Quote:
Originally Posted by flagboy55
Openwheelfan1 You’re in some way taking me where I’m hoping to go. I understand completely that there is no comparison in the size and commitment to the event. But I’m trying to keep it “in class”. We’ve gotten a little off track, no pun intended. ISW is different in that it travels to different tracks 4 crown is different with 3 classes. The purpose of the comparison is twofold. First, the size and popularity I think is a great gauge on the overall comparison of W vs NW. We talk about guys leaving wingless for wings. It’s very clear there’s a much bigger demand for wings except here in Indiana. Secondly, 30,000 filled up the Marion County Fairgrounds Saturday night, and I’m wondering if we can fill Kokomo Speedway in a week and a half from now in the state that’s the undisputed bastion of non wing racing. All of it seems to me to be a very accurate study on the supply/demand of sprint car racing.
I’m very proud to be a diehard Hoosier state sprint car fan. I want Indiana to continue to be the paragon of wingless, and continuing to make Smackdown a premier event will help keep up our reputation
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IMO, part of what has allowed the Knoxville Nationals to grow to where it attracts 30,000 fans and pay the largest sprint car purse in the world is the history of the event. Both the city and the track are smart enough to utilize the 61 years of names and memories to retain old fans and attract new ones.
I think one other thing that helps the Knoxville Nationals be what it has become is the format. It’s not the WoO format, it’s not Knoxville’s normal format…it’s the Nationals format. The 8 car inversion in the heats is supposed to promote passing (yeah…THAT didn’t work Wednesday night!) on nights 1 and 2 and the “Hard Knocks” Friday night format is unique unto itself. The tension and pressure on the drivers and crews on Friday night is palpable.
One of the things I have seen in the last few years at Knoxville is more young fans (teens and twenty somethings) are attending the Nationals. There are still a LOT of us old farts in the stands, but it is trending a little younger. I have been and continue to be concerned about the advancing age of the crowds at most of the NW sprint races we attend, and I DO qualify as one of advancing age.
I want you all to understand, I am SPRINT CAR FAN! I have attended sprint car races for 60 years. I enjoy winged sprint races, and non-winged sprint car races. I have seen outstanding races in both and some truly horrible races in both.
I TRULY hope this year’s SMACKDOWN is a sellout, and draws AT LEAST what LPS drew in car count for night 1 of the Bill Gardner.