Originally Posted by SAC74:
"To be fair USAC qualified last."
That is true, but the minimum weight rule in USAC with the driver is 1035 pounds. The minimum weight rule for Badger is 1100 pounds.
65 pounds will make a difference on a dry slick track like they had for the Firemen's Nationals. And 4 of USAC's 22 cars were Badger regulars.
Does USAC really NEED those $70,000 engines to put on a good show for the fans?
All true points and valid questions. On this night, no, the national engines did not put on a better Time Trial. Did they put on a better feature? That’s up to the fans. On a tacky track (I can’t say tacky-er, because that would imply that there was any “tack” on that track), then the national engines would have been faster. Is that a better show? Again, up to the fans to say.
For our Badger team, we were proud to be a part of the show. Proud that the Fireman’s Nationals was restored to its traditional date, and happy that we had a smooth, orderly, timely program with minimal carnage and no trips to the crash house. (Can’t speak for the after party, though…)
I sense the point of this conversation is to criticize the expense of national engines vs a stock block engine. I would prefer that we focus on the fact that Badger legal midgets have increased in car count this year by 25% with more in the way. The grandstands at Angell Park were full in the era of COVID and in a county that hasn’t been as accommodating as some. I’m comfortable with USAC being the premier class of midgets. Their willingness to spend that kind of money isn’t hampering Badger’s resurgence.