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

And for the record, anyone who knows me, knows that I do what I can to help with the advancement of short track racing - and I rarely get involved in anything that involves controversy - but this crosses the line to me and that's why I've put my neck out there on this, and the other forums to take a stand.

This date change doesn't help the advancement of either event.

The STN has been on the same weekend for the past 20 years - except when it got rained out and was rescheduled at a later date.

Since it's election year, I guess I'll just call all of this discussion 'lobbying.'

I don't think the one guy who makes the decisions cares that the STN is the same weekend. It's going to be another strong field. If it works out the way it's supposed to on paper when the green flag drops you could possibly have Saldana, Meyers, Lasoski, Stewart and whoever decides to stay start the race in traffic. Just the way it was designed.

dmantx - which weekend do you propose it is switched to? Keeping in mind that it really can not be run in November and not conflicting with other events here in CA. Every weekend from the second weekend after Gold Cup until the weekend after the Oval Nationals has a major conflict and with the exception of the Oval Nationals all are in NorCal.

So the choice would be:

Upset a hand full of drivers that might come to Cali if it was on a different weekend or not run it at all or run it the weekend chosen and possibly have half the WOO regulars stay in town for it.

I am not sure what the schedule is like in OK this time of year but it might just be easier to schedule the STN on a different weekend if that many folks really want to attend both. Despite it being the same weekend since the glaciers formed the dirt there.

I for one would love to attend both but the only way that will happen is if the change the STN date. For anyone within 1000 miles of Tulare that weekend it is a must see for sprint car racing regardless of what they do with the format.

First off, what was the reason for the date change of Nov. 16-17 from 2007? That date seemed to be just great for both teams and drivers.

From the looks of it, the event was very well attended by teams and fans - and by the amount of money raised for MAW; which is awesome.

I see PAS's Oval Nationals this year is the same weekend as last, Oct. 30-Nov. 1. There are no Cup type races in the WC other than PHX on 11/9. Plus, I don't see any Civil War series races or similar currently posted at area tracks from quickly scanning schedules. So what are those events causing conflicts on the WC?

On this side of the Divide, although the STN date is the same, we've actually got all the major fall races aligned:

Oct. 10-11 ASCS National Tour, Cowtown Speedway (DFW)

Oct. 17-18 ASCS National Tour, Devils Bowl (DFW)

Oct. 23-25 ASCS National Tour, Little Rock (STN)

Oct 31-Nov 1, raindate for STN plus NASCAR at TMS, plus WoO in Charlotte

Nov. 6-7, November Sprint Shootout, Cowtown Speedway (DFW)

This will allow the teams to race several weekends without lots of traveling from one region of the country to another - which is key for the cost of travel these days. Little Rock is 4.5 hours from the DFW Metroplex.

Also, just briefly looking at NOAA climates, the average hi/lo in Little Rock on STN weekend is 69/49. And the same for Tulare is 64/39 in mid-November. And generally, the low temps occur at about 6am. So they both are comparable in that respect.

Gotta run, it's race day here.

Respectfully,

-Darin

First off, what was the reason for the date change of Nov. 16-17 from 2007? That date seemed to be just great for both teams and drivers.

Although I can not speak for the track I would bet there were several factors which none by themselves would have prompted a date change but put together did.

1. The weekend before is a WOO weekend. That makes it a prime opportunity to get some name drivers to stick around since they are off the next weekend.

2. Weather you think it is cold or not in the middle of November, trust me when I say it is. Last year I had a long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, and jacket and was still freezing. I was lucky to be in the infield where a light cart was running and I could stand in front of the radiator to get a little warmth. Every race I have attended in mid november has been that way.

3. It is the beginning of the rainy season for NorCal.

4. It's cold

5. How many drivers attended both last year that were not paid shoes flown in for just the event? How many fans attended both. How many more will attend the trophy cup to see the big names duke it out with their local heros in a 360?

6. If I have not made the point it is cold.

All that added up and I would bet it is a very good reason why they changed. Anyway, from what you listed it does not look like the STN could change either. It sure does suck to have so many big paying races so late in the season in more than one region. Hopefully the south eastern states don't start doing the same thing.

That last bit was sarcasm, just in case.

John