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

I attended the six class race with 360's on Saturday night that I mentioned in my last comment with two grandkids in tow, 4 & 8 years old.  We met my son and his kids making the grandkids count 4 along with two of his neighbors.  Aside from nearly losing an eye to the checkered flags I bought them and having to leave as the Late Model Feature lined up the night went well.

The track had given the limited motor non-wing class which usually comes in at 18-20 or so cars the night off in favor of the winged 360's.  The Traditionals that were given the night off are generally one of the more exciting classes but we figured that the $3,000 to win and all the hype surrounding the new series would produce a field worth the extra $5.  The alternative would have been to stay home on the recliner and watch the Knoxville PPV for $17.99.  13 360's signed in with two scratching making for an 11 car Feature that lined up second to the last of the evening.  It was decent racing for 11 cars with some drama when Thomas Kennedy who was leading by 3/4 of a lap ran up on a lapped car and spun out.  Nevertheless, I didn't think the product (11 cars) warranted all of the hype leading up to the weekend.  This experience fits in with my previous comments and brings up a question. 

The question is "what is my tipping point?"  I should preface that by adding that I couldn't turn my surgically repaired neck by the time the Features rolled around due to sitting on a metal bench.  Part of the reason I used to prefer walking the infield with a camera but that was a past life and has no relevance.  Anyways, my son and I spent most of the night between races planning our next Jackson and Knoxville runs and some open Saturdays when we can get the Knoxville PPV.  By my tipping point I mean how many more nights am I willing to endure four classes that all look like Late Models and two Modified classes to indulge my Sprint Car passion?  Nothing against the Cedar Lake Speedway, they did a great job moving the show along, concessions and rest rooms were fine and they've got a great facility.  My issue isn't with the venue itself or one particular track but the past few years I have reached a tipping point where it's physically painful (and somewhat boring) to sit that long to see two Sprint Car heats and a Feature.  I'll do it again when the hurtin' wears off but sometimes I ask myself how far I'm willing to go to see live local racing. 

I'm becoming more of a Sprint Car specials with one or two class kind of guy.  I understand the need for back gate promoting but my first races were one or two class shows in the early 60's so my fandom pre-dates back gate promoting.  If I hold out for the big Sprint Car shows I'll have come full circle back to my roots.

Stan Meissner

Judging by most of the comments on here & even on social media (as this topic was brought up about a month ago in a group) it seems the sweet spot is around 3-4 classes with the main factor being how efficent the track runs. It seems efficency is the key part along with quality of racing. It seems that a majority of fans understand the need for beginner classes & backgate for the promoter but if it hurts the flow of the night & how good the racing is then that is probably the tipping point.

The last race I attended at Atomic Speedway last month had Modifieds & Sport Mods and the track did the best they could to keep the show moving despite multiple cars looping it around. However, I believe there may have been 5-6 heat races between the two classes and my Dad (who isn't a "dirt" track efficentato) turned to me and said "why did we come to this modified show? I thought we came to see sprint cars?" In short, he basically said that he probably would not go to another show like that again.

I like one comment that I saw on here a couple years ago from someone who quoted a racer talking about promoters that went along the lines of, if you focus on making money on your backgate eventually you won't have a frontgate anymore. That is how I feel sometimes when I see tracks that have "backgate or pit fillers" on their schedule. When I went to the races prior to having kids I didnt mind showing up at 6pm and leaving at 1am. My son loves racing but if either some form of sprint car or late model is on the track he starts playing with his toys and then shortly he gets bored & I have let him know the sprints are coming be patient. Past couple of years he has fallen asleep before the sprint feature rolls out which I feel bad about for him. And as someone mentioned earlier, if he sees the sprint feature first he gets upset because we have to sit through 2-3 more pit filler features before he can see the sprint car drivers in the pits & by the time we get to the pits most are packed up and gone. Sometimes I feel that if some of the promoters would lose a class or two they would make up for it in the front gate on a consistent basis & concession because the track would be in better shape for better racing.

"it seems the sweet spot is around 3-4 classes"..... to me, 3 is the maximum, 4 is too many

Unless its Eldora 4 Crown.... ALL open wheel main events

4 Crown is always great cause you get almost all classes of Sprintcars in one evening. And with the event being the way it is I think people are more tolerant with it running long within reason. 

I actually liked the Sprintacular/Last Call for Methonal event that Eldora had. All Stars 410, Sprint Invaders 360, and Boss non wing. Few years I think they had over 120 cars there and it was awesome. October with hot laps starting around 430 I think. The last year they had it I think it was against the Outlaws Port Royal date for the 410s, Short Track Nationals & ASCS sanctioned show, and I believe they didn't have BOSS sanctioning along with USAC racing in ILL. Turn out wasn't great 2017 but I think if they worked the schedule around better it still would have been good

3 classes.  Way back before I had a sprint car, I was driving one of those backgate filler street stocks, and some of the tracks I went to would have 3 classes of street stocks with 5 to 7 cars in each class.  I hated that.  I would rather be out there with all 20 cars and if I can't keep up with the 4 barrel cars, so what, I'll race the crap out of the other guys with 2 barrel carbs.  One night it was so bad I loaded up and left before my feature (I had to work the next day and it was 1:30 am).  I was pitted in the infield, and was told that I couldn't leave until the show was over.  They had to throw a caution for a hauler crossing the track.

When I see more than three divisions for what is billed as a special show, I don’t even think about going 

For the life of me I don’t know how tracks expect to make money on a regular basis when they run sprints last preceded by a 30

minute intermission along with three or four other division features.  1/4 to 1/3 of their customers, with little kids, leave at 11:30p before even getting to see the main event, the sprint car feature

Sounds good

I've never seen BOSS yet, would like to some day

I agree it has to do with how efficient the track runs.  If they can keep the action going non-stop through the heats and qualifying, many would not care quite as much. 

1.  Have enough wreckers and safety personel on site to handle the number of cars the track/promoter invited to the event

2.  Put the next heat on the track immediately, and give them one lap and drop the green.  

3.  No long breaks.  When all heats are run, 10-15 minute max to get features going.  

4.  Run the main event as the 1st or 2nd feature!  

Do these things, you can have 5 or 6 classes and if you only care about the 410 feature, it should be over with by 10:30.  Most of the late nights of racing involve a late start, 3 or 4 laps before we fire each (support class) heat race off, a 5 minute break between classes, a 30-40 minute intermission, and 4 or 5 features before the class I came to see even runs!  

I don't care so much about late nites, but i don't like sitting thru boring races, which to me means most fendered classes

Micro Sprints are pretty cool....

Me neither revjimk-----I was speaking as the average fan.  Usually, I park my camper in the corner of the lot and go back and tip a few while the crowd files out of the parking lot.  Time is not really an issue to me---unless it's 11:30 and we're still 2 features away from the feature event---then I'm a little antsy. 

   I agree with not wanting to sit through a bunch of boring races.  However, if they keep the show rolling, and there is action on the track all of the time, it doesn't bother me as much as sitting there looking at an empty track waiting for NOTHING to happen. 

I enjoy watching the 305 division at Knoxville. If it's a stepping stone for racer to get their foot in the door or advance themselves up the ladder then I support it.

I agree that the divisions being run need to have quantity as well as quality.  Plus, the show must be run in a timely manner.  As a long time attendee at Lernerville Speedway, I have always felt that they are doing a great job with all three of these things.  Going back to the 70's and 80's like a previous poster stated, the shows have always been run with the thought process of keep everything moving.  Sure, they have nights when there are too many yellow flags or red flags, but all tracks have this.  On a typical night, the show is run off in no time.  The management is very good and has been even better (since the Tomson family has taken things over) about keeping the program moving.  In fact, the place is improving in many ways!

As far as the number of divisions, they are currently running 4 different classes.  410 Sprints, Big Block Modifieds, Late Models, and Sportman and to be honest with you all 4 divisions put on a great show.  There are nights when the sportman put on the best show with the close competition.  (nothing like good close fender to fender racing or nerf bar to nerf bar)  Last year the late model numbers were down and that is a cause for concern, but hopefully things will be better this year.  There is no other place that puts the top 3 divisions on their weekly program (410 Sprints, Big Block Modifieds, and Late Models)  and no better place to be for a weekly regular show!!