HAMMOND, IN: For anyone who believes that dirt is for racing and asphalt is for getting there, the annual Knoxville Nationals should probably be the center of your universe. For those who spend four summer days at the Marion County Fairgrounds each August, the outside
world simply ceases to exist!
The 2007 version of the Holy Grail of winged sprint car racing featured everything we’ve come to expect: rain, oppressive heat and humidity, friendly, super-enthusiastic sprint car fans from around the world and one of the smoothest, best prepared dirt tracks on the planet. Yes…all the pieces seemed to be in place for another great chapter in the 47 year history of the Knoxville Nationals. Yet, something
seemed to be missing…
The great Chris Economaki has expressed the opinion that the tremendous popularity of midget racing following WWII was killed when the cars became too similar (i.e.: Kurtis-Offies), which turned the previously thrilling races into parades featuring little or no passing. Currently, the same scenario seems to be playing out in most forms of auto racing, including the IRL, NASCAR, Champ Car, etc. It is becoming all too apparent that “spec car” racing tends to eliminate the very thing that we’re all there to
see: competition.
Sadly, even the World of Outlaws seems to be falling into this pattern. Given the super-smooth, tacky Knoxville Raceway, combined with huge tires and wings and similar, “killer” 410 cu. in. V-8’s, this year’s Nationals turned into the kind of parade that Mr. Economaki has tried to warn us about. And, when a point system is employed that allows the clear favorite, Donny Schatz, to start Saturday’s A-Main from the pole, you have created the recipe for a
parade.
How can it be made better? A way needs to be found to “un-hook” the cars somewhat. The same thing applies to other racing series where more passing is desired. When everyone is wide-open all the way around with
similar horsepower, what can you expect?
As we all know by now, defending WoO Champ Donny Schatz captured his second consecutive Knoxville Nationals title, leading all 30 laps convincingly. Only the exceedingly brave Iowa native, Terry McCarl, was able to challenge Schatz, and those attempts came
only briefly on restarts.
Please don’t misunderstand: the sight of 24 “winged wonders” screaming around the beautiful Knoxville Raceway for 30 laps is truly awe-inspiring. But, with little or no passing taking place, is it really
“racing”?
I guess it’s all in the eye of the beholder…
