|
The Oval Nationals are always the best non wing USAC race of the year on the West Coast, if not the whole nation.
.However, One of the things (in the past) that I did look forward to, was the long drawn out schedule on Saturday nights. Man I hated the 3 or 4 hour night when only 3 races took place (C, B and A) The racing was good, but.... way too long.
Anyway, with the current schedule, this will not happen and will have plenty of action all night. One concern though, how will the track be after running all the heat races, c main, b mains, dashes, mains/heats for Seniors and Lighting Sprints? The weather looks like it will be hot in the day, and cool in the evening, slight winds, and low humidity. I've seen this before with this weather where the track gets dry slick and the track does not have the time to regroom the track.
I have seen AT SEVERAL other tracks, namely Tulare and all the Indiana Sprint Week tracks I attended, where the whole schedule is catered to the sprint car main feature, the USAC sprint cars. Thus they run the sprint car main before the other support classes, and if the track needs prep, they have time to get it done. Also for such a big event, it's cool to see the drivers/car lined up on the front stretch and introduce them. The anticipation builds. Where as if you just run the all the preliminary main events first, many times there is no time to introduce the drivers and help make the track the best it could be. Although the weather looks AWESOME for the day time, as we all know, it does get cool or cold in the desert at night. Plus this time of year it can become breezy.
I know, the schedule is probably set in stone, and with all the heats, C?, B mains, and dash, it might be hard to schedule things with the support classes. But hopefully the PAS remembers, fans (far and near) come to this race to see the best USAC 410 race of the year. The schedule should cater to this class for both the fans and drivers competitng. If this means the seniors and/or lighting sprints race on not an ideal track, so be it. They are the support class for this important event.
Just my $.02, and I am sure I will get some flack. i remember at the Tulare, they ran the KWS series before the USAC 360, and at the time I was peeved. Than I realized the fans came to the track for the wing guys, not the USAC cars. In the past the USAC 360 ran long and their main event cut short and I WAS VERY UNHAPPY (although many fans applauded it  
With such a busy schedule, I am sure the senior and Lighting sprints do not want their mains cut short due to time.
I know PAS always do their best, I just hope they know their schedule has a full plate. Just schedule time for track prep, announcing the drivers on the front stretch, and get the race in on a reasonable time (as it can get cool late in the evening).
Really looking forward to this race with such a great format, great group of drivers and cars, great announcing by everyone, plus the awesome facility the PAS always has with great track prep  , and super Grand Marshall for the event
Is it Friday yet. Happy Halloween and hope they have a great 360 race tonight.
|
