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Gonna be a long post ladies & gents, bear with me
Personally, I'm always down for any kind of open wheel racing on dirt. It can be on the weekend or a weekday, if I think it's worth the trip, I will head to the show. In the past I've been critical of Plymouth for several reasons but it's a new season and there is always room for improvement so I have no problem with them wanting to put on some midget shows mid-week, I'd probably be there.
That being said, here was my beef with the whole deal (not that any of you could give two sh*ts, but I feel better speaking my mind). If you're going to hold a race and/or races that if you come out on top and you get to punch your ticket to a B-Main in one of the most popular and coveted races among race car drivers anywhere, then everyone should be afforded that chance.
Over 300 drivers/teams/owners show up in Tulsa these days every January. Everyone has an equal chance to make the big dance on Saturday night on live television. You've gotta go up against the best drivers and the best midgets in the world to gain entry into by far the toughest A-Main in dirt racing to make.
I think this Plymouth gimmick rubbed everyone the wrong way because of either one of two reasons:
1: It's the Chili Bowl, one of, if not thee most prestigious events in dirt racing of any form. If you've won a driller that says something. People may hate you for it like either of the Swindells or people may love you for it, ask Rico. But the fact remains the same that it is a stand alone event where you either can come and put up, or shut up. You shouldn't get a get out of jail free card IMO. Hell, I'm a Sammy Swindell fan, have been since he drove the Channellock car back in the day when my dad and I would watch WoO on TNN but I still didn't like him getting a free pass this year.
2: (Although I agree with what I said in point #1 this is the point I believe in) It's straight up unfair. If you're going to afford drivers at a track in north central Indiana a chance to make a B-Main at the Chili Bowl that is an opportunity everyone should get. How are guys like JJ Yeley, Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. or possibly even Tony Stewart next year going to get the time to come race when they're off doing this NASCAR thing? Just because they race those stock car things on TV every Sunday doesn't assure them a spot in the grand finale on Saturday night, ask Yeley (whom by the way is one of the most talented dirt car drivers I've ever seen IMO). How is it fair to someone like Tom Harris or Michael Pickens who aren't even from the United States among other international drivers? How is it fair to any of the west coast guys? Hell, how is it fair to the guys from this area that just couldn't get off work to come race a weekday show? Just because no other major series is racing that night doesn't mean drivers, owners, or members of the crew will drop everything.
I wrote on my blog a few weeks ago after that Stewart sh*t storm in Tulsa that I wasn't going to be negative, and I'm trying not to be. The guys from Tulsa were trying to do something to help the sport, I get it. Saunders and Plymouth are trying to get their names out there and help grow their track and the sport as well, I also get that as well. But planning an event like this, these concerns I voiced above must have crossed someones mind? Right?
I'm down for having the races. Have midgets come in midweek, people will come. Us dirt fans are suckers for racing, especially mid-week (as long as the beer is cold). Cancelling? I'm not so sure about. Get your heads together, promote the hell out of these races, and still put on a kick @ss show. It can be done without having to involve the Chili Bowl. If you don't want to do it mid-week. Take a look at the schedules of various tracks/series and plan something else, if not this year, in the future. Cars/owners/drivers will come if the time and the money is right. A lot of these one off shows at other tracks have become hits, no reason Plymouth cannot do the same.
Nate
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