[Charles Nungester]

Indeed post of the year and said so much better than I could ever say it. When I say something, Somebody's feelings are hurt. A team, a promoter, a track. whatever. It's never meant that way, Always meant to improve the product and experience. And sometimes (Probably a lot) I'M WRONG.

There are some die hard facts in this sport. Tracks have leases or payments, I think only one is owned outright (Haubstadt) They have astronomical utility bills and now double prep cost. They have to order the food beforehand with no guarantee it will sell before spoiling (Weather, low crowd etc.) If they open the gates they have a big insurance payment as well as payroll and must somehow cover the purse. Fans or no fans. And after all thats over, If they broke even or made a profit, They have to hope that both the fans and racers are satisfied and want to come back.

Racers, Well there are just too damn many classes IMHO, Sprints, 305 race saver 305 attica/fremont, 360 ASCS, 360 open, three or four classes of mods. street stock vs bomber and several variations of both and then there is the crate version of all of it. Late Models? we'll they've dilluted themselves to the point where a fan will only hit a couple shows a month and thats LUCAS, WoO or a special. Tracks like Florence, Brownstown and other stallwarts no longer get big car or fan counts on local shows.

Simple fact is, It cost the same to tow to the track, same in pit passes and several other things FOR EVERY CLASS. Sometimes even the econo class cost more in fuel to race a night than a NW 410 sprint.

Why not eliminate half the classes? Those that still want to race will move up or down

Why not tracks work together to put together Fri/Sat or Sat/Sun? Alternate weeks? Run a Wed or thurs special? I know, It's all risk. Where's the creativity? The $500 for a first time winner? The realistic extra 1000 if you could win both nights in your class at two tracks (Thats 500 per track that is rarely going to have to be paid out, just on odds)

We all say, Don't let the race track close. There are a few that have been here for decades, ran sprints on the same night for decades and always paid the advertised purse. SUPPORT THEM. Im sorry if I see added shows that don't pay well as a detriment. But every car that isn't at Bloomington or Gas City tonight is actually hurting them. Both have opened and closed over the last several years. IN THE GOOD TIMES. Adding shows against them is just self destruction in the long run.

There are dates a successful non detrimental race could be run. Pick those, there's nothing wrong with it.

I used to go to three races a week, made crap money but it was doable. Id go to Whitewater on Fri for sprint shows they held, Florence and crewed on Bombers then a LM LM on Sat and Sunday I'd go to Burg for LM's Mods or Eldora or Findlay if they were running. Now Im at a point I can make one every other week and the ticket price is the least of my worries when it comes to cost.

Everyone who can make a race or more than one this week, GO, Have fun, I will. I'll enjoy last night and tonight on FLO, I'll be at a track saturday. Hope it's a good show and even if it's just so so, better than sitting at the TV. There's six nights of the week for that and no much of that's good.

I have been wrong and seriously wrong. I bashed a support class that actually fed full up 410 racers. We need that, maybe not every week but a few times a year.

I also grew up in a time we had both sprints and lms both needed consi's and a support class. those were the days.