Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

The following is an anonymous email that I received from what appears to be a champ sprint driver from Oklahoma City, who had asked to post this for him. While I do not actually agree, I respect his request and am posting this for him for all you two barrels drivers to read, which is why this is a public forum.

ATTENTION ALL 2 BARREL DRIVERS & OWNERS

With the demise of the Fairgrounds Speedway, racing in OKC has changed forever. Because of the split various tracks are vying for car counts in all classes, especially sprint cars.

Sprint cars used to consist of 2 main classes in Oklahoma. The differences between these 2 classes were few and far between, as carburetors can cost as much as injectors. Now that there is only 1 main sprint car class in the state, why are we getting paid less to race? $400 or $500 to win and usually less than $100 to start is not feasible for sprint car drivers and owners. Thankfully Enid has come to the forefront purse wise to pay us a decent price to race. With Supers racing for $1000 to win and there being no big money difference between the 2 classes, there is no reason that we should be racing for half of that with the same drivers/cars/fans.

My point is that we should all support Enid and its purse. If this is done correctly the purses state-wide will be forced to grow, and the tracks that cannot will still grab the cars that they used to grab before the fairgrounds closed. This is not an advertisement for Enid, this is a call for us as racers/owners to take matters into our own hands and achieve what we not only want, but need to continue racing at this level. Please consider not racing this weekend and going to Enid the 17^th. If we can get 30-40 cars there and show the other promoters that we are serious, and that we can work together… something will actually get done in the racers favor for once.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

I do not agree either! I am very glad that Enid is running sprinters but, you are basically asking racers to penalise OCRS. I have not always seen eye to eye with Barry Grabel and the other OCRS promoters but that have done a great job and are the ones responsible for bringing the fall show there which struck Enid's interest on sprinters. I do agree that the purses needed to go up drastically on the 2-barrels once again you can thank OCRS for bringing the standards up on 2-barrel pay scales.

Again, only my opinions,

Larry Neighbors

in my opinion, the sprint cars are already spread too thin and another weekly venue will just thin them out further. thinning them out will cause promoters to not want to run them and then the class will just go away....

"its useless to put on the brakes when you are upside 
down"   -Paul Newman

If the sprint cars go away I am moving out of this sport mod lovin state! lol

"They're steering them sum bi***es with their right 
foot!"

Even though the 2 barrel class has been looked at as the second rate class for this area for years, because of ASCS,NCRA and Super-Sprints now it has the potential for growing even bigger and better than people could even imagine.

All I want to do is go and watch some good Sprint Car racing. So you guys figure it out and let us (sprint car fans) know before we ALL say the hell with it. Because driving 2 hours or so to watch 16 or 17 sprint cars is kind of hard to justify for most.

There is a solution for this class and it would be nice if you guys would figure it out before it is too late. It is time to quit looking in the past and start looking toward the future, because there is a good future for this class if some would take a look at the big picture. IMO...

The OCRS is about the only group in Oklahoma that sees what the potential is for this class , and I thank them for doing all that they can to keep this class alive.

But who am I? Just a fan that loves sprint car racing...

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

come watch some OCRS races....we averaged 28 cars a show last year!!!!!!

"its useless to put on the brakes when you are upside 
down"   -Paul Newman

I think you might be missing the point!!!! Not everybody is wrapped up in the OCRS or wants to travel all over the state. But will go and support the OCRS when they are in the area. And there is room for other tracks to put on a weekly show for the 2 Barrel Sprints besides the OCRS IMO...

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

Randy, I agree with you.

The guy that I have helped for the last two years on a 2 barrel car has gone and ran a OCRS race at Outlaw when the 2 barrels were off from the Fairgrounds. We got smoked to. The car we took was a top five to top ten car at SFS weekly. I have talked to a few drivers about this topic. I am all for getting the purse up and all. I will give the people at Enid a thumbs up for taking this step forward. However saying that if I want to stay close to home, Brill's, then it is my choice. I know if I had a 2 barrel my car would not be ti the level of Passmore,Smith, Goodman, Jennings, I could go on. I know I would like to go somewhere where I could be at least somewhat competitive. I would go race at Some OCRS show just for the heck of it. But, it would not be my only stop.

I am building a non-wing car for Brill's right now. When I started building this thing I made it clear I was doing it for fun. I have helped guys that do the chasing the money and chasing points. We have been all over the region racing and by the end of the year you almost glad the season is over.

I know a few of the drivers from Brill's last Sat were thinking of going to Enid however their work prevented them from going. However, they could make it Brill's b/c it was so much closer to work.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

Well Erich i think if any of the sprint guy's want to have a very good and large class of cars at Brill's then maybe if more & more would show up and support him then i would say there would be a good chance of a better purse, Mark is very fair and i bet it would not be out of the question in the near future, if you have a big class of cars each and every week and more fans in the stands that brings in revenue and yes it is closer for most to race at and it could be very successfull, just my opinion, i thought he paid us in the Pro/Street Stocks very fair when only 6 cars showed due to alot of others who don't have thier cars ready yet, so things can happen for everyone.

Danny Waller Jr.
Pro/Street Stock #1J
2006-2007-2009-2010-2011-2012 6 Time BMS Pro/Street Stock 
Champion
4 Time BMS Fall Nationals Champion
2 Time BMS Spring Nationals Champion
Driver: Johnny Reed Jr.

I agree with you also. Mark is very fair. He is still running the micros and that was a if you show up I will pay you type of thing as well.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

With all due respect.

I have thought and still think BMS was in the perfect position and didn't do much with it. I am talking about sprint car racing of course. In other classes the situations could be very different. When SFS closed - that left a huge gap in this state's sprint car racing. I realize I am not privy to BMS's financial standing - nor should I be - but if there was ever a time to really step it up - this was it. And not just pertaining to a weekly champ sprint show - but maybe even more importantly to sanctioned events such as OCRS and ASCS. The closure of SFS did not just leave a lot of drivers with no track, but thousands of fans as well. I fully believe more could have been done in the weekly champ sprint class , and running 2-3 sprint specials - and the extra cost be justified because fans in this area are just itching for some good sprint car racing. And thats no bullshit. And also not a knock against the glorified mods/sport mods...........but the reality was clear every week at SFS - any concession worker, depsite their knowledge of dirt track racing, could tell you the slowest times by far was when the sprint cars were running. And of course it was obvious to those in attendance of the show as well.

I am not saying it is the end all be all, but I am saying, with confidence, it is the most popular class of cars. So as for BMS - why not boost the sprint car effort? It's not to say every fan that attended SFS would come - but if it was promoted correctly - many would. And I believe therein lies the key.....I haven't seen a whole hell of a lot of promoting out of that place at all. It's an open the gates and hope they show up type of gig. And I mean this with respect, I know you are a big fan of BMS and probably know Mark Brill quite well. And I am not meaning to offend that. But was there or would there EVER be a better time to do several things to step up? By step up I mean to INVEST.

Maybe step up the purse for the weekly champ sprints. If done it could not only draw a majority of those who always ran SFS but never batted an eye at Brill. And just as well, could actually draw in some tulsa area/creek county sprinters. Why not run some OCRS or ASCS sprint shows? Just look at how people turned out for the NCRA Late Models.......who could even ponder that people would turn out in that style and probably better if the most popular class of cars was running (and a sizeable, quality field at that)???

I think these are extremely valid points. I think thought process has much to do with it. You cannot expect sprint car fans to just pour out to a track that has historically not had a very high quality of sprint car racing. You have to get that interest good and peaked, get it going. The logic of "well come on out and then we'll see" - what the hell? THAT IS NOT PROMOTING. The landscape over this offseason was such that a blind man could see it. It was the lowest risk Brill would have ever had to take to get high qaulity sprint car racing going at his track. The only thing I see that could have possibly hindered it was a lack of promoting. And thats something that frankly, I have never seen much of from that track.

Sure you could ask what I now about promoting.......but it does not take a rocket scientist to see how the successful ones go about it. It was not just cars in the OKC area with no track - it was a shitload of fans as well.......and it is EXTREMELY obvious that Brill was content to just open the gates and hope they came because it was the only thing around. Content to not promote anything at all. It reinforces the perception that BMS is not ran to be a quality track/show. But rather lets just hope it works out that way lol. I think the sky was the limit for BMS in 2010 with just minimal effort on behalf of the promoter. And even without that increased effort......I think it will still be a good year, probably best yet for BMS (which actually is probably not saying a whole lot).

As a dirt track fan, especially of a class that just so happens to be the most popular, it is frustrating to see the chance not taken. I think stepping up the champ sprint purse considerably and then actually doing some real promoting could have been very fruitful and an addition of sprint car specials absolutely lucrative.

All things considered - it seems Mark Brill would rather have 6 or 7 classes - with several of those classes hovering around and below the 10 mark (and a hell of a lot less before SFS closed) rather than actually field a quality show of 4-5 classes with double the former amounts. And that he is not very concerned with presenting the most popular class of racing in this area - with much quality at all. Or maybe he just "shares the vision" of presenting sport mods and mods as premier classes. Which hey........to each their own. Maybe in certain areas quality sport mod fields could really be a bigger draw than quality sprint car fields........BUUUUUT..........before this notion is to ever become fact.......I would certainly suggest the drinking water in that area be tested lol. Joking aside, I dont doubt the popularity of such classes, but they do tend to be in places that don't have quality sprint car racing. And thats just it - this isn't one of those areas. There are MANY sprints within distance of BMS - hell it even sits perfectly. Within an hours drive from BOTH the OKC and Tulsa metro areas (the 2 sprint epicenters in this state). Hence why I say - it appears BMS completely passed up the finest oppurtunity it has ever had to present what has always been the most popular class....in a high quality fashion. And more so - it appears it was done because of the back gate. Sprint purses cost a lot more than micro's, economy sprints, etc. So instead of 1 or 2 less classes, but paying more in purse for the premier class - it's opted to pull those extra 15 or more cars in the form of little classes with little purses. Isn't this the true definition of back gate promoting? Again - to each their own - it's probably the only formula that could have worked while SFS was around lol. It's a rational formula - but when the oppurtinity comes along to do away with this formula, yet still make the same - arguably more money, and all the while increasing the true quality of your show many times over........and then its passed up!?!?!? WTF!?!?!? In my own opinion - that is BmS

In finality, I know this is an opinion that is bound to be very unpopular in certain circles. But I mean it when I say I don't intend to disrespect to anyone. It's just my opinion and I present it the best I can. I certainly don't mean to imply I know everything about promoting. Only that I think these things could have been done and been successful. And maybe they could still be, and maybe BMS could also rise to new heights without them. Either way, I do hope for the best. Just as I hope to someday attend BMS out of great anticipation, and not just because there is nowhere else under 3-4 hours away to see some sprint car racing.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

OKCFan since you are such an expert on back promoting, you pay for advertisemet and se if it makes any differance. If it does then you can answer your own opinion.

What????

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

Thank you for saying that! The last thing I wanna do is compete with a sanctioning body like ocrs, ascs, or ncra. I'm running sprint cars, a) because I knew their options we pretty thin, and b) because ppl love em, they put on an awesome show! Enid Speedway in my opinion as a racer has fell off the map in the past couple years and I don't want it to be in the same position as SFS! I'm trying my hardest to make Enid a great place to race, and a place where ppl can go and know they'll be treated right! I honestly think we're off to a great start and I will continue to try and make it better and better each week. I hope to see more and more people start to return as the year goes on! I'd like to thank everyone who came up last week and I hope more and more ppl will start to make the trip up as the "good" word spreads! Once again, thank you all!!

Good job Kip! From what I heard the majority was happy and that's a good thing. I don't know about the other classes but the sprint cars were happy. JD said the Hog Wagon would be back, and a few more sprint drivers that were there but their cars were not are planning on running with you as well(from what I heard).

I for one wish you well in trying to run the sprints this year. My family and I are planning on making the trip to Enid Speedway sometime this season and enjoy some sprint car racing.

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

only have 6 saturdays off all summer,I'll be going to ASCS shows,sorry.if the champs can jack it up a notch I'll go to some of them.

Wow!!!!! We finally got a "New" novel from OKCFan and, ladybug is in need of "Spellcheck".

The biggest problem I see with BMS hosting OCRS or ASCS is the Pit Area and getting the "big rigs" in and out. Also the Grandstands are a bit shaky and some of the big rigs that adorn that portion of the Track makes the weight limit scarey.

Maybe if you leave your girlfreind home they could admit about an extra 15 children or 5 adults.....lol

Seriously, it would cost Mark Brill more money than it would take to repair SFS. Mark has a good track and is a quality Promoter, but stepping up to what you suggest only takes $$$$$$.

I'm not trying to cloud your sun, sunshine, but that is reality.

Yes it would cost a hell of allot of money to upgrade the facilities at Brill's Speedway. But with doing upgrades to the facilities over the next few seasons it could be a top notch track in Oklahoma.

The only problem is to many classes with a very small support in some of them, as some classes might grow in car count some won't. So why not build on 4 classes to get the car counts up, with the money paid to the classes that cannot support themselves. Because as a fan nothing is worse than waisting time on classes that are boring as hell. Look at the cars that went to Enid that run at SFS why you ask? How about finishing 7th at Enid and getting as much as 2nd paid at Brill's in the A-feature. It's called revenue the more purse money paid out = more cars which= more people in the stands which= more money to do improvements. Not to say Brill has not upgraded some already he has but don't stop now keep upgrading.

This area needs a track known for sprint car racing with added classes, anybody can have a track with full body classes and hope for the best.

 Randy       

       DIRT TRACKIN
"When it's wet slide it in"

Why in the hell is this so hard to figure out. Do the math.......