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

Ok, so who wins week #1 of the very colorful winter long debate for Saturday supremacy?  I know Knoxville has been running for a few weeks, but this was the inagural weekend for Badlands.  Is it even fair to compare since Badlands kicked things off with a $10k+ to win show while Knoxville was hosting thier first NSL race of the season at $5k to win?  In any case, here's the comparisons:

1. Badlands = 47 cars!!   Knoxville = 21 cars. meh..

2. Top 10 Badlands A-main = Dobs, McCarl, Kaeding, Henderson, Balog, Ruetzel, Forler, Nienhauser, Gharst, & Bickett.  Other notables:  K. Madsen, Zomer, ??? (I can't find full results anywhere...I'm sure someone will enlighten me where to look)

3. Top 10 Knoxville A-main = Dude, Brownie, Tatnell, Dollansky, I. Madsen, J. Swindell, Heskin, Selvege, Phillips, & Johnson.  Other notables: .....n/a

4. I'm readin of the slow show at Badlands.  Knoxville always has a smoothe run program.

5. Can't find Badlands full results.  Nobody beats Bill W's race racaps.

So, let's hear from some others that spent this winter on here bitchin and whining about how there's no way 2 midwest tracks that are 4+ hours apart could survive running against each other.  Who wins week #1??

Wayyyyyyyy more than 10k to win show.   

Dob $27k

T-Mac $14k

Kaeding $11k

Henderson $8k

Loyet $7k

What's that other class you have to watch ???? At least the 305's are sprint cars !

305s are timed during hotlaps using the transponders...

And everyone from 11th to 24th got exactly the same pay. 

First off, I am glad someone is promoting races in the South Dakota area and the Huset's Speedway didn't end. Good for them to promote a venue and sounds like they are trying to raise the bar. Great someone is making it happen for the race fans in that area.

The "argument" sort of reminds me of days past, say mid-1980's, then I-70 outside Kansas City, Mo went to dirt and had a resurgence. Huge opening night, every driver you could imagine advertised. It was a big event. Some folks were speculating how I-70 would hurt Knoxville.

I drove down I-70 recently and noticed the old I-70 speedway sign.  You could see the old pressbox through the weeds.

Knoxville Raceway today looks like a major stadium. The Hall of Fame museum at the track has no equal in the sport of sprint car racing open to the public. Knoxville hosts a race week in August most other tracks can only dream about. Knoxville has been running Saturday nights longer than probably most members on this site have existed.

One night is not worthy of comparison. Knoxville is Knoxville, years of dedication from fair board, sponors, owners, drivers and fans from all over the country, and world for that matter.

K-ville 305-360&410 sprint cars done by 10:30 Badlands 410's & s..t box class done at1:40 AM winner K-ville

Six hours of selling that $5 a can beer really adds up. 

If you look at it that way then Badlands I don't

Badlands is new and exciting, some of that will wear off by midsummer.

Car counts at both tracks will stabilize in the 26-32 car range.  A big jump for those in Sioux Falls who are used to 15 car counts.

The winners at both tracks will be the same guys week to week.   Lasoski, Brown, Madsen, etc at Knoxville and Dob, T-Mac, Zomer, etc at Badlands.

Since I live in Texas I have no skin in this, but I worry is that Chuck is a businessman and those types are quick to close shop if the numbers do not meet expectations.  The payday loan business is always one legislative bill away from being suddenly not so profitable.

 I think both tracks will be fine. The real winners will be the fans in Sioux Falls. Knoxville will be fine, last night badlands pulled some cars because of the payout and tow money. 

I don't think Chuck Brennan will pull out of this deal. At first I was wondering what the hell he was doing with a $25 million pawn shop and a $6.5+ million race track but it's getting clearer after I went to a couple concerts at the pawnshop. He's building a brand. The pawnshop isn't really a pawn shop so much as it is a radio and TV studio, concert venue, gun range, restaurant, etc. The racetrack is an extension of that, and I bet there is a pretty big crossover among people that shoot guns, go to the races and like concerts. So they have been giving away a lot of tickets to the races, concerts etc on their radio station. There's rumors of a reality TV show based around the pawn shop but why not the race track? TMAC would be great on it. When I went to the races last night guess which radio station was playing? What would you think if you could advertise to that demographic and hit them at the track, gun range, concerts and on the radio. It's crazy enough to work.

I understand everything that you are saying, but I don't understand the market.   If you were doing this in Las
Vegas, it would make sense.   If you were doing this in a major metro area, it would make sense.   However, to do this in Sioux Falls, make no sense.   How many people are going to be so exictied about a pawn shop/gun range/concert event to drive to Sioux Falls?

There are numerous racing reality shows that have gone by the wayside.   In fact, I don't ever remember any of them getting a second season.   While the drivers are excited about the pay, having a show that goes to 1:40 in the morning is a great way to kill your front gate.   Free tickets or not.

Just checking but isn't Badlands running 305's on Saturdays?  How can that be an advantage for Badlands?  I also would have to pay $20 to get into a weekly show there.  At Knoxville I get 305's, 360's & 410's for $15 each week.  I wouldn't even get 360's at Badlands unless I went to Sunday's show as well, which would cost me another $10 that would be $30 dollars total at Badlands to watch the same thing I would see at Knoxville for $15.  I don't know about others but simple math tells me I get a better deal for less money at Knoxville.

Haha, I'm with you there. I really don't understand how he's going to make money but at least I see what he's going for. I'm glad he's doing it in Sioux Falls because I live here but that wouldn't be my first choice for this plan.

If you think Badlands got over at 1:40 I don't think you were there. It was about 12:30 which was too late, but all you do is bitch about Badlands. If you don't like it, don't go, get over it, go to the parade at Jackson on fridays.

Well, someone did mention that their "wife" might come to the races now that Huset's has real urinals.   Not sure why a woman would care about urinals but I guess anything qualifies as a woman anymore.

I wish I lived closer to Knoxville.     I don't care what night of the week you start a race on but if it doesn't get over on the same calendar day (without weather delays) that it starts you have problems.

I see I missed the 2 it was 12:40

Yes and Jackson got over at 12:00 what is your point? In the other thread you had no complaints about that. The racing was boring at Jackson to put it kindly. Hour wait for concessions. Was everything perfect at badlands, no but it wasn't even close in the quality of racing. We know you love Jackson and hate badlands get over it. Continue to enjoy follow the leader, winners coming off of the front row action Jackson provides.

Yes, but this was a special  show.  Lets see how it does rest of summer

Let's see,, if they look like a sprint car, smell like a sprint car, chances are they are sprint car. Advantage sprint cars. Our younger generation needs to start somewhere.