*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: For quite some time now followers of dirt racing in all of its forms have longed for more light to be shed on the sport at the national level. Most broadcasts of dirt racing tend to be on a pay-per-view basis that are likely to only attract people who are already fans. Airings of races on a broader basis have typically been limited to replays run at “off” times on networks that do not cast a particularly wide net.
Ironically, during a nationwide shutdown of pretty much every sport there is, dirt racing enthusiasts are now getting what they hoped for in the form of live coverage of the sport in prime time on well known national networks. The twist is that it’s not “real” racing that is getting the coverage but rather virtual racing on the iRacing.com platform.
When NASCAR races were postponed, the Fox television network began airing eRacing events which have proven to be quite popular among the sports-starved population of the United States. As a result, Fox Sports 1 has begun showing World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series races in the iRacing.com format live on Wednesday nights with commentators and NASCAR personalities Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer as part of the broadcast.
So why is the airing of what essentially amounts to a video game more feasible than the live airing of actual dirt racing events?
In my opinion, the key is the efficiency of the show. When the eRacing event comes on TV, it is ready to go. There is no water truck or packer cars circulating around the track with announcers then having to improvise commentary for an extended period of time while the track is being readied. Or there is no long and drawn out support race running with caution after caution pushing the start of the race everyone tuned in for further back.
I love dirt racing but there are times when the sport cannot get out of its own way.
The lesson iRacing can teach the actual version of the sport is that of efficiency within the program. If this brand of motorsports ever wants to be seen on a larger scale, it has to become better at running its shows.
I know we have addressed this on multiple occasions but the fact that a video game version of dirt racing can be televised nationally in prime time on a well known network but the actual version cannot ought to send out a clear message, shouldn’t it?
Michael: I’m sure there are plenty of fans, as well as some promoters, asking why these virtual races can be broadcast on national TV while their actual events are not.
As you mentioned, there are numerous things that slow a dirt racing event. Those things cannot be eliminated. But other things can be eliminated, or at least limited. The good thing about the national series for both Late Models and Sprint Cars is they limit the number of support classes. This makes for a more timely show and gives fans what they want to see, the headliner of the night.
Both World of Outlaws tours and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series run efficient programs. There are always things that hinder the show such as weather delays, bad crashes that take a long time to clean up, or something else. I do feel those three series are in a position to pitch themselves to a broader national TV audience. The TV producers can package the broadcast in such a way where time trials and heat races are recorded and shown in highlight form on a delay much like the various networks have done with the NHRA. Then show any consolation races and the main event in a live window. The broadcast could go from 8:00 to 10:00 or 8:30 to 10:30.
But there also has to be a willingness of the TV networks to show these events. FS1 has various sports they show and it might be tougher for them to show live dirt racing events. NBC Sports Network carries a wide variety of motorsports programming. I would think they would be more likely to carry some of these events.
But is the interest there for them? That is something we do not know.
Richard: There are many tracks and series that do a good job of keeping their shows running in an efficient manor. The early season races at East Bay Raceway Park provide an excellent example of a program being run in a timely way.
One significant thing about those events, however, is that there is only one class running each night which makes it easier to stay on schedule. Most promoters will tell you that they are not willing to run such a show as the money they make from their pit gate is very important to the bottom line.
In terms of becoming more viable nationally, the things I am talking about can be helped. The idea of “we’ve always done it this way” has to go by the wayside if those involved truly want the sport to expand to a broader audience. There may be some out there who are quite happy with the way things are run right now and have little desire for expansion. And there’s nothing wrong with that if everyone else involved is on board.
Some tracks, for example, are adamant about not putting cars on the track until after the sun goes down. In the middle of summer that might mean nothing is happening until as late as 8:30. Some promoters feel the need to insert an intermission into the middle of a program that is already running late. In some cases, the lineup will not be adjusted throughout the night to move the primary feature up even if things are running behind and numerous fans have driven long distances to see that one race.
Whether we’re talking about expanding the sport or just having the sport be the best it can be, there is always room for improvement, right?
Michael: There is always room for improvement on most anything. You mentioned making money at the pit gate. Many promoters would be leery of doing a live television event where they make no money themselves off the broadcast. Their hope is that exposure pays off for their other events. But that is sort of taking place now with the streaming broadcasts of the two national Late Model series. Promoters I have spoken to about this say they are getting nothing from those broadcasts as it is. Maybe it would be different if they were shown live on a national TV network. I would hope so.
Whether races are to be shown on a national TV network that is in most homes or the steaming broadcasts we see now, there are a number of promoters who do need to expand their own vision if they ever want to draw in a wider range of fans. I believe every promoter should take the time to sit in the stands at his or her own race just to see what it’s like. Often, they are too busy running the show to notice how things go unless something really bad happens. I’m sure quite a few would not like how their program is presented to the paying fans.
Richard: Another aspect of iRacing that has surfaced in the recent running of televised events is that competitors are competitive no matter what the format. As we discussed on InsideCircleTrack.com, tempers can flare even when playing a video game which was evidenced in a reaction on Twitter by @SBR_TeamZero to something said during the broadcast this past Wednesday night.
Mr @ClintBowyer says @Bloomquist_0 needs to get better at @iRacing … well atleast we support it and our driver is doing it because it supports our sponsors… you can’t say the same about your team bud ???? #WhereIsJosh #WoOiRacing
— Scott Bloomquist Racing (@SBR_TeamZero) April 9, 2020
Just like we said on the NASCAR side, it may not be real racing but it does provide us with something to talk about. That said, this is an interesting comment considering that Clint Bowyer Racing is sponsored by the iRacing.com company yet their driver is not part of the action.
Michael: Yeah, that point crossed my mind even before the Team Zero comment. I don’t know if it’s a case of Richards not being invited since it is supported by the World of Outlaws and Richards runs the Lucas series, Richards not interested in participating, or something else.
I did notice Lucas doing their own version. But it doesn’t have quite the buzz, which I’m sure has to do with it being on Facebook Live and not on national TV. There are so many of these popping up that it’s becoming harder to follow who is competing in which one(s), when they are, and who is putting them on.
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