The BEST you have ever seen?

cecil98 · 1/17/08, 6:07 PM

The best was Parnelli Jones, smooth and a nice guy that won a lot of stuff as well....D.O.

I agree D.O. Parnelli was simply incredible to watch live. He didn't have the best equipment but could make anything win if it would finish. He also quit openwheel so very quickly! He arrived in the Midwest from Torrence, CA in 1960. He won the USAC sprint championships in 60-61-62. Finished 2nd in 63 and quit the sprinters altogether. 1964 was his last full year in Indy/Champ cars. Did two Indy car races per year in 1965-66. Ran his last OW race (midget) winning the Turkey Nite Grand Prix at Ascot Park in 1966. Retired from OW racing completely after the 1967 500. Won a bunch of road races in sports cars and won a bunch of TransAm races on the road courses in Bud Moore's Mercury Cougars against the best road racers in the world. He doesn't have AJ, Mario and AL Sr's record but, he was the greatest I've ever seen. Who knows what he could of accomplished had he not quit OW, essentially, after only four years.

Dwayne · 1/17/08, 6:54 PM

A.J.Foyt Steve Kinser Ron Shuman

tailtank · 1/17/08, 7:02 PM

Sheldon Kinser. I remember seeing him at a USAC show down this way back in the 70's as a kid. The man could flat drive the wheels off a sprintcar.

Heromaker · 1/17/08, 7:04 PM

Ricky Shelton if it wasn't for a few bad choices he may have got somewhere. First time he seen a 1/2 mile pavement track (winchester) he smoked them. There is nothing he couldn't do with a race car.

Hawker · 1/17/08, 7:28 PM

Sprint Car - Sammy Swindell (I pick him over Steve because he sets up his own car)
Supers - James McElreath
Midgets - Page Jones

PIT CART · 1/17/08, 7:36 PM

Bob Psurny on pavement,Steve Kinser on dirt.

Dirtfan · 1/17/08, 7:41 PM

Oh, I don't know where to start, Hurtibise,Foyt, Hewitt,Wolfgang,Steve Kinser,Darland, Sheldon Kinser and the list goes on.

1/17/08, 8:03 PM

Tony Stewart, Bobby Allison, AJ. Foyt...the best IMO.

1/17/08, 8:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heromaker

Ricky Shelton if it wasn't for a few bad choices he may have got somewhere. First time he seen a 1/2 mile pavement track (winchester) he smoked them. There is nothing he couldn't do with a race car.

From JIM MORRISON
The question here is qualified with "I have ever seen." That eliminates Parnelli. I never seen him race.

Of those I did,

Best overall -- A.J. Foyt Jr. I've seen him race midgets, sprints, dirt cars and Indy. The one I remember was 1976 Hoosier Hundred when he went from last to finish second. Whatta drive.

Stewart is yet to win on the road courses like Foyt, but Foyt never won in a winged sprinter. Granted, it was a 360 but Stewart still brought it home first. I've seen Tony win in TQs, modifieds, midgets, sprints, Silver Crown, Indy Car, NASCAR, dirt late model and 360 winged sprint car.

Most fearless -- Pancho Carter
Best on the High Banks -- Pancho Carter

Smoothest -- Dick Gaines.

Most determined -- Steve Kinser

Clearly, this could go on forever and I've already left off several great drivers.

SPRINTCAR · 1/17/08, 9:27 PM

Roy Robbin's, he won the first Knoxville Nationals........no wings.

1/17/08, 7:41 PM	#17 Re: The BEST you have ever seen?
Dirtfan Senior Member Race Count This Year: 51 Race Count Last Year: 57 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,554	Oh, I don't know where to start, Hurtibise,Foyt, Hewitt,Wolfgang,Steve Kinser,Darland, Sheldon Kinser and the list goes on. __________________ Dan Hetser "Today is a Gift, Tomorrow is not Promised"

1/17/08, 6:07 PM	#11 Re: The BEST you have ever seen?
cecil98 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,399	The best was Parnelli Jones, smooth and a nice guy that won a lot of stuff as well....D.O. I agree D.O. Parnelli was simply incredible to watch live. He didn't have the best equipment but could make anything win if it would finish. He also quit openwheel so very quickly! He arrived in the Midwest from Torrence, CA in 1960. He won the USAC sprint championships in 60-61-62. Finished 2nd in 63 and quit the sprinters altogether. 1964 was his last full year in Indy/Champ cars. Did two Indy car races per year in 1965-66. Ran his last OW race (midget) winning the Turkey Nite Grand Prix at Ascot Park in 1966. Retired from OW racing completely after the 1967 500. Won a bunch of road races in sports cars and won a bunch of TransAm races on the road courses in Bud Moore's Mercury Cougars against the best road racers in the world. He doesn't have AJ, Mario and AL Sr's record but, he was the greatest I've ever seen. Who knows what he could of accomplished had he not quit OW, essentially, after only four years.

1/17/08, 6:54 PM	#12 Re: The BEST you have ever seen?
Dwayne Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 285	A.J.Foyt Steve Kinser Ron Shuman

1/17/08, 7:02 PM	#13 Re: The BEST you have ever seen?
tailtank Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 129	Sheldon Kinser. I remember seeing him at a USAC show down this way back in the 70's as a kid. The man could flat drive the wheels off a sprintcar.

1/17/08, 7:04 PM	#14 Re: The BEST you have ever seen?
Heromaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 331	Ricky Shelton if it wasn't for a few bad choices he may have got somewhere. First time he seen a 1/2 mile pavement track (winchester) he smoked them. There is nothing he couldn't do with a race car.

1/17/08, 7:28 PM	#15 Re: The BEST you have ever seen?
Hawker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 349	Sprint Car - Sammy Swindell (I pick him over Steve because he sets up his own car) Supers - James McElreath Midgets - Page Jones

1/17/08, 7:36 PM	#16 Re: The BEST you have ever seen?
PIT CART Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,157	Bob Psurny on pavement,Steve Kinser on dirt.

1/17/08, 8:03 PM	#18 Re: The BEST you have ever seen?
hbr2004 Posts: n/a	Tony Stewart, Bobby Allison, AJ. Foyt...the best IMO.

1/17/08, 9:27 PM	#20 Re: The BEST you have ever seen?
SPRINTCAR Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,501	Roy Robbin's, he won the first Knoxville Nationals........no wings.