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

# of classes don't matter. it all comes down to running a timely show.

Give the support classes a timeline (6 minutes per race period), and stick to it. If the drivers keep wrecking into each other or spinning out, too bad, times up and the checker flies. this also makes the racers more respectful toward one another as they won't beat and bang as much because if they spin out, they may end up in the B or at the back of the A.

As much as it pains me to say it, some of the IMCA tracks have it figured out already, they start at the advertised time, use a time limit on heats (and features), and get the show done by 10:00 (or before) to get KIDS in the pits to see the cars.

So, does that mean that the sprints should have the same limitations?? The other classes pay the same amount for their pit passes, and aren't any less of racers than the sprint pilots.

If it's a "special show" for the sprints, you could have some restrictions on the support classes, but for a weekly show what's fair for the goose if fair for gander.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

2 classes is the best IMO and I'm talking 2 good classes like 410's/360's or 410's/LM's. I can tolerate 3 and I don't mind watching street stock type classes but my favorite shows are those that have 2 and only 2 top divisions. Now if it's a big show that's gonna draw a lot of cars like when the WOO are at a sprint car track like Williams Grove or Knoxville, then you don't need another division. It would only make a long night even longer.

A

No, just the support classes IMO.

If your premier division is Late Models, Sprints, Modifieds, whatever, that is obviously what you (the track) believes is brining in the fans in the stands and you want your lower division drivers/reams to move up to that class at some point.

The premiere division has EARNED the right to not have the time limits by running thier races in a timely manner 99% of the time already (there are exceptions to the rule always (especially if a bad wreck occurs)).

The support divisions are just that, SUPPORT for your premiere division.

IMO, Knoxville should have strict time limits on heat races and the B main for ALL 3 divisions of Sprints, the only time the time limit shouldn't be in affect would be during the features (unless they are getting close to that magic # of laps/time when a fuel stop would be required, then just throw the checker, I'd rather see a shortened race than a delayed one becuase no one put enough fuel in their tanks.

My wife told me if I went to one more Sprint Car race 
she would leave me.................I'm sure gonna miss 
that ol' gal. 

Vande;

Problem is that it takes ALL of the classes to keep a track alive nowadays. If you start treating one or more classes like lesser racers, you run the chance of alienating them. You lose a support class (or classes) and you also lose all of the fans that they bring in.

Sprints aren't without the same bugaboos that affect the other classes. They spin out also. Just sayin'.

Darbo;

Eagle used to do exactly that. Open wheel racing Friday, fendered Saturday. Most fans are one or the other it seems, and doing that just splits your crowd so that both nights are a losing effort. That's why we USED to do it.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

My wife told me if I went to one more Sprint Car race 
she would leave me.................I'm sure gonna miss 
that ol' gal. 

I love Knoxvilles three class show, 410-360-305. It is all sprint cars so who would complain? There is a big diff. betweeen racing with stock cars on program, or other classes of sprint cars. I used to go to 1 stockcar race a year just to remind me how bad I hate them. I guess a sprint car show with stock cars would have to do if that was the only way.

I Believe every class should have a time limit, only exceptions should be for major shows like Kings Royal, Nationals, Grove Open ect... I have been to some local sprint shows that only 9 cars finish and took over an hour, that is just ridiculous. Some tracks do enforce time limits on all races except for the primary class for the night which is fine, but I have also been to way too many sprint shows with modifieds as a support class and sometimes struggle to get 2 laps in at a time. Perth Motorplex in Western Australia have a program they give out each night, every event has a start and end time they are usually really good about staying within their time limits, they have cut heats short do to multiple yellows or reds to stay on time. Maybe something for some tracks to look into that run many classes each night. I do see the promoters side of it that they need that many classes to make money, a lot of the modifieds, 4 cylinders, and hobby stocks bring a lot of family and friends with them to help or watch their buddies have fun which is good and a good money maker for promoters with those classes bringing a lot of people in and they have a really small purse to pay for those classes, but put a time limit on all classes. But ideally for us sprint car fans How many classes are best? Just got to Knoxville! 2 classes 410 and 360s! sometimes 305s!

I used to hate a ton of classes until I moved to Redwood Falls, MN. I always thought any more than 4 classes and you are in for a long night. They start early, keep it moving along with a short intermission to add a little water to the track (since they start early it gets a little dry during the heats). 7 classes, between 10-25 cars in each class, start at 5:30, and most nights I am home, showered, and on the couch by 9. They race Sunday nights which is also a really smart move with the early start. I see a ton of kids there each week which is the future of our sport.

"As the evening progressed, I lost interest in watching the support divisions A-main."~ BRR :/

Opinions may vary...

Promoters have to rely on the back gate, especially for weekly racing when they're generally not going to pack the place. From a promoter's standpoint a couple of entry classes like Pure Stocks and Hornets are great. They bring in as much revenue at the back gate as the headliners but their purse doesn't put much of a dent in the promoter's bottom line. Those entry classes are going to be local so they're going to bring a lot of friends and relatives to the front gate. Those are the kinds of weekly shows we see here in the upper Midwest. The specials are a different story, they'll limit the support classes but back gate promoting is here to stay on the regular race nights. I remember when I was a kid and they'd run one class afternoon Sprint Car shows at the Minnesota State Fair in front of 20,000 people. Those days are long gone.

Stan Meissner

My Problem when running 4,5,6 classes is usually when the Sprinters get to the track for feature time the track is usually used up in one way or another, either it's dug up from the smaller tired cars when it's wet or when dry slick or rubber down when it's hot and windy!!!

Tracks up in our area address that issue by having the process of farming the track down to a science. I'm attending four class weekly shows that are getting over by 9:30 - 10pm. The IMCA Boone Supernationals has gained fame for reworking the track in record time and others have taken note and incorporated a variation of that process into their weekly shows. A lot of promoters are taking steps to make a multi class program work within a fan friendly time frame.

Stan Meissner

Well shack...you know me. I`m the biggest sprint car snob there is. Yes I get fed up with the other classes sometimes, but I also understand what it takes to keep a racetrack viable these days. I feel very lucky to have two of the very best dirt tracks in america less then 20 miles from my house in Eagle Raceway and I-80 speedway. at this point the managment of both tracks are doing what it takes to keep these tracks running. Keep that in mind when your saying that there to many classes running at your local track.