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Re: Kevin Miller experiment
Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon: |
Re: Kevin Miller experiment
Originally Posted by OpenwheelRob: David. |
Originally Posted by Ovalmeister: Posted via Mobile Device |
Re: Kevin Miller experiment
Kirk, walk away from your free paying job now ,and find a sponsor and put your own race team together and let us know how it works out.:22:
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Re: Kevin Miller experiment
How many current USAC stars, Dave Darland, etc. race regularly at places like Kokomo, Gas City and Bloomington on off weekends?
Is this just to keep the reflexes sharp, or does the $1200 or whateve these tracks pay to win actually come in handy in paying the bills after racing season ends? Ron Shuman's name was mentioned earlier. In the late 90's, he co-sanctioned a race at Terre Haute with USAC that paid $17,000 to win. I thought that this was going to be the event that would grow into traditional sprint car's version of the Knoxville Natls. I don't know what happened, but in succeeding yeas, every time SCRA came back here, USAC schduled against them. (And these are guys who work for a living and use vacation time to travel). At the same time, for the most part, the only time you seen midwest drivers at the Western World or Oval Natls. was in a western car. I have not done the math, but it seems to me, that the majority of USAC races are scheduled in or near Indiana, with a few trips around the country. Closer to an All Star type racing than the WoO National series. The All Stars go to Fla. in the winter and do a Thunder Through the Plains in the summer, and a trip or two to Pa. each year. Add a trip to Ca. in the fall, and you'd have a schedule very similar to USAC and probably about as many competitors who use up all of their vacation time on these trips. I would LOVE to see USAC become a series that could support 10 to 15 full time teams traveling the country, and paying the racers a livable wage. |
Re: Kevin Miller experiment
Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon: |
Re: Kevin Miller experiment
Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon: 10 sprints and 11 midgets at a "national" event in Indiana is just tragic. How long do you think the "faithful followers" are gonna be able to make a living at that rate? If you don't understand that, you just don't understand anything. :15: David ---------- Post added at 08:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:02 PM ---------- Originally Posted by usac1957: David |
Originally Posted by usac1957: Posted via Mobile Device |
Re: Kevin Miller experiment
I think Kirk has this right when he says a strong core supplemented by attracting locals at the tour stops is what makes a national series work. That is certainly how WOO works with local and regional guys coming in and out of tour as it moves along. I personally get excited to see a local driver who shows up and hangs with the big guys with everything stacked against them for the most part
I also would like to see these three USAC classes thrive with the touring pros being able to make a living at it. I think non wing cars are a lot more fun to watch and running on dirt and pavement makes it even better. Not sure how WOO did it but it has created a more sustainable business model than USAC with less exciting racing. All of this took place well before current USAC management got in. I think you saw the core at Salem 11 or 12 cars per division. In 2007 it was probably 20 core teams with another 20 -30 local track regulars moving up for several races. In those days Salem would have 25 cars and sprint weeks 65. There are about 20 cars missing in action on average this year. Someone mentioned Stewart and Khane cutting back next year . If these wealthy , powerful well connected guys can't make it work that tells you something about all of motorsports right now. Even Kyle Busch had to cut down on his beloved Late Model team. USAC has a tough row to hoe but it ultimately is still one of the most exciting series there is. I think the ingredients are there to create a great racing product . They need to make some right moves during the downturn and prepare it for growth when the economic conditions improve... Live to play another day. That is what a lot of us have had to do this year in business. That means cancelling some races for the balance of the year and having less races next year . I guarantee car counts would go up as would attendance per show and costs would go down. Everyone would be better off. |
Re: Kevin Miller experiment
Originally Posted by Sprint63122: |
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