Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Part 1 of Short Track Racer's vision statement concerning the future of our sport. 
What's Wrong With Short Track Racing? A Vision of Our Sport's Future
Feel free to share your thoughts.

I no longer attend a weekly show in the Dallas area.    I'm a sprint car fan.    If I go to Devils Bowl for an ASCS show, then they generally run only two other classes.   If you go to any other track in the North Texas area for an ASCS show you will sit through six and sometimes seven other classes.    If a track is running that many classes then the program also is long and drawn out and generally track conditions deteriorate also.   I could care less about IMCA mods, sportmods, stocks, hobby stocks, factory stocks, mini stocks, etc.    I will not sit through that many classes when I'm there to see sprints only.   I say cut the number of classes to no more than four and get the show over in a reasonable time frame.    Of course I'm just speaking about the North Texas area, so I have no idea if weekly racing in other parts of the country follows the "large number of classes, low car counts in each class"  trend that this area does.    

+1 too many classes.Also promoters need to do better job promoting not use facebook&twitter only.

I think you might be able to multitask beyond fireworks to get people in. I think Sunday afternoon shows. NASCAR on big screen in back ground. Or football highlight channel. Or band playing, racing between sets. Draw different crowds in for different tastes. All these wine fests with bands playing seem to draw alright, no reason why couldn't coincide with race if bought a liquor license. I also have always liked a good roving pit reporter. NASCAR does all that kind of stuff at their races. I also think legalized gambling on it like horse racing would be the biggest boon if someone could successful lobby for it but that is a pipe dream.

 
 
 
They don't even know how to spell sprint car 
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com

     I’ll going to give you a whole different perspective on local dirt track racing. I’ve been going to the races since 1973 and have seen 1,000+ races as a spectator.

     I understand that the world is changing, but the “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” attitude is not the way to go in my opinion. My city is smothered with entertainment opportunities. Minor league baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer provide multiple pretty venues to attend “an event”. What I see a lot of is folks paying $15 to $40 for a ticket to attend “an event” where they can socialize and get drunk on their butts on $7 beers while eating high priced, crappy food. How many times have you been to a sports event that was boring as heel and the announcer screamed the whole time trying to convince you that you were watching a great “event”?

     Your list of all the pretty things to do to spruce up a racetrack reminds me of a Rodney Dangerfield joke: “When I was a baby, I was so ugly that my parents used to tie a pork chop around my neck just so the dog would play with me”. I don’t go to the races to see Bozo the Clown during a grader intermission. I go to see car races.

     If you want to get local racing back on its feet, you need to concentrate on what racing can do that all the other uppity sports in pretty venues can’t do. Make the show exciting, unique and interesting enough to bring the fans back next week and bring their friends. There are some basics that the racing community needs to work on in my view.
Here’s my list of some of the items that need work:

1) Have a specific time frame involved. Start the damn races at 7:00.  Barring unforeseen circumstances have them over by about 10:00. Do everything in your power to do that, including having the damn track ready to race on when the first car goes on the track.

2) Pick 3 or 4 classes ONLY to run on a regular basis. Why not 3 classes on a full time basis with the 4^th class being for specials?

3) Run the track like a professional business. Be fair and honest with the teams, fans, sponsors and media. Keep the promises you make. Don’t badmouth anyone for any reason.

4) Work with other tracks and other sanctioning bodies. You’re all in this together; why not cooperate instead of fight?

5) Keep the joint clean. It doesn’t need palm trees and flowers but it does need fresh paint and clean bathrooms. At the risk of offending those “real race fans” still out there, work on reducing dust and noise.

6) Work with other tracks and sanctioning bodies to figure out how to keep the sport affordable for the competitors. When it comes down to it, all racing has limiting rules. It’s not black and white; it’s all a shade of gray. The WoO won’t let you run a 500 cubic inch, 1,000# with an 8’x8’ top wing. The Reality is the WoO runs “limited” sprint cars.

In the end, make racing what it has always been- a spectacle that no other sport can compete with for excitement. That, if managed correctly, will bring people through the gates.

legalized gambling, come to the front stretch at thunderbowl speedway in october, plenty of action flowing along the fence in turn four...

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...

I totally agree with this, especially the part about starting the event on schedule and running an efficient program. Even some of us diehards don’t really want to spent 5 or 6 hours at the track.

I understand why promoters run lots of lower divisions. Heck, my family has spent plenty of time racing in the division that was not the night‘s top draw. But I will never understand why promoters make the sprint car fans sit through main events for mini stocks, hobby stocks, sport mods, and whatever else while the night grows colder and the hour gets later. Run the class of cars that most fans paid to see. Then feel free to run all of the jalopy races that you want. Some fans will stick around, and others won’t. At least we will have a choice.

I'm 21 and really got into racing, primarily sprint cars, towards the end of 2015. I grew up around half an hour from Attica and that was my home track so to speak and went every other year or so as a child. The biggest draws to me aside from the racing was the drivers and boy did Attica's social media presence really win me over. That is your ticket to making any track successful now. I know many think that facebook live/periscope is killing the sport, but the reality is it's what get's people to the track. Having snippets of hot laps, pit walks, and such do a world of good to show people what they're missing and stir up interest. Trivia on social media, and at the track goes a long way as well.

For the first time this year I got to a larger variety of tracks. I've now attended races at Fremont, Wayne County, Millstream (went to those three in 2016), Lawrenceburg, Route 44, Portsmouth, Atomic, Mansfield, and Eldora. Between the tracks, here's the things that certainly make the difference to me as to whether or not I'd come back. First and foremost, run an efficient program and barring weather start the program at the time listed. Some of the races I've been two started and/or ended later then advertised. Now, sometimes the product of the race makes up for it. But truly extended times can definitely ward off new fans. Especially those who bring in small children who cannot be up until one with an hour drive back. Run the primary division first come feature time because that is likely who the majority of your fans are there to see, although I prefer to stay for all provided it's not significantly late.

Secondly, facilities are certainly important but not a be all end all. Having great facilities is certainly a plus. Lawrenceburg is a place I've told my father he must come just because of how nice the facility is. Making fans comfortable is important and definitely good to a casual fan. However, if the racing product is bad then having a beautiful pristine facility won't draw anybody. Clean bathrooms are a very good way to help entice women to continue to come to the track. On the "Dirt Nerds Podcast" the host stated that his wife would not use the restroom facilities at a local track because of the disgusting nature of it. That certainly hurts the chances she'll come back. Having a working scoreboard is a plus, and having speakers that you can actually hear the announcer out of is pretty important in my books.

Thridly, no matter what you do to a racetrack if the racing is no good people will not come back. Ensure that the facility is prepped to where drivers may pass and can provide an entertaining race. Nobody wants to see a freight train or a rubbered up track. Part of this is just having competitive and logical classes for the region and track size. Certain classes will give better performances based upon the style of the track and impact the entertainment value. Also, make sure that the product you're asking an admission fee for is equivalent to the product you're providing. One such instance is Route 44. They run Modifieds, Bombers, and mini stocks and charge $10 for a weekly show, $8 if college student/senior/veteran. If it didn't have an attractive price for what they had I would not have gone. There are other tracks the same distance away from Dayton running very similar classes but charge $15 for it. The car counts may be more because of a better payout, but if the entertainment value is the same what is the difference.

Another thing that helps a track, is make sure it's accessible and that the address posted on the site will actually take you to the racetrack. Getting lost on a long drive isn't fun especially when you're more than likely going to be out in the boondocks. Having an updated sign or banner with an arrow can help find a speedway and promote the brand like a billboard as well. For instance, once on a drive I saw a simple sign nailed to a telephone post in the shape of an arrow by a turnoff on a country highway that said the word "Speedway". That's it. When I got back home I looked up and found out that it was for Shadybowl Speedway and drew my interest now that I know whereabout it is. It's simple and seemingly dumb but it helps.

Finally, I'm all about having a good purse for the drivers, and the track should do it's best to ensure drivers have a good season ending point fund and aren't racing for peanuts each week. Even if you're a mini stock driver you still need enough money to help maintain the car and if you can't afford to keep going then that car won't be there anymore. Also, there should always be some sort of payout if you fire the engine at a race. Even if you don't make the feature, they're part of the nights entertainment. I believe most tracks in my region do this but unsure if this happens elsewhere. Lastly, never cut the purse. I know some tracks in southern OH have done this if the crowd wasn't great and that right there will undoubtedly lead to anger and frustration from the drivers.

I know I reiterated many points but as the primary target audience I thought my thoughts would be appreciated. Always remember though that not everyone is going to be a race fan even if you pay them to be there. Don't beat your head against the wall trying to appeal to an audience that won't come, try to get casual fans to come more and increase the fanbase by appealling to people who are more likely to become fans of racing. I.e. a city slicker is less likely to be swayed by an ad than Joe Schmo Mechanic in Rural, OH. Spend advertising dollars where they'll be most effective and take advantage of social media to promote your track.

I have no problems witth an entry level class on the program.   When I did race, it was in an entry level class.   People will race in what they are comfortable in an experience/financial point of view.   There is nothing wrong with that.

However, the track should only have one entry level class on the program not three.   Also, classes where the cars look different are a deffinite help.   Three classes of modifeds is just stupid.  (and boring)

Track operators need to run there race tracks in a professional manner. The number of classes doesn't matter.  Start on time, have good officials in the pits, have your next race on deck as soon as the on track race gets to the 1/2 way point. Try to have the best track surface possible.  Have push trucks and tow trucks with guys in them ready to move on a yellow. Your top class should be the first feature, then work toward the smallest car count. Clean well lit restrooms are a must. Serve quality food at a affordable price and post a closing time for the concessions. To many promotors drag things along for the concession sales. I'e been to tracks were between heat races we sat therefor 10 minutes while they got cars lined up for the next race.

     The post above by GTigers55 above reminded me of something. If you want to get more younger people into racing, employ some younger minds in the promotion end of it. I'm a 57 year old technology dinosaur. I have employees and grown children with younger, sharper minds. I rely a lot on those minds to help me communicate with today's younger world. If you try promoting the way you have forever, you'll get the same results. Ask the opinion of young minds. You'll be surprised.

Just out of curiosity, does "the number of classes doesn't matter" go hand in hand with "try to have the best track surface"?   Seems to me like if you really are interested in a good track surface it would definetly help to cut the number of classes.  JMO of course....

+1

Thridly, no matter what you do to a racetrack if the racing is no good people will not come back.

This is the most important thing in my opinion.  I went to tons of races as a kid and had a blast doing it.  However in the last 5 years (outside of Husets) I have not been to a race where I paid for a ticket.  Husets was a great track because you never knew who was going to win, I don't care if the leader had a half of a lap lead, he was darting in and out of lap traffic, anything could happen.  All the other tracks I've been to since, have done nothing for me.  It's been a follow the leader race at every one I've been to.

I don't think people are going to like my opinion here but I'll say it anyway.  I don't see a solution. 

The saying that "everything goes up but wages" has been true for too long now.  Entertainment venues are dying off everywhere; bars, bowling alleys, movie theaters.  First off, I feel for the promotors.  Everyone thinks if they pay a larger purse, cars will show up.  It's probably true to some degree but how does that happen?  Either you're going to have to fill those stands up or start charging more.  I know for me that's a major factor into not going to the races.  By the time I take my wife and 2 kids and get something to eat, it's going to be $75-$100.  I can do that once in a while, maybe once a month but no way can I afford that every weekend.  I can't blame the promotors for this, it's damn expensive to run a race.  Someone brought up advertising earlier.  This is a tough one for me too, how and where do you advertise anymore?  In the days of DVRs, podcasts and having the ability to put months of music on your phone, what is the best way to advertise?  Some things I think could help would be, get a mobile phone app and make the fan feel more involved, maybe trivia questions or have them vote on most exciting driver or vote on invert of lineups.  Anything to make them feel more involved.  Football has exploded over the last 10-20 years, one thing I think helped with this is fantasy football.  How about fantasy local racing?  Not that you have to do it but again it could be something to make the casual fan want to attend more races, especially if you put up some prize money or another signifigant prize.  Another idea would be to have less races (which I know nobody likes that idea).  But as it stands now, if you miss this week, no big deal, just go next week and then you say the same thing next week and so on and so forth.  But if there's only a race once a month, I'd be willing to bet you would pack the place.

As far as the racers go, there's less and less of them only because most people can't afford them.  However they could certainly help the cause too.  One thing I remember as a kid was some drivers would give out a t-shirt to a program winner.  But they had to pick it up at the car after the races.  This is a win win for everyone I think, the driver might get an extra fan or two and that person might want to come to the races again.  I won't mention names but a couple years ago a local driver put on a heck of a show at Husets, my son asked if he could get his autograph after the race and he was genuinely exited for this.  So we walk down there and there's maybe 10-15 people standing in his pit.  we stood there for about 15 minutes and the entire time he talked to the same person, we kept nudging closer and closer to him until we were literally standing right next to him, keep in mind my son is holding a program and my daughter is holding a checkered flag she got that night and he never looked at us until I finally asked him if they could get his autograph.  His response "Sure", he then signs there stuff, they say thank you and he says "Thanks for coming" and turns away from us.  Had he shown a little bit of interest, he would have had another fan that night.  I will say I've never heard a bad word about this racer, and I don't know what his conversation was about, maybe it was something important, which is why I won't name names.  

Unfortunately for the fan there's a few issues I see.  The first is that younger people and really all of us anymore aren't patient as we used to be.  People can't sit still anymore, they can't look at nothing.  They have to have something going on in front of them or they're bored.  When you stop to think about it, at a sprint car race how much time do you actually watch the cars racing?  I'm not talking about when the green flag drops to when the checkered flag falls, I'm talking about green flag laps.  I'm thinking with heats and a b feature maybe 20 minutes?  So for most people (and I'm one of them somewhat) you have to sit for 3-4 hours to see 20 minutes of what you wanted.  When you think about it that way it's hard to justify going.  Another issue is how much can you do without leaving your house?  These days with Netflix there's always something interesting on TV, everyone's got a smart phone to play games on.  I hope I'm wrong though.

Too many classes... dragging a show out kills local race tracks.

I drive nearly three hours to Haubstadt, In. - they are rarely ever finished past 10:30p and the place is packed

No offense meant folks, but it's painfully obvious that none of you are involved in the day-to-day operation of a dirt track!!

God knows I'm no expert, but having been somewhat of an insider for a lot of years, a lot of the proposed changes just are not practical; at least where Eagle Raceway is concerned, and I'm sure that goes for plenty of other tracks as well. Although, since Eagle is in no danger of closing, we are always looking for new ways to improve the racing experience for both the fans and drivers.

We start at 6:30 and, barring a lot of crashes or other unforseen problems, we're done by 10:30 at the VERY latest. And that is with 5 classes. And yes, all 5 of those classes are necessary!!! The next race is ALWAYS lined up in the chute while the previous one is being run. During intermission, there is something to keep the fans entertained; contests, etc.

As for running the most expensive class feature first, who is to say that class has the most fans in the stands? I realize that we're all sprint car afficianados, but that isn't ALWAYS the class who bring butts to the seats.

While I'm sure there are lots of venues where they have problems in this area, not all tracks suffer from them. The current over-abundance of things competing for the entertainment dollar is killing lots of places. Throw in the current "I want what I want and I want it NOW!!!" mentality and you can see why some tracks are in dire straights!!!

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

^^^^^^  Understand what you're saying, but it is sprint cars that puts my butt in the seat!    Sounds like you guys have something good going on at Eagle.   If you're running you're show that efficiently with five classes then that's great.    

What many short tracks in my area (SoCAL) neglect, you need to entertain the fans once they walk into the facility until they leave.  U just don't see many young folks and families attending races, I'm 50, and generally I sit around older folks.

The announcer's need to do a better job, keeps the fans attention (hell just having a working sound system including pit reporter would be a plus.

Not sure having a large amount of classes (with fewer competitive cars) is the way to go, build up 3 strong classes.

Track prep - I hate when one of my local track has to redo the track EVERY race.

Cost - you need to make it affordable for families to attend.  Also the big Main Event for the night, needs to finish before 10.  How many times have I seen a young family leave when the racing goes long, or the track prep sucks.   This poor guy spent a crap load of $$ to get there, and doesn't even get to watch the mainevent.

I'm a diehard, and I put up with much of this crap, but  .... I go to fewer races, but I do attend and support tracks that do a good job, I hardly miss a race at Tulare, I can not say that about the tracks in the Socal area.

Basically, tracks need to be fan and racers friendly, and the bottom line will work out.  If u cut corners, try to run to many classes, charge too much (tickets, parking, concessions) attendance by both fans and racers will go down.

My $.02 worth of ranting.   

The number one problem, especially in sprint car racing, is the cost to compete. The cost of competing has gotten so rididculous, car counts have gone to nill in some parts of the country, and that will spread and will continue to do so. Car counts have gone to hell because only those with real money get a chance to even start racing. Like in the go karts....not a poor person's sport by any stretch of the imagination, and a lot of drivers are developed there. That and teams can't find enough sponsors willing to shell out what it takes to even attempt racing. Add all that up and then add the fact that the race purses have been crap for 30 years, and it's easy to understand why short track sprint car racing is going bye-bye. As for attracting fans, still the number one thing that attracts fans is car count. There is always a "buzz" in the air when car counts are good. People talk and people talking excitedly does more for crowd growth than anything. One of the first questions I get asked when a friend knows I've been to a race is "how many cars were there?" That alone still seems to carry the most weight. Sprint car racing is fast becoming a big show event only, and fewer and fewer tracks will have weekly sprint car shows. As for the affordable sprint car classes.....they too soon get out of control with costs, which inhibits the growth in the number of competitors. Unfortunately, I don't think the trend will ever be reversed. Those who ultimately control the sport will continue to do business as usual. It's simple, really......car counts bring fans, fans bring money, money means purse.........the larger the car count, the larger the crowd and the money........ the larger the crowd, the more appeal there is for sponsors to get involved and to stay involved. So bottom line, find a way to increase car counts! Start with the cost of engines!

Eagle Pit Shack Guy---I have no ill will towards you as you seem to have a pretty level head when I read your posts.  But, we don't have to run a dirt track to criticize a dirt track operator.  All we have to do is be a paying customer. 

Running an entertainment and service business is all about keeping the customer happy.  Starting races on time, as you eluded to in your defense of Eagle, is not an impossible feat every week.  Sure, weather could impact this.  But I think most fans would be fair to your venue if you ran late if they knew you usually ran a tight schedule. 

If I owned a dirt track, two issues would be at the forefront of my mind every week---------Start the races on time, and do whatever necessary to provide a good (at minimum) racing surface for my primary feature event.  That's #1 and #2---every week.  Many others eluded to the fact that without these two issues, nothing else matters.  I agree.

These 2 things lead to the following conclusions:

1.  Start time will be consistent each week.  (I hate sitting for an hour waiting or walking in late when I feel like I'm on time)

2.  Finish time will be reasonable each week.  (barring unforeseen circumstances)

3.  There won't be long delays between races. 

4.  The racing surface will hold up or the track management will make arrangements so the primary classes are run when the track is in its best condition. 

If you put those issues first, your track will have the best chance of success and no one will care how many support classes are run.   Add the frills and extras once those two issues have been addressed. 

So, in response to "none of you are involved in the day-to-day operation of a dirt track", few of us are involved in the day-to-day operations of each others businesses.  Yet, we are expected to do them properly---no matter how difficult or stressful it may be.