Steve Francis...Serious ?, not bashing the man

[Josh Bayko]

Didn't Chub win one in ND a few weeks ago?

No. He led a good chunk of the race, but Sheppard got him late in the race.

[dirtcrazy4u]

With SLM racing being what it is today. If your off by a few tenths this is what you get. It only shows were the level of some of the top talent is at. Guys like francis, chubzilla, even EPJ. they have the equipment, it's just that they struggle to find those tenths of a second.

[jog49]

There's always a changing of the guard unless you get a warhorse like Bloomquist. Pearson, at one time, was one of the best but he's drifted from a 1-5 finisher to a 5-10 finisher, for the most part. He can still win one occasionally but it will be rarely. These new, young bucks (Sheppard, Overton, Pierce, etc.) will make sure it stays that way too.

[mccreadiefan39]

To me it's very simple, winning national dirt late model races is very hard and your entire program (chassis, engine, tires, shocks, crew) has to be spot on to do that.

Steve Francis didn't have anything as of December, he literally built a team in one month to go to Golden Isles.

[W2Racing09]

As others have said, Steve Francis would be much better off on the WoO. Not only is the depth a little less than on the LOLMDS but also he would have a few Capital guys to run with as well weekly. He would be a regular top 5/10 car on the WoO. I think it would have been a much better decision for his career to run with them.

Thanks,
Jeff.

[Highwayman]

1. Francis got smacked in the head last year at Tri City. His struggles pre date that.

2. We can debate FC seats, and there is some validity to the concussion argument however he was going to get a concussion regardless of what seat he had in because he got hit in the head!

I know this is 4m and facts are usually ignored.

I should have been clearer, I wasn't suggesting his seat had anything to do with his injury. What I was saying was merely concussions can have lasting effects, thats all. I only mentioned the FC seats because I believe they also contribute to the rise in brain injuries and entrapment over the last few years.

[kazual]

At one time in the early years of WOO Francis, Eckert, and McDowell always seemed near the top. Interesting how their paths took different directions from there.

[NormP]

Given his close ties to Mark Richards, especially being a former house car driver, I'm surprised he didn't go back to Rocket cars after the XR1 did so well last year. I understand he's friends with Clanton, but not even Clanton is running so great in the Capitol cars right now, compared to the past couple of years.

But Francis has been in several chassis in the past 4-5 years and it hasn't seemed to matter since the year he did so well driving for Barry Wright. I think it's mostly a crew problem and as someone else said, he didn't have a car, a team, or anything at the end of last year so he's done a good job of at least getting all that put together.

I'm a big fan of his, it would be great to see him starting winning regularly like he used to.

[MI Dirt Fan]

His best finish is 5th this season, twice.

[71PRPFan]

Maybe needs to run around home for swhile

[MI Dirt Fan]

EPJ won his first Lucas race this year since May 25th 2015

[Highside Hustler25]

Given his close ties to Mark Richards, especially being a former house car driver, I'm surprised he didn't go back to Rocket cars after the XR1 did so well last year. I understand he's friends with Clanton, but not even Clanton is running so great in the Capitol cars right now, compared to the past couple of years.

But Francis has been in several chassis in the past 4-5 years and it hasn't seemed to matter since the year he did so well driving for Barry Wright. I think it's mostly a crew problem and as someone else said, he didn't have a car, a team, or anything at the end of last year so he's done a good job of at least getting all that put together.

I'm a big fan of his, it would be great to see him starting winning regularly like he used to.

I think what it boils down to is nobody wants to be second fiddle to the Rocket house car on the WoO tour, or Bests Rocket house car on the Lucas tour.

[dalemcfan]

Judging from Steve's and others performance this year, I would rather be the second fiddle Rocket car than first fiddle Capital car. I agree with others that he could probably get consistently better finishes on WoO than Lucas. I dont think they would be drastically better though. He is 11th in Lucas points. He wouldnt go to WoO and consistently beat Sheppard, T Erb, Madden, Moran, & Clanton. I think he'd be about 7th in WoO, maybe 6th but I think Eckert is running better than him this year. As far as what makes most financial sense for him as far as what tour he ran this year, it boils down to how much is the RhinoAg sponsorship. If that sponsorship is worth more than the difference between the 11th place Lucas points payout than the 7th place WoO payout than he prob picked the right tour financially.

[nuff said]

Good post dalemcfan.

[dalemcfan]

Good post dalemcfan.

Thanks nuffsaid. Hope Steve gets to running better soon.