Forum: Minnesota Dirt Track Racing Forum (go)
Moderators: StanM

Hello Whitney's

I by no means have any intentions on stirring up the hornets nest. I am just a curious race fan who enjoys watching all Sprint Car teams race, and yes I do have my favorites, and you guys are one of them. I do understand that racing is very expensive, maybe not to the full extent as the racers themselves who are shelling it out, but I do take your word for it. As an outsider I was just wondering if you have ever gotten any offers from race teams for full time gigs, or do you just prefer to do it yourselves. I can't hardly believe that teams don't see the talent there, and just decide to go with someone else. - Anyway just curious.

I'm not an official spokesman for the family but he told me that in addition to a growing family he's got more responsibilities with the business.

For the Whitneys to hi tail it from Crystal, MN, to eastern Wisconsin every weekend involved a lot of time and expense. Case in point, the IRA regulars over in that area only travel to CLS, Rice Lake, Superior and Arlington a few times a year. Some of them were doubling up in their haulers just to make the trip. On the other hand Travis and his dad were sneaking out of the shop early and spending all that time on the road not to mention fuel expense.

Sometimes us fans only see $3,000 or $5,000 or maybe even $10,000 or more to win. There's only one winner, equipment travel and engine freshening costs more than they make racing even if they win every night. Behind every racer there's got to be sponsors that make it possible, they're the silent ones in this whole equation keep guys out on the road.

Drivers from over here chasing IRA points like Travis and Billy have done is probably something you'll see less of in the future as travel gets more expensive and sponsorship gets tighter. Unless things change over the winter Balog mentioned that he probably will a schedule more like they did in 07 next year. Jerry Richert Jr., John Sernett and a few others do that. Some split their time between local 360's and the IRA when it's nearby.

It's not an easy deal for any of these guys to travel but we do appreciate when they are able to do so. If I had a big bag full of money there would be about a dozen more from around here following the IRA.

Hello Whitney's

I by no means have any intentions on stirring up the hornets nest. I am just a curious race fan who enjoys watching all Sprint Car teams race, and yes I do have my favorites, and you guys are one of them. I do understand that racing is very expensive, maybe not to the full extent as the racers themselves who are shelling it out, but I do take your word for it. As an outsider I was just wondering if you have ever gotten any offers from race teams for full time gigs, or do you just prefer to do it yourselves. I can't hardly believe that teams don't see the talent there, and just decide to go with someone else. - Anyway just curious.

I don't think your question had any chance of stirring up a hornet's nest! It's a valid question. This is just my take on the answer. Hopefully it doesn't stir up a hornet's nest either!

Travis has always been available to drive for other teams, but my guess (and it's only a guess) is that most teams assume that because he has primarily driven for a family-owned team during his career that that is his preference. He has had the opportunity to drive for other car owners on occasion, like Curt Fischer, Lenard McCarl, Jason Johnson, and the Ochs Brothers, but aside from the time he spent driving for Mike Frost in 99 and 2000, a full-time ride hasn't made itself available. I've always been disappointed by that too and wondered why no one picked him up, but then I guess I'm a bit biased.

One thing that you have to consider though is the number of rides available versus the number of guys that want to drive them. If you draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper and list all the full-time race teams who do not have an obvious, set driver on the left side, then start writing the names of all the guys that would be in the market to drive for a full-time team on the right, I'm going to bet that you will need to start a second page for that right side. There just aren't that many teams that are looking to hire a driver anymore.

Still, the fact remains that Travis has responsibilities to his business and to his family. If a full-time ride was offered to him, we would certainly have to consider any way possible for him to accept it, but it would be difficult at best. Getting paid to drive for someone else would be great financially for Travis's dad who keeps the #9 on the track, but it would create new issues like being away from the business and deciding whether Travis goes on the road without his family (which isn't good for little boys who need their dad) or whether we try to go on the road as a family (which would cost a good chunk of change too).

For now at least, it appears that Travis is going to be a part-time racer. Do I think he deserves the opportunity to run full-time? Absolutely. And if you're out there and have a car for him to drive, please speak up! Does our whole family wish we could do it full-time ourselves? Sure, but if Walt ever wants to retire, we have to stop putting ridiculous amounts of money into the sinkhole of racing. Sponsors have always been difficult to get and with this lovely new economy of ours, you can just about forget getting one now.

Last season's schedule was weird for our whole family. We've all been used to going to a track somewhere every week, everytime there was a race we could get to and run, for as long as we can remember. Last summer, we didn't do that. We checked the results on the internet like everyone else and dealt with feeling like we wished we'd been there (some of the time anyway - there's a few we're glad we missed!) It was strange to not have to pack up on Friday and head off somewhere for the weekend then come home on Sunday and crash before starting another week at work. It was also kind of nice to not be running around like crazy people and being tired all the time. Would we do it again if we were suddenly blessed with millions of dollars? You bet! Until then, we hope that Travis's fans are happy to see him when we do race. We will be there when we can and do everything we can to put the #9 in victory lane.

I hope I answered your question.

Lorri

I hope this new series can fill the void here locally and enable some of the racers to put a car out there on a more regular basis. They could still hang onto their 410's and race with the IRA when they come around. I really think that's what this area needs in a lot of ways. It's going to increase sponsor interest if they know the 360 sprints are going to be racing locally 20 or 30 times per season. You look at these Supers, Streets, Modifieds and Late Models and the sides are all plastered with local sponsor decals. I think one of the things that holds sponsors back on the Sprints around here is that there just aren't enough shows nearby. I've said this around the campfire plenty of times, if a guy owns a business and wants to get some exposure around here you're not going to put your name on a Sprint unless you're partial to that type of racing.

As far as owners putting drivers in their cars I see it in the other classes but not so much in the Sprints. It seems like almost all of the Sprints are family or owner/driver deals. Try naming a few local "for hire" Sprint rides and I don't think you'll need more than one hand to count them. Laytons up north, Donahue used to have Rager driving for him before he got out of it but everyone else I can think has their own deal.

I think if we were in the middle of Indiana things might be different for Travis (and a few other drivers) because there would be way more opportunities.

I`ve bought a few RR tires over the years. That puts a smile on a drivers face!

I don't think your question had any chance of stirring up a hornet's nest! It's a valid question. This is just my take on the answer. Hopefully it doesn't stir up a hornet's nest either!

Travis has always been available to drive for other teams, but my guess (and it's only a guess) is that most teams assume that because he has primarily driven for a family-owned team during his career that that is his preference. He has had the opportunity to drive for other car owners on occasion, like Curt Fischer, Lenard McCarl, Jason Johnson, and the Ochs Brothers, but aside from the time he spent driving for Mike Frost in 99 and 2000, a full-time ride hasn't made itself available. I've always been disappointed by that too and wondered why no one picked him up, but then I guess I'm a bit biased.

One thing that you have to consider though is the number of rides available versus the number of guys that want to drive them. If you draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper and list all the full-time race teams who do not have an obvious, set driver on the left side, then start writing the names of all the guys that would be in the market to drive for a full-time team on the right, I'm going to bet that you will need to start a second page for that right side. There just aren't that many teams that are looking to hire a driver anymore.

Still, the fact remains that Travis has responsibilities to his business and to his family. If a full-time ride was offered to him, we would certainly have to consider any way possible for him to accept it, but it would be difficult at best. Getting paid to drive for someone else would be great financially for Travis's dad who keeps the #9 on the track, but it would create new issues like being away from the business and deciding whether Travis goes on the road without his family (which isn't good for little boys who need their dad) or whether we try to go on the road as a family (which would cost a good chunk of change too).

For now at least, it appears that Travis is going to be a part-time racer. Do I think he deserves the opportunity to run full-time? Absolutely. And if you're out there and have a car for him to drive, please speak up! Does our whole family wish we could do it full-time ourselves? Sure, but if Walt ever wants to retire, we have to stop putting ridiculous amounts of money into the sinkhole of racing. Sponsors have always been difficult to get and with this lovely new economy of ours, you can just about forget getting one now.

Last season's schedule was weird for our whole family. We've all been used to going to a track somewhere every week, everytime there was a race we could get to and run, for as long as we can remember. Last summer, we didn't do that. We checked the results on the internet like everyone else and dealt with feeling like we wished we'd been there (some of the time anyway - there's a few we're glad we missed!) It was strange to not have to pack up on Friday and head off somewhere for the weekend then come home on Sunday and crash before starting another week at work. It was also kind of nice to not be running around like crazy people and being tired all the time. Would we do it again if we were suddenly blessed with millions of dollars? You bet! Until then, we hope that Travis's fans are happy to see him when we do race. We will be there when we can and do everything we can to put the #9 in victory lane.

I hope I answered your question.

Lorri

How much would a Hoosier SC RR 12, 15 or 25 run?  How about a jug of fuel?

Just curious.  Probably will do this for someone next year.