Just an Opinion. What do you all think.... Racer vs Promoter
 

Just an opinion.

One of the biggest eye openers in racing for a racer is to take a break from it, work a race track and see the other side of it from a track owners perspective and a fan perspective.

I’ll tell you this if you race a Late Model, Sprint Car, or Modified your no more important than the guy who races a front wheel drive or factory stock.

You bring no more value to the track; you actually bring less so be humble and be grateful that the tracks CHOOSE to run your division. At the end of the day without the track there is no racing and think what you want but the tracks success is the most important part to having a successful race.

Everyone is important at a race track also from the front gate workers, track crew, fire and EMD, drivers, car owners and the owners of the track.

Get back to having fun and quit thinking anyone will remember you in 10yrs for what you did in the past because they probably want so live in the moment. Get back to loving racing and helping each other out that’s what racing needs.

At the end of the day track promoters have to do what they can to keep their track open weather you agree with it or not.

Re: Just an Opinion. What do you all think.... Racer vs Prom
 

The best quote I read on this sort of thing came from NASCAR Modified Driver Ed Flemke,who told Catamount Speedway promoter Ken Squier that ....

"We're partners. You risk your money,I risk my life".

Re: Just an Opinion. What do you all think.... Racer vs Prom
 

Without racers/cars there is no racing.

Re: Just an Opinion. What do you all think.... Racer vs Prom
 

If the back gate receipts paid all the bills this statement would hold true. However, if there is not sufficient front gate revenue the bills do not get paid. The featured classes are the big names on the stage that is racing. The paying audience fills the seats to see the big names perform. With all due respect, the classes that constitute the under-card do not fill the seats or pay the bills.

And what the promoters do, is hire the performers who fill the seats, and yes, those performers are more important.

Re: Just an Opinion. What do you all think.... Racer vs Prom
 

Not every paying fan comes to see the headline class. I know a lot of people who come to see the low buck classes as well and they generally can and will put on a better show. Fans like myself don't just come for one class or the other. I come for the whole damn show. I don't leave until the last feature is done. The point is racers in all classes should take a hard look at the promoter's side of the table before whining and & griping about everything that isn't to their particular liking. With out either side racers and promoters there is no racing period. It takes two to tango. You can't have one without the other and the low dollar classes have just as much right to be there as the high dollor headline divisions. :32:

Far more people come to see other classes at a weekly track than many of you think. You run to the car after the sprint car feature but far from all do.

To me it's all about expectations and balance.
I've seen 6 classes 150 plus cars run on a curfew track done on time to a single class of racing take 4 plus hours.

Re: Just an Opinion. What do you all think.... Racer vs Prom
 

Agreed most racers and car owners would **** if they knew exactly what all is involved in running just 1 race. I know a car owner that took some time off and seen it and was like I apologize to every track owner I ever yelled at. I've showed some drivers just some if the stuff I do with the series and they get their eyes open. EVERYONE, BOTH SIDES, have to work together to keep our sport alive. The expenses on BOTH sides are growing and growing each year where we have been to that point of neither side can take much more, as you see by tracks closing and teams selling out. There needs to be give and take on both sides of it, especially local racing, to make everyone survive the cost and still keep it affordable to get the fans in the stands. This entire thing of without race cars there is no races, well without tracks there is no races too, but what EVERYONE needs to remember without no fans there is no racing or no tracks! The fans in the gate and the sponsors of the track, which are mostly fans in one fashion or another, is what everyone needs to remember keeps the doors open and the cars getting paid

There’s a great interview on sprintcar unlimited YouTube with the guy who runs skagit, interesting info and way of looking at things but def knows how to make a business out of a racetrack. He talks about ownership towards the end of the video

Re: Just an Opinion. What do you all think.... Racer vs Prom
 

In this are almost all the fans in the stands are associated in one way or another with one or more of the cars. Dropping a class means dropping fans in the stands too. The casual fan is getting more and more rare.

I think the original comment applies to local shows primarily. You might be able to make the argument that the big national shows are better off without support classes especially on week nights. Me personally, the only time I’m looking forward to support classes is like Let’s Race Two, at Eldora when the Outlaws are support for USAC. I applaud you guys who stay for the whole show. It no longer interests me