS PRIMARY PARTNER FOR ELLEDGE ON USAC MIDGET TOUR

DES MOINES, IOWA, Feb. 5, 2019 – TMC Transportation, the nation’s largest employee-owned open deck transportation company, will serve as the primary partner for Karsyn Elledge, the 18-year-old granddaughter of NASCAR Hall-of-Fame driver Dale Earnhardt and niece of two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr., across multiple races comprising the 2019 USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship.
 
Night 1 highlights of the midgets at Bubba Raceway Park. Tyler Courtney won in his new ride. The sprint cars begin their season there next week on the 14th. Florida Speedweeks has become arguably the best two weeks for dirt track racing fans of the year. WoO and ASCoC, USAC, Lucas Oil and WoO late models, big block and UMP modifieds. There is too much to keep up with.

 
The sprints had a great track to work with last night for their opener. They were three wide at times, with some great battles and insane sliders. Last lap pass for the win. This race is a good example of why I will always be a non-wing loyalist,

 
The track was fast but looked to be more one groove and taking more rubber last night. Still good pure racing. I think the WoO sprint track prep crew is the best in the business. 9 times out of 10 they will have a fast cushion and bottom groove even after multi-night shows.

Good to see that Ballou and USAC made up. He even tweeted thanks to them after the race and they retweeted.

It should be a good season. A lot of fast guys in good rides: Leary, Courtney, Grant, Thomas, Windom, etc.
 
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There is not a race car in existence that is more diametrically opposed to the traits of pack racing than a non-wing sprint car. Especially a 410, but 360s too. A 360 sprint car without a wing is still vastly overpowered for how much aero and mechanical grip they have, and they produce much less downforce than a winged sprint car.

Pack racing is created by cars with a surplus of downforce and drag and a lack of relative power, meaning they inevitably can go faster if drafting in the wake of other cars, and are slower if running alone. Sprint cars do not do this, and instead deliberately avoid following each other and take the opposite line of the car in front whenever possible.

I know, I took the bait. :D
 
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Probably should have spelled it out better for the overly sensitive types....there was some decent racing back in the pack. gees
 
Oh. The term pack racing has a fairly established meaning, but I misread your intent. ;)
 
I am enjoying this thread with the non-wing sprint car videos. The racing has a completely different dynamic from winged sprints. Easy to see the effects of the downforce, although sprint car downforce generally is not as evil as downforce on pavement, IMO.

I'm trying to remember, but I'm not sure I've ever seen non-wing sprints on track. My first sprint car races in person were 1971... Williams Grove and a few other Pennsylvania tracks. I think they already had wings in 1971... IIRC.
 
I've seen quite a few, wasn't happy when the wings showed up, but the Tulsa track as the years went by added wings but had a couple of wingless nights. They would just take them off and race without them. a little bit strange because they still had the wing mounts on them.


Emmett Hahan and Ray Crawford side by side, rivals
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USAC comes through PA in June. ;)

LewTheShoe said:
Easy to see the effects of the downforce, although sprint car downforce generally is not as evil as downforce on pavement, IMO.
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I agree, but this is largely due to the fact that 410 and 360 winged sprints still have way more power than they can effectively use through the corners. If they put 305 motors that produce 400-500 HP in WoO cars, the results would be pretty lackluster.

I got into winged sprints through a friend in the late '90s and early '00s, then became disenchanted with them shortly after in favor of the non-wing cars. IMO the mid '00s were not a particularly great time for the WoO and All-Star tours. Two major improvements I've seen occur since are superior track prep and a certain amount of increased regulation that has increased parity among teams just enough.

Today I truly appreciate both, though I'll always pledge loyalty to the non-wing guys when it comes down to it. Both disciplines require great skill and car / throttle control. There is simply no way to hide an inferior driver in a sprint car, even with the best car and setup imaginable.
 
they run 368's at Hahan's 1/4 mile track in Sapulpa, Ok. whew it's tight racing..and this guy came up the turnpike from the OKC area and pulled out a can of whop ass end of march, he also races over here in Broken Arrow and Catoosa, all within 30 or so miles of Tulsa

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Next months Silver Crown race at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds on the 1 mile horse track will be the final auto race at the track...
With Syracuse and now Indianapolis gone, that leaves only the 2 one mile dirt tracks in Illinois active with car races every year. Too bad...
I've made it to DuQuoin, Springfield and Syracuse, have not been out to Indianapolis yet...
 
gnomesayin said:
USAC comes through PA in June. ;)



I agree, but this is largely due to the fact that 410 and 360 winged sprints still have way more power than they can effectively use through the corners. If they put 305 motors that produce 400-500 HP in WoO cars, the results would be pretty lackluster.

I got into winged sprints through a friend in the late '90s and early '00s, then became disenchanted with them shortly after in favor of the non-wing cars. IMO the mid '00s were not a particularly great time for the WoO and All-Star tours. Two major improvements I've seen occur since are superior track prep and a certain amount of increased regulation that has increased parity among teams just enough.

Today I truly appreciate both, though I'll always pledge loyalty to the non-wing guys when it comes down to it. Both disciplines require great skill and car / throttle control. There is simply no way to hide an inferior driver in a sprint car, even with the best car and setup imaginable.
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I am with you on the non winged sprint cars. They have been my favorite for years followed closely by the silver crown cars. Such an awesome show!
 
Yes, the wings often help cushion and slow down the barrel rolling.

USAC's west coast series for sprints and midgets are quite good themselves. There are a lot of old school open wheel fans in CA.
 
Finally a break in the weather here in Ohio and we got to see the USAC Silver Crown cars at Toledo. Great race and a little drama between the second and third place finishers. The 100 lap race seemed to go by too fast though. Then in the companion sprint car race a scary wreck happened shortly after the start. Even though the yellow flag was thrown and the caution lights came on several cars kept racing and barreled down on a car sitting cross wise on the front stretch. They took one driver to the hospital, he did waive at the stands on the way out.

 
This weekend is the "Let's Race Two" at Eldora featuring both USAC and WoO. That's about as good of a double bill as exists.

 
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