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

     I think the racing is better on smaller tracks, with more action, more passing, more racing. Judging from the WoO races so far this year, short track racing looks better.

For me, any size track length or surface that is banked properly, so whether it is fast or slick it still allows for multi-groove racing.  

I've been around half miles all my life not many bullrings in my area of PA. I enjoy tracks that are a quarter mile or smaller because of the close action but I have to travel a ways to get to one. I still enjoy the high speeds of the half miles too, I've seen some hairy high speed chess matches on the big tracks.

The Red River Valley when a high-banked half mile (sort of paperclip though) was wicked action in the feature. And it was scary fast to fans with the grandstands 20 feet from the track surfce.  But, the heats were no passing like most other half-mile or 5/8th tracks.  They changed it to a large 3/8th and the action was much better.  I'll watch sprints on any track, maybe not milers.  

Lawlessness + liberalism = HELL -  NYC, Detroit, Chicago, 
Seattle, LA  Who the H runs those cities. 

I personally would rather watch on the 3/8 or 1/4 mile tracks..Much more action..

Last night was a perfect example of a great prepared race track.  Thank you Bakersfield for having a great feature!!  That was awesome racing all night long.  Crews having to change the cars a lot through out the night. The way it used to be!

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

The last 4 WOO have had more action and close racing than we will see all season on the wide open  big smooth tracks. As much as I love Knoxville many races are won from pole due to clean air. Last night to have top three taken out at once is rare and even though Gio got away late still excellent racing. Shorter tracks with good banking and well prepared surface equates to good racing

Size does not matter as long as we leave with a smile on our face.  That principal applies to more than just racing.  

Stan Meissner

I never thought I'd say it but I now believe 3/8 or smaller is right size for winged sprint cars and non-wing sprint cars I'm 65 years old now started going 2 modifieds when I was five years old with my mom and dad and lived in Estherville Iowa and we'd go to Jackson Minnesota and the big old half mile eventually they switched to Sprint Cars I always loved big half miles at Jackson Hartford South Dakota Fairmont Minnesota Knoxville Iowa Manzanita ascot Devil's Bowl I traveled all over the country didn't really care for the small tracks back then but now if you want to see good a Sprint car races very seldom will you see them on big tracks anymore places like Cedar Lake Grand Forks the new track at Jackson although I think that's still too big Husets are the places to go if you want to see really good races and in my opinion if you take the Wings off the sprint cars you'll see even better races and if you want to see even better races you'll go to midget races     Glen Murra

Depends on the track.  I've seen some great racing on 1/2 miles and some terrible racing on 1/2 miles.  My 2 favorite tracks are Knoxville and I-55------how's that for contrast? 

Small tracks are better....

When I started going to sprint car races, I wanted to see winged cars on 1/2 miles. Didn't take long to decide that wingless on a bullring is more entertaining

Yes.

Speed on the big tracks is impressive.  Watching someone run a guy down as the race progresses is what I look for. Seeing the guy that hit the setup and drives by cars at the grove or port gets the blood flowing. My favorite speedweek show was that little 1/4 mile banked track. A drivers track. Grandview all stars is a good show also if they get the track prep right. So, they both have there advantages and disadvantages.  Pa gives so many choices on any given weekend. You just have to be able to afford the travel costs in today's changing times.

I agree but there are exceptions to the rule. Friday's Outlaw race in California was really good on a short track. However, the very next night on a 1/2 mile there were cars all over the track some running high and some running low, and some in the middle and getting good grip no matter where they ran. Yes, the track was perfect for the feature. Wet at the beginning of the night drying out just right for the feature.

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

I like the 1/2 Miles.... Knoxville is my home track so it is about all I see. Burlington (which is actually closer to me) I believe is a 3/8 and I like it okay. Oskalooska, Donnelson & West Liberty are all 1/2 Miles so for the most part there is not much else to chose from. But if I had the choice it would be the bigger track.  Spoon River is a small track, Maybe a 1/4 Mile and it is a lot of fun but not 1/2 Mile track fun at least in my book! 

You should check out some USAC races on Indiana bullrings.... closer for you than for me!

Not sure where Burlington is, but Terre Haute & Haubstadt are not far over the Illinois line

Some guys drive from Pa. (or fly from England!) for Indy Sprint Week & Midget week

Midget Week has 410 sprints for the undercard!

A few years ago I would drive from Colorado to the East Coast & back every summer to spend time with my Mom, & planned it to hit Indiana races (or Knoxville on the way back) Now my Mom is 99 & I'm kinda stuck here fulltime

Try it, you'll like it!

A) Thanks for not mentioning "you know what"!

B) I don't have much knowledge or opinions on track prep,  but always wondered if the reason you prefer Lincoln is that its shorter.... thats pretty much how I feel

B. No it has nothing to do with it being shorter.  It has everything to do with track prep.

Saturday the outlaws were on a half mile track and the track was perfect for the feature.  Cars getting grip no matter where they ran.  Not only that...it was a great feature!

Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

2 great choices. I also agree a 1/2 mile can be great and probably offers the pinnacle sprint car racing can deliver. But there are more examples of great 1/4 and 1/3 mile tracks than 1/2 mile tracks. 

     Is Lincoln the only small track that races sprints in eastern PA?  I seem to recall in the past reading about Pathways, Linda's and something to do with an airport?