First let me start by stating this...Typing a message so it comes across right... Is hard to do. It is always easier to have a discussion in person. At least for me it is.

As I have been stuck in one room of my house for the last 5 days, because of my cancer treatment... I have done alot reflecting on the past and good lord willing thoughts about what is best for the future.

Going back to the year 2000, which is when I created my first website, I would've never imagined that a silly site named teamusacsprints.com would make the transition to a site named usacfans.com and then later to IndianaOpenWheel.com, which now gets an average of 7 million hits per month. That just simply astonishes me every time I type or read it. The site traffic to this site has exploded over the course of the last couple years... And I believe that is because of the great people that visit this site every day.

I often wonder, has this site helped or hurt indiana sprint car and midget racing? or has it had no impact on it at all?

-How many people have forged friendships that otherwise would have never existed?
-Has the site made you laugh? regardless of the good or bad reason part.
-Do people assume that since this is "just a message board" that everyone uses it for bad intentions?
-Has it provided "useful" information?
-Has it helped promoters, PROMOTE?
-Has it given to much of a voice to people that really aren't aware of in's & out's of what goes on a day to day basis in the world of racing?
-Why do people just like to complain annomously? Is it just human nature to try an stir up a bunch of crap.

Don't get me wrong... I don't think that this site is the "only" reason for any of the answers that could apply. I'm not the stupid guy that thinks "MY" site is the reason for this or that. I don't and never have felt that way about the website...

OK, I rambled enough... back the original reason that I wanted to post this message...

While my interaction with people on this message board has been extremely limited. I wanted to give my thanks to all the people that come to this message board almost daily to provide information, their own opinions, and stories... without these great people this board would not be the same.

I especially want to thank the people that are directly involved in the sport for coming on here and posting. Whether that involvement be as a driver, mechanic, promoter, owner, and so-on... Your involvement in this site is probably the most important part of the site.You know who you are, I don't need to post your names.

And to the people that come to site frequently that never post but just read... Thank you for being a part of IOW and I hope at some point you decide to start posting.

Please... Please... don't turn this post into a thank you Bill thread... That is not the reason I posted this message, I just wanted everyone out there to know I appreciated their participation with IOW. If you want to respond... please use this thread to discuss some of the topics I brought up earlier in this post.

Thanks again everyone... you have made my time in this room much easier.