Even When the Racing Sux, Racing Doesn't Suck

   The big and bad World of Outlaws are an easy target, especially for scribes like me with anger management problems, but strike me dead in my trax if the racing itself hasn't been beyond stellar all season long. Granted, Outlaw brass practically beg to be turned into punch lines for such shennanigans as referring to the DIRT trailer as COMMAND CENTRAL, but in the even dozen WoO shows I eyeballed in 2010, only a MANZY (r.i.p.)  rubber downer in hots failed to deliver the knockout blow.

     Yes indeedy, God bless GoodYear and their ultra crappy Sprint Car tires. With a whole field of fire-breathers that won't hook up and lock down no matter what kind of set-up you throw at 'em, the on track action has been more furious and a kit and kaboodle more frenzied than any since the pre-wing era. A mid-October raindate at bad to the bone Haubstadt saw the determined not to be lapped Paul May blow a desperate to win Donny Schatz away by a straightaway while Joey, up and over the cushion per usual, took nearly 20 laps to slip past May. Meanwhile, eventual winner Craig Dollansky lived up to his "Crowd Pleaser" moniker and exhibited more vim and vigor than I have seen him flex since he broke his back in a psuedo-Indy Car. Dollansky was absolutely not gonna be denied this time around and his reunion with D.J. Lindsey appears to be just the elixir Craig needs. Amen.

     The proverbial apple surely didn't fall far from the Wild Child's tree as Lil' Sheldon, looking all of 14, continues to polish the family legacy by perfectly duplicating the thrill a second stab and steer tactics of his hall of fame daddy-o. This kid is a racer to the bone and the sweetest soul you would ever care to meet until he buckles his 125 pound carcass into the family Sprinter. Then, Sheldon Haudenschild is PURE ANIMAL.....Paul McMahan, who inherited a job on the Outlaw trail at the expense of young Cody Darrah's early season freak misfortune, most likely raced his way back into the good graces of many a big-time car owner with his steady and heady on track performances in 2010.....It will be interesting to see if and how Danny Lasoski ressurects his suddenly sagging career. It looks like the heir apparent to the Lonnie parsons # 6 will most likely be Kraig Kinser.....Although they failed to flex much muscle at Haubstadt, on the ball crew chief Rob "Suitcase" Hart is the best thing to ever happen to the emerging star that is David Gravel. Only Hart's itchy propensity for fleeing for perceived greener pastures will slow Gravel's impressive climb to the fast lane.....Sure will be weird to to see the 2011 season kick off without the enigmatic R 19 on the scene. I simply cannot imagine Haud anywhere but in a top-shelf Outlaw ride as he winds down a storybook career. However, I choose to cling to the notion that team owner Lon Carnahan will have a change of heart before the green flies once again. Hell yeah, Haud'll wad up some Triple X chassis' along the way, and while you'd swear at times he doesn't look much beyond his own injector stacks, Jac is still as death defying and void of fear as he ever was. Treasure the bantam weight daredevil while you can--he's the closest thing to the ghost of Richie Vogler as you will ever see........Keep the faith..