Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Hey everyone just wanted to see what you thought to a few questions

Race of the week?
Biggest surprise of the week?
Most underachieved?
How many did you attend?
Would you change anything for next year?

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Race of the week? Kokomo

Biggest surprise of the week? Multiple 1st time USAC winners

Most underachieved? Myself for only making it to two races and I live near Terre Haute.

How many did you attend? Only two :15:

Would you change anything for next year? Get my butt to more races

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

ey everyone just wanted to see what you thought to a few questions

Race of the week?
Of the one's I went too. LPS

Biggest surprise of the week?
Hodges good and fast at all tracks despite having much less experience or none at most of them.

Most underachieved?
N-A

How many did you attend?
3 opted for Waynesfield over Kokomo

Would you change anything for next year?
Add Montpillier to week one
Five heats three transfer, Two B's three transfer
40 Lap features with a bigger purse to end each week
1 support class limit which I think most followed anyway.

A big thanks to Racers and Teams, Tracks and Staff's and USAC for a great week. The changes I proposed are to grow the event, with more racing and competition and a little more compensation over each show being a basic USAC show with a exaggerated car count.
IMHO it's a week of shows that rival anything but maybe the Oval Nationals. Would just like each show treated as more EVENT STATUS with features lined up on the front straight and introductions and a extra heat race each night.

Race of the week: Kokomo. Fantastic finish, high drama in top 10 many times over.

Biggest surprise: having a surface to run Putnamville. Well done Joe Spiker/ LPS!!!

Most under achieved: PA systems. I must be getting old. Any track activity negates what little bit I could hear. All tracks visited.

Races attended: 5 total 4 ran. Kokomo, Rain out Terre Haute, LPS, Bloomington, TSS.

Changes? No, but if I had to nit pick it does surprise me the USAC merch trailer does not re-open after the A main.

Still yet to see green flag action at Terre Haute. 0-3 :( I stayed away Sunday so they could get the show in. LOL. First time to TSS. OMG!!! TV does no favors to sprint cars anyway but very much so there. Didn't realize straights ran so close together. What a track! In a nutshell Indiana Sprint Week ROCKED!!

Biggest surprise of the week? - 7 different winners with 4 earning their first ever USAC wins.

Best race? Kokomo and watching the 3R hold off Ballou.

Most underachieved? Don't know. Maybe me for only having 1 ice cream at Bloomington.

How many did you attend? Every single one including the THAT washout. All was not lost though - I got an elephant ear.

Would you change anything for next year? Not just because of what happened this year but I would swap Gas City for Brownstown. Hit BTown Friday, Lawrenceburg Saturday and Kokomo Sunday. Wouldn't change anything about the 2nd stretch. Oh - and I'd work a sponsorship deal with Mother Nature to turn down the heat and humidity!

Originally Posted by JarrettFarms73:
First time to TSS. OMG!!! TV does no favors to sprint cars anyway but very much so there. Didn't realize straights ran so close together. What a track!

Told you you wouldn't be disappointed. 👍🏻

Originally Posted by wildman92:
Told you you wouldn't be disappointed. 👍🏻

No it did not. Nor did the chocolate vanilla swirl at Btown!

Only went to LPS due to other commitments but was a great race.

Just a thought....what if....$50,000
Corporate sponsor JUST for sprintweek.
Indiana Sprintweek presented by XYZ company....it's USAC's biggest selling point, how many times in print, over the PA, social media, t-shirts etc would the name be mentioned..and don't tell me it can't be done, look at the knoxville nationals. I realize the series is sponsored but I just think there's room for more.

$25,000 to win
$10,000 2nd
$7,000 3rd
$5,000 4th
$3,000 5th

1st week
Wednesday - Brownstown
Thursday - Montpelier
Friday - Plymouth
Saturday - Kokomo
Sunday - Lawrenceburg

Wednesday - Terre Haute
Thursday - Putnamville
Friday - Bloomington
Saturday - Haubstadt

Originally Posted by TQ97:
Only went to LPS due to other commitments but was a great race.

Just a thought....what if....$50,000
Corporate sponsor JUST for sprintweek.
Indiana Sprintweek presented by XYZ company....it's USAC's biggest selling point, how many times in print, over the PA, social media, t-shirts etc would the name be mentioned..and don't tell me it can't be done, look at the knoxville nationals. I realize the series is sponsored but I just think there's room for more.

$25,000 to win
$10,000 2nd
$7,000 3rd
$5,000 4th
$3,000 5th

1st week
Wednesday - Brownstown
Thursday - Montpelier
Friday - Plymouth
Saturday - Kokomo
Sunday - Lawrenceburg

Wednesday - Terre Haute
Thursday - Putnamville
Friday - Bloomington
Saturday - Haubstadt

How about $1000 for each team that makes every event? $50k goes a long way and gets 50+ cars at every race

Originally Posted by TQ97:
Only went to LPS due to other commitments but was a great race.

Just a thought....what if....$50,000
Corporate sponsor JUST for sprintweek.
Indiana Sprintweek presented by XYZ company....it's USAC's biggest selling point, how many times in print, over the PA, social media, t-shirts etc would the name be mentioned..and don't tell me it can't be done, look at the knoxville nationals. I realize the series is sponsored but I just think there's room for more.

$25,000 to win
$10,000 2nd
$7,000 3rd
$5,000 4th
$3,000 5th

1st week
Wednesday - Brownstown
Thursday - Montpelier
Friday - Plymouth
Saturday - Kokomo
Sunday - Lawrenceburg

Wednesday - Terre Haute
Thursday - Putnamville
Friday - Bloomington
Saturday - Haubstadt

That schedule is a lot to ask out of the teams,fans wouldn't mind it but I'll bet the teams would!!

Totally understand, just a dream scenario

1. Race of week- all nights of second leg about equally good for me.
2. Surprise- Carson Short wins first ever sprint car feature at TSS.
3. Most underachieved- Stanbrough? Hate to single him out but thought the 66 car was better than that.
4. I attended the entire second week.
5. I would change the track prep at every track to not packing it hard with heavy equipment. Louder PA at every track and stage the cars 2x2 on the front stretch with the drivers out of the cars like they do at Springfield. Some announcers could try to be a little more excited. And, finally, start later to avoid so much heat and direct sun.

Best race I witnessed Bloomington Cushion.
Many new winners

Best race - Bloomington. Also, they never touched the track all night.

Biggest surprise - not calling Darland, Grant, Bacon, Stanbrough, T-Mez, Windom, Ballou or Kevin Thomas Jr.'s name as the winner of the night. Also, Jarrett Andretti.

Most underachieved - Hate to say it, but Justin Grant. He was non existent all week.

I went to Gas City, Kokomo and Bloomington.

The only thing that really bothered me at all 3 tracks was parking. They should have someone directing people where to go at every track so they utilize the space they have the best way they can.

Overall awesome sprint week. 7 different winners in 7 races?!? How do you beat that?

I did them all...what a week...I absolutely enjoyed myself in my racing and non racing adventures...

Best race...Kokomo or Tristate...Ohh what about gas city??

Surprise...4 first time winners..wow

Dissipointed Ty Courtney missed the show at Bloomington..it took him out of the ISW points running without luxury of a provisional.

improvement...(story time)...I drove over to Kokomo after gas city feature to save a spot in the ticket line..I'm #8ish in line....I come back at 2:30 on Saturday and the "mayor" informs me that my pile of "stuff" has been designated as #20.....lol...No biggie buddy..its just Pretty dishonest though as people clearly placed things ahead of others. Open the gates...first come first served...or sell reserved seats.

I find a little extra enjoyment with the second half of ISW because the above is never a problem!!!

Can't wait for ISW 2017!

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Best race toss up between Kokomo and Gas City
Biggest surprise was multiple first time winners
Most under achieved was me by missing Haubstadt. I was miserable to be around on Saturday night
I went to all the other shows. I have only missed 3 since the beginning.
I wouldn't change a thing with the format, nor would I add any shows. It wears me out as a fan. I can't begin to imagine how hard it is on the teams. Also if you want higher paying shows, don't skip them to watch lower paying shows. You vote with your wallet.
This was a very good Sprintweek, maybe the best ever.

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
Best race toss up between Kokomo and Gas City
Biggest surprise was multiple first time winners
Most under achieved was me by missing Haubstadt. I was miserable to be around on Saturday night
I went to all the other shows. I have only missed 3 since the beginning.
I wouldn't change a thing with the format, nor would I add any shows. It wears me out as a fan. I can't begin to imagine how hard it is on the teams. Also if you want higher paying shows, don't skip them to watch lower paying shows. You vote with your wallet.
This was a very good Sprintweek, maybe the best ever.

Wow, I answer my way with suggestions to possibly put more $$ in racers pockets due to the popularity of the event, Give a extra heat and not have twelve cars for four spots?

I went to Waynesfield and seen one more sprint race that night than Kokomo had, Wasn't smashed in like a sardine in the stands Could take a bottle of water in if I wanted etc. AND MOST OF ALL, IT WAS TWO HOURS CLOSER TO HOME It's not a boycott of either Kokomo or USAC. I've never done more than four and most of that time I coudn't have made more if I wanted too.

But this is you Brent, I offer to give you a ride if you needed one at LPS , (IF you can even remember) and you want to call me out for missing one race even though I made one I didn't plan on attending.

OK BUDDY, Whatever.

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
I was miserable to be around on Saturday night

How is that different than any other race night?

.

Best race that we attended: Bloomington
Biggest surprise: 4 new winners AND no repeat winners
Most underachieved: Amati Racing. From consistent contender to also ran
Races attended: the last 4-Putnamville, Bloomington,Haubstadt, Terre Haute
No changes for next year

Adding a category: Hardest working track crew: Joe Spiker and his crew. The fact that they got the track raceable is impressive...the fact that it wasn't one big rut halfway through the night is a miracle. Great job!

1. Race of the week - Kokomo
2. Seven winners seven races
3. Not underachieve but would go along way to keep the base coming tracks providing golf cart shuttles for older fans. We had to get one ourselves so my mom could go back to the races. Alot of .people don't go to as many shows due to the long distance parking situations.
4. 5 heats with 2 B mains

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Kokomo

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Best change: I need to get there one of these years!
I like bigger purses, $$$ to make all races, but haven't won Mega Millions yet... by the way, has anybody won it yet?

Originally Posted by wildman92:
I would swap Gas City for Brownstown. Hit BTown Friday, Lawrenceburg Saturday and Kokomo Sunday.

Best suggestion yet!

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Race of the week?......Tie........Haubstadt & Kokomo......Flip a coin
Biggest surprise of the week?......First Time Winners
Most underachieved? .......Darland & Stanbrough/Amati Team
How many did you attend? ...........6
Would you change anything for next year? ......Change nothing

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Originally Posted by open_wheel_outlaw:
Race of the week? Kokomo

Biggest surprise of the week? Multiple 1st time USAC winners

Most underachieved? Myself for only making it to two races and I live near Terre Haute.

How many did you attend? Only two :15:

Would you change anything for next year? Get my butt to more races

Race of the Week: Got to give it to Kokomo with Gas City a close second.

Biggest surprise of the Week: Would have to be the 4 first time winners and seven different winners overall. Also kudos go out to Tyler Thomas making every A main and the fine performances from Josh Hodges.

Most Underachieved: Got to be the Amati Racing #66. They had a real rough ISW first parting ways with Meseraull & then struggling to make the field in most every race.

How Many Did You Attend: Five.

Would You Change Anything for Next Year: No. It is good as it is. Don't need more than seven races. More races makes it tougher on the teams and drivers. :6: :22:

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Wow, I answer my way with suggestions to possibly put more $$ in racers pockets due to the popularity of the event, Give a extra heat and not have twelve cars for four spots?

I went to Waynesfield and seen one more sprint race that night than Kokomo had, Wasn't smashed in like a sardine in the stands Could take a bottle of water in if I wanted etc. AND MOST OF ALL, IT WAS TWO HOURS CLOSER TO HOME It's not a boycott of either Kokomo or USAC. I've never done more than four and most of that time I coudn't have made more if I wanted too.

But this is you Brent, I offer to give you a ride if you needed one at LPS , (IF you can even remember) and you want to call me out for missing one race even though I made one I didn't plan on attending.

OK BUDDY, Whatever.

No big deal. Just saying that if you were at all the shows you would not want more. The teams especially the small ones are already worn out. I like seeing teams run for more money, and it won't happen if people don't support the big money shows.

Originally Posted by Chris Nunn:
Hey everyone just wanted to see what you thought to a few questions

Race of the week?
Biggest surprise of the week?
Most underachieved?
How many did you attend?
Would you change anything for next year?

I made it to four of the seven... Gas City, Kokomo, Putnamville, and Haubstadt. My pick for best race was Kokomo, but it was exceptional. At Gas City, it was unbelievable to see Sunshine look like he was in slow motion while running down Clauson. Brady Short was fun to watch at Putnamville, coming from 11th to first. I, like many, am still waiting for the mistake that never came from Carson Short at Haubstadt!! He was flawless in traffic!

I am a bit of a racing historian. I tend to favor tradition in lieu of new, but for SprintWeek, I would rather see Brownstown instead of Terre Haute. I think the four tracks I attended show I truly believe the smaller tracks are putting on the better show. Sorry Lawerenceburg, but while you have the most outstanding facility, you don't have the most outstanding racing. What I cannot understand is why the car counts are always down at Haubstadt. The Helfrich family should be rewarded for having hands down, the best PRIVATELY owned facility in Indiana. (This is to take NOTHING away from Putnamville. The upgrades there are OUTSTANDING.). The racing surface at TSS is the smoothest and easy on equipment, but the cars stay away. ANY THOUGHTS?

My biggest surprise of the week was watching a top three team in points scramble to make a feature. With two different (and excellent) drivers no less...

Seven races in nine days is a great series. I have already mentioned my change... The series the way it is allows a person to make the races they can and still make work the next day if necessary.

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Wow what a sprint week!!
best race Kokomo and Bloomington
7 winners by far is the story line
those that we would think would have a better week, Grant, Jon S
How about those that made every race without a provisional!
next year, need a sponsor that will enable them to add to the overall purse.
same race tracks
before the feature bring all the A main cars and line up before the crowd and make a big deal for those that was able to make it!! highlight the crowd. This is to be a huge event right!

:22::22:

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Originally Posted by btg1963:
I am a bit of a racing historian. I tend to favor tradition in lieu of new, but for SprintWeek, I would rather see Brownstown instead of Terre Haute.

That would be a major blow to Terre Haute as they only have 5 open wheel races to begin with, plus they occupy one of the least desirable dates of Sprint Week being on a Wednesday night too. I hope THAT never comes off Sprint Week, as I've seen it happen in the past when the track was dark for a few years there. I like the variety of having Burg and THAT on schedule, but understand how the bigger tracks are harder on equipment too. Just afraid if THAT loses this date we could possibly loss THAT completely down the road. Thanks to the O'Connors for all they do to keep THAT up and running quality races! Also nothing against Brownstown either would like to see Sprint Week race there, but not at expense of Terre Haute.

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

I would love to see Brownstown added to ISW2017

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

We did all seven.
I liked Kokomo best.
Four first time winners and seven different winners is mind boggling.
I would like to see Plymouth get a race. It would be nice as a replacement for Gas City for ISW just for the bleachers, but a USAC Sprint Car race anytime would be great.

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Remember the tracks control the dates. I would look for no changes. Brownstown lost their date to Putnamville. If I am a track promoter, I would say if it ain't broke, don't fix. This years Sprintweek was as good as any year. Crowds were good, car counts were good. What's to fix?

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
Remember the tracks control the dates. I would look for no changes. Brownstown lost their date to Putnamville. If I am a track promoter, I would say if it ain't broke, don't fix. This years Sprintweek was as good as any year. Crowds were good, car counts were good. What's to fix?

One suggestion on a fix...
2 of the tracks in the first week need to do something about the seating situations..sell reserved seats...bring in temporary seats..its out growing the grandstands..(good thing!!)

Spectators saving the top row in the pits isn't good...I understand why they did it...but that's not a ideal situation for the crews.

again...I throughly enjoyed my week!

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Only made it to one race but 40 laps for the 1/4's and 30 for anything larger than 1/4 would be nice, but i do understand that it is hard on equipment already...

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Originally Posted by Scooter:
One suggestion on a fix...
2 of the tracks in the first week need to do something about the seating situations..sell reserved seats...bring in temporary seats..its out growing the grandstands..(good thing!!)

Spectators saving the top row in the pits isn't good...I understand why they did it...but that's not a ideal situation for the crews.

again...I throughly enjoyed my week!

I got to Kokomo as soon as the pit gate opened and put a blanket down for the crew of the 66j at the top of the pit stands so the crew would have a place to watch. six of us took up space for four

Jerry #66j

I hear ya jerry...3 of us took up the space of 2...

2 of us stood and one sat between us the entire night in the GA area because the people around us sat on the edges of our saved spot and wouldn't move!

Maybe they will listen to my suggestion in their inboxes?? Hopefully!! :)

I can't believe someone just suggested replacing Terre Haute. Really?

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Originally Posted by open_wheel_outlaw:
that would be a major blow to terre haute as they only have 5 open wheel races to begin with, plus they occupy one of the least desirable dates of sprint week being on a wednesday night too. I hope that never comes off sprint week, as i've seen it happen in the past when the track was dark for a few years there. I like the variety of having burg and that on schedule, but understand how the bigger tracks are harder on equipment too. Just afraid if that loses this date we could possibly loss that completely down the road. Thanks to the o'connors for all they do to keep that up and running quality races! Also nothing against brownstown either would like to see sprint week race there, but not at expense of terre haute.

the oconnors have nothing to do with that anymore

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Originally Posted by SHORTBUS:
the oconnors have nothing to do with that anymore

My bad, guess I had Kokomo on my brain for some reason. Just glad to have great racing at the Action Track!

Re: Indiana sprint week survey!
 

Originally Posted by flagboy55:
I can't believe someone just suggested replacing Terre Haute. Really?

Yeah, He said he was "Somewhat of a Historian". Im not bashing. But USAC Sprints used to not race at less than three eighths miles.
Terre Haute and the INDY fairgrounds combined with IMS is what took USAC world wide known along with it's drivers then Indycar went all pavement yet there were still some into the mid 70 and a couple into the 80s who would still run Indy and Terre Haute or the Fairgrounds

Don't get me wrong, I like the bullrings but the two "OTHER" tracks happen to be my favorite. LBURG for it's speed and Terre Haute for everything, LF in the air, wheelies as zig zagging the stagger down the straights and biking in the corners. You really watch whats going on at Terre Haute and you'd swear their cajone's wouldn't fit in the cockpit (No offense to the lady drivers)

I wasn't at Terre Haute but the races I've seen there had guys come from 17th or so to podiums. A Feature isn't five minutes flat but sometimes a half hour I've seen features with Ballou on the wall and Darland on the inside rail sixty feet apart but side by side for multiple laps.

Just because the cars ain't bangin wheels, don't mean it's not good racin. Burg had Windom come from tenth at halfway to third running the inside while Clauson was up top. And Cummins coming from the tail to eighth.

We all got our prefferences and thats great. I like the variety