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

       See the post at 12:52 by Vande77, 2nd from bottom on last page.  He explains it pretty well. 305 class might not grow (the thing it needs most) if high dollar teams hire high test drivers to run that class chasing a $25,000 (or even a $5000) bonus.

    I'm still waiting for someone to show me where this came from.

I'm not sure what the intent is...only Charles knows, but as others have stated, I don't want to see 410 drivers, racing in a 305 class. Guessing it's to try to get more cars, out of the same drivers that are already racing there.

I enjoy seeing up and coming drivers "learn the ropes" and gain confidence to potentially move up. I hate talking about the same chit over and over again, and Yes, I hope everyone benefits, but I think this is just about EGO. Yes it's good for the SF area, but for the long term of sprint car racing, that doesnt' seem to be the goal, but we'll see. 

Keep It Real

     badlands really only has two professional sprint car drivers- Terry McCarl and Tim Kaeding.  Of those two, only one-Kaeding- has a big budget owner.  If Lunstra wants to run a 305, he will.

Apparently a lot of you grew up getting participation trophies, if indeed someone like TK did run the 305 class wouldn't that be one hell of learning experience! However like somone said, is this really even really happening anyway. Nothing on the website about next year.

First off, these are the Racesaver IMCA Sprints, not another series where money rules. You CAN put together a $25,000 Racesaver legal engine, but it's not going to do you a whole lot of good.

If you'd read my interviews prior to the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Nationals, you would have noticed almost everyone stated that extra money doesn't help you much. The Racesaver class itself dictates that set-up and driver ability win races, not a check book!!!

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

Agreed, didn't say the $$ would help someone dominate.  But a guy that races for a living (and many more nights a year) is going to out-experience everyone else and probably dominate in the 305 class just to get that $5000 bonus (or $25,000 if they are able).  I don't think that will help build up sprint car racing in the long term. 

I remember the 360's were supposed to do the same thing in the 1980's the 305's are supposed to be doing now (build up car counts and drivers in the 410's).  Then they started paying decent purses and 410 teams and drivers started "dropping down" to run and win those shows and car counts started to decrease in that division too, then 305's were added.  What is next, a 6 cylinder Sprint car class?

If your comment is directed at me about the participation trophies.....  No I don't believe in them but I also don't think the jr high should scrimage the varsity.  

I'm with Murphy on this one.  Show me where this was posted?

They have been handing out that flier in the driver services building for the last two or three weeks....  

Their might not be a big advantage with the motors, but the extra money will help the big funded IMCA 305's bolt on brand new tires every night.  And also $750 a piece shocks on their cars.

      I'm not sure that blanket insults realy add much to your argument.

      All the racers I know race for the fun of it. How much fun will it be when a highly financed team can afford the best of everything on a 305 sprinter and then afford a hired gun to drive it? That's not a recipe for growth in the class.  

    In the end, I don't see anybody ponying up to run a three car team. It seems more like a promotional thing. A driver would *technically* have the potential to win $34,5000 on a regular Saturday night at the races.


     Related topic: What would it take to get more 305's to race at badlands? 20+ years ago when Husets had the IMCA sprints, they were entertaining because they would have enough for a B feture and a full field for the A.

    

Not insulting anyone, the 305 class is two things, a class for the young and a affordable class for those who want to race sprint cars look at the field that was at the 305 nationals and half the field at BMS are former 410 guys. So if some young hot shoe gets his butt kicked by some older vet, oh well that's how you learn, it's not going to stop someone from running a 305.

Does anyone have a stat on how many drivers have won 2 classes on the same night at Knoxville? I don't know about you guys but personally I'd love to watch any driver try to win all three classes. I get that it would suck to have a big name/budget guy race in the beginner class but you can choose to complain or choose to get better and take out the big dog. 

      I take it you're not from the area?  5 of the 23 305 drivers listed in the current point sheet have some 410 experience: Wolfgang, Abbas, Ballenger, Schliemann and O'Banion.  Ballenger has run *I think* one full season racing 410's. Micah may have run a full season. Wolfgang maybe a dozen races, Abbas perhaps a half dozen? O'Banion's 410 career has to be measured more in laps than races.  I don't know that I've seen him finish a 410 feature yet.

     Dropping TK in an open checkbook car into  the mix of a dozen hobby racers might make a few of them race harder.  It might also make for some drama- how many laps before TK takes the lead? What it wouldn't do is grow the class.  It would be stuck at about 11-12 cars per night.

Whatever, name me one time there were 23 305"s at BMS at the same time, plus you might go back and check your facts on how many 410 race"s some of these guys raced in or still do, anyway what does it matter, someone isn't going to start racing because of who is the class.Again what does anybody who races in this class prvent it from growing!

I do remember 18 or 19 on one occasion but I also remember nine total on a couple other nights.

     Whatever, no one ever said there was 23 305's at bms at the same time. However, you said "and half the field at BMS are former 410 guys". Half the guys are not. I'm guessing you don't know people who race there either.  They are hobby racers.  They do it for fun. If it's guaranteed that a big dollar team will be winning most of the races, the fun factor- the attraction that brings in new drivers- will be diminished. That's my opinion.  You have a different opinion.  I understand that.

Disclaimer, I seldom get to either of the tracks being discussed in this thread.  Nevertheless, were not very many miles up the road from either and what happens at those places now affects our nearby specials.  The general consensus is that tracks should all work together and I get that.  On the other hand if we were talking any other business Wed be defending the competition and the right for the strong to compete for available cars.  I look at nearby tracks where Late Models and Modifieds rule and the completion between tracks for cars and fans is intense.  It's kind of a catch 22 because I can see both sides in this battle.  Do we support the market place and cheer the highest bidder or do we favor the "socialist" view that all tracks should work together and have a group hug?  Interesting moral conflict for Sprint Car fans.  

Stan Meissner

Stan, competition is never a bad thing. It forces everyone to step up their game. Knoxville has had it rather easy promoting-wise for the last 30 or so years. Maybe Badlands has forced the powers that be a Knoxville to step up their game. The typical Knoxville program in recent years was getting rather stale. They didn't have to do a whole lot. Would Knoxville have had $1 beer nights otherwise? Maybe but probably not.

Question for Ford and the other Knoxville die hards, if a new BBQ joint opened up in town to provide competition for the Rib Shack, would that be a good thing or a bad thing? Be careful with your reply here..........................

Why is this about Badlands and Knoxville ?? What has Knoxville done to deserve to be put in the same sentence with them ?