I just have a few thoughts from this past season and the upcoming one involving Rocket Chassis, Josh Richards, Kryptonite Racecars, Colton Flinner, and the Gateway Dirt Nationals.
Josh Richards moving to Best Performance Motorsports for the 2017 season has been among the top news as we get closer to the new year. Personally, I think it makes perfect sense, at least from Rocket’s point of view. Josh absolutely dominated the World of Outlaws late model series this year in the Rocket house car, and performed very well in races outside of the series. His replacement, Brandon Sheppard, has proved himself as a top young talent and should be able to follow in Josh’s footsteps with the World of Outlaws in 2017. The Best Performance Motorsports car to be driven by Josh is essentially an extension of the Rocket House car. Should Josh be able to have a season like the last, but with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Rocket will be undoubtedly the best chassis available in dirt late model racing. In 2017 both major dirt late model touring series may be dominated by Rocket Chassis.
Another chassis that I have seen make a rise in the 2016 season is Kryptonite Race Cars of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Freddie Carpenter, and son Tyler toured more this year getting out of their comfort zone and performed well. I spoke with them at PRI and they are very personable and genuinely care about their customers. It seems that they receive a lot of criticism for not following a major series, or running mainly big shows, which I just can’t understand. They run a small chassis fabrication shop and do most of the work themselves. They do not have the luxury of competing at a national level all the time because they are Kryptonite Race Cars. Other major dirt late model chassis manufacturers have many employees to do all the grunt work for them while touring the country. Given the resources they have, I believe that Kryptonite is overlooked and will continue to make a statement in years to come.
I also feel the need to bring back down to earth one driver who made a great leap this year. I had spoken to him at several Lucas Oil races this year, I attended 10, and upon first meeting he gained my respect. He was humble, and seemed grateful for the opportunity his father had given him to run the series full time. Later in the year in conversation he became cocky and appeared to think that he was one of the greatest dirt late model drivers of his time. His name is Colton Flinner and in 2016 he competed with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and won the Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year title, as well as the OPTIMA Batteries Hard Charger Points title. But let’s look at the stats and facts.
First, the information I have is taken directly from the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series website, lucasdirt.com. Flinner entered 44 Lucas Oil races this year, but only started 33 of them. Of these 33 races he started, 27 of them he used a provisional to get into. Another 3 of these, every driver entered started the race because of low car counts. So, in only 3 of the 33 Lucas Oil races he made did he race his way in. The remaining three that he raced his way in, only a few cars did not start the race, possibly because of mechanical failure, the website does not provide that much information. Flinner run the Rookie of the Year title, but was the only driver entered. He also won the Hard Charger Points title, but is that really that hard to do when you start in the back every single race?
While I do respect Colton Flinner for following the tour the whole year, I did not like how he changed his attitude throughout the course of the year. Mr. Flinner, you are no better than any other driver that pulls onto a track with you on any given night. Learn to respect your fellow racers and develop your skills and you may one day be one of the top drivers in the country, but until that time comes, carry yourself accordingly.
Finally, the Gateway Dirt Nationals are currently going on. This event has received a lot of criticism from the dirt community and it is unfounded. A lot of people took the time out of their lives to make this happen and create a dirt event that puts our sport on a pedestal. Support those who dedicate their time to promote our sport and bring it back to its former glory. Dirt track racing has become very expensive and as such, if it continues to be put down, will cease to exist as many tracks all over this great country already have.
Till Next Time,
#TheTruth
