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

Hello Race Fans,

I'd like to ask all of our visitors to contact SPEED TV and encourage them to include more video clips of the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars to their Speed Report Program.

As most of you know, Speed Report dedicates a segment of their program to non-NASCAR racing. Over the past year or so, the time allowed for Sprint Cars (both Winged and Non-Wing) has decreased.

Raceway Video's Jeff Kristensen, who records the USAC/CRA events, has clips ready to air after every race. In addition to the TV Clips, he shares weekly clips (for free) on his website- www.racewayvideo.com. However, the producers of Speed Report generally choose not to air Sprint Cars unless they need to fill time.

Any clips aired on programs such as Speed Report, or the Sunshine Network's RaceScene (which is now cancelled) are a great way to promote USAC/CRA- it's drivers, teams, tracks, sponsors, and events.

Since the TV coverage is not as hoped, USAC has chosen not to renew Raceway Video's deal with USAC/CRA. Now, events like Garrett Hansen's first win at Perris, your favorite driver's victory, and great charges to the front are in danger of not being recorded or available for purchase.

So, I'm asking for help to promote the sport we love by contacting SPEED TV and in the process helping a friend who has done a lot for Sprint Car Racing.

Let your voice be heard. Those in charge of programming need to listen to their subscribers and fan base.

SPEED TV's Feedback Page is at http://www.speedtv.com/feedback/. Just fill out the online form and click submit.

If anyone knows of an email address to contact, please let us know.

Thanks,

Lance Jennings - SCRAFAN.COM - [email protected]

Here is a sample of an entry that was shared with us:

To whom it may concern,

I have always been a fan of Speed. But in the past few months I have noticed that Speed has not given the local Sprint cars (USAC/CRA) series any TV time. Your channel used to show some clips to help support our series. Now we don't get hardly any time.

I now hear that Raceway Video's contract will not be renewed due to lack of TV exposure. There are alot of us from USAC/CRA that enjoy his videos. Last night Garret Hansen won his first ever main event in USAC/CRA. I know that he would like to have a video of his win and he is one of the lucky ones he will get that video. But what about in the future if a driver gets his first win but has no way to look back at their first win. I know that we are not Nascar, Indy Cars, Formula One. But we are a stepping-stone to some of these drivers making it to the big time.

I would like to ask that you could find a little time in the program for the local dirt track sprint car series. I speak for all of sprint cars in general. TV exposure helps out these series alot.

Thank you for your time

A reply I posted on indianaopenwheel.com in response to Lance's post there:

___________________________________________________________

Hey folks, Just an FYI...This is also adversely affecting the USAC National Divisions as well. The powers-that-be at "The SPEED Report" have informed us that coverage of 2007 USAC events will be sparse at best, and I recommend everyone who has a computer, and is a fan of sprint, midget and silver corwn racing to let their voice be heard. It's unfortunate, but USAC, the World of Outlaws, the All-Stars and series like them are all getting pushed aside by the 800 lb. gorilla known as NASCAR. The only thing we as fans of this sport can do is plead with them to change their minds. So, please, by all means, follow the steps that Lance Jennings has laid out above. Please help us to bring you the highlights of the United States Auto Club premiere divisions....Thank you. Sincerely, Dean Mills Mills Video Productions Official Videographer of USAC National Series

Hello Everyone and thanks Lance for stirring the pot a little on this deal. Just to set the record straight, I have no hard feelings what so ever with USAC for not renewing my deal with them. My deal with them was get them on TV and lately, that has just become impossible to do. Its just flat out sad that a 24/7 motorsports network cant find time for 2 minutes of open wheel racing highlights. The sport had a friend when the network aired "Speed News" as the producer had a relative that raced sprint cars and he loved the sport, always doing what he could to get our sport the attention it deserves. In the middle of last season when they switched to "The Speed Report" the new producers, I'm told by people that I've dealt with for years "just plain does not understand short track dirt races, he doesn't get it and will not air it" I'm sure a little e-mail campaign might get some attention, you might also want to post on the speed channel message board http://insider.speedtv.com/viewforum.php?f=11&sid=9b407cb8d8e28b08d00cba903af88002

As for me, I'll still be around. I will still cover all of the southern California races, I might have to pass on a few of the out of town races, but I'll still be providing DVD's and video clips on my web site (which was just updated with clips from last night) for 90% of the races. Thanks for everyones time and attention on this subject.

Jeff K

Jeff Kristensen

Fortunately or more likely, unfortunately "Money Talks". Maybe Jeff or someone can find a sponsor to pay for a segment of short track action on the show. What kind of video camera do you use. Maybe they would be willing to pay for it. What kind of computer or software are you using to edit your videos, maybe they would be willing to pony up the money and sponsor the segment. How about Hoosier Tires putting some money into the kitty.

For the producers of the show, putting your videos on the show is the equivalent of free advertising.

First, let me thank you for the interest you all show regarding sprint car racing. The constant lack of credibility it receives from main stream race reporting really ticks me off. Where the heck did people with names like, Foyt, Gurney, Unser, Jones, Gordon, Stewart, Newman, or Yeley come from anyway? I took the liberty of advancing my position to the "brains" at SPEED like this:

Hello, I'm just curious why your programming on "The Speed Report" does not include any USAC or CRA sprint car action? I have been a long time viewer of your channel (as well as many of my contemporaries) and think you are missing the boat. These series, whether national, regional or area specific are stepping stones for a driver to get to the next level of racing, that you so happily promote. Please contemplate returning the small time-frame of dirt track clips that you have been providing in the past. People really miss seeing them. Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this issue.

Bill Groves

Hello all from Oklahoma. I am a huge fan of west coast traditional sprint cars since the first time I saw them at Ascot in the mid-80's. I love my yearly pilgrimage to Manzanita.

Unfortunately, you might as well forget coverage on SPEED with their Fox/NASCRAP ties. As posted above, the gorilla rules all and any coverage of a racing series other than NASCRAP will be of one that SPEED covers. Can anyone say Supercross and World Rally Championship? The days of ESPN or even WTBS (80's) covering reports from America's short tracks are long gone.

We just need to appreciate what we (you) have and support them at the gate on a weekly basis.

"just plain does not understand short track dirt races, he doesn't get it and will not air it"

What does this person not get ??? Why dont he come out to perris and see some good old fashion dirt track racing. How can you not understand dirt track racing ?? Fast cars close racing and lots of action.

Joe Clifton

Nonwing Bill,

You are right about Sprint Cars trying to compete with NASCAR and other "elite" motorsports, especially on a $$$ basis on SPEED TV. However, I'm talking about saving what little coverage there is and trying to expand it on the Speed Report.

Every couple of years, we hear about a TV show that is in danger of being cancelled, only to have it saved by a grass roots letter writing / email campaign. Why can't that happen now for a few minutes of Sprint Cars on a Racing News show???? You never know what you can do until you try.....

Yesterday, Speed TV and the Speed Report was on at a friend's shop for a few hours. It seemed to me that they showed the ending to the Daytona 500 (it was a good race to the finish) at least 5 times in an hour and a half span. They could easily have spared 5 minutes or so on dirt track racing.

Granted, most of the country's Sprint Car Racing has not started yet. But how about clips on the PAS USAC/CRA show, the World of Outlaws, or a preview of USAC, All Stars, ASCS, PA Posse, GSC, or how about a piece on the USAC & WoO teams of Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, and Jason Leffler? There are video guys from across the country that would submit their work- no problem.

I don't know about you, but I came back to racing in 2000 after Ascot closed in 1990. In 2000, I subscribed to ESPN because of RPM Tonight and they had races, like the Silver Crown Show at Knoxville. Later, I ordered TNN for the World of Outlaws and Raceday. Last year, I got the Outdoor Channel for the USAC Thunder program. Now, those are all gone....

In Southern California, the local news programs only show Sprint Cars when something bad has happened. They reported events like the accident at Perris with the Bagleys or the possible closure of Ventura Raceway. If these shows can show clips of High School Football- why not Sprints & Midget racing?

I know that time can be a factor when trying to make the 11 O'Clock news, but I made it home from the last USAC/CRA Perris show at 11:15. After the last checkered flag, I visited in the pits for awhile and then drove 70 miles to get home.

Let's open this campaign to contact SPEED TV for all short track groups- Sprint Cars, Midgets, Ford Focus, TQs, and Silver Crown. There is strength in numbers.

 "In Southern California, the local news programs only show Sprint Cars when something bad has happened. They reported events like the accident at Perris with the Bagleys or the possible closure of Ventura Raceway. If these shows can show clips of High School Football- why not Sprints & Midget racing?"

How many people attend high school footbal games in SoCal on a given Friday night?  Maybe several hundred thousand?  How many people attend a weekly race track in SoCal?  Less than 10,000?  That's one reason why we don't get the TV coverage for the sport that we love.

I would love a weekly 1/2 to 1 hour weekly show devoted to Sprints and Midgets.  What kind of ratings would such a show get?  What kind of ratings would a NASCAR themed show get in the same time slot?  Would the NASCAR show have ratings 3, 4, or 5 times as high?  Maybe even higher?  TV shows exist for 1 reason and that is to sell advertising.  If the ratings (which translate into advertising dollars) supported our favorite sport it would be televised.

I feel the pain too.  Last year, right before the racing season started,  my cable provider dropped the Outdoor Channel, forcing me to miss all of the USAC shows.  As important as Sprints & Midgets are to us, we are a "niche" sport.  Sometimes, when I see the latest NASCAR nonsense, I'm glad that we are a niche sport.

I sent an email to Speed after they failed to show anything from the Phoenix weekend and tried to appeal to their NASCAR-centric programming. I pointed out that they skipped coverage of an event that had direct or indirect participation by Stewart, Kahne, Edwards, Penske, Waltrip & Yeley. Whether that works or not, who knows? It will be a sad day when a motorsports-only channel's news show devotes 50 minutes to a 600 mile taxicab race and 2 minutes to the Indy 500 much less the Little 500, Night before the 500 or Salute to the 500.

My two cents worth (as submitted on a speedTV's feedback form):

"I am a racing fan...period. I love all forms of motorsports, escpecially grass roots dirt track racing. That is why I am extremely dissapointed in the fact that coverage in the weekly 'Speed Report' has neglected this type of racing completely in recent weeks. I am paying for cable primarily to receive Speed Channel, yet will cancel soon if coverage of local open wheel dirt track racing does not continue. Plese bring back the "real" racing to my TV. Thank you."

Doug Bushey

P.S. Thank you, Lance and Jeff, for everything that you do for the sport. Your contributions help fans like me keep current on the sport that we are passionate about, as well as keep our past memories alive forever via photos, videos, and written documentation. I appreciate your efforts.

Doug Bushey

Passionate Fan / Announcer / Media & Public Relations 
Agent 

Videographers providing clips to TV Stations near Race Tracks,across the Country, Photographers catering stills to local newspapers may bring more new folks to The Racetrack, including interest in Speed TV. Everyone watching Speed allready goes to the Race-Track.Sure it takes time but time well worth.

Bruce

I SENT MY 2 CENTS WORTH TO THEM AND GOT A NICE FORM LETTER SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ ALL RESPONSES.