Okay, it's winter. I'm bored, I'm curious, and I thought I'd spark up some discussion. LPS is hosting their sprint week event with no support classes this year. This got me to wondering what the majority opinion is regarding support classes. I see lots of complaining here stating that the support classes make shows drag on and/or are boring. Are these people in the minority? Personally, I feel that support classes are vital for ensuring a good sprint show (plus, IMO they put on some really good shows themselves). But, I'm also a bit biased here since I was a crew memeber on a support class team.

Don't the mods and stocks pack the track down and help it slick off throughout the night so that it's not super rutty and ridiculously fast come feature time? Anytime I see a really heavy and fast track, it almost always turns out to be boring racing because everyone is quick and that makes it tough to pass. With only the one class, will the LPS sprint week feature consist of a heavy, fast and unpassable track surface? I think it's possible.

I can't recall ever going to a show where there wasn't at least one support class. But, I'm sure many of you here have gone to dirt shows where it was just sprints. How was the racing that you saw in those instances? Maybe my above reasoning has no merit. Anyway, I look forward to hearing your opinions.

Matt Smedley

I think you need at least one support class just to give the guys time to work on their cars. Without one you have very little time to adjust anything. Unless you are going to do intermissions, in which case you might as well have one support class so the fans aren't bored.

I'll say it again. A non-winners race. Cut the top 3 spots off of a normal purse for the class. Don't allow anyone who has won 1 or 2 (your choice) races in the past year enter. This gives the promoter a reasonable purse for the support class, gives the guys who usually run for positions 5-20 the same money they usually get anyway but also gives them a good shot at winning a race. When it's a big sprint race have a non-winner midget or late model race. When it's a big midget race, make it a non-winner sprint race.

It gives the fans a premier class with good racing at a reduced cost and probably attracts a few more cars because it's a night where more guys see themselves as having a chance to win.

I thought about bringing that up too but didn't want to get too windy with the post. Another very relevent point.

What about the track surface with no supports? I think it ultimately hurts the racing quality due to overly heavy and rutty track conditions. Don't get me wrong, I love it when they sling the mud and back em in. But the racing itself usually sucks when its like that.

Badger midgets used to run a Sunday only show at Angell Park without any support classes. The first time I went, I thought it was crazy, but the more that I went the more that I liked it. Actually, midgets at Angell Park are some of my best racing memories.

I moved away from Wisconsin three years ago, and I know that Badger/Angell park have had some car count issues. I think that they now have a support class.

How about getting some midgets out there?? Us midget guys need some more of these great Indiana dirt tracks to race on!!

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I absolutly love an all open wheel show. Bring on the midgets and the mini sprints. Support classes are vital to the overall fan entertainment. LPS always keeps the show moving along and I don't know any fan who wants to watch push trucks when another class can pack the ruts and put on a show.

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Well, let's see. USAC at one time ran 40 lap features, no tracks under a half mile and no support classes. Times have changed, but if you really want USAC sprint cars to return to their former glory they must separate their identity from being just an added attraction. IMHO.

Have to agree with the Angell Park comment. It used to be just midgets. They did an excellent job of keeping the show moving and as a fan you didn't really get bored. It gave you some time to get something to drink, eat and use the restroom. Track surface was always awesome. I don't think support classes are really there to pack the track down anyway. Usually they're there to help the promoter obtain some back gate revenue. As a fan, if it's not open wheel...I don't care if it's there or not. I'll just wait between races rather than watching fender crap. I guess modifieds are ok...they have some good racing.

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Interesting ideas for sure. ISW at LPS will be heats,semi and feature on a weeknight. Many fans want to watch ISW and head home for work.
Does another class help the track???? depends on who your talking to.

I would look for USAC and the LPS crew to come up with something creative to fill the dead time between the heats & Semi and between the semi & feature.

How much time is there between these events? You have to give 10 to 15 minutes for the guys from the last heat to make changes for their semi and same for guys in the semi to run the feature.

Time between Heats & Semi is time for announcer to earn his money with fans give aways, trivia contest and maybe Fast time & the heat winners could make themselves available for an interview in the stands with the fans? Just thinkin here.

Maybe between the semi & feature USAC & LPS could push the cars that made the feature on to the track and open the gates for an autograph session as the 6 cars from the semi get ready and push out as well?
Fans get to meet the drivers and then head back up into the stands. Good Idea???

Hats off to the Spiker crew for NOT having a support class for ISW. Yes a support class does bring extra $$$ thru the back gate but Spiker wants the fans to enjoy the night of USAC ISW and get home early too.

ISW at all tracks needs to be an Event like Monster Trucks or Motocross where the fans are respected and filled with excitment while enjoying their night.

Going home talking about what a great time they had and talking about the race.

Just Thinkin?


ps - Most open wheel fans aren't fans of support series. I suggest that one night stay and watch, at any track, as most night these guys put on one hell of a race in all the classes. Not every racer can afford a sprint car but that doesn't mean they can't race.
I use to be one of those haters, but after becoming friends with many drivers in the various classes and watching, these guys race just as hard on a lesser budget and car.
I've seen many a night the finish come down to a two or three car race to the line.
Never know who from the support classes will be moving up to open wheels.