Originally Posted by spindell:
I can't help wondering what the coming years might bring? Say Emmet does get some Lucas Oil $$ behind him and creates a series similar to the Lucas Oil late model series? There are lots of late model series out there, and they've managed to get enough cars to support a schedule like this, and even get it on TV as well, (even if it is the Versus channel).
http://www.lucasdirt.com/tour.php
Emmet's already stated that they hope to do 30 to 40 races next year, so instead of going to late model country, and since I live in Kansas City, and it's my late night ramblings, say he brought the same purses to I 55 in Pevely, Lake Ozark Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Knoxville, Eagle, Ne., McCool Jct. Ne., Lakeside, Husets Speedway in Souix Falls, S. Dakota, Sun Prairie, I-30 in Little Rock, Riverside Speedway in West Memphis, Devils Bowl in Dallas, Oklahoma City, lots of Ohio and Illinois tracks to work with? How many adventurous teams would we see hitting the road? I don't follow late models that closely, so I don't know how many full time travelers they have?
Maybe there are more late models around the country to fill the fields? I don't know how much they pay for say 10th place for the late model guys, but if it's worth while, and they could get similar purses for the Bandits, could we see more winged guys taking the lids off to go after some of those Lucas Oil dollars?
I think a lot of eyes have been opened by the races at Oskaloosa. A lot of fans, especially the younger ones, who grew up seeing nothing but winged racing in this area, are growing tired of the high speed parades, and are finally starting to realize that a few seconds a lap slower can translate into much more excitement, and closer racing on the track.
In my fantasy world, USAC would look at these as opportunities to expand, much the same as they have embraced PowerI's Gold Crown midget race. If they had scheduled against it, you would have two half assed shows, but working together, you have a race that has instantly became a classic, that people talk about all year.
Only time will tell. You folks in Indiana are spoiled! It would sure be nice if you shared some of your talent with the rest of us, instead of making us drive 8 hours (in my case) or more to see quality sprint car racing! You'd still have plenty of talent for weekly races,,, but it would be nice to see the professional drivers come to us a few more times a year, instead of the fans around the country having to come to them!
Whatever happens, I hope for safe racing, no matter what flag they are flying under.
Jim Thurman
A weekly dirt late model show pays way more then a special non wing show. Asphalt late models call a $5000 to win show big. Whereas Lucas DLM shows pay $10,000. There is a lot to discuss when it comes to pavement/dirt, late model/sprint and wing/traditional. There is just a lot of late models out there, so having 2 National series, 6-8 regional series is possible. Go to
dirtondirt.com and see their schedule page for purse info. Also the uproar on 4m when the DTWC announced there would be non wing sprints at Lawrenceburg, it was the "not sprints, they always flip", "here comes the red flags" seniment that a lot of late model fans have. I love both. You are right about being spoiled. Indiana, and the bordering states (and parts of California) are the only ones who run good traditional sprints. Late models run all over the place. Nobody knows who Dave Darland or Tracy Hines are. Everyone knows Steve Kinser and Scott Bloomquist. USAC is a cycling club to many people. No disrespect, just some of you Hoosiers need to get out of your own state to see the rest of the racing world (and I don't count going to the Chili Bowl). I understand how cool these cars are, but the rest of the US or Canada doesn't.