what a bummer that was to see Sammy go out while dominating the race like that. great tribute from the crowd. there was no doubt who was the fastest man on the track that night!
Hello from Down Unda. Have been a fan of sprintcars for nearly 40 years, and at times have been paying particularly attention to the American racing scene as well. Always been a fan of the big 3, Sammy Swindell, Steve Kinser and Doug Wolfgang plus a few odd ones including the Wild One Jac Haudenschild and Jackie Hewitt.Lately I have been getting several dvds from past Knoxville nationals and it wasn’t until last night I finally watched the 2010 race. Have heard about the epic duel with Sammy and Donny and how it ended but blimey, I just cannot believe the rotten luck that befell on Sammy. There is no doubt about it; he had it in the bag. Was gobsmacked and incredibly teary for Sammy, but the sound from the standing ovation he received was truly memorable and richly deserved. Sammy, despite winning just once so many years ago, looked so good and put up a hell of a fight with Donny Schwartz but luck once again deserted the no.1 sprinter.I found it extraordinary how both Steve Kinser and Donny would rack up a gaggle of title wins with apparent ease yet it is completely the opposite with Sammy Swindell yet we all know he is no slouch behind the wheel. Some drivers have good talent and luck, some have luck but for a few just rotten luck after rotten luck but as they say, that is motor racing. But seriously!!???Sammy swindell if you are reading this, you may not have won the 2010 national but bloody oath he did win a lot of ovation from me. A bloody great drive Sammy. So close to getting your second….Onya Slammin Sammy…. A question. Wondering what is the story behind Donny’s booing?? There seem to be a bit of booing everytime Donny is speaking to crowd before and after the race. I thought that was uncalled for. Donny did no wrong during the weekend.
This was an Emotional experience watching all of this go down! I still have tears come to my eyes watching that back tire of Sammys go! But then The Steel City Outlaw comes and saves the day!! Most Amazing Nationals ever! Non forgettable year!
it killed me when i saw this crash because he really was gonna win this race he had his line down and there was no one who could stop him, he needs another championship under his belt before he retires but im even more proud of how he handled himself even after the race he signed autographs until his pit crew pulled him away hes a good guy
The brand of the tires should never decide a race. Sammy got robbed!! Anybody that was there will tell ya' nobody (not even Shaeffer) would've caught Swindell with 3 to go. Way to go Goodyears, tires couldn't handle the driver!!!
@prd102250 I was there and was very glad for him, it was the first race at Knoxville I went to by myself, My father has gone to every nationals since 1963, He and a bunch of his friends including Hall of Famer Wayne House actually worked on Eddie Leavitt's winning car in 1975 and 1976.
@jasonphillipjames Looks to me like his TYRE was cut on something. How often do you see a left rear TIRE blow from choosing the wrong compound. The right rear takes all the abuse.
this race was probably one of the most exciting races i've been too. the crowd wanted sammy to win so bad because schatz had won it the last few years. i was pulling for sammy because... really, how much more time does he have to get another knoxville nationals win. it'd be awesome if he could win it this year. he just one a couple weeks ago.
@Slamm1n1 Well, looking at the tread, there was plenty of it left. And the dramatic way it exploded...I'd say you're probably right. it was the tire that failed. But everyone else managed to finish the race. Just makes you wonder if they did anything to the tire before racing. oh well.
Knoxville had a reputation of chewing up tires when the track starts to "cap over" (meaning the track develops a dry crusty cap over the moist clay). When this happens,the track gets very abrasive for a short time and burns up tires,then the groove starts to get "slick and shiny".In this case the track really started to "cap over" with about 20 laps to go in the 50 lap A-Main. That's when it really started to take on rubber...or "Blue Streak". Tough to manage tires when running for $150,000.00
First off, I'm no fan of Sammy. He treated me like shit when I asked for his autograph after a race in the late 80s, and I've disliked him ever since. Not a nice thing to do to a 13 year old fan, Sammy. However, I must say the ol' dude can still haul the mail, and he was really putting a hurt on everyone. I've never seen him wheel a car so fast at the Nationals. Schatz didn't stand a chance.
@ltlguy2 Have you not been following the World of Outlaws this year? What about Knoxville's weekly races? The Goodyears have been awful ALL SEASON! This wasn't an isolated incident. FYI Brian Brown (the polesitter) also had a tire explode. Not to mention Paul McMahan blowing a tire in his heat race and then flipping into the turn 3 fence. And don't forget Brooke Tatnell blew a Goodyear in HOT LAPS!!! All I'm saying is you weren't sold that Goodyear was at fault...I've got 25,000 witnesses.
@ltlguy2 I can tell you for a fact that Knoxville keeps a close eye on everyone in regards to tire rules. Several tires from last years nationals were confiscated and taken to a place in Mo to be tested for tire softeners.
@djwick50 Oh- I agree 100%, best Nationals A-main I've ever seen, even better than 1998 when Lasoski and Swindell were goin' back and forth for 20 laps. But that was when the race was only 30 laps long, which I hope they go right back to next year. Enough of this 40-50 lap stuff-this is dirt and these are sprint cars, Nascar runs on Sunday! I was happy to see Shaeffer win it though!
Sammy was racing for the win....thats why the crowd was cheering it was a great race...his tire let him down......and it was nice to see someone new win this year
@djwick50 , Second guy to blow a tire? They had tires failing in hotlaps.
what a bummer that was to see Sammy go out while dominating the race like that. great tribute from the crowd. there was no doubt who was the fastest man on the track that night!
This is why Hoosier is way BETTER than Goodyear
Good old Goodyear...Why did they bring it back??
Hello from Down Unda. Have been a fan of sprintcars for nearly 40 years, and at times have been paying particularly attention to the American racing scene as well. Always been a fan of the big 3, Sammy Swindell, Steve Kinser and Doug Wolfgang plus a few odd ones including the Wild One Jac Haudenschild and Jackie Hewitt.Lately I have been getting several dvds from past Knoxville nationals and it wasn’t until last night I finally watched the 2010 race. Have heard about the epic duel with Sammy and Donny and how it ended but blimey, I just cannot believe the rotten luck that befell on Sammy. There is no doubt about it; he had it in the bag. Was gobsmacked and incredibly teary for Sammy, but the sound from the standing ovation he received was truly memorable and richly deserved. Sammy, despite winning just once so many years ago, looked so good and put up a hell of a fight with Donny Schwartz but luck once again deserted the no.1 sprinter.I found it extraordinary how both Steve Kinser and Donny would rack up a gaggle of title wins with apparent ease yet it is completely the opposite with Sammy Swindell yet we all know he is no slouch behind the wheel. Some drivers have good talent and luck, some have luck but for a few just rotten luck after rotten luck but as they say, that is motor racing. But seriously!!???Sammy swindell if you are reading this, you may not have won the 2010 national but bloody oath he did win a lot of ovation from me. A bloody great drive Sammy. So close to getting your second….Onya Slammin Sammy…. A question. Wondering what is the story behind Donny’s booing?? There seem to be a bit of booing everytime Donny is speaking to crowd before and after the race. I thought that was uncalled for. Donny did no wrong during the weekend.
This was an Emotional experience watching all of this go down! I still have tears come to my eyes watching that back tire of Sammys go! But then The Steel City Outlaw comes and saves the day!! Most Amazing Nationals ever! Non forgettable year!
They were chanting his name because they wanted him to win. They should respect him for his racing ability and thats all that matters.
Sammy will always be known as one of the greatest drivers in sprint cars love him or hate him.
it killed me when i saw this crash because he really was gonna win this race he had his line down and there was no one who could stop him, he needs another championship under his belt before he retires but im even more proud of how he handled himself even after the race he signed autographs until his pit crew pulled him away hes a good guy
@parkyboy1959 I think the crowd was actually giving Sammy some respect that night. He's had TERRIBLE luck at Knoxville.
You have never run into Steve Kinser on a bad night have you?
The brand of the tires should never decide a race. Sammy got robbed!! Anybody that was there will tell ya' nobody (not even Shaeffer) would've caught Swindell with 3 to go. Way to go Goodyears, tires couldn't handle the driver!!!
@prd102250 I was there and was very glad for him, it was the first race at Knoxville I went to by myself, My father has gone to every nationals since 1963, He and a bunch of his friends including Hall of Famer Wayne House actually worked on Eddie Leavitt's winning car in 1975 and 1976.
@jasonphillipjames Looks to me like his TYRE was cut on something. How often do you see a left rear TIRE blow from choosing the wrong compound. The right rear takes all the abuse.
this race was probably one of the most exciting races i've been too. the crowd wanted sammy to win so bad because schatz had won it the last few years. i was pulling for sammy because... really, how much more time does he have to get another knoxville nationals win. it'd be awesome if he could win it this year. he just one a couple weeks ago.
@Slamm1n1
Well, looking at the tread, there was plenty of it left. And the dramatic way it exploded...I'd say you're probably right. it was the tire that failed. But everyone else managed to finish the race. Just makes you wonder if they did anything to the tire before racing. oh well.
@Slamm1n1 ha i thot the same thing. sammy was the 2nd guy that night to blow a tire that night... that was an epic finish tho
Knoxville had a reputation of chewing up tires when the track starts to "cap over" (meaning the track develops a dry crusty cap over the moist clay).
When this happens,the track gets very abrasive for a short time and burns up tires,then the groove starts to get "slick and shiny".In this case the track really started to "cap over" with about 20 laps to go in the 50 lap A-Main. That's when it really started to take on rubber...or "Blue Streak". Tough to manage tires when running for $150,000.00
First off, I'm no fan of Sammy. He treated me like shit when I asked for his autograph after a race in the late 80s, and I've disliked him ever since. Not a nice thing to do to a 13 year old fan, Sammy. However, I must say the ol' dude can still haul the mail, and he was really putting a hurt on everyone. I've never seen him wheel a car so fast at the Nationals. Schatz didn't stand a chance.
@ltlguy2 Have you not been following the World of Outlaws this year? What about Knoxville's weekly races? The Goodyears have been awful ALL SEASON! This wasn't an isolated incident. FYI Brian Brown (the polesitter) also had a tire explode. Not to mention Paul McMahan blowing a tire in his heat race and then flipping into the turn 3 fence. And don't forget Brooke Tatnell blew a Goodyear in HOT LAPS!!! All I'm saying is you weren't sold that Goodyear was at fault...I've got 25,000 witnesses.
@ltlguy2 I can tell you for a fact that Knoxville keeps a close eye on everyone in regards to tire rules. Several tires from last years nationals were confiscated and taken to a place in Mo to be tested for tire softeners.
What do you mean?
cost him the win!!! what a driver!!
@djwick50 Oh- I agree 100%, best Nationals A-main I've ever seen, even better than 1998 when Lasoski and Swindell were goin' back and forth for 20 laps. But that was when the race was only 30 laps long, which I hope they go right back to next year. Enough of this 40-50 lap stuff-this is dirt and these are sprint cars, Nascar runs on Sunday! I was happy to see Shaeffer win it though!
Listen to that tire explode at 0:02, that is a terrible sound!
Great video. Goodyears suck !
Why did Jason Johnson get in your shot
Sammy was racing for the win....thats why the crowd was cheering it was a great race...his tire let him down......and it was nice to see someone new win this year
Wow -- a light flip at Knoxville!
They were chanting "Sammy-Sammy-Sammy"
@webejammin25 you gotta be shittin me........
He gotta use Hoosier
@parkyboy1959 cause he didnt get hurt
I was here and im a BIG sammy fan i was dissapointed when i saw this. after the race he was very dissapointed :( SAMMY FOREVER
The Swindells cant catch a break with goodyear lol... they are hard on tires thats for sure
i run hoosier there great
Couldn't happen to a more self centered guy. Sammy's never in the wrong, it's always some one else's fault.
When Sammy wrecks, its a good night. Great driver, piss poor attitude.