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

What are your opinions on the change to a 4/10 mile track? 

I grew up going to Jackson, and was involved with the track on various levels. And at that time, there seemed to be no need for change.

But that was in the 70's and 80's.

My experience with tracks going to shorter configurations in the past decade leads to increased car counts...or at least keeping them from declining further.

In the case of LoneStar Speedway, the car count has more than doubled since going from a 4/10 to a 1/3 mile track. And the fan count has about tripled over the same period of time.

And that's not all due to the shortening of the track, but several factors...however that was the action that set everything else into motion.

Any driver that's raced on LoneStar since will all tell you that it's still plenty fast, and we have way way more fans that like the newer configuration than the longer.

So from a business standpoint it was the right thing to do - and my guess is that Jackson will experience the same.

One key element with LoneStar is that while the track was shortened, it was widened to 70' at the same time, which has led to many more passing options, more momentum and not really affected the speed of the cars - as it used to be more of a paper clip layout.

IMO, as long as Jackson has the correct banking and width in this new configuration, I'm sure it will be a big hit on both sides of the fence. 

If they're making the effort they probably should go even shorter.  1/3 or 3/8 seems to give better racing and also gives more cars a better chance.  The longer it is the better equipment you need. 

Here is a vid explaining some of the things they are doing. They say it will be similar to the dirt track in Charlotte.

Yes, shorter, been to 4/10 tracks like Texas, Vegas and I-80 and almost seems like they are half-milers.  1/3rd or 3/8th would help even more than a 4/10th. 

 Lawlessness and liberalism equals Hell.  NY City, 
Detroit, Seattle, Chicago, Minnepolis, etc. We saw it. 
Burning hundreds of buildings, a thousand assaults and 
dozens of murders. Getting worser and worser.

Looks pretty flat on the video.... more banking?

Started going to Jackson in the 60's as a teenager, so initially the thought of losing the half mile was disappointing. I'm fine with it now and really looking forward to the change. More so, than if they had decided to go 3/8 or 1/4. Not that I don't enjoy the shorter tracks, I do. I have spent many enjoyable nights at Husets, Eagle and I80 watching sprint cars. But I think 4/10 is a perfect choice for the fans in the our area because traditionally around here 1/2 mile tracks have been the norm (Southern Minnesota and Iowa). Plus it sounds like the drivers and race teams are fine with it becoming a 4/10th. 

 It sounds like the banking will be increased from what it was when it was a 1/2 mile. I don't believe the dirt was down yet when the video was produced.

The banking was not changed. It's approximately (1) degree more than Knoxville...z

We all are creatures of habit and nobody likes change.  But the old half mile track was showing its age and although it resembled Knoxville a lot it was time for a change. The new layout will be a huge step forward and the track should be racy from green to checkered.