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

Is it just me or are there others out there who are tired of driving 2 hours or more to watch the IRA A feature run last on a burnt out race track?  Tired of watching 1 lane racing when it could be so much better if they ran first. I don't spend my time and pay my money to watch the junk they run before them. You will lose me as a fan if I have to sit through this much longer.  I don't care about you selling one more overpriced beer or hot dog (without a bun) to keep me sitting there all night long.  Don't get me wrong, I love IRA racing, but there has been too much of them running last this year, especially for those who have to travel to watch.

Interestingly enough, I had this same conversation with the fella who runs the IRA, and he agrees with you! Unfortunately for the series, often times it is kind of out of their hands when they run. Tracks get to decide. 

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That can be addressed in the Series contract with the tracks. And it's certainly not just an IRA-specific situation.

Any series can address items such as these in the off-season and build it in to the race track check list for the following season.

In our sprint series (www.SprintCarBandits.com) we run 2nd or 3rd feature out at every track - and have so the past three seasons since we formed it. It's all discussed when we book our events at each track, and it's written right into our 'race week track check list.'

It has a multitude of effects:

It enables the traveling fans and teams to get down the road an hour or so earlier (as the balance of the program is typically local drivers and don't have near the drive, so it really balances out).

It also sets a precedent with fans and traveling teams: "Ya, it might be 2 hours away, but last time our feature was over at 10:30 and I was home just after midnight."...so the next time the series comes to that track, that directive helps get fans and teams to continue to support it.

Another benefit is that the track conditions are generally more conducive to quality racing. And down here, a lot of times divisions such as the Factory Stocks want to run after the sprints, as it gives them a wider track to race on - because they race on asphalt tear-off tires (slicks).

Then there's the weather. For every hour earlier then featured program ends, there's that much less time to worry about a weather system rolling in...and rescheduling events is always a mess, and it irks fans, as lots of times it could have been prevented.

Tracks and series need to remember, fan entertainment is #1, and many times you can fix some of the common complaints like this that have a lot bigger effect on attendance and series support than they think.

Fan-friendly solutions such as these can be 'fixed' at a cost of $0.00. It will also affect change. Just because something has 'always been this way' in the past no longer means it's necessarily the right thing to do.

If a track wants to hold fans hostage til the last dog is hung by keeping the featured division at bay til midnight are losing way more money going forward, than worrying about selling that last hot dog in the concession stand.

Kind of a funny story. I've been harping about subjects like this for years when I hear track promoters saying things like "Oh, NASCAR is killing me." Or, "the local (insert local competing business here - like another track, another entertainment venue) is killing me." Yet they keep on beating the same drum wondering why the continued downward spiral. 

PRI cold-called me after they saw the newly formed Sprint Car Bandits series (that addresses several of these directives in our rules/format) and wanted to know if I'd be ok sharing some of my experiences with the masses on what can be done to address some of the general decline in dirt track attendance a lot of tracks are experiencing.

So, if topics like this are 'hot button' items with you as a fan or driver, you might enjoy the read. And pass it along to your local series/track promoter (it may take a moment for this page to load within their archives software, and depending on your operating system, it may not go directly to the exact page, which starts at 114):

http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=240066#{"issue_id":240066,"page":114}

Here's a subsequent PRI article I was involved with that addresses more of the same (starts on page 126):

http://epub.performanceracing.com/publication/index.php?i=287978&m=0&l=&p=126&pre=#{"page":126,"issue_id":287978}  

If any of this can help your area out, I'm all for it. Let me know if your area track/series implements some of these directives and what the outcome is!

Best of luck to all in racing  :)

They ran 2nd at LaSalle & the track was still pretty burnt up But I thought it was a good feature.

It was indeed burnt up but like you said the feature wasn't half bad. i wonder what it would have been like with a decent curb on the outside.

It couldn't of been to try and sell another hotdog I went down after the b mains and they were soldout of everything.

I would say the track needed a rework before the features but it was too late in the evening. Watching the non wingers running single file on the bottom in the first A main is not exciting to me at all.

The non wings were a let down except for that one car who finally got sick of a slow paced follow the leader race. That black car was ripping the lip and got up to 3rd or 4th from probably 12-15th in the last five laps. He was the only one trying something. Wish he would have got the leaders and made them look silly.

Sounds to me like there are other solutions to look at here. 

1) Track prep - if a track is used up, it sounds like the track has an issue and needs more moisture in the surface. Traveling with a sprint tour will show you that most tracks that only run stock cars and modifieds simply don't need as much moisture as is required for a sprint car event. In fact, I've found most of those tracks simply blade the track a little, water and then pack the hell out of the surface with a roller packer or sheepsfoot for their weekly shows. Working with these tracks to provide a better surface for sprint cars can help. I helped one track that our tour visited this year and really struggled to provide a good surface. After getting called a MFer and every other name in the book by the head of the track prep crew, we made strides and had some much better surfaces. I look forward to events at this track in 2019.

2) Too long or too slow of a show - If your chief complaint is that the sprint cars aren't running until 11 p.m. to midnight or later, then the track has an issue with too long of a show or a show that moves along too slowly. If your tour has officials, offer to help the track move the show along. Sometimes they simply need help or suggestions on how to be more efficient. That said, it's hard to not step on toes and upset track officials. I've literally had a scorer who had the raceceiver radio respond with "I can do that?" when I suggest to start lining stock cars up while under a lengthy red.

I may be rare, but I prefer that the sprint cars run last, especially when it is a tour. Dmantx raises some good points about getting on the road earlier. However, that removes the ability for fans to come to the pit area, meet the drivers, buy merchandise and see the cars. Making that connection can be critical to future events. Also, I feel, as a traveling series, we are there to 1) sell tickets for the night and 2) sell tickets for upcoming events there and elsewhere. I like the build up to the big show at the end of the night - and when things go right - the fans are left wanting more. 

Bottom line is, everyone hates a bad track and everyone hates a late night. I don't know about the specifics of your tracks, but track staff and tours all have a lot to balance to give the fans and teams the best night possible. 

That's too bad you feel they were a let down.  I see them on a decent track at Wilmot all the time, and for the most part, while being underpowered, they put on a great, racy show.  The class is still young and over half of the guys really started racing in this class and are still learning it.  It's when a guy that has experience in wingLESS, or come from the 410 ranks, is when you see guys hang out the ass end.  If the track sucks, they are limited.  Give them another chance.

That guy in the non wing was trying to steal the show.  If he would have had about 5 more laps I think he was going to win.  Didn't catch his name but give him credit for going for it!!

I concur

They were a victim of track prep and inexperience. No good cushion to run so they were protecting the bottom. The inexperience showed when no one was searching for something better. I'll always give wingless another chance. They are usually amazing. 

I give little Al alot credit for running the top on fair night at wilmont making the race watchable. Matt vandavere and the kid in Hans Lein car rim riding at beaver dam. it takes balls to run the high side with no horsepower to motor yourself out of trouble . I agree something needs to be done to have two lane racing. A classic slidejob track would be ideal but that isn't an option at wilmont, but i agree some of the guys are getting much better