I know a little bit about ESPN and Thunder Shows and their effect. TV production has grown from a simple production [1st espn auto racing series] One truck and 20 people and an uplink truck. 5 Camera's cover track and pits. Hardwiired cable PitAudio to a certain point in the pits [Victory Lane] That is all that it was along with the people who knew TV but not racing. $30 k and up.

Today it's in-cars and not Cage Cam, wireless toys for audio and video. Digger instead of Tread Cam ?
Lot's of money for those production values!

Thunder Series - Ascot, Speedrome, IRP, Ventura, THAT, Eldora and more, It was great TV and done fairly cheap too by Terry Lingner. Terry created a production full service company called LGP. Terry's ESPN roots was starting with Bill Fitts @ ESPN creating the Auto Racing Series. Terry is a smart azz cause he worked his way up and into the chief of auto racing. Terry wanting to change moved home and started LGP. SO Terry Lingner and LGP know racing and USAC.

Effect of Thunder ? - Many team like Mike Gregg special car and saw the advantage of National LIVE TV.
Sleepy Tripp a National Hero !!!!! Bob East built a lot of cars for that series. Jeff Gorden and Tony Stewart careers came from TV.
So the effect was postive but nobody watched at home ! NO Ratings - .4 maybe 1. + highest. Still was a lot of fans at home but nobdy could sell it. That means ESPN doesn't make enough to pay for the series. Plus NASCAR just fell into ESPN lap in the Thunder times.
USAC used to be paid well in the 70's for ABC and ESPN rights fees. ABC paid big like Duke said. ESPN after a while paid USAC a rights fee for each divison. Highest was around 10K for Silver Crown 7.5 Sprint and less for midget at drome.
That went away before Thunder Series. So it scrambled up into the Thunder Series instead of various USAC events.
Today the cable universe is even larger, so more to watch with wasted time. Too many John & Kate shows.

So what is the best way to recaputure that Thunder Series ?????????

Today you have to look at the web and tv. Look how far that has come in 3 years???

Somebody needs to[usac] produce web content of LIVE production, taped events and history. The LIVE produced event will be aired on Speed on late Friday or Saturday nite. Same time same place weekly.

I watched the mindless Late Models at Bluegill Spedway in KY : ??? *** ???

I did notice the banners placed in the infield and the paid updates by Klepper and others plus lots of Lucas !
Big stackers and 10 k to win?? use this as a blue print ??

Come on LUCAS step up your building a Muiti zillon auto service shop in Avom. Speed the money with USAC.
Kevin Miller will make sure that the lights stay on in your sign unlike downtown at the thing.
LUCAS money & production.

The New Thunder Series - Indiana Sprintweek for one. Create more of these Sprintweek events.
Pay 10,000 to win and 400 to start. 200 to miss the show.
Hero & Hot Dog Quals only.
Heats by draw. passing points plus 1 point extra to heat winner. 1-1/2 point per pass.
B-main & A- main only. if you don't make the b you go home. [$200]

Hopefully something like this could happen??

Mindless? Come on DO

Dunno if that was a joke or not but obviously LM get tv time because someone is doing SOMETHING right
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Mindless I mean by - Big slab sides sliding around a dusty opening laps, all look the same, making laps until the track went black. I know it's a big thing to many but it all looked the same wtching on TV.

I respect the Late Models and they have a great thing for them.

Lucas seems to have money in everything, why not throw some towards USAC? When people see some Indiana Sprint Week action on TV they will want more
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If you check closely, I think that Lucas is a sponsor(maybe even the title sponsor) of the USAC/CRA sprint cars....

That is what needs to be told to LUCAS.
They already have events they just need to share the cake more with usac.
I'm sure Kevin Miller stays in contact with Lucas?

I was really impressed with MustSeeRacing's production of the Little 500. Great camerawork & closeups. Cars looked great on the BigScreen. I saved & rerun on my DVR just for eye candy. They managed to capture the same racetrack "feel" of the old Thunder Series.

That was on CSNC(hiago). - work a deal with CSNC to air some live to their Midwest audience & syndicate to other regional CSN's. Shown live when no conflict, with multiple reairs = relatively cheap, unique gearhead content.
Anyone with Dish or DirectTV can access CSNC. THUNDER on CSN ...works for me, until all the tracks get T1 lines.