Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

Has anyone else notice this legendary race is not on the schedule this year? I think this race has been one of Bloomington Speedway's biggest races every year. Shocked to see them not running it this year. What's everyone's thoughts on them not continuing this race?

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

its b.s.

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

If they don't run it, it is an insult to his memory and perhaps their guess that fans have short memories. Unfortunately, many in the sprint car community tend to be of the "what have you done lately" mind set. I still can't believe there is no Indiana Sprint Car Hall of Fame, nor are there nearly as many memorial races as the great Indiana drivers of the past deserve. It is just sad. Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread, but I believe we need to remember the past, enjoy the present, and grow new fans for the future.

I had mentioned on another post that it was one of my favorite races, and I didn't see it on the schedule either. What a shame to not have this race.

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

If I had to guess why there might not be a Sheldon Kinser Memorial in 2016 I would say car count, car count, car count, and money, money, money.

Bloomington's regular 20-car feature purse (as posted on their website) is $1,400 to win/$200 to start with a total feature payout of $8,095. They also pay $100 to the cars that do not transfer out of the B Main.

The 20-car feature purse for the 2011 Sheldon Kinser Memorial was $3,000 to win/$300 to start with a total feature payout of $12,135. That year they also paid the cars that didn't transfer out of the B Main $175-$150-$125-$110-$100-$90-$80-$70-$65-$60-$50-$50-$50-$50-$50. The cars that didn't transfer out of the C Main earned $30 each.

The difference between today's regular 20-car feature purse and the 2011 Sheldon Kinser Memorial 20-car feature purse is $4,040.

I did a quick Google search and came up with these Sheldon Kinser Memorial stats:

8/13/05 Dickie Gaines (37 cars)
6/10/06 Daron Clayton (44 cars)
6/1/07 Jon Stanbrough (52 cars)
2008 -rained out-
6/26/09 Kenny Niflis (42 cars)
6/4/10 Jon Stanbrough (33 cars)
6/24/11 Chris Windom (44 cars)
7/6/12 Levi Jones (43 cars)
7/5/13 Chris Windom (36 cars)
6/27/14 Dave Darland (26 cars)
8/22/15 Nick Bilbee (29 cars)

In the past 2 seasons the Sheldon Kinser Memorial has averaged 27.5 cars. The previous 8 runnings (from 2005-2013) averaged 41.375. That is a pretty big drop off in car count.

What makes last seasons low car count even worse is that it was part of the Indiana Sprint Car Series that was heavily promoted by Sean Buckley/Jackslash. The race was taped to air on MAV-TV and Sean had several prizes available including a Hoosier tire for the feature winner. He also gave away one of the coolest feature trophies I've ever seen.

I haven't worked at Bloomington Speedway for several seasons so I have no inside scoop on what is happening with this race. I wasn't there last year, but the pic I saw on the ISCS FB page of Bilbee taking the checkered flag definitely did not look like a packed house.

Maybe Bloomington Speedway doesn't feel that promoting a special race with a purse 50% higher than their usual weekly show is worth the risk? Maybe they don't want to risk the backlash of continuing the Sheldon Kinser Memorial with a purse higher than their regular weekly show, but less than what has traditionally been offered?

Maybe the August 26th race will be the Sheldon Kinser Memorial and they are waiting to make an announcement? [Oops! I guess this won't be the Sheldon Kinser Memorial, it's the same night as the Kokomo Smackdown]

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I think a lot of people have noticed and are disappointed as well. Along with no scheduled SKM, there are no MSCS scheduled races either:18: If USAC were not scheduling their 3 races at Blmgtn:6:, I don't see anymore scheduled bigger paying shows.....

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

I called the Bloomington Speedway when the schedule first came out about this. I was told the reason for not having the Sheldon Kinser Memorial this year was that "the family had not supported the race for the last several years". Was also told his name probably would be mentioned at the Homecoming Race later in the schedule. Just not right in my opinion.

Sheldon Jr. drove my midget this past weekend and he won with it...I ask the same question and his anwser was "can not get a ride" ...If I had the funds to do a rental or add sponsorship money to a team for that race I would....Sheldon still has it as far as a driver and I know it's not much but I would put up $100 toward a ride for SKJ....anyone else with me....Maybe we all can help out for a good cause....Who else would love to see the name SHELDON KINSER go around Bloomington?

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

Back when the event started it was a big paying show and those were far and few between in IN. Now guys can run 20+ races paying above 3k to win by hitting all the specials that all the tracks put on plus the sanction races with MSCS, USAC, etc. Plus history has shown lately the higher the purse the smaller the car count. I would be ok if they just put it as one of their regular nights to keep the name and tradition alive.

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its sad but as new people come in the doors traditions seems to go out the window..maybe the family cant support it financially but they have been there..and not even asked to present the trophy..the memorial could still go on even if it were a regular show just to honor this man and what he has accomplished in the racing world. maybe even another track would do so..

don short

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

Sorry but the facts are that once MSCS sanctioned the race. The car count dropped.

Every time I visited the race there were Kinsers or maiden Kinsers in attendance of Sheldons

This is pure BS that it has to be a big paying show or even bigger paying show, Do it the old fashion way. DONATIONS.

Bloomington was always a track people would walk up to the booth and say Heres a hundred for hard charger, Here's 20 for first, guess thats another thing that went out the window with time.

To not hold it, IMHO is a insult not to just Indiana racing history, but to bloomingtons.

Call a regular show the SKM It's still a tribute. Hell there probably isn't even a rule that says you can't name the Sprintweek show the SKM. Its already set purse, sanction and established car and fan count. He was a USAC Champion after all.

While there is some negativity in this, Its to help find a POSITIVE OUTCOME! Keep the SKM!

Promoters dont promote anymore they just add more classes and make there money on the back gate the differance between the last 3 years &the previous years is the promoter & now with the new tire rule i would like to think the racers will take up for themselves a little & car count will drop of even more .

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They also don't run the Diz Wilson Memorial anymore...

Hate to see this and hope that the staff decides to schedule this race. Growing up at Bloomington this was a race that was always special to me as well as my family. It seemed to always bring all the best non wing guys to the area. I know its always been one of the races at the top of my bucket list to win and is very special to me. Hopefully the tradition can continue.

I find myself asking the question...would this have happened if Mike Miles were still running the track? The SKM used to pay lap money...as all 40 laps were sponsered. Fast time actually paid too. As it was courtesy of fans donations. Oh how times have changed.

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Call a regular show the SKM It's still a tribute. Hell there probably isn't even a rule that says you can't name the Sprintweek show the SKM.

the above quote is from Charles Nungester
Doesn't the Burg call their night of sprint week The Robbie Stanley Memorial, saw it on one of my t shirts and am not sure if it was just that year are is it always called that :8:

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

LBurg did hold the RSM for several years I believe the race was one of the first one's after his passing so it was given that name. Several tracks have had RSM's and I believe the event continues in Quarter Midget form, In which the family still participates.

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That is BS to say the family doesn't support the race. Every year we are there asking what we can do. After many years of being brushed off this is what we are hearing. We paid full price for admission every year and although I used to do the trophy, last time I mentioned it I was told "they had someone else". I have lost all respect for Bloomington Speedway not only for not honoring their Legends, but for lying and blaming the family. Anyone that knows me knows my father is my hero and I would do anything to honor him anytime. I will not be back. :7:

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Maybe Hoosier tire should put up the extra money. And Bloomington not worry about the back gate.

As my daughter stated, myself and our two kids, Shelley and Justin, have always attended the SKM race to honor Sheldon. I have always felt his presence when I walk in to Bloomington Speedway. It's where I feel closest to him and remember nothing but happy times there. When I've mentioned to people that we have always had to pay our own admission and never been asked by the track to present the trophy, people are astonished. Shelley and I went down a couple of times on our own for the presentation, but always made to feel as if we weren't wanted. I am so disappointed that they are taking away the honor to a man who loved this town and this track. Sheldon was a hero to this town and his Indy Car, Silver Crown, and Sprint Car history is legendary. Myself, our family, and all his fans are terribly hurt by the decision to discontinue the Sheldon Kinser Memorial! I think the track will lose a lot of fans. I know they've lost us!!

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Its a shame a track would lose fans over this when they need all they can get. There seems to be more of a disconnect between promoters and there bread and butter the fans and drivers.
Traditions ? look around very few remain.
Indiana IS sprintcar racing. The drivers in the top divisions are all hero's in my book. Not one of them especially the 410 guys get the props they deserve. IMHO they are the best drivers anywhere in any vehicle.
Forgeting what got you there is usually not a good omen. While its easy to stop going to the races because a promoter pissed you off its also a double edged sword because in the long run the racers suffer also.
I think about Jan O everyday, I met him once about 48 years ago. I'm sure folks feel the same about Mr. Kinser.

Are we certain there isn't going to be a Sheldon Kinser Memorial? Or have we all assumed there won't be one because it is not listed on the schedule?

I don't believe the schedule posted on the track's website is the final schedule. There are a couple organizations that have Bloomington races on their series schedules but they are not listed on the schedule posted on the Bloomington Speedway website.

One of those is an August 26th Indiana Late Model Series race. That would make sense for Bloomington to run late models that night (instead of sprints) since that is the same weekend as Kokomo's Smackdown.

I agree with the earlier post that at a minimum the track could name their Sprint Week show the Sheldon Kinser Memorial to continue the tradition of this race.

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Maybe it isn't good to POTP! Just sayin! Bob

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

What I posted in my earlier post is exactly what I was told when I called the Speedway right after the schedule came out.

You have a point as to the schedule not being complete. I notice both the June 24 and August 26 dates have a $5.00 increase over the normal admission price with only the regular classes listed. That would lead one to assume something is going to be added the each of those programs. I don't think it will be the SKM or something would have been posted by now.

I think the idea of making the Sprint Week show the SKM is the best possible solution. That way he would be honored on a night when both USAC and the long time Bloomington fans are present. The memory of Sheldon Kinser means a lot to both.

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Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

Ron,
I always tried to make the SK race also. That's a shame.
The Rex Mays classic has been gone from Milwaukee for many years now.
If you don't know his history. Google him up.
I will miss the KISS racing series dearly too.

Here is a quote from an unknown.
"I will respect those who respect me, and forget those who forget me."
Simple as that.

I couldn't agree more with what S.Clayton & suziekh posted.

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

It was several years ago but not lately.

Re: Sheldon Kinser Memorial
 

Way to go Hamilton. Great way to earn everyones respect with this bonehead move.

All memorial races are gone from the schedule...... what a shame. How do they think the Bloomington Speedway got to be one of the premier tracks? Drivers, Owners and fans who come there and spent their money to see their favorite sport. And now we are getting slapped in the face by taking away races which mean something. If they think people don't know who he is, they are not sprint fans. Maybe that is the issue, sprint fans don't matter to the speedway any more.

I dont think you can pin this on Hamilton at all. He has owners to report to. The owners have the say in what gets ran and what doesn't. Jmo!!

April 29 JB Robinson Extravaganza

May 27 Josh Burton Celebration

Like I said earlier I don't believe the schedule posted on the track's website is the final schedule.

Per FB someone spoke with management and the race will be going back on the schedule with an announcement soon.