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

When I went to Jacksonville it was strictly the Outlaws

was so amazing

I am okay with having only ONE support class, as long as their feature is run after the HL or WoO feature.It helps fill in some down time, and lets the sprint car crews work on their cars. I saw Duck River Raceway Park in Tennessee had the Schaeffer's Spring National Dirt Late Model Series as their headline class last night. They scheduled NINE support divisions. I honestly think I would give up the sport as a fan if I had to sit through that type of program. I would have a tough time watching that on FLO or Dirtvision in the comfort of my Lazy Boy. The fans were there for the headline division, but that back gate type of thinking is pretty common for those Southern tracks....OUCH

My take on this is if I'm not attending a race live and watching on TV I have no right to complain.  The economics of the individual tracks and their familiarity with their situation dictates support classes unless it's stated on the contract with the sanction.  I believe that the Outlaws still limit it to one or two.  I'm pretty much locked in on Knoxville, Husets and IRA with some WoO and HL on the side once they all open.

This is a tough year to decide what to watch.  Priorities are our two local drivers at Husets plus a couple others I'm familiar with in the 305's.  Following Bill's progress with the WoO, Knoxville and Husets is more of an interest than the multi class local programs.  I could go see limited Sprints every weekend but it comes with a bigger dose of Stock Cars and Modifieds than I'm willing to sit through.  I'm a 410 snob these days and always go for the best race available which is usually televised.  Three nights of WoO within an hour of home in the coming weeks got snuffed out for me by family obligations.  

Stan Meissner

How much more are you willing to pay for yout tickets?  The promoters rely upon the support classes to bring in additional revenue through the pit passes and the revenue generated in the stands by the family and friends of those racing in the support classes.  The support classes and a lack of interest by some fans also contributes to increased concession sales.  

Certain events flat out don't need them. Some tracks that aren't in sprint car country need some back gate help. But a race like the Weikert Memorial? No. Absolutely not. Same for the National Open, Tuscarora 50, Dirt Classic or any speedweek race with the exception of Grandview. The people and cars always show up to these events and support classes just drag it out. Especially if there's weather incoming. But then again, as another poster eluded to, would that make tickets more expensive? If so, how much more expensive? I don't think there's a one size fits all answer to this. Depends on the event and the track more than anything.

One support class is fine, There needs to be some time for teams to get ready between heats/B-main/dash and the B-main/dash and the feature. Anything more than one support class is not needed, unless it is a features only format for the support class.

It is fine to have 1 other class.  Some tracks they know there will be a large field of 410 and they do not need a second class.  Therer are some WOO and Hilimit races that will not have a big field of cars.  You then need a filler.  Say they have 22 cars, 3 heat races and the stupid pill draw and the dash.  No B main, just the feature.  The filler class also have fans that see them race every week.  

I'm probably alone here at HH but I love to see the locals in street/hobby stocks, its a dam entertaining spectacle to watch and some those guys are really talented, they just don't have the equipment to run with the outlaws.

I'm fine with 1 support group depending on the event. The events I have been to this year have all had 2 classes whether it was Outlaws and USAC (not really a support class) or Outlaws with 305's and midgets. All of them did not take much time and all helped the show. Years past with the All Stars I remember a couple tracks having 2-3 support classes. 1 race there were 5 total classes including the All Stars during speedweek on a Wednesday night. 1 of which had a heat race that took 30mins to complete. But now it seems for the bigger shows a lot of tracks have figured out they can get a good crowd, good car count, and manage the racing surface with less classes

I agree that 1 support division is fine but definitely a division that doesn't draw a ton of cars. Some track's concession and bathroom lines are so long that you would miss some of the main show to get food/drink if not for the support divisions. I also agree that their feature should be run after the main event. I like most forms of dirt track racing as long as they have 8 cylinders.

A

If there is a support class at a WoO show, I personally would rather see them structure the night to where the support class feature is ran first during what would normally be intermission if it were a one division show. That way fans can go to the pits right after the sprint feature. More fans will go to the pits if they don't have to wait out a support class feature. Obviously to do this, it would require a very efficient and well run program. But that's my preference.

  The late great Ascot Park never had an extra class with their CRA shows in their hay day.  Just the regular weekly shows you got 4 heats, a dash, a semi and the main.  No one ever complained  about the lack of one of Ascot's zillion other classes that were available.  As one who has on several occassions been in one of the filler fendered classes at a WoO show I'll say I've never been treated worse.  No practice, Seldom even a heat. WoO would kick you off the track when they thought it ws right for the Sprints, then you got to run a main at the end of the night on horrible torn up tracks.  We know people are there to see WoO but I would say no thanks if ever invited again.