This may not be a very popular post but remember, it's just my humble opinion, so I'll say it anyway. I think the best thing that can happen to midget racing is to let it continue down the path it's on. Because if it does continue the way it is, midget racing will die. All the signs are there. Cancelling the (Terre Haute) Hut 100 due to low/no car count, relying on co-promotions to get a full field, dwindling car counts nationwide annually, etc...etc... You have to have your head buried pretty deep to deny it.

After midget racing dies and big money owners now have $60,000 boat anchors in their garages collecting dust, reinvent the sport. How do you reinvent the sport? By taking a few steps back, screwing your heads on straight, being realistic and aware of todays economic conditions/competiton for the entertainment dollar, and using a big dose of common sense.

I really believe the only way for midget racing to survive (and to actually THRIVE) is to provide promotors with a car count of 50+ cars consistently. 70+ at the major events such as the (Terre Haute) Hut 100. What promotor wouldn't jump at that? The back gate alone would be a substancial jump in revenue. So would the butts in the stands. Then maybe an organization would have a legitimate leg to stand on when discussing better purses. (and the promotor wouldn't have to book 5 divisions to break even).

So how could this be done? (OK, here comes the crazy talk).
Produce midgets that cost $20,000 RACE READY starting 2 years from now. That gives current owners time to use up their stuff without taking a huge blow. And their rolling chassis would still be very usable after that. The midget builders would probably make even more money just due to sheer volume of sales, rather than relying on a select few like they do now. As RichC said, make available affordable motors. Get back to what made midget racing great...grass roots racing. Make the tires slightly less wide and slightly less soft. Make them last more than a hot lap session.

YOU SHOULD NOT NEED AN INDY LIGHTS BUDGET TO WIN A MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

If the cars cost $20,000 race ready, the current big money owners could field 4-5 cars each. Then maybe they could justify those NASCAR haulers they use! And they would still win. Look at the IRL. Spec cars, spec motors, cost cutting measures and who wins the races? The same guys that did before, Penske and Ganassi. The cream always rises, no matter the cost.

Go to www.minisprintracing.com and scroll down the left side of the page. You will see 41 (yes FORTY ONE) currently active mini sprint clubs. How many owners do you think that represents nationwide? Why do you think they are not midget owners? Mini sprints have boomed in the last 15 years or so. About the same timeframe midgets starting getting rediculously expensive. Coincidence?

One other idea that people kind of cringe at. Phase out the specialty chassis. If a guy could run a car on dirt and pavement, the car counts would skyrocket. Look at the photos below. That's Mel Kenyon running on dirt and pavement....with the SAME CAR. Well, that's just plain crazy talk! lol. Did the racing suck when Mel and everyone else did that? I....don't.....think.....so.

Now none of the ideas above are unique or earth altering, but the common sense may just be too much for some to handle. And please don't read into this as one of those "better back in the day" posts, because it isn't. It is a hard look at reality that really needs to happen if midgets are to survive. It would take guts and leadership and national cooperation to work. And therein lies the problem.
Again, just my humble opinion.

David.