Indiana Open Wheel - LPS Updates

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For the amount of money the sprints brought in versus the purse, I don't see Thursday night deal lasting much longer. Sportsman count is what saved the night from being one giant heat race. Even that didn't help the night much.

What kept sprint guys from going? For 1400 to win they got 12 cars. For 400 to win the sportsmans got 21 cars. And there are a lot more sprints around than sportsman cars. Id say with the purse verse car count, he would be better off financially if he didn't run the sprints. I know that isn't what anyone wants to hear, but he is losing a lot of money when 120 fans and 12 sprints show up. Something is going to have to change if he wants to keep the Thursday deal going.

With all that said, I don't blame joe for the track conditions tonight. He was trying to give all the people, (mainly on here) that constantly complain about slick tracks, the tacky track they wanted. And had 25 or 30 sprints showed up, like he prolly thought would (given all the hype about the Thursday deal) it would've been an awesome track.
Anyways, thanks LPS for the opportunity to race on a Thursday night. It wasn't necessarily the night anyone hoped for, but it was still racing and that beats a night working or sitting at home.

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Barrow 2nd Karraker 3rd Lance Hayden 4th. I think Jarret Andretti was the only other car left on the track.

Thursday may be done spiker is thinking about not doing it anymore everyone says they want then get less then 200 fans

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Joe isn't giving up... He took the risk and hopefully more people will support it.

A little over 200 fans filled the grandstands.

Promoters experience tight pucker factors too.

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And to Joe's credit even with 12 cars on hand. HE DID NOT CUT THE PURSE!

I enjoyed the hell out of myself tonight, the super stock feature was d@mn entertaining as well

Wish I could make it up to support Joe, but living in Oolitic and working 3rd shift, just can't make it. I will be there next week, my plant is shut down the week of the fourth, can't wait.

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This race had a questionable chance for survival from the start but to the credit of LPS management they stuck to their schedule and made it happen. Given the drought conditions, every forecaster in the nation predicting (hoping for) rain, extreme temperatures, following another weekday show 30 miles away, USAC regulars prepping for an out of state trip, the ever present poor economic conditions, potential attendees and would be track prep "experts" fearing the horrors of a dry slick track, the coming weekend where every regular weekend track is scheduled, many people exhausting their racing budget over Midget Week, etc. etc. etc..... they could have just thrown in the towel. Certainly many if not most of these factors are going to exist any Thursday night and business owners understand the risks involved. As for fans, we also have to understand. I only drove <15 miles to the race but I sat next to a guy who came from Evansville. I didn't hear much complaining from him. Dissapointment..yes but he's not a newbie and he understands these things are going to happen. So to those who are predicting LPS is going to throw in the towel for Thursday shows because of this one event, I don't think so. They're tougher than that and so are we. I'll be back next week.

Race Wednesday 4th of July when most fans aren't working, instead of racing thursday that week. There should be a large crowd & hope a large field of sprints.

Originally Posted by Al Pierce:
This race had a questionable chance for survival from the start but to the credit of LPS management they stuck to their schedule and made it happen. Given the drought conditions, every forecaster in the nation predicting (hoping for) rain, extreme temperatures, following another weekday show 30 miles away, USAC regulars prepping for an out of state trip, the ever present poor economic conditions, potential attendees and would be track prep "experts" fearing the horrors of a dry slick track, the coming weekend where every regular weekend track is scheduled, many people exhausting their racing budget over Midget Week, etc. etc. etc..... they could have just thrown in the towel. Certainly many if not most of these factors are going to exist any Thursday night and business owners understand the risks involved. As for fans, we also have to understand. I only drove <15 miles to the race but I sat next to a guy who came from Evansville. I didn't hear much complaining from him. Dissapointment..yes but he's not a newbie and he understands these things are going to happen. So to those who are predicting LPS is going to throw in the towel for Thursday shows because of this one event, I don't think so. They're tougher than that and so are we. I'll be back next week.

I live an hour and a half away and have been to all of the Thursday night shows. I would have liked to see more cars but understand that this whole deal will take some time. As lil Shu said in victory lane last night, all of us just need to bring one more person along.

I hope that this can build into something really good and we can enjoy Thursday night racing at LPS for many years to come. I also understand that many folks can't make it on a week night due to work, family or other obligations. If you are sitting at home and could be there, you need to get to the track. The racing has been good so far. They need more fans and they need more cars. Let's all help build this into something really good.

Thanks LPS for giving us a place to race on Thursday!! We need the laps during our rookie season, and when the track is different week to week it helps us learn how to get the car handling better.....Even though we didn't finish (radiator issues) we still got to race against guys who win alot of races and last year's LPS track champion...so even with a lower car count, there were some quality cars at the track......sure hope Joe Spiker keeps this going....We can't make it back on a Thursday night until July 12th..

I know a lot of the success for the promoter will be based on how much revenue can be generated by the event. I wonder if a pay per view could be put together to help generate revenue to go towards making this a successful endeavor for everyone involved. Promoter,Teams and the multitude of fans around the world who would rather watch some good sprint car racing rather then the NBC line-up. Just a thought. I too hope this is a successful venture for everyone involved.

Tim Clauson

I am sure its hard for those of us that have to work. We would love to support LPS on Thursday night but with hot laps starting at 6 and we dont get off till 5 we can't make it. If everything started an hour later we would support.

Tim, That is a great idea but the track needs high speed internet(along with a few other high dollar purchases). I believe a company is starting to put in HSI in Putnamville but the track probably won't get it this year.

I just wish I could hit the lottery. Then there's 14 cars... Joe Spiker gets a new Grader... a Lely... a couple Terra Gators... some Suites... and an on-site mobile network(it may not be the right terminology but I have the idea in my head). BTW... don't tell my wife, she might have other plans.;):3:

Joe Spiker has been a friend to me and my wife and the things he has done for me personally I will never be able to repay and what really sucks is I know I won't be able to see his commitment to LPS fully reached. What he has done for the track in just a few years is amazing... I can't imagine where it will be in 10 years.

Long live TNS @ LPS!! Everyone go to the track and support it... You can sleep when your dead.

BTW... Joe, just because I think you've done great work doesn't mean I'm going to stop offering constructive criticism... You know me, never satisfied. ;)