non wing nationals
 

This is kinda a take off of the thread about the big money race at Mansfield. God bless the folks out in California at Perris who put on the big race at the end of the year. The Pacific Coast Nationals I believe. (I'm going to get there someday) But Brent mentioned a race coming up in a couple weeks for non wing cars that pays 10k to win and 1ķ to start. I presume he's talking about Smackdown at the wonderful Kokomo Speedway. To me this is the non wing nationals. All due respect to the folks on the left coast but a non wing national needs to be more in the middle of the country and in summer. I'm of the opinion, as much as I love Kokomo, that such a race should be held at Terre Haute. It's been tried I know and for whatever reason has never worked out. So, for my money, Smackdown is the non wing nationals. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, and I know plenty of you will, but it seems to be growing every year. Now that they have added the great new back straight bleachers, it should only grow more. What bothers me is that BOSS has a date opposed to it. I'm of the opinion that at least once a year, within neighboring states, we should schedule off so perhaps we can grow a true national race for cars without air foils. In my opinion at least one of these type race's would only help draw attention to this form of racing and ultimately benefit us all. I understand the argument why some folks want to stay away from big money races, but I would like to see an event, like Knoxville, that most everyone with a sprint car says they just want to be part of. I suppose that's wishful thinking on my part, what do you think?

Re: non wing nationals
 

The high dollar event they run out at Perris in November at the end of the season is known as The Oval Nationals.

Don't just single out BOSS. I believe Lincoln Park and Paragon are running sprint races against the Smackdown too.

Re: non wing nationals
 

In a few weeks there will be a higher paying non wing race in Indiana . It will pay $12,500 to win and be held at probley best prepared track around Tri State Speedway in Haubstadt Indiana :8:

Great idea. Wish we could wish it to be true. It would be nice if everyone could agree on a night to leave open for something like this ahead of time but it does seem unlikely. I love the idea though...

Re: non wing nationals
 

Interesting points... I've been to both, like Smackdown better. But the problem is that USAC regulars go to both, Indiana & California locals don't travel cross country much. What to do? More tow $$? More $$$ to start?
All I know for sure is if you go to Perris, DON'T fly into LAX! Took me 3 hrs. to drive 75 miles & I was cheating, going in carpool lane when traffic came to a dead stop. Found out later it was a $400 fine... THANK YOU road gods! But I missed most of the 1st nite & was a nervous wreck... fly into Ontario, Ca.!

Re: non wing nationals
 

I plan on being there. The difference is the Smackdown also pays $1000 to start and unlike Perris pays a full purse on the first 2 nights. This is the closest we have to a true national event. If it got more support, it could really grow.

Make it like a "Superbowl" type of event. Track/Series champions in one bracket maybe "guaranteed starters". Everyone else in another bracket. Change the venue every year. I don't really like 1/2 mile tracks. Maybe one every 4 years. It would take a dedicated person, but your season results get you points against the rest of the country's drivers to give you your ranking. An overall series like ump. Depends on how in depth you want to get. Who is #1 traditional sprint car driver in the country?

Jeremy

Re: non wing nationals
 

A lot of racing events of all types use the term "Nationals"; I think it originated with the NHRA calling their big events "Summernationals", "Winternationals" etc., the idea being it's a big event meant to attract more than just regional entries (and paying point towards a "National" championship in the case of NHRA). Outside of motorsports you also have the concept of the "National Finals" rodeo events in Vegas, which is a season-ending championship. The Oval Nationals sort of falls somewhere in between those 2 concepts; it's part of the USAC National Sprint Car Championship but it's also a fairly high-paying multi-day event intended to draw competitors from across the country. It doesn't go as far as being considered a season-ending championship decider but it's close to that in that it's usually one of the last races on the schedule. It fits the concept of "Nationals" terminology as much as the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, even though it's not centrally located.
Smackdown is much in the same vein; a good-paying multi-day event on the Championship circuit that attracts more than just the "usual suspects", so I would consider it analogous to NHRA's Nationals at LOR; a National in the same sense as Pomona but with just a little more prestige. Neither fits the role of a season-ending, "this is for all the marbles" type of event, but personally I prefer a Championship that's decided on a driver's year-long performance.
One thing that's too bad is that it's just so expensive to travel nowadays, it's becoming too hard for the Midwest guys to haul out for the Ovals, and the Left-coasties to come out for Smackdown; it's not the fault of the organizers that some of the "National" flavor is lost, it's just an unfortunate result of the way things are...

Get all non wing associations to co-sanction what is now known as the Smackdown. OPEN TIRE RULE!

Re: non wing nationals
 

Used to be that all tracks in the state would close for big events so their drivers could go run, I think they should go back to that, :8: Also someone said it should be held at THAT ,well doing that would drive cars and drivers away, drivers and owners don"t like THAT cuz of how hard it is on their equipment , mean just look at what happens at THAT during Sprint Week always has lowest car count year in year out Its not often you get a close race there unlike the smaller tracks such as a 1/4 or 3/8"s mile tracks

Re: non wing nationals
 

The cars that run at Paragon on a regular basis aren't going to Smackdown anyway. Same with the BOSS series. Smackdown doesn't have to much to worry about with other tracks running against it that race weekend. Kokomo Smackdown is going to get the cars because the event is just that good.
__________________
Scott McCloskey
BunkHouse Gang Member

They had an incredible field of cars for the non-wing Nationals back in '99-'01 at THAT. Frankie Kerr and Haud were there along with a bunch of California guys. Problem was not enough fans. Non-wing is better yet doesn't have that great of fan following. I prefer half miles for big races. I wouldn't travel a great distance for a quarter mile no matter how big of an event it was.

Re: non wing nationals
 

Then you are really missing something by not going to the Kokomo Smackdown because it's awesome.

Shouldn't we all just take a deep breath and appreciate the Smackdown and Sprintweek? Smackdown is the closest thing we have to a non-wing Knoxville... but let's be real. 10K to win does not compare to 150K to win. We need to realize where we are and appreciate what we have. It all became real to me when you see two of our greatest stars (Bryan & Brady) skip the second half of Sprintweek the last two years.to race for 50K at the Kings Royal instead of 5K per night.

Re: non wing nationals
 

Knoxville did not start out paying $150,000 to win. In fact at one time the one day King's Royal paid more. One thing that got Knoxville to grow is everyone was there. the other thing is no one scheduled against it. Where are MOWA, the All Stars, IRA, running this weekend? Pennsylvania doesn't schedule big races against it, and how far away is that? That is the way events grow. There are guys that have no chance of winning that go just to be part of it and hope to make the A, and make more money than they normally do. How many tracks in Ohio run sprints on against the King's Royal? That is what keeps non wing paying less. Even though I could care less either way, I believe Knoxville also has a tire rule. As far as drivers skipping to run wings, I checked the results and neither broke the bank off winnings. They may have done well on merchandise, even though now the Outlaws are cracking down non members selling at races. Just my thought.

Re: non wing nationals
 

I wish that just one time Brent T. Funk would post something really controversial so just once I could disagree with what the man says here on IOW. :9:

Re: non wing nationals
 

Man I guess you don"t check this site out every couple of days cuz last week or two weeks ago there was a 8 9 page post about why the left coast guys don"t come east anymore. If you haven"t figured it out yet its cost,Things cost at least 3 times as much as they did in 99. The race you are talking about was I believe a SCRA tour race called The Non Wing World Championship which I was told the 23 lefties were paid $500 tow money plus bonus points . As far as you not showing up for a big event I don"t really think you"ll be missed ;)