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

Looking at the results at at Knoxville last night I see the Pro Series is down to 12 cars . I think the high for the season is 17 my question is would it be better to . Switching to a regular 305 sprint car class would they get more car . Or are they happy with 12 to 17 in the beginners class . Or could they start a new limited 360 class with a steel block and heads and small injectors for a 3rd class . Just seems like the Pro Series is not working what do you think      Glen Murra

Eliminate 305s altogether.  It just doesn't work, 360 or 410 should really be the only options. 

Agree although it does give some experience to wheeling a small open wheel sprinter..

My vote would be the crate engine non-wing sprints currently running in Minnesota and Wisconsin. This would give fans a different  car to look at and maybe bring in non-wing fans like myself who don't normally attend Knoxville. I've been to the weekly shows there and the 305's and the recent pro series are nothing more than monotony. Three classes that look identical doesn't make sense to me. At least run a smaller wing on them like the 358's in Williams Grove. While they're at it, change up the track prep once in a while. It's practically identical every night unless it downpours right before. 

The Pro Series was directly sponsored by Pace and is a Knoxville only class.Even though they are only 1 second slower than the 360s they would be much better suited to a shorter track, I was told the complete motor package is $19K and some are on their third season, The 305s didnt work at Knoxville and cost plus reliability plus many yellows were a problem with some fans., The support series at most tracks is away to help back gate> Husetts has a good 305 program, Most every class designed as feeder series is not cheap, Knoxville wont drop them as they were their project and with fewer cars the dont have many yellows.

Let me put this in for the Knoxville people or anyone else. Do you think changing the Pro Series to to no wing cars and use the same motor would increase car count     Glen Murra

One of the biggest problem teams are fighting is parts are hard to come by. That class has been increasing year after year. 

Non wing crashes at Knoxville can be brutal. Not sure an "entry level" class without wings is a great idea but they are fun to watch.

In my humble little opinion, the Racesaver 305 would be good for car counts. Those cars are all over the midwest and are pretty competitive. I could be wrong, but the old 305 class at Knoxville was more of an "open" 305, no?

Lastly, on Pace's website - It shows the CT525 Knoxville engine package as discontinued and no longer available. Whats up with that?

More than anything, I'm concerned about increasing fuel prices and part/tire availability hurting car counts as the summer drags on. Might be rough.

I think the 305 class is still good for racing around the midwest and at Knoxville. It provides a good starting point for kids jumping up from karts &  provides an affordable option for the weekend racer. 

I'd have to go back and look at historical results but it's not uncommon for this to happen midway through the season in this class. Couple that with parts, tires and fuel availability and pricing. 

Wingless racing is great to watch but I don't see the benefits or running that as weekly class at Knoxville. Where is the closest track that runs a special show for USAC or WOO Xtreme? 

34 Speedway in SE IA runs 305s as well and they had (12) cars some of which have ran at Knoxville last weekend. 

Keep It Real

Heck no.  At first the 305 and pro sprints ran together at Knox..  I thought it went well and they should have left it that way.  Trouble with pro sprints they are sealed   crate engines.  Only repairs can be made at factory, so your only engine is tied up waiting for repairs.    I think that is were some of the engines are. There was a time when 410 lap times and pro sprints were about the same,  The young fans only know about what happened 12 hrs ago.  

I think going with the Racesaver rules package would help becuase cars can go to other tracks around the area.  Being the only track running the Pace engine package makes it to where you can only race at 1 track all year.  The Racesaver cars can go to a number of tracks within a relatively short drive and also allows cars that race them in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota that would love the chance to race at Knoxville from time to time do so.

I think the first nationals quick time was 22 seconds.Wings have proven to  help safety. The Knoxville 305s were getting expensive for a suppoprt  class Thats why the PACE 525 was established in order to put a limit.They got higher first projected. Racing isnt cheap when you consider a 410 according to Wesmar should be freshened after 10 nights for around $10K

I don't worry about race track's business model.  That is up to them to decide and my only involvement is whether I want to follow a particular track or series.  I have no idea of their bottom line and after an office career I just want to be entertained for a few hours.  I suppose that it will be good for the Pro Sprints to thrive so they don't start adding Mortifieds and Stock Cars to the lineup.  Back gate promoting is big up here in Minnesota with WISSOTA and IMCA stock car and mortified classes.  Damn things are like an invasive carp species the way they take over tracks up here.  

Stan Meissner

Bingo. Just don't sanction it as IMCA and run the identical rules. Most that can afford to run sprints of any class prefer to not be limited to one track. Forget the IMCA sanction though at Knoxville. Why pay them money to run their ridiculous format.

There is nothing about that class at Knoxville that replicates a beginner/hobby/weekend warrior type racecar. If they truly want that type a class then they need to get the guy on board that was deciding between buying a racecar or a snowmobile. Most 350 or LS stock car motors out there will make close to 500hp with a 750CFM carb. Pin the wings at 20 degrees too. New tire means you start at the rear. $350 to win and $175 to start. That Pace motor costs 20K. Anybody got a spare 20K sitting around to sponsor a driver in a class that nobody cares about?

I look at this class as a mixture of racers that really want to race a sprint car, but either don't have the money or desire to go 360/410 and a place for new sprint car drivers to learn to drive a car without the cost/danger of going a lot faster out of the gate.

I would guess most people don't have an spare 20k laying around, however it does make it easier to get into racing than the 360 class. 

Some guys are learning to drive, learning how to market themselves and get sponsors, and then potentially move up in the future. 

Keep It Real

Makes sense. Knoxville is higher profile than most and I can understand how some teams may use the Pro series as a way of marketing themselves. I just hate to see people take out equity in a house or not put money in a 401K or ROTH IRA so they can go racing. Breaks my f'n heart. 

Yes, that probably happens more than we care to know. Tyler Groenendyk is someone who seems to be figuring out sponsorship, has improved in driving, and wins.  

Didn't Jamie Ball start off in this class? Speaking of, how many english creek drivers have or are running at Knoxville now?

Keep It Real

Not sure of through English Creek, but 14 drivers have come through the micro ranks between Iowa and Minnesota