[KOP]

BREAKING NEWS........
Non Wing Sprints Taken Off The Schedule @ Osky In 2014!

(Bill W) December 11, 2013 – Unfortunately, for non-wing fans, the Ultimate Challenge, traditionally held on Tuesday night of Southern Iowa Sprintweek at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa will be taking a break in 2014. Both USAC and Ultimate Challenge promoter Terry McCarl came to the understanding that it was the best course of action for the entities involved.

McCarl explained the decision. “(USAC Competition Director) Jason (McCord) called me and indicated that it was a hard night for his guys to race without another one in the area to go with it. Logistically, it has just become too tough with the costs to fill a field. We both came to an understanding that it was best for the Ultimate Challenge, USAC and the Southern Iowa Speedway to not hold the event in 2014. It’s sad for me, because I love the non-wing shows so much.”

The veteran promoter and racer has seen plenty of adjustments in his career and this will be another. “There are changes in life and you have to roll with the punches as they come,” says McCarl. “We have had a great run to this point with the Ultimate Challenge. The reason we started the race back in 2002 was because Bill McCroskey and I both enjoy non-wing racing. We saw some shows as we were traveling in Indiana and we really enjoyed them. We thought it would be fun to bring them here to Iowa, and it really has become a passion for me. I just love watching those guys in the corner at Oskaloosa battling it out.”

McCord regrets that the Ultimate Challenge will not run this year. “For me personally, it’s heartbreaking,” he says. “I love working with Terry and the whole staff there in Oskaloosa. That part really stinks. We could probably keep on trucking if we had one or at least two other shows up in that area for our drivers. It’s difficult for those guys. Many have full-time jobs, and it’s hard to get away on a Tuesday for just one race.”

USAC has sought other tracks to run their sanction in the area, but has come up empty, mostly due to the busy schedule in central Iowa. “Trying to find a racetrack or promoter to do anything around the weeks of the Knoxville Nationals is difficult,” says McCord. “That is understandable. That’s the unfortunate truth of the matter for Terry and everyone who has built up this great event. He really loves non-wing racing and the fans in that area do to. That’s the unfortunate part.”

McCord noted the decreasing fields in the event as an obstacle right now. “I certainly don’t want anyone to think it’s something that USAC wants to happen,” he says. “If I could tell Terry we can have twenty-four cars that would be one thing, but the past few years the counts have declined as it has become just the one race in the area. Collectively, between Terry and myself, we decided we’d take the one year off and try to find a way to bring it back in 2015. That’s our hope and dream.”

McCarl turns nostalgic when thinking about some of the past Ultimate Challenge events. “I would argue with anyone on Earth that the year Jesse Hockett won the Ultimate Challenge was the best event I’ve ever seen in sprint car racing,” he says. “We had two sets of heats and every single one of them were good. Some were unbelievably great! Then we had a feature finish that went three-wide for the win…if we hadn’t have had transponders, I don’t know if we would have known who won. After every race that night, we saw fans on their feet cheering, and that’s what you look for and thrive on as a promoter. Hopefully, we can bring that thrill back, but at this time, it’s just not in the cards.”

McCarl and his wife Lori are already focusing on the Front Row Challenge and have a lot of surprises in store not only in 2014, but for the 20th running in 2015. “On the bright side, it frees us up to focus on the Front Row Challenge and making it an even bigger and better event,” says Terry. “It also gives us a rain date, which is good for us and the fans. We have some things in store, and we’re working on some big announcements coming up involving making the Front Row Challenge an even bigger and better event.”

Renewal tickets for the 19th Annual Front Row Challenge in 2014 go on sale in February. For more information, call TMAC Promotions at 515 957-0020. For further information, stay tuned to www.OskyChallenges.com!

www.hoseheads.com/billw.html

[Flatrightrear]

Good reasons given for taking a year off.

[Charles Nungester]

I know better to post long replies when I've just woke up. So for now, I will only say. THIS BLOWS! I'll give my reasons later when I can make some sense.

[ThrowbackRacingTeam]

I'll make some sense right now since I am from Iowa and this was my favorite race. The car count started to take a dive when they went to the 2 heat race format and then started cutting the purse. USAC also didn't pay full points because of the format. That, along with non-wing cars becoming so specialized with unnecessary sway bars and such combined to run off car owners, not to mention a poor economy and lack of a CRA or ASCS non-wing tour to go with it. I wish they would've given it another year as 22 cars is becoming the norm a lot of places. The Action Track doesn't fair much better so you might want to start worrying now. This really sucks bad for me and my family. That race was the closest thing to the old Knoxville non-wing days, black dirt, guard rails, big sweeping turns, and fast exciting non- wing racing and occasional hard flips. I will be calling Terry and Jason to voice my disappointment and offer my two cents on how to get more cars there but my guess is they will just fill the night with wings and be done with it. I need a drink and I need it strong.

[Daboy]

Since I live in South Dakota this was the ONLY time I got to see the non wing sprints anywhere near me. They are to me what the Outlaws are to some. I get to see great winged sprint action here every week, so this was allays the highlight of my 10 days at Knoxville. Personally I think it was better when it wasn't sanctioned. Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't it 30 grand to win before sanctioning? And 15 grand after sanctioning? On a positive note I will get to see them in February in Florida this year for the first time. So I will at least get to see them this year. Fan brainstorm idea: Maybe the POWRI group would be interested since Belleville is just a couple days earlier? :-)

[ThrowbackRacingTeam]

It's always been sanctioned, just not by USAC. It started as a SCRA race and brought about 20 or more California cars. I believe the purse dropped for the first time when Bill McCroskey ended his involvement. At the same time, McCarl's kids started running sprint cars. Just a coincidence, i don't know...what do you think? And, contrary to what McCarl claims, I've heard it was actually Ron Shuman's idea to start this race and ran the SCRA tour based on it. It also hurt to lose Lakeside from the schedule around this time. It doesn't matter who's if anyone's fault, it's just as depressing either way. Hopefully it will be back somehow.

[CTtoPA]

When it was part of the Sprint Bandits TnT series it drew 30+ cars and was $30,000 to win.

[BrentTFunk]

I doubt if very many teams will be disappointed.

[Charles Nungester]

Im sure every team and driver who ever won the biggest paying NW race in the country isn't going to miss it one bit.

Im sure having Ultimate Challenge doesn't add to the Resume.

Im sure losing anything paying more than the standard USAC purse isn't going to be missed.

Seriously, I love USAC's format, its not easy to make the feature, Harder still to start up front. I still think that a consi transfer should never start in front of a heat transfer, No matter how good they qualified. Matter of fact, I think that among the heat transfers a passing point system of those transfers should be added to increase competition in the heats. And yes, every year since I can remember there has been a handful of teams that get the majority of Wins.
But yet a good setup and decent motor and you can win from time to time against em. Ive even seen some low budget B.o.a.B teams run up front consistently against em.

I agree with throwback, How do you get others to run with you when they can't have in-board adjusters or would have to add all of it for one race, Have to carry a NW front axle and probably a spare.

The race also is after the halfway mark where teams not in points contention are not likely to make the haul. Add to the fact that its a Tuesday, doesn't help. Like the article said, Most of the drivers have jobs and all of the team owners do.

I agree, Hauling 600 miles for one race is a bit crazy But so is 2000 miles and two weeks and standard purses for all but one of those races. Team that would go to such races that aren't in points contention do so for either big $$$ or a BIG NAME ESTABILISHED RACE like a Turkey Night or Oval Nationals or ULTIMATE CHALLENGE or both, Big Name Race and $$$. It's a shame to lose one. and a bigger shame that none exist within USAC in Indiana. We have a couple higher $$ paying races and for that Im thankful and sometimes just adding $$$ seems to deter the car count and IDK why.

Your mileage may vary.

[Jonr]

While many people like the timing of the event, it makes it hard to package it with anything else. USAC has tried for a couple of years to use this as a spring board to more races and it does not work. The 360 Nationals and the Belleville midget nationals really ties up a lot of racers and fans the weekend before this event. The 410 nationals owns the weekend after.