USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

I'm starting a new thread because my post is off-topic from Mr. Staab (who I support 100%).

This has bothered me since I heard Mr. Miller share his vision on DO's radio show and express his disappointment in a crowd of 4,000 fans.

So if his ultimate goal is 15-20 "big" events annually...

What constitutes a "big" event?
Mr. Miller mentioned NHRA a few times, but the average attendance at NHRA's 23 national events exceeds 100,000. I admire lofty goals, realistically?

Which tracks have the capacity for hosting a "big" event?
Indiana Sprint Week would be non-existent for sure, at least as a USAC event.

Would this eliminate USAC from consideration for drivers with aspirations to reach NASCAR, IRL, F1?
(i.e. USAC would no longer be a 'feeder series' for the 'stars of tomorrow')
Young drivers (and their future bosses) would certainly want more experience than 15 races per year.

Mr. Miller has more insight into the motorsports industry than I do. So please help me understand these changes and how they will benefit sprint car racing and its fans.

Thanks!

...not that I expect Mr. Miller to respond, but would appreciate the board's input. TYVM!

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Before the Board goes wild with speculation, let me offer some insight:

A "Big Event" is Indiana Sprint Week. Anytime you get fans traveling to a multi-day event which includes camplng and provides an atmosphere around the racing, consider we have moved beyond a "race" and to an "event". We have some of these in our Portfolio at USAC today. Just not enough. We do need more "events". That does not mean we lose single night races.

As far as fan count at local shows, my disappointment stems from 400-800 fans at a show. That is unacceptable. 4000 fans at a USAC show is a great turn-out.

Just for clarification:

We are not going to all pavement races
We are not altering our format
We are not changing tradition
We are trying to strengthen our fan base

Again...we are very open to discuss and share thoughts on the industry. My direct email is Kevin@usacracing.com, and I generally answer all emails.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Thank you. Your quick response to dispel rumors and misconceptions should ease the minds of some long-time USAC fans like myself.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Kevin, How do you get tracks, teams and fans to buy into Sprintweeks in five areas of the nation? The PA swing will be a true test, Id love to see that happen in the Southwest, Western Midwest. and south including Charlotte along with Indiana Sprint Week. You could put a couple pavement weeks together too, Maybe June/Late Aug.

To the original poster, Your lowest number is more than most tracks can hold and then it becomes a matter of how much folks are willing to pay to see it.

IMHO 40-50 dollars is way to much to any series show but 25-35 is doable depending on.

Also EVENTS aren't IMHO less racing than a local show at most tracks. While I've changed my mind about expanding the format to just adding a few more cars to the heats and maybe a extra heat. IF YOUR THE SHOW, PEOPLE WANT TO SEE IT AND AS MUCH OF IT AS POSSIBLE! Thats why they come, Thats what they want to see. 30 lap features are fine but some suggestions.

Find some base tracks, Charlotte, Knoxville, Manzy, Eldora, Williams Grove, maybe even Terre Haute or LBurg and end a series on a 40-50 lap ten grand to win show.

Marketing and corporate sponsors are going to be the only way to make this happen. Id even make a USAC possition that does nothing but put adds in papers, Racing magazines, Weekly happening magazines in every major city newspaper within a 200 mile radius of every event your running.

So there ya have it, Six Sprint Weeks in different areas of the country, Three midget weeks, SW, Indiana and Probably Wisconsin are doable.

Also holding these events in areas of the country when weather is favorable for em is Key. SW in Nov, SE in Feb, Indiana in July, PA in June, Wisconson/IA Aug.

Just ideas. I still think you have the right director.
Chuck Nungester, who also wants to see USAC Succeed and making no demands, Just thoughts and Ideas

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

I have to respect such a quick reply to this question. Kevin that was a class act. Thanks.

Lynn

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

In order for USAC or any National series to thrive there must be genuine interest created on a National level. WoO packs them in because 410 winged sprints are a staple of short track racing nationally. Same for WoO Late Models. Traditional sprint car racing has only pockets of interest nationally and that needs to change. Traditional sprints are currently popular in the midwest (IN, IL, OH, & MI), Southwest (CA, AZ, NM), with marginal interest in the Plains states (KS, NE, OK). Regional series, whether under the USAC banner or not, will serve to provide a driver pool from which the National series can draw. That will create interest among the fans in those areas to follow their guy. When the USAC National series comes to town you will then see WoO size crowds. That, in turn, could prompt other areas to try traditional type open wheel racing and on it goes. But this is a process that takes some time. Simply finding money to pay larger purses is merely a band aid. The long term fix is in creating national interest through regional series or individual tracks that will provide drivers to the big show and fans to watch them.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

I'm glad to see that thousands of message board posts now equal a business degree. So many people on here think that they have some type of special insight that someone, o say Kevin Miller, is lacking. Why don't you ask intelligent questions instead of using this time to act like you actually have a clue about what needs to happen. Chuck, please STOP thinking that USAC members on here will actually listen to someone who probably never seen a race outside of Lawrenceburg.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

My question to Chuck is where do you find cars in some of these areas? Most places except a few areas run 360s only. Also was wondering if your going to PA, as earlier this winter I thought you were considering it. Happy trails.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Mr. Miller, I really didn't anticipate a reply from you so THANK YOU. I apologize, I thought I heard you say 4,000 was a disappointment. That's why I set the minimum on the poll at 10,000. My bad. Thanks again for your response.

Chuck, IMHO, creating 6 "sprint weeks" would lessen the popularity and draw of each one. Why drive from Texas or Pennsylvania for Indiana Sprint Week when they're going get closer to you in a month or so? And SW seems to be such a mental/physical/monetary drain on teams, it's hard to believe they would participate in more than a couple a year. (IMO)

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

There Is A Lot More 360 Ci Racers Then 410 Cars In The Usa! Its Time For Usac To Be Leaders And Not Being A Bunch Of Followers! Chevy Has A 370 Ci 700hp. Fuel Injected All Alum. V8 Engine They Want To Put In A Series! It Cost $9800 Or A Year Lease For $5600 And It Could Work Nationwide! Have A East/ Central/ Midwest And West Division! With A National Championship Race In Each Area! And Take The Top 10 In Each Area To A Season Championship Race!!!!!!!!! With A Spec Car That We Race The Same Car Pavement And Dirt!!!!!!!!! Why Do You Need 410 $50.000 Engines Burning Up $ 400 To $500 A Night In Tires! And One Car For Dirt And One For Pavement? Its Crazy! Its Time To Change Before Its Over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

I don't disagree with any of this, Dwight. I just wonder if the horse comes before the cart, or if the "big show" needs to be in place before the regional series' can (will?) grow with something to aspire to?

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Well, three cheers for the SUPERDUKE. Finally some common sense on here about the outragious costs of racing. Still haven't heard from the new powers at USAC about what their plan is to stop the excessive bleeding $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to run a respectable race team. Mr. Miller, this is way, way, way out of control.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

THE DAY USAC BECOMES A "SPEC" SERIES.............I'LL QUIT GOING TO WATCH AND BY A FISHING BOAT!

:moon::kookoo:moon:

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

The man wants ideas, I give em. I don't claim they are right or wrong.

What makes them SE, SW, Upper Midwest spots doable is that it's a group of races for good money. Not a one off show. They are events that people will travel too see.

I really think some people just are pissed that they can't think up anything for themselves (Dirtyd) and have nothing but critizism to offer.

Honestly, I like the fact that Kevin is searching for ways to make it work. Im possitive that 95 percent of what I contribute he or someone there has already thought of. What about the five percent that might make the difference?????

Ideas like making promotional videos or comercials with the people that have the footage, Dean/High Vista, Jackslash. Running them prior to swings in market areas. Of course you need a marketing budget. Id even put em on the website.

USAC isn't using it's existing resources to best measure either. Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Possibly Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, JJ and others. Ask, Purchase their time or maybe they'd even do it to promote their sponsors. But do spots like, I honed my skills in USAC. ect. USAC has drivers with five nascar titles a points leader in ARCA ect. ect.

Over 4 million attend Nascar, Even one percent of that drawn to USAC events is a huge boost.

The biggest marketing tool is already out there. Speed, ESPN, Nascar Now, The Speed Report. Buy spots, Use a couple standard action packed comercials and update em with event scheduals.
Myspace and stuff will work but some of that market goes to movies and text through the whole thing. If they go at all.

I've always said the best marketing tool is word of mouth. Get enough people raving about it and the rest will take care of itself.

The events are going to have to go off with tracks and people willing to give it a couple years to grow and not change direction every six months.

Chuck, saying the nasty parts of this reply were not to you Brent. I seriously had intended doing the PA swing but a shared trip with relatives only one week after kinda put the kabash on that. Select Sprint Week and Midget week shows along with MSCS fall events are still on :)

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

My concern was just the lack of cars. Sorry you can't make the PA trip it was BIG fun last year. I took no offense to anything said.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IRL NASCAR IS? ITS ALL SPEC RACING ONLY THERES TAKES $10 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO RACE!

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Time for me to act like I know what I'm talking about again.

The question shouldn't be how many people does it take to make a big event, but how much does it need to pay (especially if this big event entails a long tow by the teams).

I've said this before, I'll say it again: Any/all series need to be more worried about building a strong home base as opposed to playing Captain Kirk and boldly going where no series has gone before.

Unless drastic changes occur, gas will be approaching $5/gallon by the end of the season and diesel will probably be $6/gallon. Inflation is creeping into everything. Corporate (or even local) sponsorships are being cut back as everyone trys to survive. Record numbers of home foreclosures, soaring credit debt and layoffs. Add all this up and people are starting to circle the wagons, watching their expenses.

Anything that results in higher team (and fan) expense needs to be put aside (for now/not forever).

That is unless the sanctioning body is going to start paying a minimum of $10,000 to win, $500 to start for every race run outside of Indiana (in addition to paying tow money of $250 to any team that participates in at least the non-qualifiers race).

And that would still be an average race when measured against the other successful touring series (ie WoO sprints, and numerous dirt late model sanctions). A truly Big Event should pay at least three times that much. Again, look at the successful touring series.

Another aspect of growing the series out of Indiana: You stand a great chance of dis-enchanting your current loyal fan base. All you have to do is look at NASCAR for that (they won't admit it, but they now regret some of their moves away from tradition). Their loyal fans feel betrayed and left behind. I used to be one of them and now, I could care less about going back even if they gave me tickets. I've moved on and that void has been filled by something else.

Another concern: will your teams even elect to do the travel? If you've got a race 500+ miles away and MSCS or POWERi have a good paying event close to home, will at least 30 plus make the trip, or race close to home.

And then their's the idea of marketing to the younger crowd and winning new fans. Again, this comes with the possibility of turning off the loyal fan base. USAC sells itself on being "TRADITIONAL" and "HISTORIC". And those are qualities that I admire and appreciate. But I'm 50 and, somehow, I don't think the new manifesto of growth is aimed toward people like me.

The people who this new approach is aimed at don't give a flying f... about History and Tradition. They want glitz/glam/speed and fury. Not saying USAC sprints don't have speed and fury (I think they've got more fury) but them there danged wanged sprinters why they fly. Average American doesn't want the History Channel, they want American Idol (even though the History Channel would be better for them). And, don't count on them sticking around if they do come your way. In a few years, you are "yesterday's thing" and you're not cool anymore and you'll be dumped by about 80%.

I still think USAC needs to stick to it's roots (and forget that damn spec engine ****) and stay where non wing 410s are popular. Mainly Indiana. If you want to expand, look at running more in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan. These are not long hauls and our kind of sprint racing is not exactly a major commodity in these markets. I mean, look at it. There is a handful of USAC sprint races in Ohio (four I think), one race in Illinois and zero in Kentucky or Michigan. Now, these are the states that you could grow a bigger fan base and these people live close enough that they could somewhat afford to drive around (as in to Indiana) to support the series. There are a lot of wonderful race tracks in these states, dirt and asphalt. Use them. After ten years, if that's successful, then grow a little further.

And, as always, forget about the Southeast. Nobody cares. After all the events run at the Lowes dirt track, I've yet to hear a single person in this area say that they missed the USAC sprints. And, they are struggling to sell tickets for this coming weekends WoO show (the biggest draw to locals is the Fastrack crate late models).

The only open wheeled show that people in this area still talk about is the super mods at Concord.

I don't envy Kevin Miller and associates. It's a thankless job and you'll never satisfy everybody (and those that are satisfied will rarely admit it). I wish him luck in tough times.

Hell, even Humpy Wheeler has announced his retirement. That should tell us all something. He could care less about his age, his enthusiasm is still as strong as ever. But, he sees the writing on the wall and I think he wants to go out on top and not live thru the decline.

Hopefully, I haven't put you all to sleep.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

:applaud: :respect:

Jerry #66j
www.joshspencer.com

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

If you don't like his posts don't read them, Duh!!
Poof!!

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

You are 100% correct, that is Xactly what they are, and you won't see my ass at any of the IRL or NASCRAP (spec) races!

My racing dollar stays at the local and regional levels of Sprint Car and Late Model racing, and probably 90% of those will be dirt tracks too!

So what your saying is you want USAC to follow the IRL and NASCRAP lead and turn it into a spec racing series too? :headbang:headbang:headbang

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

USAC is a limited 410 spec series now and won't be interesting and innovative until they drop all engine and fuel rules.
By the way Kevin, did you ever bother to ask your buddies at Mopar if they could build an unlimited engine for about 1/2 the cost of a current 410 if they applied themselves?

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Not hardly a "Spec" series! They have engine rules, not a single supplier of engines! That my friend is NOT a "Spec" series!

I would myself LOVE to see an UNLIMITED series! But calling USAC a "Spec" series shows a tad bit of ignorance!

:angry-smiley-007:

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

IRL, NASCAR, F1 all spec series racing, only the IRL currently has a single engine supplier and not by choice.
Drop sprint car engine and fuel rules and we have something none of the above have.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

We got no argument about having a sprint series with "OPEN" rules.
That would be freakin' AWESOME!
Ain't gonna happen, but it would be awesome.

But I still don't get how F1 is a "Spec" series?
IRL is spec chassis/spec engine, NASCAR is spec chassis.
But F1, how is that spec anything?
I am NOT a big F1 fan, just wondering how you come up with that?

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

"Engines are mandated as 2.4 litre naturally aspirated V8s, with many other constraints on their design and the materials that may be used. The 2006 generation of engines spun up to 20,000 rpm and produced up to 780 bhp (582 kW).[39] The previous generation of 3 litre V10 engines are also allowed, albeit with their revs limited and with an air restrictor to limit performance. Engines run on unleaded fuel closely resembling publicly available petrol. The oil which lubricates and protects the engine from overheating is very similar in viscosity to water. For 2007 the V8 engines are restricted to 19,000 rpm with limited development areas allowed, following the engine specification freeze from the end of 2006."
-Wikipedia

Sounds like a limited spec series to me.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Then every series that has engine rules is a spec series?

Nah...........I don't think so.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

another thing that is going to have to change is the payout structure. the payout is going to have to pay more to start a race and less to win. i cant afford to leave 2 to 3 hundred dollars at the race track every week for a 100 dollars to start the main. there is a good chance that i'm not going to win, but i would like to at least break even.
travel, ha. midget week would cost me 2 grand or more. for what 5 or 6 hundred dollars, if i'm lucky. i look at it this way, i dont like taking money out of my pockets so the promoter can put money in his.
the high cost of racing is going to hit almost everyone. lets see what car counts are going to be in august.
i just saw diesel at $4.79 today.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

its 100% true, they all have limited specifications for fuel and engine so,
from Mine and the Scientific Community's standpoint, the F-1, IRL, NASCAR, NHRA and the USAC are all "Spec Series Racing"
Maybe the big boy's at Chevrolet can tell me to my face that they could not build an unlimited engine (No Engine or Fuel Rules)
for less than 1/2 of what they charge for a 410, since Kevin's buddies at MOPAR apparently,are not allowed to answer publicly.
Don

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Dude.........what are you smokin'?
And how much is it?

:rolling

*** does the "Scientific Community" know about racing?
Hell they think Global Wraming is CAUSED by racing!

Put the crack pipe down and back away from the keyboard!
:angry-smiley-007:

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Crack is very bad for you.
Sorry I used the word scientific, I should have said from the racing world's standpoint, .F-1, IRL, NASCAR, NHRA and the USAC are all "Spec Series Racing".
Open the engine-fuel rules, and sprint car racing, with the right marketing and promotion of those rules would have a good chance to enter the Big Leagues.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

How's NHRA spec? Build as much power as you can and launch it down the track as fast as possible? Sure there are limitations to what class your in but Top Fuel and Nitro funny are balls out aren't they?

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

TF & AA/FC are limited to 500 cid.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

Also limited to 90% nitro, up from 85% recently.

Re: USAC "BIG" events... clarification?
 

This may or may not be on topic but I would like to make mention that Kevin Miller does respond to his e-mails. Recently the two-day race at Calistoga (Northern California) was floundering about with the fair board, who governs the track, threatening to cancel a race named for NARC founder Lou Vermeil on the Labor Day weekend. I e-mailed Mr. Miller and asked if there was anything that he or USAC could do to make the race a reality. He immediately e-mailed me back and thanked me for the "heads-up" and that he would look into it. He surely did as the race is now back on schedule with USAC handling the promotion and ticket sales. It will be the first time in more than 20 years that the traditional sprint cars will run at this beautiful race track located in the wine country of California. Now the whole state's sprint car community can't wait for this special weekend. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr. Kevin Miller and USAC as well as many others including SoCal Performance's Steve Howard for making this great event a reality. :greenflag: