*Turn 2 Blog is a regular feature on InsideDirtRacing.com. Here, site operators Michael Moats and Richard Allen take turns offering their thoughts on the dirt racing topics of the day from east Tennessee and beyond.
Richard: We’ve now reached the end of January and have had ‘The Hangover’ at 411 Motor Speedway and the ‘Cabin Fever’ at Boyd’s Speedway. Those two events typically serve as the openers on the dirt racing calendar in our area and this year both went off without a hitch in terms of weather. As a result, it’s safe to say that we are off and running in another racing season.
Furthermore, the ‘Ice Bowl’ at the Talladega Short Track in Alabama and the ‘Winter Shootout’ for NeSmith Series competitors in Ocala, Fla. has allowed some drivers from this region to shine outside the area as Brandon Williams of Crossville and Jamie Perry of Ringgold, GA have been among those to pick up feature wins in distant locales during the early going.
One thing I have noted so far is that the two races I have attended so far(411 and Boyd’s) have had outstanding car counts. The 23 Super Late Models at 411 on a cold New Year’s Eve and 34 cars in that class for the Cabin Fever race was more than I was expecting on both counts. Further, the Crate Late Models added 24 cars to the show at 411 and a staggering 47 at Boyd’s.
The Crate Late Model count at Boyd’s was even more impressive considering that some drivers who would normally compete in that class were in Florida for the previously mentioned Winter Shootout. Add to those numbers that there were 15 Sportsman cars at 411 during a time when many are busy rebuilding their equipment during the off-season and 39 racers were on hand for competition in that class at Boyd’s.
Many believe that car counts serve as an indication of the health of the sport. If that is indeed the case, it appears as if the sport of dirt racing is doing pretty well right now in our region.
Would you agree with that?
Michael: For the most part, I agree with that. Any time you start seeing low car count numbers, panic begins to set in. But I also believe the number of fans that walk through the grandstand gates are equally as important. If these events continue to take place, I can assume the promoters are happy with their attendance. Like you, I was shocked at the number of crates at Boyd’s.
I do see one disturbing trend toward these events. And that is having a practice session the night before these events. It looks as though the promoters are using these practice sessions to supplement money toward their purse in order to make up for lack of attendance by the fans. I can’t say I blame them for this plan. But the other side of this is the result usually produces a dry, slick track surface for the racing itself. That in itself can drive away fans. There is a balancing act that needs to take place for promoters trying to boost their gate money versus having a good racing surface where fans will want to come out and see.
Richard: It is a conundrum for promoters. Obviously they have to make money so the extra practice session offers the opportunity to add to the track’s revenue. But you are right in that the additional laps on the track can cause it to “rubber up” and create one groove racing if the track isn’t properly prepped for the next day.
Striking the balance is the key.
Along the lines of the car counts, one class that has caught my attention of late has been the Open Wheel Modified division that has begun to appear more often here in our region. While the numbers of this class weren’t as high as some of the others at 411 and Boyd’s, it was refreshing to watch cars race that didn’t look basically the same as the class that had just exited the track.
Tazewell Speedway ran this class as part of its weekly shows last year and Wartburg Speedway has offered the Modifieds at that track in the fairly recent past. Other tracks in the area have brought in Modifieds on occasion.
The racing among the Modifieds has been good in the events I have seen but one potential problem I’ve seen is that many of the drivers competing have come from distant places and are only here for special events. Further, the trend in this area has been for one or two tracks to start up a unique division only to have other tracks attempt to copy that success and ultimately divide the class into too many pieces.
Do you think the Modifieds will become part of the regular racing agenda around here?
Open Wheel Modifieds like the one driven by Shon Flanary have been appearing recently in east Tennessee
Michael: I think the jury is still out on that. One of the reasons is the cost of these cars versus the amount of money they typically race for. A driver or potential driver may take a look at the class and find out they can field a Sportsman Late Model or a Crate Late Model for around the same amount of money and have more chances to race for bigger purses.
I would like to see the open wheel class make a comeback in this area. It was 15 years ago that class was pretty strong here. Atomic and Crossville ran the class, Volunteer Speedway used to have really good car counts, and some other tracks flirted with the class. Like you, it’s nice to see something that isn’t yet another Late Model-type class.
You mentioned copycat tracks splitting up the numbers. Tazewell had decent numbers. 411 has decided to run that class this year. Thankfully, Tazewell decided to drop the class for that very reason. I was fearful the open wheels would become another Classic Car class with small numbers split at two tracks.
Richard: To change the subject just a bit, I have noticed and you pointed out on social media, that Golden Isles Speedway has taken a bold step with the pricing of their grandstand tickets for the upcoming Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season opening races to be held at that south Georgia facility. Fans for the Friday night race(Feb. 10), which pays $10,000-to-win, will be charged $10 for admission while those attending the $12,000-to-win Saturday night event(Feb. 11) will pay $15 for entry.
I often hear fans say that lowering ticket prices for races will allow more spectators to come, which in turn, will increase track revenues and make up the difference for the lowered price. At the same time, I have heard promoters say that lowering ticket prices does not make that much of a difference regarding attendance so the track simply loses out on potential profit.
Some tracks have tried this in the past with varying degrees of success or failure. If indeed there was a guarantee that more people would come with a lower admission price it would make sense for tracks to lower the price to get more fans through the gate. That would boost concession sales and other ways tracks have of making money. However, if basically the same number of people are going to show up either way, the tracks have to charge a higher price for the increased purses of their bigger shows or else they will lose money.
I have attended these season opening races at Golden Isles for each of the past three or four years and attendance has definitely not been a problem, with the exception of some weather related issues last year.
It will be interesting to see what happens this year, won’t it?
Michael: I’m anxious to see how this works out. If they are able to pack them in, will other tracks think about following suit? I hope it is a big success because I’d like to see what the reaction is afterwards.
Obviously, ticket prices have been on the increase as the purses (for some) events have increased. We’re now seeing $30 tickets for a $12,000-to-win Lucas race. To this point, that has not been a problem other than the occasional complaints from the chronic complainers. What I am hearing fans complain about are the increased ticket prices for the $5,000-to-win races and ticket prices for the $10,000 to win, two-day shows that have popped up. A few tracks have been charging $25 for the second night of the race that does not include qualifying and heat races and also lacks many stars of the sport. There are more on the schedule this year and I’ll be anxious to see how fans react to those this time around.
Richard: To your point regarding Lucas Oil shows, those events can command higher ticket prices because of the guarantee that Bloomquist, Owens, O’Neal, Lanigan, and now Richards will be there. I believe tracks can justify slightly higher prices for other special events as well, but not an extreme increase. Where I believe tracks may be forced to get more creative with pricing is for their weekly programs. Fans who may be willing to pay a few dollars more to see a big event may also require a price break for a regular event due to having spent their money the week before to get into the special.
Like you, I am interested to see what the turnout at Golden Isles will be like. It could set the tone for the future, one way or the other.
