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

Let me preface this by saying that I have been attending dirt track races for many, many years and I am not one of those fans who only watches the first two-three cars in the field ... That said, I've been going to Dodge City for quite a while now to watch the Outlaws and it has been a long time since we've seen a good race there (this year's Friday night close finish occurred only because Jason Sides' RR went down). So here's the question. I know it's blasphemous to mention NASCAR in this forum, but that is a racing organization, and there are others, that makes rules adjustments based on certain tracks. Would it be feasible to do something similar for some tracks in a WoO schedule in an attempt to offer a better race regardless of the facility and surface? Thanks in advance for the insight.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

Support class was vintage cars both nights, and trust me, they didn't put any rubber down. Saturday was much better, but honestly, just too good for cars that are locked down that well. That's the first rubber-down race at Dodge in a while (though the place does have a reputation when it comes to tire wear). It seems to be more the nature of the track -- high-banked long 3/8's -- they just spread out and run hot laps regardless of whether it's hot laps, a heat, a dash or an A main.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

Just out of curiosity, did they work on the track during breaks? Went to Burlington Iowa and Beaver Dam wisconsin shows and they worked the track a couple times during the night. If they had not, the racing would have been terrible. As it turned out, they got the track pretty good both times. Just wondered if they did the same thing there. ?

Egras, yes, they tilled it and re-watered on both nights, moreso on night one when the rubber went down. But I want to be quick to point out that this is the first time in a long time that we've seen tires go down at Dodge for the WoO, so I am not necessarily suggesting a change based on what happend Friday night, but rather what tends to happen there even when the track is decent.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

I guess as a fan that WAS NOT there is this: Since Tommie Estes drove sprint cars for many years, was an official with ASCS, and is now the GM of Dodge City (unless something changed), why does the track surface lack in Dodge City year after year after year?

To me, tracks run by former racers SHOULD have better track prep (they raced for years and years and complained about track surfaces being too dry, rutty, over-waterered, etc., etc.) than those tracks run by track operators that never sat benind the wheel of a racecar. But, it's just my opinion.

I realize that dirt is different from state to state and region to region, but racetracks in each region tend to learn from year to year how to prep their track, or at least they should.

Again, we may be a little too focused on the surface (we just have to admit that Dodge City in July is a rare beast with high wind and heat). My question is, is it reasonable to make minor rules modifications for certain less-competitive tracks similar to what is done in other racing orgnizations? And is it reasonable to think those rules changes would have any impact?

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

Loose is when you hit the wall with the rear of the
car, tight is when you hit the wall with the front of
the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and
torque is how far you move the wall.

I agree darnall, however we know that will not happen, however to make for better racing and to eliminate the locked down factor, just make the bottom side of the wing flat. The cars will still have the same look, nearly the same safety factors that wings allow and the same space for advertising. And track prep won't be quite as critical and dust issues will be less. The fans in the stands can not tell that this has been done and will view a much better, other

than locked-down race.

Hey Kenny, how do the Sooners like this year, you still involved?

As to the shows at Dodge City (I watched both on PPV) the biggest problem is the lack of 410's from that area. With everyone at the track making the show it takes a lot of racing out of the equation. You have some great 360 competition all around but the 410 beast is about non-existant down there anymore. The track slicking off like it did on Friday was a bummer to boot, never does constitute much passing when it's a huggy pole deal. Hope all is well....

Still here, Michael. I understand on the car count, but even with more 410s we'd be counting on lapped traffic to provide the race. I know that has long been the case with sprint car racing. It would just be nice for something other than the back of the field to decide the outcome.

"I'd pay $15 to watch a sprint car sit still."

I went to Dodge City in 2011 and it was one of the best races I saw all year. Facility is outstanding, town is kind of fun and the fans are enthusiastic. Sorry to see they had trouble on Friday, but track prep isn't an exact science, and it sounded like they got it better by Saturday.

I think this may be a dumb question--as I am assuming it is hot and windy in Kansas all racing season--can the race be moved to an earlier or later month in the season? Not being a smart-ass--just asking.

As for rule modifications--I would favor ANY change that would improve the product for the fans. ANY. I don't know what specific changes you would make, but I know testing could be done to find out what kinds of changes would improve racing at certain sizes and styles of tracks. I'm not so sure about the NASCAR reference though. I for one am not one who hates NASCAR, as I used to be a big fan of it. However, they have ruined their product over the last 10 years with the changes they have made to the cars. They did not make these changes to please the fan. They made these changes to improve profitibility for the car owners. That is a fact. They more or less admitted that when they came out with the COT car--which, in my opinion, is the decision that emptied the stands more than the death of Dale Sr. or the great recession. The new car may be even worse.

Long story short, make the changes to improve the racing--nothing drastic--just tweeks to the cars. Maybe some wing modifications--teams could carry a couple of styles of wings for different tracks--not an astronomical cost i wouldn't think. ? I don't know the answer, but not a bad idea kmossman.