congrats jason blonde!!!!!!

[jamieb]

jason set the world speed record at bristol today!!!

144.871 mph

13.245 seconds

that is TWO seconds faster than the lap carl edwards set for the POLE for tomorrow!!!

CrAzY fast!!!!

[whit11b]

Cool!  Is there any video from the days activities?

[jamieb]

nothing has been posted yet, at least not that i have seen.

it will be on SPEED on april 2nd at 430 though

[Stevensville Mike]

Good for Jason.

You know, for a long time (throughout the 90s) Winchester Speedway used to boast that they had the World's Fastest Half Mile.  In fact, that "saying" is still part of their logo.  They claimed that the fastest lap ever turned on any half mile was there.

The record was set by a supermodified in a special demonstration, if I remember correctly.  Who drove it, how fast they went, and when..... I have no idea.  There is nothing on the Winchester Speedway website that notes track history.  I plan on sending them an E-Mail to inquire, but the track has changed owners a few times since then.

I know I was there once for an ARCA race back in 1994 and they had a supermodified there trying to BREAK the record, but he failed.

I'll see what they say (if they have any info on it).

[Stevensville Mike]

I decided to do a little detective work myself as I wait for the folks at Winchester Speedway to get back to me.

On one forum of ages past, some fan noted that the record for a MIDGET at Winchester is held by Ryan Newman - 14.597.

Then the discussion starts about the "overall" track record.  13.9 seems to be the mark, set by Hank Lower, or Kevin Feeney..... depending on who you believe.

Another fan thinks Cameron Dodson broke it in '05 in the King or Wings event.

The last fan posting on the thread said this:


"I'm pretty sure Dodson still holds the track record. I don't recall what the number was. It is in part of my database that is not accessable at the moment. I'll see if I can dig that number up."

- TJ Slideways (6/29/07)


My what a small world historians live in!   

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?93287-Winchester-Speedway-track-record

[ozz]

According to the article in SprintCar and Midget Magazine about the King of the Wings event, Cameron Dodsons lap of 13.539 seconds, roughly 133 mph. set a New Track Record. 

[Stevensville Mike]

According to the article in SprintCar and Midget Magazine about the King of the Wings event, Cameron Dodsons lap of 13.539 seconds, roughly 133 mph. set a New Track Record. 

So time-wise, it looks pretty close.  Speed-wise, however, looks like about an 11 mph diff.

Thanks for the gumshoe work, ozz.

And also note, by bringing up Winchester and speed/trackrecords, I don't want anyone to think I am trying to take something away from Jason Blonde or Bristol.  They deserve their due.

The whole thing just got the old gears turning in my head and I was trying to break off some rust.

[ozz]

Your Welcome.

[jamieb]

while i am very happy that jason broke it/set it, i find the whole thing kind of stupid.

first of all, the record they were going after was on a DIRT version of the track.  we all know that, even with the exact same configurations, a dirt track is TOTALLY different than a pavement track.  also, none of the cars are in the same category.

then you have the people who are complaining the eldora is faster, or winchester ow wherever.  none of the tracks are EXACTLY the same size.  just because they say they are a half mile doesnt mean its EXACTLY one half mile.  bristol is .533 miles, berlin is called a 1/2 but really its 7/16.  i am sure that if i were to do more digging, i would find more of the same.  

im not saying that this isnt a well deserved and hard earned honor, i just think that they should have maybe phrased it differently or something
  

[whit11b]

jamieb, while I understand your point I believe that people understand that every track is different in dimensions and configuration.  Probably fairly rare for a track to measure perfectly, then you get into how was the track measured (around the top, middle, or bottom).  True, it should have been billed as a half mile record attempt or Bristol record attempt, rather than an attempt to break Sammy's record.

I'm more excited about the fact openwheel cars went out there and stomped on the times Cup cars run.  Good publicity for Sprints in general.  I'll have to mark the calender to catch it on SPEED.  Guess they don't want to embarrass NASCAR by showing it the same weekend they are at Bristol.  Wonder how fast Midgets would get around the place?

On Winchester, I remember my Dad's old stories of running there in a Midget in the late 70's.  I'm not sure I'm brave enough to contest a track like that in a bolt on cage car without power steering.  Even then they were going FAST.
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/whitney11b/war1978-3.jpg
http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv222/whitney11b/war1978-4.jpg

[racerguy6n]

I think it's crazy that it is only .6 seconds faster than the dirt time.... from 11 years ago!

[drdoug]

On the Winchester record, Didn't a guy named Ricky Otts from Texas hold the record for Supers in that rear engine thing he drove?

[tjslideways]

I think it's crazy that it is only .6 seconds faster than the dirt time.... from 11 years ago!

I'd have to check, but that dirt track record was likely set pre-weight rule.  If Blonde drove his car in full pavement spec it would be a tank compared to the car Sammy drove when he set the record. 

[TommySalami]

How about Bryan Clauson getting around the place in 13.6, without a wing?!  That's nuts!

[Stevensville Mike]

On the Winchester record, Didn't a guy named Ricky Otts from Texas hold the record for Supers in that rear engine thing he drove?

Haven't heard back yet from anyone at Winchester.  I am keeping my ear to the ground, though (electronically speaking, of course). 

But that name - Ricky Otts sounded familiar, Doug.....

Not to stray too far off topic, but there was a kid from Paw Paw, Ricky Knotts, who got killed at Daytona back in the early 80s in a qualifier. 

You know, this half mile record is right up there with Paul McMahon breaking the track record at Volusia this past month.  Faster than Eldora!  Faster than Knoxville!  Faster than ..... fill-in-the-blank.  It is like comparing apples with oranges at tiimes.  If anything, it is for bragging rights.  I KNOW Winchester LOVED having a faster time/speed than Bristol all those years.

Just like MIS held the big track record for years with Rick Mears in an Indy Car (233 + mph).  Sure.... with the right setup and rules, it could have been broken at IMS maybe.  Daytona or Talladega - for sure.  But no one was going to do it or try it.  So, MIS boasted it.

Eventually, California Speedway, or Auto Club Speedway (whatever the hell they call it) beat the record at 240 mph-ish. 

Then Greg Moore got killed.  A wreck I wish to never see highlights (lowlights) of again.