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

Slight digression: What's your favorite support class, or do you hate 'em all?

I think mini-sprints are pretty cool

All the rest stink, modifieds not too bad....Legends are awful

Although I was pleasantly surprised to see wingless Sportsmen Sprints at Path Valley USAC Midget Tour

& 410 sprints opening for Indiana Midget Week is in a class by itself....POWRi opening for WoO at Pevely is another I've always wanted to see... POWRi is excellent

POWRi midgets at I-55 are outstanding. 

360 sprints at Knoxville are also a good class. 

The All Star/IRA race at Wilmot will have Wilmot's wingLESS class and Mini Sprints as support.  Same goes for the Outlaw show.  I am okay with that as I will be camping and in no hurry to go anywhere.  Wilmot runs a notoriously slow show, hopefully not too bad these nights.

As far as support classes I like Nonwing (can be a headliner as well), Latemodel (Also can be a headliner although I prefer sprints), and I'm partial to the 305 class because I'm from the Fremont/Attica vicinity. I Like Super Stocks and Modifieds too if they're competitive. I've never seen midgets so can't judge them yet. Honestly I like all support classes provided it's competitive and aren't too many cautions. Not necesarily having all these for WoO shows but just general local shows too. With WoO I'd say Mod or a limited version of sprint car or midget/nonwing would be best.

The outlaw show at Placerville ran midgets as a support class.  It definatly added to the show and I was on my way home before 10:30.  Maybe the midgets had more experienced drives than some support cars.

I suspect once you see midgets, you'll forget all about Super Stocks & all those other "taxi cabs"....

I'm starting to like them as much or better than sprint cars

Oh I like many different classes of dirt track racing - super latemodels, 360 or 358 sprints, modifieds. All good to me! However when I go to see the WOO at a sprint car track that draws a lot of cars, the last thing I would want is the show to be dragged out any longer than they already do. The only downtime when you have 40 cars or so is when it takes them 10 minutes to line up up a heat because they have to list every sponsor, the biography and nickname of every driver before they finally make them line up and race or else when soneone has to go to the work area. I remember going to Grandview for a WOO show a few years back when they had the big block mods there also. I was excited for a great 2 division show but they ran the modified feature first and it took about an hour because there was crash every lap or 2 and the track was pretty used up by the time the outlaws took to it. It was after midnight until they were done and it was a mid-week show. That kind of changed my tune on support divisions for a WOO show, even if it's a division I like.

A

In my opinion you need a support class when you have only 20 some cars.  If you have  specials with 50 cars maybe you do not.  I saw a ASCS race a couple of years ago with no support class and they had about 15 min. between each race.  I would never complain if support class was another sprint car class.  Doty says he will not have a support class but he will have alot of cars.  Brown is a pro, he should be able to drive on any track condition.  I have seen alot of races where they run main event of top class before support class,  Nothing wrong with that.

Agree, but that's the benefit of PA/Ohio/CA/etc., always enough cars to make it a one class event.....and yea, everyone wants support classes until they sit through a 30 minute heat that averages 14mph with Limited classes crashing repeatedly and not doing much to impress; especially when you just watched 900hp roll around.  Nothing against the support series and want as many as that make sense during a local show, not sure it's something the WoO should worry about.  

I saw POWRI at Belle Clair, Illinois last Sept. & really dug it. No time trials, LOTS of competition.... little teeny track with old covered wood stands from "back in the day"

Support class was mini sprints, not bad at all....

There is a local track here that has a couple special sprint car shows every year.     They haven't had a weekly sprint car class (other than limited non-wing) for several years.

Usually a couple 360 races and maybe one 410 show/year.    I love going there to see the sprint cars.   The problem is that they for some reason can't leave a single weekly class off of the program and never manage to get done at a decent time.

I know this thread is about WoO but IMO it applies to any "special" show.   If the special class has a history of drawing a good car count 1-2 support classes are plenty, especially if those support classes draw 20+ sets of fenders/class.

I have no time for support classes when paying a premium to see a touring series.

Yes... I willingly pay more money for a night that is void of shitboxes spinning and wrecking

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

I totally agree with you BRR. The older I get, the less I want to sit on bleachers. Take Volusia for example,two divisions and the show starts on time every night and keeps moving. They run sprint feature first as it should be in my opinion.

One thing they need to adjust is the free for all in the pits for anyone that buys a ticket. It's insane in there when Outlaws run the weekend.

Some of you guys remind me of the guys I see golfing who's sole purpose it seems for being out there is to see how quickly they can finish their round and leave. Seems like some of you guys do the same at the races. If you go to an Outlaw-only show, for $25, 30, 35 bucks (whatever) you get what maybe 30 min of cars on the track added up? For a 30-35 car field, hot laps, heats, features and a dash last what a few minutes each? TT maybe 10-15 min. The rest of time you are sitting there watching a grader/push truck show anyway.

The majority of dirt tracks (excluding a select few) rely on their support classes to help keep to front door open. Without them, your beloved hyped-up Outlaws wouldn't have too many tracks to race on.

In actuality, it is the complete opposite... Weekly 410 shows are the money loser and drive the need for back gate money. The WoO shows in this area are all well attended and have been told by reliable sources that WoO shows make up for the mediocre crowds for local shows. 

I have been attending area tracks since 1964 cannot name one time hearing people bitching about the lack of support classes on the dance card of a premier show.

I have learned to avoid people who think of a night of racing is a low rent all you can eat night at Golden Corral with a 30 pack in your hand..you don't have to agree with me...Eat up and burp! 

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

An average NFL football game lasts 3 hours and 12 minutes but if you tally up the time when the ball is actually in play, the action amounts to a mere 11 minutes. 

Sounds like a WoO show with no support classes is a great value! 

Just my opinion, but late shows are caused by the WoO, not the support classes.

I'll even use Knoxville as my example.  WoO show, the Outlaws won't even hot lap until the 360's have hotlapped and time trialed.  Then the WoO hotlap, we have a break, and then the WoO time trial, then we have a break for the National Anthem and Invocation, then 360 heats, then a break, then the first WoO heat is called to staging with the horn.  Then we have a break, then we run the WoO B main, then we have a break, then we run the 360 Feature, then we have a break, then we run the WoO feature.  Show usually runs until at least 11:30 if not later.  (last season) - total car count ~65

Weekly shows at Knoxville run hotlaps for 360's and 410's, Hotlaps / group TT for 305's,  Group TT for 360's, TT (2 cars at a time) for 410's,  Break for invocation and National Anthem (305 heat races coming to staging during this),  305 heats, 360 heats, 410 heats,  If enough cars for only a 410 B -main, they MIGHT take a break here, otherwise they run the 305 feature, 360 feature and then 410 feature. Show is usually done by 10:15 (last season) - total car count ~65

The only differences are how the shows are ran, car counts are essentially the same.

The new regime is better than the old days under Ted. 

I remember as a kid that heats at WIlliams Grove never started before 9 and you'd never really know how long it would take them to stage the dash or how long the break would be between the B and A. My dad boycotted going to the WoO for a year after a particularly brutal show in the mid-90s. 

Now at least you have structure. The variables usually depend on when the track is ready to go, if you can start hot laps on time, you should be okay. 

Fendered support classes should get: 2 laps, 2 minutes, 2 cautions or 2 sips from my beer. Whichever comes first. 

Come on Sappy, you mean 2 Beers, not two sips, sheesh.....You been to Attica recently, sounded like some good racing?