Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

The way I see it, consolidation is the key to survival of sprint car racing in Wisconsin. Economy aside, sprint car racing in Wisconsin is at a crossroad of survival. We have the IRA, MSA, Wimot, and I believe a lesser group up in Northwest Wisconsin. It's too fragmented and over-saturated. The IRA wants to be a traveling group in an economy that just will not support it.

The MSA wants to be low dollar local group but, needs some star power.

Wilmot, well I just do not know what they are trying to be.

And, if the group up NW Wisconsin does exist, do they even have a car count.

Wisconsin and in particular Eastern Wisconsin has the infrastructure to be an outstanding sprint car venue.

Wisconsin has the tracks, in various shapes and sizes, has the cars and I believe the fan interest.

I want to see the groups come together, make some rule modifications to bring every team to the party,

limit the schedule to 12 to 18 nights and thus possibly increase the purse and localize the travel.

1. Become a non-wing series with the exception of a couple of special point race nights.

2. Find a tire/wheel, engine and weight rule that would accomodate the largest car count.

(I am willing to give up the speed of a 410 for more teams running.)

3. No one track, weekly schedule. Run Dodge, Plymouth, Wilmot, Oshkosh, Beaver Dam, 141, Cedar Lake, Superior Ashland.

The Badger Modified Tour is not perfect but, they are on the right track and appear very professional.

Now, I admit there are people within the sport much smarter then me that would disagree with everything I've posted here, but I've kicked the door open to discussion. What are your thoughts? Make them productive!

I like non-wing better then winged sprints! I feel it puts more on the driver.

You could live in Nebraska where the final nail was hammered in the sprint car coffin this week.

I think there's a lot of people that take sprint car racing in Wisco for granted, and this post proves it.

Sure it's not Ohio or Pennsylvania, but I'm just thankful to be able to see sprint car racing on a weekly basis. Could some things be better? Sure, but it could be A LOT worse.

"They'll learn." 

Nobody is taking anything for granted! What can be done to ensure it's survival is the question. I know what I would like to see and expressed it here. Attend an event and look at the stands, far less than half full. For example, the IRA event at Oshkosh Friday June 22. Far less than half full. $20.00 a pop for an IRA show. Are they nuts? MSA that same weekend at Plymouth, less than half full. More reasonably priced but, no real star power. Consolidate through rule changes, run fewer shows to leave the crowd wanting more, reduce travel to help the teams and make it a marketable series. I don't want it to go by the way of the modifieds. History tends to repeat itself. Anyone can say I or we can't or I won't. How about being proactive, put petty differences aside, and turn this into something people want to go see. Otherwise the clock is ticking about as fast as it is on the Milwaukee mile.

I'm happy as a sprint car fan to live in eastern WI. I see 2 MSA shows a week and IRA as often as I can.I would be very dissapointed to lose weekly shows.I agree the crowds are down,but thats been that way for a long time.Need proof go on youtube and watch some 89-90 winged modified shows at Plymouth you can catch some of the stands and they're full and I was there when they told you every night to get to know you neighbor to make room.The last time I heard that was at the monster truck show there last year.Everyone I talk to thinks Manitowoc has better racing but the crowd is always low and most are from Plymouth anyway.We talk about this often and it seems it depends what you grow up watching that you continue with later,which is why I believe Plymouth has the better crowds.We also talk about how eastern WI is surrounded by modifieds. Every week I hear someone tell me how many mods are here or there and how those people love the 140 car shows.I have also witnessed people leave after mod and late model features and not watch sprint cars.Not every race fan is a sprint car fan.Its a nitch of a nitch in motorsports and I'm glad to be sprint car fan!

The next few years for sprint car racing in S.E. Wisconsin will be critical. For the IRA, the Goodyear tire deal will probably not be in play. If this happens, they will lose 60k in point fund money. If this is the case, there will be alot of operations for sale. The economy has hit this area hard. Car counts with MSA have been dwindling the past couple of seasons. Even though they are 360 c.u. steel block motors, they put on a very competive show. As a fan, my main concern is track prep. Tracks prep takes alot of hard work, and facilities don't have the budget or manpower to do it properly. In the case of the MSA, maybe cutting back on the schedule would help. Wisconsin has a very unique problem, there are too many race tracks competing for an ever dwindling slice of the pie. The very rich tradition of motorsports in the state is hanging in the balance. I don't have the answers, but the individuals running these clubs have some very tough decions to make this upcoming off season. We went through the same uphill battle in the late 70's, I hope the sport is preserved for the younger fans so they can experiance the great thrills I have for the past 40 years.

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Are you kiddin' me? We are blessed to have what we do here. 28 410 and 29 360 together at Plymouth last Saturday in front of the biggest crowd of the year. I don't make them all, but do hit most IRA shows and I actually think crowds are up this year. Still pulling high 20 to 30 in SE WI. Not many places in the country doing that. Economy sucks! Sprint car racing is far healthier around here than in many regions.

Teams can only afford to do so much. A ticket is much cheaper than a car. PA is strongest but our little region is under rated as car counts are more than comparable to OH. In recent weeks, Husets had 13 410's, Jackson 8 360's, knoxville 360 count down.

It takes $ to do this. IRA gives back and is doing better than most. Not sure if I can make upcoming road trip, but definitely looking forward to Dodge and Wilmot July 20-21. Never been to Fountain City though I hear good things and glad to see Rice Lake brought 410's back.

Very well put.. IRA gives back it isn't always much and the drivers of course want more...But MSA doesn't give back could be a reason for their dwindling car counts? 650$ to win isn't much. But I'd say IRA (S.S.) do a pretty damn good job for the economy.

I don't see anyone on here requesting his job, sure he'd gladly hand ya his headset and official shirt. JMO

Think Twice Pass Nice

This might go down as what is by far the craziest of all of the posts I have seen on Hoseheads in the past 30days, and there have been some whoppers.

1)There is a very strong weekly 360 program that seems to be developing drivers and providing high level racing. That includes the MSA as well as the 2 weekly tracks. Bravo.

2)Wisconsin has 1 of approx 18 410 winged weekly shows in the country at Wilmot, that averages over a number of cars.

3)The UMSS has slowly grown in the Twin City area and is averaging close to 15 cars weekly and is still in its infancy.

4)The IRA one of only 5 410 travelling series in the nation.

If you take note of the "strongest" area of sprint cars in the country, it is PA. This is easily attributable to a large number of 410 tracks (6?) 360 tracks(5?) 2 speedweeks, as well as a number of travelling series dates. There are more sprint cars running on the F-S in PA than anywhere else. Wisconsin is probably fourth, behind PA, OH and CA. I say bravo cheeseheads, keep up the great work.

(FYI, this post only references winged sprint cars)