Via ASCS Midwest
Plenty of Contingencies for the Midwest Fall Brawl
There will be plenty of contingency money at stake at the Midwest Fall Brawl at I-80 Speedway on Friday, September 21 & Saturday, September 22. The ASCS Midwest Sprint Car Series will be closing out its 2012 racing season with complete programs each night paying $2,500 win and $300 to start.
In addition, there will be plenty of contingency awards for the Sprinters. Hot Rod Paintless Dent Repair is paying $1,000 of the $1,400 King of the Hill purse with the winner receiving $500. Hot Rod Paintless Dent Repair is also sponsoring the Hard Charger Award which pays $750 each night. Searsboro Telephone Company has posted $1,200 for a reverse point fund for drivers finishing 6th thru 15th in total points for the two nights, with 6th receiving $60 and 15th receiving $200. Finally, Electrical Systems is paying $300 each night in a Podium Draw.
On Friday night unsanctioned B Mods will join the Sprint Cars with the winner receiving $700. The race will be part of the I-80/Adams County Top Ten Challenge in conjunction with Adams County Speedway's "Tradition" on Saturday, September 22. A reverse point fund has been set up by the two tracks with the driver who finishes first in total points for the two nights receiving $50 and the 10th place driver receiving $200. Starky's Bar & Grill will be paying $250 to the B Mod Hard Charger and Industrial Electric Motors & Total Winding Supplies will pay $200 in a Podium Draw.
On Saturday night, unsanctioned Grand Nationals will be racing for $700 to win. They also have contingencies with Motion Industries paying $250 for the Hard Charger Award and Industrial Electric Motors & Total Winding Supplies paying $200 in a Podium Draw.
The Good Old Time Racing Association (GOTRA) will also be racing on Saturday night. Pits open at 4 pm with Grandstands opening at 5:30 pm and racing at 7:15 pm. Grandstand Admission is $15 per night or you can purchase a two day ticket for $15 if you call (402)-342-3453 thru Monday, September 17. Juniors (6-12) are $5 with 5 and under free. Pit Passes will be $30. For more information, visit www.i-80speedway.com or call (402)-342-3453.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Midwest Fall Brawl King of the Hill
Via ASCS Midwest
The Midwest Fall Brawl Sprint Car King of the Hill will feature drivers from the top 12 in 2012 season points from the ASCS Midwest, Eagle/Nebraska, Knoxville Raceway (both 360 or 410's as one category) and Invaders (those drivers who are not in the top 12 in any of the above standings). Each night the highest finishing driver in the feature from those four categories will advance to the King of the Hill. If Friday should rain out, we will take the top two in each category from Saturday nights feature to the King of the Hill. Top 12 in each category are listed below:
All drivers not included in the above lists are considered Invaders
Several drivers are on the list for both the ASCS Midwest and another category. The ASCS Midwest Region selection is chosen first. If a driver on more than one list qualifies, he must take the ASCS Midwest selection first. (ie. If Trevor Grossenbacher were to win on Friday night, he would be an ASCS representative, even though he is higher in Eagle points. If Jordan Boston were to win the race then he would be the ASCS Midwest Representative and if Grossenbacher finished second he would be the Eagle/Nebraska representative).
The first round will pair the two from ASCS Midwest, then the two from Eagle/Nebraska points, then the two from Knoxville and finally the two Invaders. The second round will feature the ASCS Midwest winner .vs. Eagle/Nebraska winner and then the Knoxville winner .vs. the Invader winner. Then the two winners will meet for the King of the Hill title.
Lane choice in the first round will go to the driver lower in points for each classification. In the second round, Eagle/Nebraska and Knoxville winners will get lane choice and in the final round lane choice will go to the driver who finished the lowest in Saturday night's feature.
The winner of the King of the Hill receives $500, second $200. Drivers eliminated in the second round receive $150 with drivers eliminated in the first round receiving $100.
The Midwest Fall Brawl Sprint Car King of the Hill will feature drivers from the top 12 in 2012 season points from the ASCS Midwest, Eagle/Nebraska, Knoxville Raceway (both 360 or 410's as one category) and Invaders (those drivers who are not in the top 12 in any of the above standings). Each night the highest finishing driver in the feature from those four categories will advance to the King of the Hill. If Friday should rain out, we will take the top two in each category from Saturday nights feature to the King of the Hill. Top 12 in each category are listed below:
All drivers not included in the above lists are considered Invaders
Several drivers are on the list for both the ASCS Midwest and another category. The ASCS Midwest Region selection is chosen first. If a driver on more than one list qualifies, he must take the ASCS Midwest selection first. (ie. If Trevor Grossenbacher were to win on Friday night, he would be an ASCS representative, even though he is higher in Eagle points. If Jordan Boston were to win the race then he would be the ASCS Midwest Representative and if Grossenbacher finished second he would be the Eagle/Nebraska representative).
The first round will pair the two from ASCS Midwest, then the two from Eagle/Nebraska points, then the two from Knoxville and finally the two Invaders. The second round will feature the ASCS Midwest winner .vs. Eagle/Nebraska winner and then the Knoxville winner .vs. the Invader winner. Then the two winners will meet for the King of the Hill title.
Lane choice in the first round will go to the driver lower in points for each classification. In the second round, Eagle/Nebraska and Knoxville winners will get lane choice and in the final round lane choice will go to the driver who finished the lowest in Saturday night's feature.
The winner of the King of the Hill receives $500, second $200. Drivers eliminated in the second round receive $150 with drivers eliminated in the first round receiving $100.
ASCS Midwest Championship Weekend at I-80
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Region
Midwest Fall Brawl Double-Header!
Friday Sept. 21st * Saturday Sept. 22nd
I-80 Speedway * Greenwood, NE
$2500 to win each night!
* $750 Hard Charger Each Night!
* (8) Car King of the Hill $500 to win!
* Special point fund for total points position 6th thru 15th!
* A drawing for a $300 bonus to (1) driver
who finishes 2nd thru 5th each night!
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Championship Weekend
For more info: Call Chuck Zitterich 605-212-2408
Midwest Fall Brawl Double-Header!
Friday Sept. 21st * Saturday Sept. 22nd
I-80 Speedway * Greenwood, NE
$2500 to win each night!
* $750 Hard Charger Each Night!
* (8) Car King of the Hill $500 to win!
* Special point fund for total points position 6th thru 15th!
* A drawing for a $300 bonus to (1) driver
who finishes 2nd thru 5th each night!
Speedway Motors ASCS Midwest Championship Weekend
For more info: Call Chuck Zitterich 605-212-2408
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Nebraska Cup Thoughts
This
Sunday I attended my last race of the season, the 2012 Nebraska Cup.
With the fate of the 360’s sealed as a weekly show (done), I felt that I
needed to make it out to the race. A nice afternoon with a cool evening
led to a fast track and racy track with good races as Jason Johnson three-peated and
walked out with not only the winner’s share of $5,000 but every cent of
the lap leader money as he mastered all 30 circuits starting from the
pole position. It was a good show all around. Some unfortunate accidents
as both Don Droud Jr. and Tige Jensen broke axles sending them on rough
tumbles. Jensen was dominating his heat race before his crash. Mike
Boston got on his head on the opening lap of the A in a nowhere-to-go
accident resulting from chaos down the front stretch.
But Johnson put on the proverbial clinic, with Jack Dover taking another Ford-powered sprinter to second, briefly challenging on a late-race restart.
Some thoughts in and around the track:
- Not sure if it’s the last Nebraska Cup featuring the 360 Sprints. I’ve heard that there will be a few 360 sprint races at Eagle, but under the ASCS Midwest banner. The annual Eagle Nationals is also expected to return, probably as another ASCS National Tour event.
- The “50th Anniversary” 305-cubic inch sprinter made several circuits of the track during intermission. While certainly no slouch, and the car will still be the fastest thing on Saturday nights, the difference was evident. Some over the radio made derisive comments mocking the “not a real sprint car” sentiment and stated “I beg anyone to tell the difference!” I could, easily. It was not subtle. They were noticeably quieter and slower. A sprint car, yes. But different. After several months away during the offseason a casual fan may not be able to tell next year, but that night it was very evident. The hype from the paid employees was damped a little when they folks upstairs refused to put the car’s lap times on the scoreboard. But I understand given the speeds set during the heats, which included some of the fastest 360’s in the country, combined with the 305 not in ‘race mode,’ maybe the similarities were best left to speculation. No need to fan any flames.
- That said, I wish the 305’s success next year. I also wish the 360 group success as well, with maybe a little more enthusiasm than II had before. Not being privy to all the details, but meetings with representatives from the ASCS Midwest are pointing to a partnership with the sanctioning body as opposed to a separate touring series. There will be some distinctions and group-only incentives. We’ll find out more.
- I tip my hat to the Hobby Stock and Sport Mod groups. Particularly the Hobbies. They put on a very clean show. For all the bumpin’ and grindin’ they do on the track, they find a way to keep the cars straight come feature time. With Eagle being more of a “rhythm” track, the Hobby Stocks have a NASCAR on the super-speedway quality to them. And generally, that race isn’t decided until the late laps. The Sport Mods have gone past their infancy looking like dogs on linoleum to produce some clean racing of their own. But the pegging rev limiters is something I can’t get used to.
- An observation made by push truck driver, friend and fellow wise-cracker Mike Peterson was very astute: what may have relieved the tensions between the Eagle teams and management was...a rainout. Or a couple of them. Let the misery of the past week die off. But each (hot) weekend, the tempers and bad blood continued to maintain their heat. It was an interesting take because three people, from three different teams said something similar - and unsolicited from me. The constant weekly schedule took a toll on their wallets, their personal lives, their desire to be there. Couple this with the back-gate promoter mentality of needing to have the doors open every week to the pit-pass-paying masses or to the premier class drawing the front gate and you have a grind that takes out even the most serious racer. Another reason I dislike the concept of the back gate nature of the sport. I’m looking at you RPM. I’ve always thought a break would help. It’s getting a promoter willing to turn off that money spigot that’s the problem. On the other hand, burn ‘em out and that well runs dry.
- More talk, but under-the-breath statements suggest there may be more than a few of the local 360 guys willing to run with the 305’s at Eagle, either with restrictors, or going to purchase a 305 motor entirely. In some cases the thought of rebuilding a 360 vs. buying a new 305 is leaning in the 305’s favor. I’m not expecting a mass defection, but there may be more familiar faces at the track than we are led to believe next season. The factor most often cited - and the trump card in Roger’s hand is: they get to race close to home (and their sponsors). We’ll see how it turns out.
Until the next time.
-Jason
But Johnson put on the proverbial clinic, with Jack Dover taking another Ford-powered sprinter to second, briefly challenging on a late-race restart.
Some thoughts in and around the track:
- Not sure if it’s the last Nebraska Cup featuring the 360 Sprints. I’ve heard that there will be a few 360 sprint races at Eagle, but under the ASCS Midwest banner. The annual Eagle Nationals is also expected to return, probably as another ASCS National Tour event.
- The “50th Anniversary” 305-cubic inch sprinter made several circuits of the track during intermission. While certainly no slouch, and the car will still be the fastest thing on Saturday nights, the difference was evident. Some over the radio made derisive comments mocking the “not a real sprint car” sentiment and stated “I beg anyone to tell the difference!” I could, easily. It was not subtle. They were noticeably quieter and slower. A sprint car, yes. But different. After several months away during the offseason a casual fan may not be able to tell next year, but that night it was very evident. The hype from the paid employees was damped a little when they folks upstairs refused to put the car’s lap times on the scoreboard. But I understand given the speeds set during the heats, which included some of the fastest 360’s in the country, combined with the 305 not in ‘race mode,’ maybe the similarities were best left to speculation. No need to fan any flames.
- That said, I wish the 305’s success next year. I also wish the 360 group success as well, with maybe a little more enthusiasm than II had before. Not being privy to all the details, but meetings with representatives from the ASCS Midwest are pointing to a partnership with the sanctioning body as opposed to a separate touring series. There will be some distinctions and group-only incentives. We’ll find out more.
- I tip my hat to the Hobby Stock and Sport Mod groups. Particularly the Hobbies. They put on a very clean show. For all the bumpin’ and grindin’ they do on the track, they find a way to keep the cars straight come feature time. With Eagle being more of a “rhythm” track, the Hobby Stocks have a NASCAR on the super-speedway quality to them. And generally, that race isn’t decided until the late laps. The Sport Mods have gone past their infancy looking like dogs on linoleum to produce some clean racing of their own. But the pegging rev limiters is something I can’t get used to.
- An observation made by push truck driver, friend and fellow wise-cracker Mike Peterson was very astute: what may have relieved the tensions between the Eagle teams and management was...a rainout. Or a couple of them. Let the misery of the past week die off. But each (hot) weekend, the tempers and bad blood continued to maintain their heat. It was an interesting take because three people, from three different teams said something similar - and unsolicited from me. The constant weekly schedule took a toll on their wallets, their personal lives, their desire to be there. Couple this with the back-gate promoter mentality of needing to have the doors open every week to the pit-pass-paying masses or to the premier class drawing the front gate and you have a grind that takes out even the most serious racer. Another reason I dislike the concept of the back gate nature of the sport. I’m looking at you RPM. I’ve always thought a break would help. It’s getting a promoter willing to turn off that money spigot that’s the problem. On the other hand, burn ‘em out and that well runs dry.
- More talk, but under-the-breath statements suggest there may be more than a few of the local 360 guys willing to run with the 305’s at Eagle, either with restrictors, or going to purchase a 305 motor entirely. In some cases the thought of rebuilding a 360 vs. buying a new 305 is leaning in the 305’s favor. I’m not expecting a mass defection, but there may be more familiar faces at the track than we are led to believe next season. The factor most often cited - and the trump card in Roger’s hand is: they get to race close to home (and their sponsors). We’ll see how it turns out.
Until the next time.
-Jason
Saturday, September 08, 2012
The Case Against Parity
I used to believe that parity in racing was a good thing. That is, until I talked one day to a former Eagle track champion. He said, "we talk about 11 winners in 11 weeks - but does that mean they're all good? Or are they just average?" Of course, I won't say who because it may come off as disparaging.
But they could be all good, they could be all mediocre. Doesn't really matter.
I've railed on before about too many classes and how racing has become too niched and too egalitarian. Sub classes of subclasses pollute the track with half-filled features...or in the worst case: packed fields so evenly matched that picking the winner could just be a matter of random chance.
The champ followed up: "what this place (Eagle) needs is a bad guy." You can't manufacture bad, you can't claim "bad" (no amount of skull graphic wraps and black will work). It has to be bestowed upon you.
What this sport needs and lacks is a real feud. The man in black against the rest of the world. "The Intimidator" or his nemesis Jeff Gordon. Schumacher versus Hakkinen. And that's just history in my world. Racing lore is packed with stories of rivalry.
But the stories are from the past... We haven't just lost a man in black...the sport has lost a lot of its color. And again, no fluorescent-colored wraps or loud graphics gives that back. Feuds now are between one guy and the guy who claimed him. Maybe it was the guy who took him out. It's lost on the rest of us.
Color was seeing one J.J. Riggins pull in front of the stands after a win at Midwest Speedway to a chorus of boos and middle-finger salutes. It was people wearing 'Anybody but Riggins' T-shirts, ironically supplied (in secret) by the villain himself. It was a grandstand that rocked so hard the video camera replay shook as Don Maxwell battled Riggins for the lead coming out of turn four.
The color, the feuds, the villainy and heroism came from winning. One guy was dominant. One guy was always up front. Maybe there were heroic challengers who often won one for the 'good guys,' but there was always a black hat among them.
Maybe that's not what the fans want anymore (though the WWE seems to run with it). But unlike the WWE, that kind of dominance is hard to manufacture in classes so tightly regulated, so cost conscious and egalitarian that part-time racers all have the same gear and all have the same (lack of) experience. There are no differentiators.
These 'spec' classes are the worst. The playing field is leveled down with laser-like precision. It's not a good thing.
Vanilla. And not the good kind. More like ice-milk vanilla (lowercase v).
Sometimes I think the sprint cars were the last bastion of that - at least on a night to night basis there was a guy who was just head and shoulders above the rest. There's good racing, and there's just the guy who's leading on the last lap (NASCAR's worst problem). I think we have too much of the latter.
But I think I'm the last of a dying breed. Maybe it isn't about that anymore. Maybe the generation that's just 'happy to be there' Facebooking, Instagramming and tweeting about how much fun they're having is what it's about. Maybe it's always been that way.
It's just not my scene, man.
Perhaps I'm as outdated as that last phrase.
-Jason
But they could be all good, they could be all mediocre. Doesn't really matter.
I've railed on before about too many classes and how racing has become too niched and too egalitarian. Sub classes of subclasses pollute the track with half-filled features...or in the worst case: packed fields so evenly matched that picking the winner could just be a matter of random chance.
The champ followed up: "what this place (Eagle) needs is a bad guy." You can't manufacture bad, you can't claim "bad" (no amount of skull graphic wraps and black will work). It has to be bestowed upon you.
What this sport needs and lacks is a real feud. The man in black against the rest of the world. "The Intimidator" or his nemesis Jeff Gordon. Schumacher versus Hakkinen. And that's just history in my world. Racing lore is packed with stories of rivalry.
But the stories are from the past... We haven't just lost a man in black...the sport has lost a lot of its color. And again, no fluorescent-colored wraps or loud graphics gives that back. Feuds now are between one guy and the guy who claimed him. Maybe it was the guy who took him out. It's lost on the rest of us.
Color was seeing one J.J. Riggins pull in front of the stands after a win at Midwest Speedway to a chorus of boos and middle-finger salutes. It was people wearing 'Anybody but Riggins' T-shirts, ironically supplied (in secret) by the villain himself. It was a grandstand that rocked so hard the video camera replay shook as Don Maxwell battled Riggins for the lead coming out of turn four.
The color, the feuds, the villainy and heroism came from winning. One guy was dominant. One guy was always up front. Maybe there were heroic challengers who often won one for the 'good guys,' but there was always a black hat among them.
Maybe that's not what the fans want anymore (though the WWE seems to run with it). But unlike the WWE, that kind of dominance is hard to manufacture in classes so tightly regulated, so cost conscious and egalitarian that part-time racers all have the same gear and all have the same (lack of) experience. There are no differentiators.
These 'spec' classes are the worst. The playing field is leveled down with laser-like precision. It's not a good thing.
Vanilla. And not the good kind. More like ice-milk vanilla (lowercase v).
Sometimes I think the sprint cars were the last bastion of that - at least on a night to night basis there was a guy who was just head and shoulders above the rest. There's good racing, and there's just the guy who's leading on the last lap (NASCAR's worst problem). I think we have too much of the latter.
But I think I'm the last of a dying breed. Maybe it isn't about that anymore. Maybe the generation that's just 'happy to be there' Facebooking, Instagramming and tweeting about how much fun they're having is what it's about. Maybe it's always been that way.
It's just not my scene, man.
Perhaps I'm as outdated as that last phrase.
-Jason
Goodbye to a Friend (no, not that sappy)
A couple weeks ago I said goodbye to a racing friend: my Nikon
D300 digital camera (I sold it). For the better part of three years, it was a pro-grade
machine that I felt may have been an important catalyst in improving my
photography skills at the track. It still holds its own in any sporting arena,
despite the advent of some incredible new technology.
But this isn’t about photography or cameras. It’s symbolic. You
see, for as much as Photography has been a part of my life, not just as a practitioner
and also a student of the history and the art as well as a technological expert (though my attitude
may suggest otherwise, I don’t often call myself an ‘expert’ often) I didn’t
use the D300 much for anything but racing. Smaller, lighter, though less advanced cameras dominate my personal work.
The point is this: each year despite being a full-time
photographer – at least as an avocation – the most advanced weapon in my
arsenal sits idle in the off-season. To sell this camera without reservation was
not an indicator of my financial state but the willingness to part with what
has become a regular racing companion.
My interest in the sport isn't what it was six or even 10 years ago. It’s amazing how a
family changes the way you look at things. There are other reasons and I’ll talk
about those in future pieces. But, I knew that if I were to let go of what I
thought was vital equipment, then my sentiments are much more deeply rooted
than simply needing a break.
This weekend, I’ll be at the Nebraska Cup, shooting with an
older camera – the one I replaced with the D300. But looking back through old
photos, I was surprised by the amount of decent work I did with much less
equipment. Maybe the improvement wasn’t about the gear – but it was about
improving personally since I started shooting regularly 6 years ago.
Perhaps I not only had enthusiasm for the art, but what was
unfolding in front of me. I was more careful with what I did. I was more of…a
fan. Not full-blooded fanatic, but the traces of fandom still ran through me. How do I know?
Because for the first time in over 20 years I know what being a fan feels like
again. I’ll talk about that next time.
P.S. - and for those saying here's another one of your "retirement speeches," well maybe. But I'll have some salient points about what I feel is the state of the sport soon.
P.S. - and for those saying here's another one of your "retirement speeches," well maybe. But I'll have some salient points about what I feel is the state of the sport soon.
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