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

The entire thing (everything under the "Badlands" brand) has had a money laudering appearance from the beginning.

I knew from the start that this tool did not care about racers. He only saw dollar signs. I hope all his shit is out of business.

I tell it like I see it.

Just throwing this out there but their is another retired Nascar driver who has the last few years been 

returning to his sprint car roots. Jeff Gordon certainly has the money and resources to pull

it off. Maybe Tony can nudge him in the right direction

Whoever ends up buying it at whatever price is finally agreed on, the first order of business should be firing Tom Savage Jr and replacing him with anyone with some common sense.   

Item #2 should be a return to racing 410's, 360's and Late Model Stock Cars on SUNDAY NIGHTS.

I was quite surprised when I saw this today.  At first I thought it was a joke.  Reading through everyone's opinions has been entertaining.  Like many of you guys I didn't think this was going to be a good fit but I took the wait and see attitude.  Honestly I never thought all the stuff he was saying was going to happen would happen.  I never did make it to a race there this year because of the prices, I know there was many nights with free admission but it never seemed to work out for me those nights.  Sure the guy has a ton of money but he still sunk a lot of money into it that he didn't have to.  If I were him I would shut the place down too.  One estimate I heard was $10 million was spent this year alone.  He had the highest weekly payouts in the country. All of this and most people show no appreciation.

Many don't like him because of the prostitution sting.  Many don't like him because his personality does seem to be a real jerk and thinks he can outspend anyone to get whatever he wants.  And many don't like him because of his business model.  I can totally relate to people not liking him for the first two reasons but I have no problem with his business model.  I'm assuming people were explained the terms when they would borrow the money.  I'm assuming many of these people came to him because they had no other choice.  There was a market and he filled it.  What's the difference between Chuck and Denny Sanford's business?  I believe they would both borrow money to people who needed it.  One charged more interest than the other.  Why do people not have a problem with Denny Sanford?  Maybe because Sanford donates so much money?  Which brings me to what I think his reason is for buying husets and opening the pawn shop.  I think it was to try to look better to the public.  And once that didn't work he was out of here.

     I don't know Tom Savage, but considering the ego involved, I doubt that Tom had much say in anything that happened.

     Item #2- I agree.

have the new owners change the name back also

Would love to see that, but I doubt Gordon would want the track.   It would be awesome to see him with a WoO team, and he has the ability to attract sponsors.   If he was interested though, I think he would have already done it.    Maybe now that he's retired?   We'll see.   I would note that Larson, Smoke, KK, and Stenhouse have all managed to make it happen while being active drivers.  

As it stands right now, no NSL 360, and because of that no Saturday 360's at Jackson, no 360's at Rock Rapids, no 360's at Hartford, and none at Huset's.

And so the 360 downfall continues.  Sing it Ref!!

When CB started the Rock N Roll Academy(Which btw the Boys & Girls Clubs decided to pullout from?) he was talkin' about how roughly, only 5% of his income was coming in from the state of SD. DLC's website states there are more than 80 locations in four states and I would guess less than 10 are in this state, so I highly doubt he's gonna go broke because of IM21. Heard he brings in around 22mil a month? I would bet there's more of the customers DLC's attract living in California, Nevada, and Utah than say South Dakota. Imho this just amounts to him telling the state of SD in his own way to stick it.

It's really sad for local longtime race fans and racers though. I just don't see someone spending the money he's asking on Husets. Dirt Track Ownership & promotion is not a "get rich quick" deal. From all the tracks I've been to over the years it seems more of the promotors/owners are in it for the love of dirt racing and expect the hardships that come with it. It was never the field of dreams, ie: if you build it they will come. lol

I also read on a local news website(mb) that all things under the Badland's Flag are for sale. Hope the radio station stays on the air, at times much better than the "B" or the "KRRO" while killing time in the ol' garage.

"Gimme fuel, Gimme fire, Gimme that which I desire!"

AMEN!!

So many people got butt-hurt about this whole thing when it didn't affect them in the least; and NO IT DID NOT AFFECT THEM AT ALL!!! It didn't hurt racing. In fact, it put more money into racers pockets.

They whined, cried, bitched and moaned about Mr. Brennan and wished he wasn't the owner. They got their wish, and now they are whining, crying, bitching and moaning about THAT!!!

As for his comments about Knoxville; have you ever heard of the concept of "Selling your product"??? It sounded to me like he was doing an over-the-top sell job for Badlands Motor Speedway. But, of course, a few people took it to heart. You'd think that he had kicked their dog, stolen their woman and their rusty old pick-up. :)

The disputes (whatever they were) WERE BEING WORKED OUT as has been stated already.

Oh well; back to our regularly scheduled garbage on here.

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

I really hope some one buys the track or Mr. Brennan decides to lease it or run it again. 

But I have been reading the posts all year about how dare he race on Saturday night against Knoxville,  and now everyone is excited that he is done and they want Sunday night racing back. I have a question.  How many fans actually made the trip from one track to the other on Saturday and Sunday nights to take in both races each and every weekend , not just special shows. All I read all year was he needed to not go against Knoxville but c'mon people the tracks are what 5 or 6 hours apart. I mean what was the best interest for the sport and that would be two thriving race tracks. Again I ask how many fans took in both tracks every week? How many made the drive on a Sunday night to see a regular race and then have to get up for work. How many actual cars did both races? Both tracks probably got better crowds on Saturday night. And if the change in nights kept Badlands/Husets open then all the better for 410 racing because because both tracks thrive and can work with each other to have big shows on Sunday nights once or twice a year or multiple day shows. 

I mean the tracks are 6 hrs apart. You all would have something to get in a wad about if you lived in my area and Port Royal and Selinsgrove decided to race 410s against each other again because the tracks are only 35 miles apart.

Again I want to thank Mr.Brennan for his investment in the track and sprint car racing. As a racer I appreciate the money he put in the payoffs and travel money. Thanks to him it raised the pay for all 410s in the Midwest area. Now the competition is gone now the purse can go back down.  Be careful what you wish for.

+1

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

"Because of these recent events, Mr. Brennan is reevaluating his economic presence in South Dakota and will be selling several of his many properties and businesses in the State and diverting that business to the other markets that he currently operates in."

I would say that the Pawn shop/Radio Station will be the next business that will be up for sale. 

I'm not so sure that Brennan's detractors are whining because he appears to be gone. It may have more to do with the fact that now Huset's is a track that is probably priced out of the market and may sit empty. Let's hope not. As for last year, the increased purses were a good thing, but they did come at a cost. All increases do, and it's the fans that pay for the increases through tickets and concessions. Done moderately to increase purses, and make atrack more appealing, I think fans accept that. It didn't take a genius to see that the money that was being thrown around, however, above and beyond the purses (for the wrong reasons), couldn't last if the track was going to be profitabe. So those monies that only went to a few, only benifited a few. If there isn't a season at Huset's this coming year, how much money did Brennan put in the racers pockets, when all is said and done?  I remember well when Eagle was really scraping to put together and keep a weekly sprint car show going. The early seventies. I was there weekly working with two drivers. The excellent evolution and growth at Eagle did not come overnight by a decending angel that simply threw money at the track. It was done by the hard work and dedication of many. Eagle has had ups and downs over the years, but always seems to find a way to come back. I don't believe a business person per say, can make a dirt track go, if that business person isn't a fan first! I had my doubts from the begining that a race fan had taken over Huset's. I think that proves out by his decision to close shop and sell. And if it wasn't going to be proftable, who's fault was that?

Actually the track & the pawn shop are not even close in proximity. The only thing they have in common is that they both carry the "Badlands" name and they both book concerts.

I also do not believe that the people on here that posted "warnings" or disdain for Mr. Brennan are taking pleasure in this moment, that's only your opinion. I don't know maybe some are? More so than not, alot of them knew all about his "character" and were very leary about the future of the track because the person who bought it had more in common with Don King than actual real race fans.

I'd never say higher payouts for racers is a bad thing, but running your mouth against other tracks that historically have been race destinations for years and butting heads with promotors in your area instead of reaching out a hand. That's just classless and egotistical and bad business.

Bottom line, no matter where any dirt track is located in the US, there's only so many racers, and so many weekends to go around for everyone and I don't really know too many people who attend any race track just because of how nice it looks. Add that if a promotor wants to payout more to his racers for specials and weeklys, more power to him, but if he plans on passing that buck onto the fans. Well two words....GOOD LUCK.

Best deal to generate more money for fans at an event that I've seen.....FANS FUND for the CLS USA Nationals. Now that was a good idea that gets extra money to the actual racers.

"Gimme fuel, Gimme fire, Gimme that which I desire!"

There is no way anyone would pay over 5 million for the track. There isn't enough cash flow to support anything higher than that. 

If he is firm on his price it maybe closed for years. 

I agree in principal, but still.....they are whining. They got what they wanted, but now they don't like that he is gone. As another posted stated "Be careful what you wish for"!!

As for Eagle, we have been truly blessed with our current owner. He's a fan first, and always looks at things from that perspective. Being a shrewd business man, he understands that is the only way to do things. But, he also was a racer; and has that perspective to boot.

That, and he hired me; so he's got that going for him. :)

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

Actually the track and the pawn shop ARE in the proximity of each other.  Track is in Brandon and the Pawn shop are in Sioux Falls.  They are roughly 10-12 miles from each other.

I have always enjoyed my trips to Eagle, and can't remember a bad race. In fact one of the best A Mains I've ever seen was at Eagle. You could have trown a blanket over Mark, Steve, Hillenberg, and Haude and one more but can't rmember who. I do know that Mark hit the cone on a restart while leading and got sent to the rear. Karl was PISSED! 

As for the Bennan matter, I think most of his detractors are glad he appears to be gone...... I do doubt though, that they are happy that the track may be idle for a spell. I was not a Brennan fan, and that is known, but I did want the track to succeed!