Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon

Vukie - You're right. I was throwing credit to Staab, but the fact is that it DID happen under Miller's regime.

DWB - I agree with what you say in 4 & 7. They're apparently looking into what to do on both, but especially 4. Remember that the Buckeye Nationals imploded a while back, long before Miller, and it was a tough money-maker with two divisions, yet didn't pay any more than a standard purse. They're trying, and racers are preaching for, races that pay a little more than standard.

As for #1, the racing is great virtually everywhere they go now. There is nothing wrong with trying to go to places that make a positive display of USAC racing and have the ability to build into bigger events in the future. Again, the goal is to have more races that pay better, and I don't think a lot of places have the ability to do that. That's just my point of view, based on the requests of the racers and owners (the full-time, professionals being foremost in that group). If that's looked at as a "bigger and better" mentality, so be it. You have to go places that can support good shows and hopefully have nice facilities to put USAC racing in a good light.

2. Their sanctioning fee is not out of line at all. The biggest reason that USAC has a higher sanction fee which leads to them being bashed for it being too large is mainly because of their outstanding insurance plan. I won't get into that - but you all need to do some homework and find out how people like the McDaniels are helped when guys who get hurt at a lot of local tracks or other sanctions are left high and dry.

3. Belleville, Knoxville, Granite City, Prairie are all co-sanctions. What else can be done? Nobody wants to be the little brother. Calling POWRi a "National" Midget Series is extremely misleading, by the way...

5. That's just wishing for something that is not overly possible. That's a big purse, and a big cloud hanging over any promoter's head. If the Silver Crown Series can basically keep the races they have now, and maybe add a couple dirt races, that would be good. The return to Iowa and the race at Oswego were met with outstanding crowds.

More races at the current purse is not the answer. They need more events, so their drivers and teams can get more in return without the cost of running more races.

The biggest challenges are midgets and pavement. Those are pretty big problems, but they've also been on a downhill slide for a while. It will take some deep thinking and some time. And honestly, you can blame USAC for the Hut Hundred cancellation all you want, but it would have been a big stinker, and that is IF Terre Haute didn't cancel due to low car count. In all actuality, the Hut Hundred has not been right in quite a few years, and it would take a much better purse and a much better rules package to get guys back there. It's gonna be a challenge.