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

Just wondering what others think the health of the sport of sprint car racing is.  Kings Royal this year was phenomenal, largest sprint car crowd I have ever seen at Eldora. The ~ $37,000 winner's half of the half and half drawing got everybody's attention Saturday night!!!  And they run out of tickets or who knows...!!!   Anyhow, it seems to me that more fans are enjoying dirt racing in general. As for my self, last time we went to Bristol fall race it was $300 to dry camp in someone's back yard and $100 for each motorcycle. At least they let us keep our bikes under their carport. But Geez Louise, isn't that a bit much?  I doubt I'll be doing any more NASCAR anytime soon.   I am guessing I'm like most race fans and enjoy going live but don't want to take out a loan to do it. Back to sprint cars, yeah I take guff from my late model buddies cause they don't have starters, push trucks take time, etc., but DAMN, when they launch those things, I can't think of anything else that compares to the speed and action of those rockets at a place like Eldora. They may be old technology and crudely designed but I hope they race them forever. What do you think?

My happy place is in a dirt tornado generated by winged sprint cars!!!

Could'nt have said ip better! For me it's the Left coast, Perris, Tulare, Chico, Placerville, Watsonville, even Little Ventura. To sit in turn one when 22 cars start the feature is heaven. The ultimate event is Trophy Cup at Tulare. 3 days, 80 plus cars, total inversion.

To me it doesn't matter if is a local race, regular WoO race, or a big premier race, a sprint car race is the best value in racing for your money. I think most of the tracks go out of there way to for the fans to always look at improving the experience.

It probably depends on where you're at.   I just got back from Knoxville wishing that Texas had anything remotely like it.   We've only got 305 sprints down here until ASCS comes to town.    Devils Bowl is a good facility, but unlike Knoxville the racing usually isn't very good.   On an ASCS night the track is usually one groove during the heats and the cars form a very fast freight train with little or no passing.   The feature might be good if the track slicks off some.    Go and see ASCS at one of our other D/FW area tracks and you'll sit through six or seven other classes to see them.     Hard to get excited about seeing a show around this area.

I guess if you're in Knoxville, Pennsylvania, or California then maybe it's healthy there.  

I would agree with you.  In my personal experiences, sprint car racing is very, very healthy.  Every track I have attended in the last 10 years pulls in very nice crowds on a regular basis.  Granted, they have all been special events so for me to talk about weekly shows would not be fair and accurate.  Any WOO event seems to bust at the seams--Beaver Dam, Burlington, etc.  Then of course there is Knoxville.  Very nice crowd at the Nationals again this year.  Not quite as big as 2010 but still nothing to be ashamed of.  Stands were 85-90% full I would say.  Only bad crowds at the Nationals the last few years were due mostly to weather.   So, in my little corner of the world, sprint cars are all good. 

I'd say the WoO is as healthy as its been in some time. Seems like they're getting really good crowds everywhere, how much that is to do w/ the King's last year, we shall see. Gibson in the fan forum said they might get close to 100 dates next year, which is a great number.

Ohio seems to doing really well too, even with the sanctioning body possible upheaval. Fremont and Attica are great tracks and Wayne County seems to holding its own as well.

The car counts in PA are worrisome, but we've been there before with that and they always seem to bounce back. Fan interest still seems to be high though with Port Royal coming back in a big way.

Yes  ,  I would agree  with alot  that has ben said  ,  crowds  have  been  good , all  of you really  support  the  winged  racing  style  very well  , as  most  fans  out there  were  not around  years  ago when  there  was  really  good racing . More  passing , had  build  your  own motors  , make  alot of your own parts . In  Pa  its  great  racing , great fans  as  everywhere , but  there's  one  major  problem  , the costs , motors  , tires , diesel  fuel for  the  haulers and the economy . Its  affecting  racing  everywhere , but in  PA  its  causing  shorter  car  counts at many of the races  , which  could have  an effect on tracks or promoters . Teams  are  not  attending  races  like they  use to , these  are  facts  not  trying  to put out doom  and gloom .  I hope   fans  continue to support  auto racing  as  its the greatest  outdoor  sport .

Yes  ,  I would agree  with alot  that has been said  ,  crowds  have  been  good , all  of you really  support  the  winged  racing  style  very well .  Most fans  out there  were  not around  years  ago when  there  was  really  good racing . More  passing , had  build  your  own motors  , make  alot of your own parts . In  Pa  its  great  racing , great fans  as  everywhere , but  there's  one  major  problem  , the costs , motors  , tires , diesel  fuel for  the  haulers and the economy . Its  affecting  racing  everywhere , but in  PA  its  causing  shorter  car  counts at many of the races  , which  could have  an effect on tracks or promoters . Teams  are  not  attending  races  like they  use to , these  are  facts  not  trying  to put out doom  and gloom .  I hope   fans  continue to support  auto racing  as  its the greatest  outdoor  sport .