Re: It’s back!
 

Don't worry, USAC results are posted to FB (just not that this site anymore...); so that should reach a good amount of people from 24-35 years old, at least...

Re: It’s back!
 

I'm not track prep expert, but I got to say, wet tracks have been rough tracks at the Big E. Normally I would keep tilling and water the top. Like between each feature when you have the interviews and stuff going on. Might even have to do it after the b mains due to the heat. With that track going hard slick, I'm just not sure it would have worked. I can't imagine that all of the tractors were gone from the infield. Every single time I have been there, equipment was not lacking. Was it just not used? I am reminded of the Dome race last year. On Thursday night it was smooth but dry. Pretty follow the leader. Everyone was complaining. The next day in the drivers meeting they told all of the drivers, it rained over night, I don't want to here any complaining. Lets just say there was defiantly character to the track the rest of the weekend. Me, I like character. What I don't like is all of the keyboard warriors online complaining that the track crew is going to kill somebody. No matter what track prep, I'm not sure you will ever get a great 50 lap crown race. The midget races were pretty good.

Re: It’s back!
 

How did it rain overnight inside a dome? That one doesn’t have a retractable roof.

Is character defined as not being able to see the participants?

And the silver crown guys have to be there for 2 days to run 1 race!

Re: It’s back!
 

:14: They broke it open and watered the crap out of it. That smooth track never returned.

Re: It’s back!
 

No character would be defined as holes, ruts, bump, or what ever you want to call them. I knew it looked bad on TV, but some tracks the lighting makes it look worse.

My idea…

Take the 4-Crown Nationals to three-days…

Thurs / Fri: Split the field for HLR and USAC Sprints. Utilize a Knoxville Nationals style points format. Run full shows for the sprints: qualifying, heats and A Mains.

Friday: Add a full show of USAC Midgets to the program with the sprints: qualifying, heats and A Main.

Saturday run only C, B, and A Mains for HLR and USAC Sprints, A Main for the Midgets and bring the USAC Silver Crown cars in for one day only on Saturday with their qualifying and feature.

As long as we’re dreaming – pay each A-main on Saturday $25,000 to win.

Add a “Jack Hewitt Bonus” of $100,000 if a driver can win all four A-mains on Saturday night, $50,000 to win three, $25,000 to win two.

Re: It’s back!
 

The lighting at Eldora is what's making it unseeable. Earls lights were a hundred feet up down the main straiht. The addition of the infield front straight lights just enhance the dust thats there.

I sat thru dozens of Earls races, Usually sat down near turn one and waves of dirt were in the air, But you could still see the cars thru it. Now it's a brown blob

This should also happen the weekend before the Kings Royal. 10 days of Eldora to match the 10 days of Knoxville.

Re: It’s back!
 

You financing the extra payout?

I went to Eldora on Saturday for only the 2nd time in my life. It was my first 4Crown. I knew it was going to be a late night. That's the chance and sacrifice I made to experience something amazing, noone made me go, noone made me stay.

Parking is phenomenal...lots of parking for vehicles and camping. Prices I felt was cheaper then any track I've ever been to. Reserved seating only $45 for all 3 USAC divisions and High Limit...so cheap...I paid $40 alone just for High Limit at Kokomo in 2024.

Food and drinks was priced very affordable as well. Again, cheapest anywhere I've been. Seats was good, just need to bring a cushion next time. Jumbotron is amazing. Great lighting. Clean bathrooms for the most part outside of careless people trashing them. Employees were all friendly. One heck of a crowd!! Just awesome in general!!

Awesome awesome tribute and poem from Rico!! Brought a couple tears to my eyes and our group!! Great to see a track and drivers still honoring him and not forgetting Scott Bloomquist, a true legend of Eldora Speedway and dirt track racing in general!!

This is my positive post and I just want to say Thank You to Eldora Speedway, Tony Stewart, all the staff and employees of Eldora Speedway, the teams, the drivers, and the fans for giving us some great memories to last the rest of our lives!!

16j, we’ll see you there again next year. In spite of shortcomings it’s still great and adjustments will be made to help improve it. Glad you enjoyed it

Re: It’s back!
 

I'd keep the format the same except run the Silver Crown race Friday night.

Thank you 55 and yes, if were still on this Earth, we will be back. It's not like efforts wasn't made, they were made, you just can't fix junk soil and dirt with an hour of track prep. The dust bowl was ridiculous and I hated it, my favorite race cars (Nonwing Sprints), the number one race I wanted to see and I had to watch from the Jumbotron and was sitting half way up and just South of the flagstand. Couldn't see cars, people, or the suits in 3&4.

When I have time, I'll make a post concerning many of the dumb things that people have said on this exact thread involving things like the tractors being toys and how weather has nothing to do with it and what I see as being some of the main problem with the race track at Eldora.

No I'm not a genius when it comes to racing nor a track prep operator, but I don't have to be to understand soil and soil conditions. I've been on a farm all 42 years of my life and work my part time fun job on a farm. Soil is soil wether it's farming, racing, or whatever...same principles still apply.

Re: It’s back!
 

Exactly. Thats been my theory to help dirt tracks here in Ohio. Put manure, straw/hay, biodegradable compost, or river/lake bottom muck to mix in with 6-8” of clay. It’ll help hold the moisture into the track.

Another thought on this event and it’s the most troubling to me. I didn’t hear Robert’s interview. I’m a Robert fan. I like his outspokenness and always liked his skills. I do like that he speaks his mind. I think more should. But at this point I’ve heard it enough, so when they stick a microphone in his face, I don’t consider it anymore something that I have to hear. With all that being said I can’t think of anything more petty by a track owner than to shut down a racer’s souvenir trailer because what he said in an interview. I was told that happened this weekend at Eldora. I was there all weekend long. I watched every race run all weekend. Was the track great? No. Was it less than desirable? Yes. So you can’t be upset when someone criticizes it, especially a participant or paying customer. For a guy who came across as a tough “Foyt” like character most of his career, it appears sometimes he’s got pretty thin skin

Robert's t shirt trailer was behind the bleachers in turn 4 Friday, with him in it. Not sure about Saturday. We spent most of the night in the pits until the dust storm.

Re: It’s back!
 

This was posted on Twitter Saturday night,

"USAC Racing
@USACNation
·Sep 21
Due to mechanical issues, the USAC Merchandise trailer was forced to close early tonight. Use code "ELDORA" on http://USACgear.com for free shipping now through tomorrow, 9/22, at 11:59p ET.

We apologize for any inconvenience but appreciate everyone's continued support!

Re: It’s back!
 

I did not hear that they shut down his trailer, all were closed when I headed out after the start of the HL feature.

He wasn't foul mouthed, he basically said he thought Levi could bring it back to what it was, that right now it was not what Earl built. He also said that the wall was the cushion, great for winged cars but not so great for the non wings.

I know later he posted on twitter about Scotty Weir winning the B like he was driving on pavement.

OH, and you might want to check out a post of Sean Michael. Seems there is some discontent among the champ car set with the way they are being treated.