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

22 cars for the oldest,most prestigious,best paying midget around?

What happened,I personally have never seen a Turkey night with less than 40-45 cars. 

22?...embarrassing.  

Money. Midgets do not pay enough anymore to support teams in the West.  Cost to travel from the Midwest is too high to justtify the trip for one or two races.  Cost of racing is decreasing the sport.  

I did enjoy those free cupcakes and donut holes that were being offered during the autograph sesson on the front straight. But really, 22 cars. A first-time Turkey night winner. That was good. Congrats.

I was surprised that only a half-dozen of the WSM regulars showed up, however. What was that about? 

No embarrassment there, One of the best TNGP in a long time. Quality field of cars, all the best drivers. The track was in great shape, they raced hard. If you would of had more cars they would of just been sitting in the pits during the feature. Besides it was could 45 degrees during the feature didn't need to be there any longer than that. Hat off to all that worked hard to put the show on, The feature was great. 

Agreed.  Its nice to have a huge field, but lwhat it lacked in quantity was made up for in quality. Thanks to all who put on the show.

I have to agree with the last 2 posters...it was a great show!  Probably one of the best ever.  Sure, it was mostly KKM drivers slugging it out up front...but that's what we paid to see!  I was happy to have the show end at a decent time, considering the freezing cold weather. Track was super racey, despite the potential for horrible conditions (fewer cars & cold air keeping the track hooked up...or the wind doing the opposite and drying the track and blasting everyone with dust)...so kudos again to Coach & Crew at PAS.  Congratulations to Tanner Thorson, who had to hold off the charges of his 4 teammates and The Demon for the glory!

Doug Bushey

Passionate Fan / Announcer / Media & Public Relations 
Agent 

I thought it was bitter cold, but GREAT RACING, track prep was the BEST i can remember for TNGP

Great job on the track prep

how was the crowd

That is about all that is left. No races in Southern California during the season. Only a couple last season, none on the horizon. Everyone went Sprint Car racing or found something else to spend their money on.

I don't think money is entirely to blame.  Chili Bowl pays, what, like $10,000 to win, plus bonus money for leading laps?  They draw over 300 cars these days.  I bet there will be more than 22 California Midget drivers trekking to Tulsa, OK this January.  It will cost each of their teams about the same as the 1st place prize money in expenses for the week...for a 1/300th chance of recovering the cost.  They're going to a party, where a race will break out...and only one lucky driver will take home a Golden Driller.

I believe the lack of cars, compared to years past, has more to do with the fact that people are not wanting to burn up their equipment on the larger track at PAS.  That place is fast...and unfortunately hard on the equipment.  It obviously requires a very strong engine program to compete with the National teams on the larger track, especially in the cooler weather in November.  These are excuses, sure, but they are valid ones too.  It does suck for the fans that want to see more of their "hometown heroes" in the race though.

Another contributing factor is that Midget racing is just not that strong in Southern California anymore.  We can't expect to attend one midget race in SoCal a year, and have 100 cars show up.  There has to be a local presence for this type of racing for that to happen.  In 2015, our local teams had to tow to NorCal and CenCal for the majority of the racing schedule in 2015, which parked a lot of the "regulars".  When the car is collecting dust, it's tough to pull it out for this prestigious race and have realistic expectations of doing well against teams that race at leat a few times a month.  Many of the cars were sold too, and not replaced.  We used to get some Arizona teams that would make the trip out.  Now, there are about as many teams as I have fingers on my right hand in AZ. 

However, like I said before, the lack of cars in this year's race did NOT take away from the show!  The racing in the 98 lapper was intense as it gets.  I was glad to not have to sit through "C" and "B" mains this year in the freezing cold.

I just hope the Agajanians and the Kazarians continue the tradition.  I'll be there if eight cars show up next year...which would most likely be KKM plus 3 from WS.

Doug Bushey

Passionate Fan / Announcer / Media & Public Relations 
Agent 

A friend who has been counting butts on benches at race tracks for 50 years (because he had a stake in it) told me, "About 2,000." (The stands at Gilmore were near full in the late '40s. That'd be near 10,000. Times change.)