From Gary Dominguez
That time of year has rolled around again, and now we all need to start thinking about attracting new "partners" for your racing programs. In years past we have put on a seminar to help racers attract and keep good sponsors. Unfortunately last year there were too many irons in the fire to have this seminar. This year with the economy in the condition it is in, it may be more imperative to have one. I am conducting a survey to see if there is an interest in having such a seminar. To take this brief survey, visit my website at
sponsorship survey
Once you are there, click on the "sponsorship seminar" button on the left side to take the survey.
I would also like to get feedback from previous attendees on how much benefit they received from the class.
Thanks in advance for your participation,
Gary
* * *
Taking a hard look at sponsorship opportunities is imperative no matter what class you race. Regardless of the economic climate, it never hurts to ask. Setting yourself out from the pack helps.
While there are always pleas for promoters to help foot the bill through increases in purse, there are also other sources of "other people's money" than the guy running the race or the sanctioning body cutting costs. Getting and keeping sponsorship is often overlooked.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Looking back at this weekend (and maybe a few weekends back)
Went to the opening night of the Cornhusker Classic at I-80 Friday, primarily for the ASCS Midwest Region finale. Couple of thoughts:
- The racing in the sprint division was excellent, especially the three way battle for the A feature and the climactic end, with Billy Alley winning one for his close friend, Jesse Hockett and himself-after a mechanical failure took away the season opener in April. It was a true storybook ending.
- There was some pretty good racing in the heats as well, but only one class Friday ran a complete show.
- Not sure why practice sessions were run. Schedule practice on a separate night like Beatrice does.
- Sometimes the lack of communication regarding order of events and getting the cars pitted outside the track in sync with the infield bunch made a riot look better organized. Something to work on - wasn’t for lack of trying.
- The fact they got in the races at all was pretty amazing given the rain received. The track turned out just fine. A little rutty in three, but really one couldn’t ask for a much better surface. Fast and two-grooved, the way it should’ve been.
- I’ve heard that plans are in place for the 2011 Nebraska Cup and a possibility is a three-day point fund with Eagle and JMS in the mix. I remember back in the day when Eagle, Knoxville and Midwest Speedway ran a three-day event, with the overall point getter being crowned champ. I wouldn’t mind seeing the same thing. I’m not sure I would shift importance to the weekend point champ over the Cup race winner, but I like the idea.
- I was impressed by the efforts of the Nebraska Cup committee again. They’ve done a good job of wrangling up prizes and pub for the show. As Bo Pelini would say, the show “isn’t there yet,” (in terms of crowd, which was decent, but could be bigger) but it’s on a good trend up. The car quality is fine. When other classes ask where their big show is or why they weren’t featured, maybe they need to get a (insert class here) committee going. It’s easy to talk.
- The season may be over for me - I might go to the Beatrice Octoberfest if the weather holds up. But otherwise, it was an interesting 2010. It’s also time to rest and enjoy the offseason.
- The racing in the sprint division was excellent, especially the three way battle for the A feature and the climactic end, with Billy Alley winning one for his close friend, Jesse Hockett and himself-after a mechanical failure took away the season opener in April. It was a true storybook ending.
- There was some pretty good racing in the heats as well, but only one class Friday ran a complete show.
- Not sure why practice sessions were run. Schedule practice on a separate night like Beatrice does.
- Sometimes the lack of communication regarding order of events and getting the cars pitted outside the track in sync with the infield bunch made a riot look better organized. Something to work on - wasn’t for lack of trying.
- The fact they got in the races at all was pretty amazing given the rain received. The track turned out just fine. A little rutty in three, but really one couldn’t ask for a much better surface. Fast and two-grooved, the way it should’ve been.
- I’ve heard that plans are in place for the 2011 Nebraska Cup and a possibility is a three-day point fund with Eagle and JMS in the mix. I remember back in the day when Eagle, Knoxville and Midwest Speedway ran a three-day event, with the overall point getter being crowned champ. I wouldn’t mind seeing the same thing. I’m not sure I would shift importance to the weekend point champ over the Cup race winner, but I like the idea.
- I was impressed by the efforts of the Nebraska Cup committee again. They’ve done a good job of wrangling up prizes and pub for the show. As Bo Pelini would say, the show “isn’t there yet,” (in terms of crowd, which was decent, but could be bigger) but it’s on a good trend up. The car quality is fine. When other classes ask where their big show is or why they weren’t featured, maybe they need to get a (insert class here) committee going. It’s easy to talk.
- The season may be over for me - I might go to the Beatrice Octoberfest if the weather holds up. But otherwise, it was an interesting 2010. It’s also time to rest and enjoy the offseason.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Respect part 2: To whom much is given, much is required
The above phrase, while often attributed to John F. Kennedy is a condensed version of Luke 12:48. I’m not trying to get religious or metaphysical, but it’s an appropriate statement for many aspects of life, racing being one of them.
Let’s take the sole approach that fans go to see good racing. Now, I’m a believer it’s more than that, but the racing is certainly a major element if it isn’t the biggest one.
What happens on the track should amaze and astound. It should be something above and beyond the average person’s capabilities. There are always those who are “living the dream” but in most cases the drivers in the classes paying the most do things at a level the fan, nor I could do without a combination of serious practice, talent and money (or the ability to get it - a talent itself). Bottom line is, they are extraordinary feats and the further away from the reach of the average person the better.
And people pay proportionately for bigger and better in all walks of life.
I think one of the biggest mistakes promoters (and I mean all of them around here) have made is trying to promote the idea that no one class stands above another. In an effort to secure all that back gate goody, promoters - whether intentionally or not have been doing a good job knocking a David Copperfield illusion down to the level of rabbit out of a hat, just so not to offend the novice tricksters.
It’s due to fail for the simple fact that it’s not true. Get past the color of the money at the pit gate and four wheels on the car and the similarity ends. The fan sees this and any attempt to fool them is destructive behavior.
Asking for prime ticket and concession money to pay the expenses or running more and more classes is like watering down the booze at the bar. Pretty soon, it’s just plain ol’ H2O- something one can get anywhere and asking a premium is not just ridiculous, but offensive. Why go to the bar?
Why go to the track?
Entertainment (and paying for it) isn’t about watching what everyone else does. It’s about the magician, the actor, the larger-than-life character.
But with that comes higher expectations. For all the respect given by default there is an obligation to be filled in this implied contract. Simply participating isn’t allowed. Earning show-up points should be a bad night. Putting around the track isn’t acceptable, nor should it be. Racing to the level of your competition or just cherry picking to avoid tougher competition isn’t the way either - fans will see who the “also-rans” are pretty quick.
The risk must be greater, the cars faster, the racing more competitive. The machines never started out as something innocuous as a grocery getter. They’re pupose-built, or they’re modified beyond any practical purpose on the road. They aren’t driven to the track, they’re towed. They’re precise and every part is about going faster or safer. No extra bits. And the people who wheel them must have the skills, talent and courage to squeeze the most out of that. This is where the “heroes” reside and the fans want to see a house full of them.
The commitment level has to increase across the field as domination by one driver is as bad as ineptitude by all. Watching a rag-tag group of disproportionate competitiveness isn’t fair to the fans - they don’t want one hero, they want all of them to be heroes.
It’s that quest to continually elevate oneself - that is what is required and where respect is earned.
-Jason
Let’s take the sole approach that fans go to see good racing. Now, I’m a believer it’s more than that, but the racing is certainly a major element if it isn’t the biggest one.
What happens on the track should amaze and astound. It should be something above and beyond the average person’s capabilities. There are always those who are “living the dream” but in most cases the drivers in the classes paying the most do things at a level the fan, nor I could do without a combination of serious practice, talent and money (or the ability to get it - a talent itself). Bottom line is, they are extraordinary feats and the further away from the reach of the average person the better.
And people pay proportionately for bigger and better in all walks of life.
I think one of the biggest mistakes promoters (and I mean all of them around here) have made is trying to promote the idea that no one class stands above another. In an effort to secure all that back gate goody, promoters - whether intentionally or not have been doing a good job knocking a David Copperfield illusion down to the level of rabbit out of a hat, just so not to offend the novice tricksters.
It’s due to fail for the simple fact that it’s not true. Get past the color of the money at the pit gate and four wheels on the car and the similarity ends. The fan sees this and any attempt to fool them is destructive behavior.
Asking for prime ticket and concession money to pay the expenses or running more and more classes is like watering down the booze at the bar. Pretty soon, it’s just plain ol’ H2O- something one can get anywhere and asking a premium is not just ridiculous, but offensive. Why go to the bar?
Why go to the track?
Entertainment (and paying for it) isn’t about watching what everyone else does. It’s about the magician, the actor, the larger-than-life character.
But with that comes higher expectations. For all the respect given by default there is an obligation to be filled in this implied contract. Simply participating isn’t allowed. Earning show-up points should be a bad night. Putting around the track isn’t acceptable, nor should it be. Racing to the level of your competition or just cherry picking to avoid tougher competition isn’t the way either - fans will see who the “also-rans” are pretty quick.
The risk must be greater, the cars faster, the racing more competitive. The machines never started out as something innocuous as a grocery getter. They’re pupose-built, or they’re modified beyond any practical purpose on the road. They aren’t driven to the track, they’re towed. They’re precise and every part is about going faster or safer. No extra bits. And the people who wheel them must have the skills, talent and courage to squeeze the most out of that. This is where the “heroes” reside and the fans want to see a house full of them.
The commitment level has to increase across the field as domination by one driver is as bad as ineptitude by all. Watching a rag-tag group of disproportionate competitiveness isn’t fair to the fans - they don’t want one hero, they want all of them to be heroes.
It’s that quest to continually elevate oneself - that is what is required and where respect is earned.
-Jason
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
ASCS Midwest Season Finale Friday at I-80
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (September 20, 2010) – The American Sprint Car Series Midwest Region puts the wraps on a big 2010 season by taking to Nebraska Raceway Park’s 4/10-mile I-80 Speedway dirt oval this Friday night.
And, when Friday’s final ASCS Midwest checkered flag of 2010 has flown, Eric Lutz of Sioux Falls, SD, will officially enter the record books as this year’s ASCS Midwest champion.
Lutz, a perennial contender for the Northern Plains title with rankings among the top three over each of the past four season, has amassed an insurmountable 325 point lead through the opening 19 events of the season.
Along the way, Lutz picked off his fourth career ASCS Regional triumph with a June 25 win at Hartford, South Dakota’s I-90 Speedway. In five previous ASCS Midwest events at I-80 Speedway this season, a pair of fourth-place runs are the best of three top-tens for Lutz.
Lutz leads the ASCS Midwest points race over Jack Dover, Doug Lovegrove, Brian Brown and Lee Grosz.
Eleven different drivers have posted at least one ASCS Midwest win thus far in 2010, with Missouri’s Brian Brown setting the standard with five wins including a pair at I-80 Speedway. Jason Johnson has three Midwest wins to his credit, Dover and Shane Stewart have two wins, with single triumphs posted by Lutz, Chad Humston, Ryan Roberts, Bronson Maeschen, Jake Peters, Dustin Morgan and Danny Wood.
Dustin Morgan and Dover opened the 2010 ASCS Midwest campaign with April wins at I-80 Speedway and Shane Stewart took a Memorial Day weekend victory at I-80 before Brown topped both the Fourth of July weekend and Labor Day weekend events at I-80.
Friday’s action at I-80 Speedway fires off at 7:00 p.m.
Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway is located in Greenwood, NE, between Lincoln and Omaha off I-80 Exit 420, then 0.4 mile north on SR 63 then west. For more information, contact the track at 402-342-3453 or 402-659-3301.
The ASCS Midwest Region has completed 16 nights of competition in 2010 at seven different tracks throughout Nebraska and the surrounding areas of Missouri, South Dakota and Iowa, with just one night of competition remaining after this weekend’s triple.
In its 19th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing, the American Sprint Car Series brings the best of Sprint Car racing to approximately 100 different tracks throughout 30 states and Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
Past ASCS Regional Winners at I-80 Speedway:
9/3/10 – Brian Brown (Midwest)
7/2/10 – Brian Brown (Midwest)
5/27/10 – Shane Stewart (Midwest)
4/17/10 – Jack Dover (Midwest)
4/16/10 – Dustin Morgan (Midwest)
7/2/09 – Brian Brown (Midwest)
5/21/09 – Chad Humston (Midwest)
4/11/09 – Jonathan Cornell (Midwest)
4/10/09 – Billy Alley (Midwest)
8/14/07 – Jack Dover (Midwest)
4/15/07 – Chuck Swenson (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
4/14/07 – Brian Brown (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
8/15/06 – Billy Alley (Midwest)
7/3/06 – Jake Peters (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
4/8/06 – Brian Brown (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
And, when Friday’s final ASCS Midwest checkered flag of 2010 has flown, Eric Lutz of Sioux Falls, SD, will officially enter the record books as this year’s ASCS Midwest champion.
Lutz, a perennial contender for the Northern Plains title with rankings among the top three over each of the past four season, has amassed an insurmountable 325 point lead through the opening 19 events of the season.
Along the way, Lutz picked off his fourth career ASCS Regional triumph with a June 25 win at Hartford, South Dakota’s I-90 Speedway. In five previous ASCS Midwest events at I-80 Speedway this season, a pair of fourth-place runs are the best of three top-tens for Lutz.
Lutz leads the ASCS Midwest points race over Jack Dover, Doug Lovegrove, Brian Brown and Lee Grosz.
Eleven different drivers have posted at least one ASCS Midwest win thus far in 2010, with Missouri’s Brian Brown setting the standard with five wins including a pair at I-80 Speedway. Jason Johnson has three Midwest wins to his credit, Dover and Shane Stewart have two wins, with single triumphs posted by Lutz, Chad Humston, Ryan Roberts, Bronson Maeschen, Jake Peters, Dustin Morgan and Danny Wood.
Dustin Morgan and Dover opened the 2010 ASCS Midwest campaign with April wins at I-80 Speedway and Shane Stewart took a Memorial Day weekend victory at I-80 before Brown topped both the Fourth of July weekend and Labor Day weekend events at I-80.
Friday’s action at I-80 Speedway fires off at 7:00 p.m.
Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway is located in Greenwood, NE, between Lincoln and Omaha off I-80 Exit 420, then 0.4 mile north on SR 63 then west. For more information, contact the track at 402-342-3453 or 402-659-3301.
The ASCS Midwest Region has completed 16 nights of competition in 2010 at seven different tracks throughout Nebraska and the surrounding areas of Missouri, South Dakota and Iowa, with just one night of competition remaining after this weekend’s triple.
In its 19th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing, the American Sprint Car Series brings the best of Sprint Car racing to approximately 100 different tracks throughout 30 states and Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
Past ASCS Regional Winners at I-80 Speedway:
9/3/10 – Brian Brown (Midwest)
7/2/10 – Brian Brown (Midwest)
5/27/10 – Shane Stewart (Midwest)
4/17/10 – Jack Dover (Midwest)
4/16/10 – Dustin Morgan (Midwest)
7/2/09 – Brian Brown (Midwest)
5/21/09 – Chad Humston (Midwest)
4/11/09 – Jonathan Cornell (Midwest)
4/10/09 – Billy Alley (Midwest)
8/14/07 – Jack Dover (Midwest)
4/15/07 – Chuck Swenson (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
4/14/07 – Brian Brown (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
8/15/06 – Billy Alley (Midwest)
7/3/06 – Jake Peters (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
4/8/06 – Brian Brown (Midwest vs. Northern Plains)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Head Games
While I said I wouldn't talk of this again, recent high-profile events in the NFL make it worth mentioning. But, this will be the last I say (for now) on the issue.
The subject of concussions in sports, particularly football is gaining notoriety especially with last week’s injuries of two Philadelphia Eagles starters, one of which, former Husker Stewart Bradley, fell in a stupor after his hit. Last Sunday Dallas star Jason Witten suffered a concussion in what seemed like a simple fall. His blowup with the Dallas doctor refusing to let him return (the right call) was the subject of much of sports talk. ESPN’s Gregg Easterbrook has a good piece on the need to address head injuries in his weekly column.
You probably know where I’m going with this one...if not, rewind back to June 11. TWO drivers suffered injuries that night, one of which suffered an admitted head injury. I’m leaving out names because it applies to ANYONE and I don’t want to single anyone out just because of who they are. Nary a word was said about his return despite suffering injuries worse than the ones suffered by the players mentioned above. And indeed, the feat was celebrated on track and later on TV. By the way, I’m not claiming innocence; I’ve already chastised (rationalized?) myself in all this.
In the ballplayer’s cases, the two Eagles were not allowed to return to PRACTICE for five days, and neither was cleared to play in the following week’s game - much less driving 100 MPH.
This isn’t about “manning up,” balls, or whatever testosterone-fueled adjective you want to apply. It isn't about racing being a dangerous sport. We know that. Is it not dangerous enough for you? It’s about the fact that head injuries may have severe long term effects that aren’t visible to the naked eye. It’s not like a burn or a broken bone.
Knowing what we know about the brain, it’s high time that tracks, sanctioning bodies, insurance companies and, most of all, participants and fans get wise to the macho charade and demand proper steps are followed before letting the wounded back into the battle.
Concussion tests that can be administered by anyone - at least High School coaches - are available. It’s the least anyone at a track could do at the time of any hit or flip on the track. Appoint one of the safety crew to do the test. And, after any injury where a concussion is documented, require signed releases from a NEUROLOGIST before return.
Times have changed. Statesmen used to settle differences with pistols at dawn, and doctors told you smoking was good for you.
We’ve evolved past that. The more science shows the long term effects of repeated head injuries, letting drivers return to the track prematurely isn’t going to make them look heroic.
It will make us look barbaric.
- Jason
The subject of concussions in sports, particularly football is gaining notoriety especially with last week’s injuries of two Philadelphia Eagles starters, one of which, former Husker Stewart Bradley, fell in a stupor after his hit. Last Sunday Dallas star Jason Witten suffered a concussion in what seemed like a simple fall. His blowup with the Dallas doctor refusing to let him return (the right call) was the subject of much of sports talk. ESPN’s Gregg Easterbrook has a good piece on the need to address head injuries in his weekly column.
You probably know where I’m going with this one...if not, rewind back to June 11. TWO drivers suffered injuries that night, one of which suffered an admitted head injury. I’m leaving out names because it applies to ANYONE and I don’t want to single anyone out just because of who they are. Nary a word was said about his return despite suffering injuries worse than the ones suffered by the players mentioned above. And indeed, the feat was celebrated on track and later on TV. By the way, I’m not claiming innocence; I’ve already chastised (rationalized?) myself in all this.
In the ballplayer’s cases, the two Eagles were not allowed to return to PRACTICE for five days, and neither was cleared to play in the following week’s game - much less driving 100 MPH.
This isn’t about “manning up,” balls, or whatever testosterone-fueled adjective you want to apply. It isn't about racing being a dangerous sport. We know that. Is it not dangerous enough for you? It’s about the fact that head injuries may have severe long term effects that aren’t visible to the naked eye. It’s not like a burn or a broken bone.
Knowing what we know about the brain, it’s high time that tracks, sanctioning bodies, insurance companies and, most of all, participants and fans get wise to the macho charade and demand proper steps are followed before letting the wounded back into the battle.
Concussion tests that can be administered by anyone - at least High School coaches - are available. It’s the least anyone at a track could do at the time of any hit or flip on the track. Appoint one of the safety crew to do the test. And, after any injury where a concussion is documented, require signed releases from a NEUROLOGIST before return.
Times have changed. Statesmen used to settle differences with pistols at dawn, and doctors told you smoking was good for you.
We’ve evolved past that. The more science shows the long term effects of repeated head injuries, letting drivers return to the track prematurely isn’t going to make them look heroic.
It will make us look barbaric.
- Jason
What's up
Got a lot of irons in the fire right now.
I've got one editorial coming, a pace lap column, and a followup to my "Respect" editorial coming soon.
I've got one editorial coming, a pace lap column, and a followup to my "Respect" editorial coming soon.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Respect Part 1: What would you say you do here?
What...what would you say...you DO here?
- Bob Slidell - from the movie Office Space
I had an email exchange with a former sport compact owner and I’ve had other exchanges and discussions on the same line as well as seeing this repeatedly on message boards. It was civil discussion in all cases.
And it doesn’t apply to compacts either, it can apply to a broad level to any “support” class, but in the real world, that class comes up in the discussion of “respect.”
It seems they don’t get much.
So, outside of making money for the promoter - what else is there? Is this the only argument? It seems to be the go-to argument whenever a fan of the class feels slighted.
Let’s start with competitiveness.
You could argue that at some places - Eagle had many different winners and the championship came down to the final night. At other tracks though, it seems the titles were well in hand before the final night - look at Beatrice and Junction Motor Speedway. The competition factor is track and season dependent. Some places and some years it’s good, others not so much. And, you could say that with any other class.
Next up: I’m a fan of everyone because I’m a TRUE RACING FAN!!!”
Oh really? This is my favorite. And it seems to be told to the guy who says he doesn’t like the “cheaper” class. No, the guy who rags on the expensive class is treated like a hero, a man of the people. Stickin’ it to the elitists.
In my experience, people who insist they believe that are as phony as a three dollar bill.
Let me ask: what do you think of that battle between Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber in Formula 1? How about the rise of Sebastien Ogier in the World Rally Championship? What do you think of the new F1 track in Texas? How about the new car in the IndyCar series? Been to the SCCA Solo Championships in Lincoln yet?
What? Boring? Don’t pay attention? “Rich boy racing?”
I guess you’re not a true racing fan either.
Finally: What about that “racing spirit?”
No matter what class, anyone who is willing to put time and effort into a car and take it out every weekend has that racing spirit. Top to bottom...all the way up from compacts to sprints and late models.
In the end, I don’t begrudge the compact class itself or the concept. It’s an entry point into the sport, it gives young drivers and novices the chance to learn the etiquette of racing (if not the actual car control for rear wheel drives), it gives the less-heeled a chance to run under the lights, and the pit gate money collected versus the low purse paid helps fund other classes’ purses (read: Sprints, Super Late models, and maybe even “A” Modifieds).
If not for them, keeping those other classes on the track would be much harder for the promoter. Supporters may see the class as key to a show’s success, detractors may call it a necessary evil.
This is what they do here.
But to me - that’s all it is. Nothing more. I understand the need; I respect that. The support classes have a lot in common with the more expensive divisions. They have the right to be there.
But there are differences. I’m not going to put the accomplishments of the entry level class on the same level as the more expensive ones above it. If that’s the “respect” you want, then I have none for you. The money, the complexity, the road to success, the skill level, the work required are much harder and to me that translates into the accomplishments being greater.
I have been on both sides, even at my own track. As 360 sprints, we were the kings of the show one Saturday, and "f-in 360's" when the Outlaws came to town the next.
To grow the sport we don’t need less elitism. We need more of it. I’ll explain in part two.
- Bob Slidell - from the movie Office Space
I had an email exchange with a former sport compact owner and I’ve had other exchanges and discussions on the same line as well as seeing this repeatedly on message boards. It was civil discussion in all cases.
And it doesn’t apply to compacts either, it can apply to a broad level to any “support” class, but in the real world, that class comes up in the discussion of “respect.”
It seems they don’t get much.
So, outside of making money for the promoter - what else is there? Is this the only argument? It seems to be the go-to argument whenever a fan of the class feels slighted.
Let’s start with competitiveness.
You could argue that at some places - Eagle had many different winners and the championship came down to the final night. At other tracks though, it seems the titles were well in hand before the final night - look at Beatrice and Junction Motor Speedway. The competition factor is track and season dependent. Some places and some years it’s good, others not so much. And, you could say that with any other class.
Next up: I’m a fan of everyone because I’m a TRUE RACING FAN!!!”
Oh really? This is my favorite. And it seems to be told to the guy who says he doesn’t like the “cheaper” class. No, the guy who rags on the expensive class is treated like a hero, a man of the people. Stickin’ it to the elitists.
In my experience, people who insist they believe that are as phony as a three dollar bill.
Let me ask: what do you think of that battle between Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber in Formula 1? How about the rise of Sebastien Ogier in the World Rally Championship? What do you think of the new F1 track in Texas? How about the new car in the IndyCar series? Been to the SCCA Solo Championships in Lincoln yet?
What? Boring? Don’t pay attention? “Rich boy racing?”
I guess you’re not a true racing fan either.
Finally: What about that “racing spirit?”
No matter what class, anyone who is willing to put time and effort into a car and take it out every weekend has that racing spirit. Top to bottom...all the way up from compacts to sprints and late models.
In the end, I don’t begrudge the compact class itself or the concept. It’s an entry point into the sport, it gives young drivers and novices the chance to learn the etiquette of racing (if not the actual car control for rear wheel drives), it gives the less-heeled a chance to run under the lights, and the pit gate money collected versus the low purse paid helps fund other classes’ purses (read: Sprints, Super Late models, and maybe even “A” Modifieds).
If not for them, keeping those other classes on the track would be much harder for the promoter. Supporters may see the class as key to a show’s success, detractors may call it a necessary evil.
This is what they do here.
But to me - that’s all it is. Nothing more. I understand the need; I respect that. The support classes have a lot in common with the more expensive divisions. They have the right to be there.
But there are differences. I’m not going to put the accomplishments of the entry level class on the same level as the more expensive ones above it. If that’s the “respect” you want, then I have none for you. The money, the complexity, the road to success, the skill level, the work required are much harder and to me that translates into the accomplishments being greater.
I have been on both sides, even at my own track. As 360 sprints, we were the kings of the show one Saturday, and "f-in 360's" when the Outlaws came to town the next.
To grow the sport we don’t need less elitism. We need more of it. I’ll explain in part two.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
ASCS Midwest Set for Big Weekend Triple
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (September 7, 2010) - A big weekend looms for
the American Sprint Car Series Midwest Region with a first-time Missouri
venue on Friday night leading into a pair of Nebraska events on Saturday and
Sunday.
The weekend kicks off with a $1,500 to win event at Warrensburg's Central
Missouri Speedway on Friday night, moves on to McCool Junction's Junction
Motor Speedway for a $3,000 to win tilt on Saturday night and then concludes
with Sunday night's $5,000 to win Nebraska Cup at Eagle Raceway.
After narrowly missing out on the Northern Plains title over each of the
past four years, Sioux Falls shoe Eric Lutz is closing in on his first
series title entering the weekend with an advantage of more than 200 points
over Waverly, Nebraska's Doug Lovegrove in the ASCS Midwest points chase.
Only the September 24 season final at I-80 Speedway remains after this
weekend's triple.
Springfield, Nebraska's Jack Dover is third in points despite a limited
Midwest slate of events and served notice Saturday night that he has put
recent injuries behind him with a "tuneup" win at Eagle Raceway.
Two-time Northern Plains champion Lee Grosz of Harwood, ND, is currently
fourth in Midwest points, with Brian Brown, winner of five Midwest features
this season including this past weekend's event at I-80, in fifth.
Friday's card at Central Missouri Speedway marks the first Sprint Car event
atop the Warrensburg dirt track since 2005 after a scheduled April 30 event
fell victim to rain. The Winged Outlaw Warriors, led by the likes of top
title contenders Eric Todd, Tyler Blank, J. Kinder, Jonathan Cornell and Jon
Corbin, will join in on Friday's festivities.
Junction Motor Speedway, a staple on the ASCS Midwest Regional tour since
its inception in 2005, hosts the series for the third and final time of 2010
on Saturday night. In nine previous ASCS Midwest events at McCool Junction,
Brian Brown ranks as the only driver to top more than one feature with three
victories. Ryan Roberts and Chad Humston have reached victory lane at
Junction Motor Speedway in 2010.
Sunday's $5,000-to-win Nebraska Cup at Eagle Raceway also includes in excess
of $1,000 in lap money donated by fans and businesses. Tony Bruce, Jr.,
outdueled Jesse Hockett to win the 2009 edition of the Nebraska Cup. Just
20 years old now, Jack Dover topped the previous two editions of the
Nebraska Cup in 2007 and 2008.
Friday's action at Central Missouri Speedway gets under way at 7:30 p.m.,
Saturday's green flag at Junction Motor Speedway flies at 7:00 p.m. and
Sunday's proceedings fire off at 6:30 p.m.
Central Missouri Speedway is located in Warrensburg, MO, 3.5 miles north of
US 50 on SR 13 at the junction of CR V. For more information, contact the
track at 660-747-2166.
Junction Motor Speedway is located 5.6 miles south of York, NE, off I-80
Exit 353 on US 81, then 0.3 miles west on CR 4. For more information,
contact the track at 402-773-5538.
Eagle Raceway is located in Eagle, NE, off I-80 Exit 420, then 11 miles
south to SR 63, then west. For more information, contact the track at
402-781-2243 or 402-238-2595.
The ASCS Midwest Region has completed 16 nights of competition in 2010 at
seven different tracks throughout Nebraska and the surrounding areas of
Missouri, South Dakota and Iowa, with just one night of competition
remaining after this weekend's triple.
In its 19th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing, the American Sprint Car
Series brings the best of Sprint Car racing to approximately 100 different
tracks throughout 30 states and Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint
Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different
Regions throughout the nation.
Past ASCS Regional Winners at Central Missouri Speedway:
None - First ASCS Regional event at Central Missouri Speedway
Past ASCS Midwest Region Winners at Junction Motor Speedway:
7/1/10 - Chad Humston
5/28/10 - Ryan Roberts
5/22/09 - Shane Stewart
6/27/08 - Brian Brown
6/29/07 - Brian Brown
5/25/07 - Garry Lee Maier
6/30/06 - Brian Brown
5/26/06 - Jake Peters
5/27/05 - Jason Danley
Past ASCS Midwest Region Winners at Eagle Raceway:
6/12/10 - Jason Johnson (with National)
6/11/10 - Danny Wood (with National)
9/12/09 - Tony Bruce, Jr.
9/7/08 - Jack Dover
7/19/08 - Jack Dover
7/21/07 - Mike Boston
7/22/06 - Wade Nygaard
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available
at www.ascsracing.com.
the American Sprint Car Series Midwest Region with a first-time Missouri
venue on Friday night leading into a pair of Nebraska events on Saturday and
Sunday.
The weekend kicks off with a $1,500 to win event at Warrensburg's Central
Missouri Speedway on Friday night, moves on to McCool Junction's Junction
Motor Speedway for a $3,000 to win tilt on Saturday night and then concludes
with Sunday night's $5,000 to win Nebraska Cup at Eagle Raceway.
After narrowly missing out on the Northern Plains title over each of the
past four years, Sioux Falls shoe Eric Lutz is closing in on his first
series title entering the weekend with an advantage of more than 200 points
over Waverly, Nebraska's Doug Lovegrove in the ASCS Midwest points chase.
Only the September 24 season final at I-80 Speedway remains after this
weekend's triple.
Springfield, Nebraska's Jack Dover is third in points despite a limited
Midwest slate of events and served notice Saturday night that he has put
recent injuries behind him with a "tuneup" win at Eagle Raceway.
Two-time Northern Plains champion Lee Grosz of Harwood, ND, is currently
fourth in Midwest points, with Brian Brown, winner of five Midwest features
this season including this past weekend's event at I-80, in fifth.
Friday's card at Central Missouri Speedway marks the first Sprint Car event
atop the Warrensburg dirt track since 2005 after a scheduled April 30 event
fell victim to rain. The Winged Outlaw Warriors, led by the likes of top
title contenders Eric Todd, Tyler Blank, J. Kinder, Jonathan Cornell and Jon
Corbin, will join in on Friday's festivities.
Junction Motor Speedway, a staple on the ASCS Midwest Regional tour since
its inception in 2005, hosts the series for the third and final time of 2010
on Saturday night. In nine previous ASCS Midwest events at McCool Junction,
Brian Brown ranks as the only driver to top more than one feature with three
victories. Ryan Roberts and Chad Humston have reached victory lane at
Junction Motor Speedway in 2010.
Sunday's $5,000-to-win Nebraska Cup at Eagle Raceway also includes in excess
of $1,000 in lap money donated by fans and businesses. Tony Bruce, Jr.,
outdueled Jesse Hockett to win the 2009 edition of the Nebraska Cup. Just
20 years old now, Jack Dover topped the previous two editions of the
Nebraska Cup in 2007 and 2008.
Friday's action at Central Missouri Speedway gets under way at 7:30 p.m.,
Saturday's green flag at Junction Motor Speedway flies at 7:00 p.m. and
Sunday's proceedings fire off at 6:30 p.m.
Central Missouri Speedway is located in Warrensburg, MO, 3.5 miles north of
US 50 on SR 13 at the junction of CR V. For more information, contact the
track at 660-747-2166.
Junction Motor Speedway is located 5.6 miles south of York, NE, off I-80
Exit 353 on US 81, then 0.3 miles west on CR 4. For more information,
contact the track at 402-773-5538.
Eagle Raceway is located in Eagle, NE, off I-80 Exit 420, then 11 miles
south to SR 63, then west. For more information, contact the track at
402-781-2243 or 402-238-2595.
The ASCS Midwest Region has completed 16 nights of competition in 2010 at
seven different tracks throughout Nebraska and the surrounding areas of
Missouri, South Dakota and Iowa, with just one night of competition
remaining after this weekend's triple.
In its 19th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing, the American Sprint Car
Series brings the best of Sprint Car racing to approximately 100 different
tracks throughout 30 states and Canada. Anchored by the Lucas Oil Sprint
Car Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of ten different
Regions throughout the nation.
Past ASCS Regional Winners at Central Missouri Speedway:
None - First ASCS Regional event at Central Missouri Speedway
Past ASCS Midwest Region Winners at Junction Motor Speedway:
7/1/10 - Chad Humston
5/28/10 - Ryan Roberts
5/22/09 - Shane Stewart
6/27/08 - Brian Brown
6/29/07 - Brian Brown
5/25/07 - Garry Lee Maier
6/30/06 - Brian Brown
5/26/06 - Jake Peters
5/27/05 - Jason Danley
Past ASCS Midwest Region Winners at Eagle Raceway:
6/12/10 - Jason Johnson (with National)
6/11/10 - Danny Wood (with National)
9/12/09 - Tony Bruce, Jr.
9/7/08 - Jack Dover
7/19/08 - Jack Dover
7/21/07 - Mike Boston
7/22/06 - Wade Nygaard
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available
at www.ascsracing.com.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
I-80 ASCS & MLRA/NCRA Photos
Plenty of pics from Friday's ASCS Sprints and the MLRA/NCRA Show at I-80 Speedway
I-80 Sept. 3 2010 Photos
I-80 Sept. 3 2010 Photos
Thursday, September 02, 2010
The Pace Lap - September 2, 2010
- Well, we’re starting to hit what soccer fans call “added time.” For us the encore to the regular season is arguably the “month of money” at the local level. Season point championships are over, or nearly completed and special shows conclude the season. I like that. I’ve never really though much of the end of the points season being the final show at a track. For all but a few racers/fans with vested interest in the final standings, it’s always come off as anti-climactic to me.
- In contrast, the "second season" (or is it the third with the early spring shows) starts this weekend with some noteworthy events. The State Championship races, promoted by Johnny Saathoff kick off the weekend at Beatrice on Friday night, with $1000 to the modified winner and thousands in contingency prizes for racers and fans.
- Farther north, I-80 puts out a top-tier twin-bill with ASCS Sprints and MLRA Super Late Models. Figure 8 racing rounds out the program. Once popular decades ago, figure 8 racing is making a comeback, and more than just a novelty act. A recent article in Circle Track magazine highlights a series composed of reinforced late models, doing serious battle each week. They’ve also added a compact division to the mix as support.
- Speaking of compacts and support classes: WE GET IT, THEY NEED TO BE THERE TO HELP THE BACK GATE AND THE PROMOTER’S BOTTOM LINE! That’s not lost on anyone but the most myopic dolt, so if you think stating that publicly makes you come off as intelligent, well you come off as bragging about climbing a ditch - good for you. Now go pick up your Legos.
- But to that - one thing I think would help overcome some perception as compacts being on the lowest rung of a lengthening ladder of support classes would be to make it different. I’m not suggesting Figure 8’s, but maybe something that the other classes can’t do well - turning right. Hey, when I see compacts strap the two-wheel trailer to the back of the car it came in on and run the trailer race, then why not mix in a right turn?
Places like Eagle and JMS could easily create a pseudo-road course in the infield. Throw a chicane on the straightaway if you didn’t want to do that. Maybe, with a few additions to the safety lights, add a clockwise night to the track, or by race! It can be done and it doesn’t have to be a novelty act or comical.
To those that take offense to the compacts being derided consider that just like any other sport, one is compared to any group doing the same thing you are. Minor leagues vs. major leagues, Nationwide to Sprint Cup, pro vs. amateur, slowest to fastest. If you’re all running on the same track, turning left four times, you’ll always be on that pecking order.
Do something different, and you’re in a class by yourself.
- Derision - one team that doesn’t deserve any is the fire & rescue team at any race track. Mostly staffed by eager volunteers, they’re often asked to do much more than just tending to the injured. Many times they serve as brute force to turn over cars, clean up spills, and so on. I’ve been to some tracks whose safety crews have been...sketchy. The groups we see around these parts are first-class.
- Most places (but not all) are wisely taking Saturday night off. Come September the sea of red rules and running against Big Red is a big mistake, unless you want to give the grandstand workers the night off. Eagle is scheduling its Endless Summer event with invite-only races in all their weekly classes featuring former NASCAR star Ken Schrader and a concert by surf-rock veterans Al Jardine and Dean Torrence on Sunday.
Just because I like to nitpick and love verbal vinegar - this is not a makeup of the infamous Beach Boys concert that ended in a deluge nearly two decades ago. The Beach Boys were done with their set and Chicago was lining up to play prior to the rain.
But who am I to complain? I won’t be there anyway. I'm more interested in having 3 straight days where I don't have to be anywhere. Invite only races can be good - sometimes - and 50’s rock just isn’t my thing. Maybe when I realized The Fonz was really just a whiny dude from Manhattan it ruined my view of that decade and it affected my subconscious.
- In a little swipe at Eagle, I-80 promoted its season finale that same night with the line “forget the beach” on their Facebook page. It’s since been removed. Remember at the beginning of the year when there was a conflict between the two tracks over a sprint car date? Former track owner and promoter Craig Kelley mediated a deal between the two, one of the stipulations being that Eagle wouldn’t run a free ticket giveaway special on that night. Remember last year, Eagle’s free ticket giveaway brought an overflow crowd to the speedway right against I-80’s championship night.
Well, I guess Eagle didn’t do a free ticket giveaway....
I guess we all would like to see those famous words from Rodney King, “can’t we all just get along?” take form in the racing world, it seems the reality is more along the lines of Reginald Denny and “Football” Williams.
OK, enough of my half as smart and twice as snarky attempts to sound like Dennis Miller.
- The fact we’re back to jackets and the season’s winding down doesn’t mean we don’t have some fun shows coming. Along with this weekend’s racing, we have Nebraska Cup weekend Sept 11-12 at JMS with a $3K to win ASCS sprint show and the finale at Eagle paying $5K to win. Last year had over 50 sprint cars make the Eagle trip, concluding with a duel between Tony Bruce, Jr. and the late Jesse Hockett which in my opinion was not just the best race of the year, but one of the best I’d seen at Eagle ever as it was slice-and-dice throughout the field.
The Jake Ita memorial takes place Sept. 11&12 at Wavelink Raceway Park if you’d like to take a look at the future stars of the bigger tracks.
And we’re not done! I-80’s Cornhusker Classic has about anything you could want: Sprints, Super Late Models (MLRA, NCRA and SLMR), Modifieds, Motorcycles, stock cars of all varieties stretched over three days. Beatrice finishes off with Octoberfest and JMS concludes with the Cool McCool 100.
There’s plenty of racing left, folks. Bundle up!
- In contrast, the "second season" (or is it the third with the early spring shows) starts this weekend with some noteworthy events. The State Championship races, promoted by Johnny Saathoff kick off the weekend at Beatrice on Friday night, with $1000 to the modified winner and thousands in contingency prizes for racers and fans.
- Farther north, I-80 puts out a top-tier twin-bill with ASCS Sprints and MLRA Super Late Models. Figure 8 racing rounds out the program. Once popular decades ago, figure 8 racing is making a comeback, and more than just a novelty act. A recent article in Circle Track magazine highlights a series composed of reinforced late models, doing serious battle each week. They’ve also added a compact division to the mix as support.
- Speaking of compacts and support classes: WE GET IT, THEY NEED TO BE THERE TO HELP THE BACK GATE AND THE PROMOTER’S BOTTOM LINE! That’s not lost on anyone but the most myopic dolt, so if you think stating that publicly makes you come off as intelligent, well you come off as bragging about climbing a ditch - good for you. Now go pick up your Legos.
- But to that - one thing I think would help overcome some perception as compacts being on the lowest rung of a lengthening ladder of support classes would be to make it different. I’m not suggesting Figure 8’s, but maybe something that the other classes can’t do well - turning right. Hey, when I see compacts strap the two-wheel trailer to the back of the car it came in on and run the trailer race, then why not mix in a right turn?
Places like Eagle and JMS could easily create a pseudo-road course in the infield. Throw a chicane on the straightaway if you didn’t want to do that. Maybe, with a few additions to the safety lights, add a clockwise night to the track, or by race! It can be done and it doesn’t have to be a novelty act or comical.
To those that take offense to the compacts being derided consider that just like any other sport, one is compared to any group doing the same thing you are. Minor leagues vs. major leagues, Nationwide to Sprint Cup, pro vs. amateur, slowest to fastest. If you’re all running on the same track, turning left four times, you’ll always be on that pecking order.
Do something different, and you’re in a class by yourself.
- Derision - one team that doesn’t deserve any is the fire & rescue team at any race track. Mostly staffed by eager volunteers, they’re often asked to do much more than just tending to the injured. Many times they serve as brute force to turn over cars, clean up spills, and so on. I’ve been to some tracks whose safety crews have been...sketchy. The groups we see around these parts are first-class.
- Most places (but not all) are wisely taking Saturday night off. Come September the sea of red rules and running against Big Red is a big mistake, unless you want to give the grandstand workers the night off. Eagle is scheduling its Endless Summer event with invite-only races in all their weekly classes featuring former NASCAR star Ken Schrader and a concert by surf-rock veterans Al Jardine and Dean Torrence on Sunday.
Just because I like to nitpick and love verbal vinegar - this is not a makeup of the infamous Beach Boys concert that ended in a deluge nearly two decades ago. The Beach Boys were done with their set and Chicago was lining up to play prior to the rain.
But who am I to complain? I won’t be there anyway. I'm more interested in having 3 straight days where I don't have to be anywhere. Invite only races can be good - sometimes - and 50’s rock just isn’t my thing. Maybe when I realized The Fonz was really just a whiny dude from Manhattan it ruined my view of that decade and it affected my subconscious.
- In a little swipe at Eagle, I-80 promoted its season finale that same night with the line “forget the beach” on their Facebook page. It’s since been removed. Remember at the beginning of the year when there was a conflict between the two tracks over a sprint car date? Former track owner and promoter Craig Kelley mediated a deal between the two, one of the stipulations being that Eagle wouldn’t run a free ticket giveaway special on that night. Remember last year, Eagle’s free ticket giveaway brought an overflow crowd to the speedway right against I-80’s championship night.
Well, I guess Eagle didn’t do a free ticket giveaway....
I guess we all would like to see those famous words from Rodney King, “can’t we all just get along?” take form in the racing world, it seems the reality is more along the lines of Reginald Denny and “Football” Williams.
OK, enough of my half as smart and twice as snarky attempts to sound like Dennis Miller.
- The fact we’re back to jackets and the season’s winding down doesn’t mean we don’t have some fun shows coming. Along with this weekend’s racing, we have Nebraska Cup weekend Sept 11-12 at JMS with a $3K to win ASCS sprint show and the finale at Eagle paying $5K to win. Last year had over 50 sprint cars make the Eagle trip, concluding with a duel between Tony Bruce, Jr. and the late Jesse Hockett which in my opinion was not just the best race of the year, but one of the best I’d seen at Eagle ever as it was slice-and-dice throughout the field.
The Jake Ita memorial takes place Sept. 11&12 at Wavelink Raceway Park if you’d like to take a look at the future stars of the bigger tracks.
And we’re not done! I-80’s Cornhusker Classic has about anything you could want: Sprints, Super Late Models (MLRA, NCRA and SLMR), Modifieds, Motorcycles, stock cars of all varieties stretched over three days. Beatrice finishes off with Octoberfest and JMS concludes with the Cool McCool 100.
There’s plenty of racing left, folks. Bundle up!
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Nebraska State Championship show Friday at Beatrice Speedway
BEATRICE, Neb. (Sept. 1) – The Nebraska State Championship race program
moves to Beatrice Speedway, with four IMCA sanctioned divisions on the
Friday, Sept. 3 program.
IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and a minimum of $100 to start the
headline feature, which lands the winner on the ballot for the 2011 Fast
Shafts All-Star Invitational. Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods chase a top
check of $400, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run for $250 to win and first place
for the Mach-1 Sport Compacts pays $100.
National, regional and Allstar Perfomance State points will be awarded and
more than $8,000 in cash, product and product certificates will be given to
mystery position finishers. Another $2,000 in cash and other giveaways go to
grandstand spectators.
Pit gates open at 4 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m., hot laps are at
6:45 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Spectator admission is $12 for
adults, $5 for kids and free for youngsters six and under. Pit passes are
$25.
More information is available from promoter Johnny Saathoff at 888 290-9696
and at the www.jetracinginc.com website.
Presented by RevHoney Energy, the Friday special is sponsored by Don Hagan &
Sons, Pinnacle Bank, Jet Racing and Northeast Auto.
The Nebraska State Championship show had previously been held at Lincoln.
The 18th annual event will also be the first Kenny Parde Memorial program.
moves to Beatrice Speedway, with four IMCA sanctioned divisions on the
Friday, Sept. 3 program.
IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and a minimum of $100 to start the
headline feature, which lands the winner on the ballot for the 2011 Fast
Shafts All-Star Invitational. Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods chase a top
check of $400, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks run for $250 to win and first place
for the Mach-1 Sport Compacts pays $100.
National, regional and Allstar Perfomance State points will be awarded and
more than $8,000 in cash, product and product certificates will be given to
mystery position finishers. Another $2,000 in cash and other giveaways go to
grandstand spectators.
Pit gates open at 4 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m., hot laps are at
6:45 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Spectator admission is $12 for
adults, $5 for kids and free for youngsters six and under. Pit passes are
$25.
More information is available from promoter Johnny Saathoff at 888 290-9696
and at the www.jetracinginc.com website.
Presented by RevHoney Energy, the Friday special is sponsored by Don Hagan &
Sons, Pinnacle Bank, Jet Racing and Northeast Auto.
The Nebraska State Championship show had previously been held at Lincoln.
The 18th annual event will also be the first Kenny Parde Memorial program.
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