Hey Walt, sent you a message.
41 replies to this topic
#21
Posted 01 October 2017 - 06:35 AM
#22
Posted 09 October 2017 - 06:33 PM
so they arent a rookie if they have moved up a class?? wouldnt that count them as a rookie in that particular class?
#23
Posted 09 October 2017 - 06:34 PM
I just feel, then you would have wayyyy more real quality rookies to choose from! just saying
#24
Posted 09 October 2017 - 07:01 PM
They are a "rookie" in that class, but not a rookie driver.
Walt
#25
Posted 10 October 2017 - 10:11 PM
I just feel, then you would have wayyyy more real quality rookies to choose from! just saying
You're not wrong, it's just not the intent of the award.
If at first you don't succeed, then maybe you just suck.
#26
Posted 16 October 2017 - 09:21 AM
Walt a new car racer can have as much as 15 or more years racing experience kart racing stuff with all kinds of hp to weight ratio, at speeds well over 100 mph with 120+ not being uncommon. There's the same possibility with mWotor cycle racers dirt and pavement. A 360 sprint Walt gives the driver same feel and actual point to point acceleration as what can be given from a UAS racing kart. The only difference being distance traveled during the acceleration. Walt shouldn't learning how to race be part of being an actual rookie? Someone entering any type of car with 10+ racing years of experience can hardly be considered a rookie. I'm only aware of one possible true rookie this year. i'm not sure about the number they ran mostly with 305's at Lernerville and Mercer. The all black no lettering with I think pink or off red numbered only on the wing 19R(?). I went on the web to try to find out the number for sure but wasn't sure of what I found at Mercer points and Lernerville points.
My understanding it there's a couple of guys who never raced anything bought an old car threw an engine in it and went racing. I think they upgraded their car the last couple of races. They didn't win anything but without ever racing I don't remember ever them getting into trouble on the track, they used their heads and learned to race getting very much better by the end of the year.
I don't know them never even met them or saw them my few times in the pits this year. But I got the fan fun of watching them get better all year. Again sitting here I'm not sure about the number it was the all black old sprint with pink or red/orangish number on the wing and no other stickers of anything on it.
I personally Walt think the driver of that car if what I heard about being a true rookie is correct, with a true rookie team and very low budget team is deserving of consideration and may be the only true rookie out their this year.
Rookie of the year Walt shouldn't always have to come from the high dollar 6th generation racer, but it seems to be that way every year. It's your thing Walt and you do it the way you do it. But when's the last time the honor was not won by a high dollar already well know racer brought up through karts or something else or from a racing family name? My guess your answer will be if I paid attention to who has got the honor in the past it was even hypothetically last year.
dirtstudent2 : I think the guy you are talking about is the 31 or 331 car (same guy). No they have never raced in an capacity before.
#27
Posted 16 October 2017 - 05:39 PM
Walt, you should just drop the award all together. You will never please some of these jerks, and its not worth it. Hey, heres a suggestion, Alan Dellinger ran with the "kids" in the sportsman mode this weekend. A rookies in this class, he's won hundreds of features in every class there is, so he eligible??? Just busting your chops Walt, don't see why a driver of his caliber thinks he needs to run with 15 year old kids.
#28
Posted 16 October 2017 - 05:54 PM
maybe the guy just likes to race?..who the hell are you to decide if a driver is too "good" for a certain class of cars?Walt, you should just drop the award all together. You will never please some of these jerks, and its not worth it. Hey, heres a suggestion, Alan Dellinger ran with the "kids" in the sportsman mode this weekend. A rookies in this class, he's won hundreds of features in every class there is, so he eligible??? Just busting your chops Walt, don't see why a driver of his caliber thinks he needs to run with 15 year old kids.
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#29
Posted 16 October 2017 - 07:36 PM
As far as Alan Dellinger running with the RUSH crate engine Modifieds, I think it was mostly a decision by his car owner, Bob Williams. He told me Saturday that he was tired hauling the car so far to race!! So he went to a Modified and of course can run at Sharon close to home. Williams has his crate engine Late Model for sale. If you know Dellinger, he has very seldom run his own cars since the very early days of his running the Street Stocks. He has almost always run someone else's car including the few years he ran Late Models and big block Modifieds.
GOOD RACING!!!!
Walt
#30
Posted 16 October 2017 - 07:42 PM
Like I said,
#31
Posted 16 October 2017 - 08:32 PM
Not a cooler dude out there than Alan. He will drive the wheels off of anything he can. If ya wanna laugh, talk to Alan.
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#32
Posted 16 October 2017 - 08:55 PM
Cool1........at my age I am not going to worry about pleasing everyone!!! IMPOSSIBLE TO DO!!! Been giving this award out for 50 years and at age 78, I won't be doing it too much longer!!
GOOD RACING!!!
Walt
#33
Posted 16 October 2017 - 09:56 PM
Cool, I like to watch Alan drive, have for years, I just don't like what is happening to the Sportsman Mod class. The class was started to be a feeder class for 358 and Big Blocks. Vicki and I had numerous conversations about the class way before she started it. I thought it was a great idea to bring young racers into the sport and give them a chance to learn and develope their skills. I may be wrong, but I never thought it was for guys who have raced 2-3 times longer then some of the kids have been alive. With God knows what happening to Mercer next year, we could have such an influx of 358 drivers, some of the young racers who have supported the class may not ever make a race, it just common sense, 25-30 years experience versus 1-3 just don't seem fair. But that's just my opinion, which doesn't mean shit anyway, but I had to get this off my chest, those of you who know me, know I love racing, but its not going to be very much fun watching the same few win every week, and if I had a youngster, I sure would not want to have them run against some of the slamming banging guys. Again, just my opinion, if you don't like it, don't read it, that's what this board is for.
#34
Posted 02 November 2017 - 07:36 PM
Dale Rubright open 4 Pittsburgh motor speedway
First year ever racing 3rd in points
First year ever racing 3rd in points
#35
Posted 05 November 2017 - 11:15 AM
Your right Walt you can never please everyone. But really it shouldn't matter what equipment or team this particular driver comes from-it should be his ability to drive. Yes, if what most are saying on this thread is that if you have a high dollar team and equipment that makes you not as qualified to be a rookie candidate. As I said there are two types of drivers, equipment talent and natural talent. But you still have to have the ability to drive. Some things just make it easier. But that should not be a criteria for this award. Who's more deserving is another story.
#36
Posted 05 November 2017 - 07:01 PM
Walt did you start the award when you were writing for cavalcade or before that ?
#37
Posted 05 November 2017 - 07:14 PM
1968.....My first year of writing for the old CAVALCADE OF AUTO RACING. This has been my 50th year of writing and the 2017 Rookie of the Year will be the 50th winner of the award.
GOOD RACING!!!!
Walt
#38
Posted 05 November 2017 - 07:54 PM
Someone please give Dellinger an award to race in the Sportsman Again .. Some people want to race the best ever ( not like there isn't enough great driver's/ car builders in the Penn Ohio series Wittling/ sneider etc etc ) and some want to fix the field from the stands ! But if your a racer ... You want to race the best there is .. or even a hero to some like Dellinger ! there is nothing better for the guy in second than chasing a Legend! ..
So with that above mentality of discussing with Vickie how to shape racing to your mold .. Corey McPherson needs kicked out of Sportsman all together and not aloud to beat 600 HP cars with his Crate motor ! Its not even fair a guy with a crate motor beats the best EVER at Lernerville!
Thanks for all you passion devoted for the better part of 78 years to racing Walt !
#39
Posted 05 November 2017 - 09:04 PM
Walt!
Who are your top 3 Most successful ( in your opinion) winners over their career of your rookie of the year award ?
#40
Posted 06 November 2017 - 12:54 PM
There have been a bunch of really good drivers to win the award over the years. Having been a voting member for many years I would say picking a top 3 would be hard. Probably the best three years in a row were 1981-1983 when Dave Blaney, Kevin Bolland, and Ed Lynch, Jr won the award. Other top winners included Dave Murdick 1979, Bob Felmlee 1986, Dale Blaney 1990 and Jared Miley 2004.
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