Forum: SCRAFAN.COM Forum (go)
Moderators: ljennings

What's the best guess. The last race at PAS had 23, Tulare had 17 cars. I would think a few of the cars at the last PAS race will not travel

UALIFICATIONS: 1. Nic Faas, 4, Alexander-16.331; 2. Austin Williams, 2, Jory-16.440 ;3. Ryan Bernal, 73, Ford-16.448; 4. Damion Gardner, 4a, Alexander-16.467; 5. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell-16.523; 6. Bud Kaeding, 29, Bowman-16.542; 7. Rickie Gaunt, 66, Miller-16.587; 8. Cody Williams, 44, Jory-16.599; 9. David Cardey, 92, Sertich-16.612; 10. Ronnie Gardner, 18, Kittle-16.700; 11. Jake Swanson, 9, BR-16.762; 12. Brody Roa, 91R, BR-16.815; 13. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd-16.894; 14. Kenny Perkins, 0k, Perkins-16.982; 15. Seth Wilson, 1x, Wilson-17.040; 16. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd-17.130; 17. Johnny Bluntach, 58, Bluntach-17.214; 18. A.J. Bender, 21, Bender-17.320; 19. Jesse Denome, 81, Watt-17.668; 20. Chris Gansen, 4G, Gansen-17.842; 21. Mike Collins, 04, Collins-18.080; 22. Mike Spencer, 50, Chaffin-26.136; 23. Rip Williams, 3, Jory-NT.

Is having 2 (or maybe 3) heat races (which as far as i could tell have little to do how they start the main) good enough? Not a statement just a question.

If altering the format to have more heat races (run 2 sets of heats when there is less than 4 heat races) which ALSO HELP DETERMINE the lineup and outcome of the main event, be better entertainment for the fans.

If the fans are entertained, there more likely to return (and possibly tell their friends how great the event was. However, if all they see is 2 meaningless heat races, and a main (which not all of them are barn burners) is that fan likely to return for a CRA race, or more importantly tell their friends what a geat night of racing they had. To be honest, I am undecided if I want to travel to Santa Maria for what I expect in car turnout and format. I KNOW THE MAIN IS MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO BE GOOD BASED OFF OF LAST YEAR and the action I have seen this year so far at other tracks. (But than again, I've been to a few races in which the main was a follow the leader affair too If I knew there was going to be a minimum of 4 heat races, I would be going to more races. Maybe other fans don't care about the # of heat races, and it doesn't affect whether they attend or not. If I'm going to spend over $100 (total cost) I want to see more than 2 heat races and a main, for that cost I personally have better options considering the travel time for me to see CRA races. I wsih CRA well, but I believe their format changes this year (inverting 6 instead of 8) for heat races and main is in the wrong direction. Best races I have been too, the Billet Cup at Santa Maria,and Trophy Cup, both had lots of heat races, inverted cars which resulted in lots of passing, and also the best drivers and cars were resulted in good results.

I have never seen USAC/CRA run two meaning less heat races. Please understand that each heat race provides points to finishing positions. Also, when two heat races are ran, the top five finishers in each heat race earn the opportunity to be involved in the six car invert for the first three rows of the main event. Also, recently, When two heat races were run, the top four finishers in each heat race earned the opportunity to run the dash to determine their starting position in the front rows of the main event.

So, if their are going to be the number of cars that determine two heats, there will also be a dash with 6 or 8 cars. USAC/CRA understands that the fans and promoters deserve as much entertainment as possible.

I hope this helps

I stand corrected m1213

But I STRONGELY disagree what meaningful heat races mean. I was brought up at Ascot when it was not uncommon to see 40 plus cars, with a C, Trophy Dash, 4 heat races with 8 inverted and 8 inverted in the main.

When I went to the Salute to Indy, I noticed Mike Spencer race from last and get by Nic Fass for what I thought was the last transfer spot for 4th, meaning Nic Would start 7th instead of 6th (Wow a big penalty for not getting a transfer). BUT YOU CORRECTED ME, Nic only needed to finish 5th (probably why he did not fight for that position, but lets be honest, Nic is not gonna crash his car or take unnecessary chances if the worst he could do is loose one position. Mike Streicher (the last of the one man crew, chassis builder, etc to win the USAC Midget National Championship before Steve Lewis dominated), told me sometimes was more adventagious to not transfer in the heat race and instead run the semi to know how the track would be closer in the main (with only a 6 car invert)

So when I hear you write, "I have never seen USAC/CRA run two meaning less heat races" true in a factual sense, but for a practical sense to a fan used to seeing four (4) eight car inverted heats, and if the fast 8 fastest didn't transfer, his penalty could be 8 positions, Some guys like Damion fight for every inch every time they are on the track, but less so since he first started. He has won one championship versus someone like Mike Spencer who knows to cruise once he gets a transfer spot in a heat race, oh he's won 5 championships or so. Maybe he looses a point or two in a heat race, but his crew rarely has to repair a car for the semi. In the main, both Damion and Mike fight for every inch.

When you say USAC understands that the fans deserve as much entertainment as possible, why did CRA start using 6 car inverts instead of 8, how is that more entertaining?

Also if you want to see an entertaining format, JUST ONCE ATTEND the Trophy Cup, everytime a car hits the track (other than hotlaps) determines their fate for the race. In the current format, QUALIFYING is the deciding factor where you start, not how you race. So somebody must think qualifying is best way to bring entertainment to the fans versus drivers racing in heat races

So if CRA thinks that 3 heats and a main (with 6 car inverts) or two heats, dash, main with 6 car inverts is the best format and/or entertainment for sprint cars, I think that made my decision easy on whether to drive two hours north on Saturday night.

.

I love non-wing sprints (CRA, SCRA, and now USAC/CRA), but the format changes for me bing less entertainment, I used to go almost every race at Ascot and even PAS when it first opened. Now I might get out a few times a year to PAS, I still go to lots of races, just not as many CRA races .

But please explain why 6 car inverted heats/mains with a low car counts (compared to the CRA days at Ascot or SCRA days at PAS), PROVIDES MORE ENTERTAINMENT.

(I'm prettys sure guys like Spencer, Fass, Damion, Cardey etc, can pass some cars in heat races, I bet they are bored too and would have some fun and race past other cars. Plus the slower cars (less experienced/lower budget guys) get a chance to win a race or mix it up with the big boys, they might even impress a potential sponsor battleing a guy like Spencer or Damion for a heat race win.

Just my $.02, (which CRA is less likely to see with the current formats)

Cody Swanson will be there making his debut in sprint cars with JSR team.

www.codyswansonmotorsports.com

Goodluck Cody (welcome addition to the CRA ranks/family)

This is why fan counts are down across the board. We havent even towed to the track but have generated negative press about car counts and the event.

Honestly if you cant drive ten minutes and bring a jacket to watch sprint cars and support the series / promoters and drivers / teams. I don't know what to say to change your mind.

All I can say is I will drive the two and a half hours, bring my jacket and House of Pain hat. Be ready to tell a whole bunch of lies while there is 'down time.'

I do hear what you are saying about car count. I really do, it is a bit grim. But how can we show potential drivers, car owners that this is the class to run if they cant bring a noticeable increase in crowd size over a cheaper to run stock class. If we are willing to sit at home and whine on the internet before even packing up the car instead of showing up to a race, how can we expect teams to load up, spend their money, time and everything else that goes into it? How do we demand promoters schedule extra races when they have to spend out of pocket to placate the twenty fans?

Sorry Raj. This is a general rant triggered by your comments, not actually ranting at you. This is not an uncommon view you are sharing here.

Buzzard it goes both ways how can these promotors and "race teams" expect us to travel 100s of miles when they won't show up or adjust the format.

JMO

ROB

We need more sprint car racing at our home track.

I guess when someone finally finds the pot of gold everything will be unicorns and fifty sprints in the pits. You're right. Why drive hours and stay in a hotel etc, gas, whatever blah blah we are all broke. For seventeen cars...

I rarely have trouble justifying it Sunday morning. But that night of telly is pretty much already forgotten...

I can deal with low car counts, you can even have a good race with just two cars. But more is better. What I do not like to deal with is a complacent Sanctioning body or Promoter. I know they try to get cars out with incentives for towing or bringing a 360 (at least they used to). I know everyone works hard or like to think they do, but when car counts are low, USAC needs to adjust to it. When I asked if USAC thought inverting 6 instead of the normal 8 for heat races and main, I heard nothing but crickets. If USAC thinks adding a DASH to 2 heat races is enough, not for this race fan. I know Ventura will have similiar low car counts, likely 2 heats for VRA regs, and one heat for the Seniors, but ....it's a lot less cost, travel and time to see what is likely as good a main at Ventura as Santa Maria now that theVentura's track is racy again with new dirt and Taylor and Rutherford are racing there again. I support short track racing, but USAC makes it hard at times when it is not necessary. When that happens, I take my money elsewhere.

I hope everyone that does make the trip up north have a great time. I'll probably go up their next week when they run the WC 360's, with Ventura off, hopefully they will have a good turnout.

Have fun, support your local short track, or travel to one.

Drama , Controversy , Rivalry 

www.codyswansonmotorsports.com

Here is a little something to do before the races on Saturday. This is a really big show.

http://thepismobeachclassic.com/

My supposition is that many people do not understand the tow situation to and from SM. There's are very steep grades on 101 on the way to or coming from SM in to the south in Gaviota and north in San Luis Obispo (not to mention the Grapevine if you're coming from LA via 166) that are really fuel consuming, hard on brakes and transmissions if you're not towing with a cross-country diesel rig and jakes. The run up and down 15 north of San Berdoo to and from V'Ville is easy compared to either Cuesta or Gaviota. ......

Based on what I saw in Watsonville last night + maybe getting Rusty to haul across the relatively flat 166 from B'field, I think you'll see the following:

1. Damion Gardner, 4a, Alexander;

2. Mike Spencer, 50, Chaffin;

3. Bud Kaeding, 29, Bowman;

4. Austin Williams, 2, Jory;

5. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell;

6. Nic Faas, 4, Alexander-13.009;

7. Ryan Bernal, 73, Ford;

8. Richard Vander Weerd, 10, Vander Weerd;

9. Brody Roa, 91R, BR;

10. Cory Kruseman, 7, Priestley; ;

11. Jace Vander Weerd, 88, Vander Weerd;

12. Danny Faria Jr., 17v, Faria;

13. Markus Niemela, 81, Watt;

14. Rip Williams, 3, Jory;

15. Cody Williams, 44, Jory;

16. Rusty Carlile, 51, Carlile;

with an outside chance of

17. Danny Sheridan, 72 or 73x, Ford.

Sorry about the late post; Hoseheads was down at mid-day. I am on my way down, and I will try to get something online from Nipomo ASAP after the A Main.