*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: As this racing season has just about wound to its ending, I thought we should revisit a topic that has been discussed on a couple of occasions here in this forum. That topic is the overall health of weekly racing in this area as well as around the country.
As I pointed out in our last installment of Turn 2 Blog, I have conducted a number of polls using my Twitter account throughout the fall with significant numbers of followers to respond. While these polls are highly unscientific, they do offer at least a glimpse into some of the issues confronting the sport of dirt racing.
In one poll, I asked the question – Given a choice, would you rather go see a full season of weekly races at your local track(25-30 shows) or a few major touring series races(8-10 shows)?
A resounding 69% of the 235 respondents indicated that they would opt for the lesser number of big events rather than the greater number of weekly shows. While I understand that there are a number of fans out there who are very much devoted to their local track and its regular contingent of drivers who strap into their machines and put on entertaining races each week, the number of those who would choose the special events can’t be overlooked by promoters.
During the 2016 season, I attended over 50 races with the vast majority including some sort of touring series as part of the attraction. On at least six occasions it was announced during the night that the track was experiencing its largest crowd ever. Again, each of these races had a touring series event as part of the offering.
At one point last year, I had a representative of an east Tennessee track tell me that the facility had only made money on its special events and had lost money each night it had run its regular weekly show. As a result of these type of numbers, we are seeing more and more tracks in this area and around the country opting to run special events only.
So my question is – Will weekly racing, in and of itself, continue to be a part of the dirt racing landscape over the foreseeable future?
Michael: I don’t have a good answer for that question. In parts of the country where there aren’t many forms of entertainment, weekly racing thrives. In other parts, weekly racing really struggles. But I don’t think the answer can only be found in what part of the country a track is in.
I think there are a number of other factors. One is the type of weekly program a track runs. Which classes run, ticket prices, any other promotions are all part of that equation. Two is the efficiency of the program and what time they start and end. As we have discussed here many times, tracks that don’t get finished until midnight or later don’t realize how tough that is on families that have school-aged children. That diminishes the number of people willing to attend.
Another factor is the perception of weekly racing versus special events. I personally know race fans that have told me they would never go to a weekly race. They go for the Late Models only and don’t want to sit through Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, etc. just to see the one class they came for. Special events have been built up by fans and the racing media (that includes us) as to be the greatest thing in racing. We know there are some great special events and there are some real snoozers. Still, the perception to some is special events are the greatest thing going.
Richard: I agree that much of the issue regarding weekly racing vs. special events is perception. I believe much of that is due to the star power involved. Late Model drivers, whether it be national touring guys or regional racers, are seen by many fans as the stars of the sport. And in today’s social media driven society, people love stars. And certainly, media outlets such as this one play a role in that.
Over the final few weeks of the season, we made it more of a priority to feature at least one of the track’s regular classes in both the live updates we provide from the track on the evening of the race and in the features stories written after the racing action has been completed.
But in the end, much of the decision making process for the average fan comes down to money. Knowing that special events cost more than weekly shows, the average working person who attends dirt races will likely opt to forego weekly races and use their money to see the likes of Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens and Jonathan Davenport compete on the track.
Michael: That is a good point. How much money a person has to spend has a lot to do with it for many fans. But as special event tickets start creeping toward $30 a head and weekly show tickets have held steady at $10, I have started to wonder if fans will opt for more weekly shows or just decide to stay home. It’s a trend worth watching.
Richard: While on the topic of weekly racing and along with my point that we try to spotlight at least one of each track’s regular classes when we cover a special event race on this website, I am going to raise a bit of a beef.
Over the years I have grown to very much dislike the ‘refused tear down’ form of disqualification for numerous reasons. These typically occur when a second place driver puts up money to lodge a protest against the winner.
First and foremost among my reasons for disliking this form of disqualification is something that really affects no one else but those who cover racing. And that is the lack of information disseminated by the tracks once this form of disqualification has occurred. On multiple occasions from multiple tracks I have written a post-race story only to find out later(sometimes days later) that the apparent winner wasn’t the winner after all.
Such a lack of information almost gives the appearance that the tracks don’t want anyone to know what happened. If this is indeed the case, then come up with some type of measure to prevent the ‘refused tear down’ protest from happening such as announcing ahead of time that when extra money is being placed in the pot for a particular class there will be a more stringent post-race inspection, and thus, no protests will be allowed.
Or, tracks could simply let it be known that refusing to submit to a tear down will prevent that car from being entered into any future races at the track until an inspection can be done of the officials.
Another reason I don’t like this type of thing is that I have noticed a number of times such protests are often made just before a big race in that particular class or at a time when there will be a short turnaround for the division in question because of a midweek event. It just seems to me to be a less-than-honorable way to win a race. Then again, so is cheating in the first place.
I guess my point is that tracks could prevent these type of situations by conducting more inspections. What are your thoughts?
Michael: I think that is one thing that is effecting weekly racing from a driver’s participation standpoint. Those who feel a particular driver that is dominating their class is probably cheating. Drivers say the tracks aren’t enforcing the rules. You and I have talked about this in the past. It is getting harder for tracks to get fair, qualified tech people to do serious inspections on a weekly basis. In turn, tracks have placed it on the drivers to keep each other honest by lodging a protest. There have been a few instances where a driver has been protested and a gray area in the rule book comes into play. A driver gets the benefit of the doubt or favoritism comes into play and drivers get mad by going to another track or finally have had enough by quitting. It becomes a vicious cycle that puts the tracks in a difficult position.
Having said all of that, I do feel some of the tracks across the area are lacking some backbone when it comes to enforcing rules. Their fear is they will run off people if someone gets mad for tough enforcement. I feel like the reality is the opposite happens. More drivers get mad over not enforcing the rules than the one who gets busted for cheating.
As far as results, I don’t think tracks are hiding anything, in most cases. I think it comes down to lack of communication from those that have the results of a protest to those responsible for getting out that information.
Richard: I should point out that there are several tracks who do, in fact, do an excellent job of getting information about all aspects of their racing out there.
