[jdull99]

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[jdull99]

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester National? Three states? National?

Or it means the style of rules they are using?...it has turned that like they & USAC are "National" midgets...then u have Badger/MARA rules (which, yes, sometimes they are just as fast or faster than the USAC & POWRi versions), D2s, IRP & Grundy pavement series, etc...

Like the other post said, lot of different versions...I like all forms of them, but yes, it should be said what version...I mean, it's no different than crate engine/358/360/410/etc sprint cars, (from the pavement world) Limited/Pro/Super Late models...etc, etc...

[kendirt]

Originally Posted by captrat Welcome to the world of midget racing eating its own via the alphabet soup of sanctioning bodies and varying specs. The history of midget racing sadly repeats itself.

Or you could say it's the trajectory POWRi's been on for a while irrespective of what anyone else is doing.

[jdull99]

I would have to wonder if these co-sanction shows are kinda costly to the promoter? Maybe there is breaks given so not, but I wouldn't be surprised if a co-sanction is more expensive than a stand-alone show...

&, I was somewhat afraid to point it out, but it appears during the 2024 IL midget week; there were not any B-mains and the final event had 16 cars. Maybe the lower #s played a part? Perhaps enough cars for B-mains, and more, is beneficial to the promoters?

[jason88cubs]

Originally Posted by jdull99 I would have to wonder if these co-sanction shows are kinda costly to the promoter? Maybe there is breaks given so not, but I wouldn't be surprised if a co-sanction is more expensive than a stand-alone show... &, I was somewhat afraid to point it out, but it appears during the 2024 IL midget week; there were not any B-mains and the final event had 16 cars. Maybe the lower #s played a part? Perhaps enough cars for B-mains, and more, is beneficial to the promoters?

Yea they cancelled the Lincoln race last year. They said due to heat (it was over 100 easily) but I wonder if it was really low car count

To bad though. I love midget racing

[kendirt]

Originally Posted by jdull99 I would have to wonder if these co-sanction shows are kinda costly to the promoter? Maybe there is breaks given so not, but I wouldn't be surprised if a co-sanction is more expensive than a stand-alone show... &, I was somewhat afraid to point it out, but it appears during the 2024 IL midget week; there were not any B-mains and the final event had 16 cars. Maybe the lower #s played a part? Perhaps enough cars for B-mains, and more, is beneficial to the promoters?

So do your own math.

If you were a promoter what would you consider an acceptable car count? High 20s/low 30s? At 16 cars your back gate is off 40-50%.

I'm saying Midgets average no less than four pit passes per car. You put in whatever number you think is right. Lincoln's pit pass for a weekly show was $35 last season.

[jason88cubs]

The bigger concern is why is midget racing so lacking in Illinois?

[nathans1012]

Originally Posted by jason88cubs The bigger concern is why is midget racing so lacking in Illinois?

Illinois is mostly a fender state. Outside of Jacksonville & Redhill there isn’t a lot of open wheel racing except for MOWA & MARA. You won’t see an open wheel race at Fairbury anytime soon because the fans won’t show up to support it.

[ISF]

Originally Posted by nathans1012 Illinois is mostly a fender state. Outside of Jacksonville & Redhill there isn’t a lot of open wheel racing except for MOWA & MARA. You won’t see an open wheel race at Fairbury anytime soon because the fans won’t show up to support it.

Considering Fairbury's record regarding problems with their attempts at hosting open wheel racing in the semi-recent past the lack thereof probably is of no particular loss.

Jacksonville actually thrives hosting open wheel racing with 1/2 the seating capacity of Fairbury. We attend at minimum 4 or 5 open wheel events at J-ville and they don't lack support whatsoever.

[Pitdad]

Originally Posted by jason88cubs The bigger concern is why is midget racing so lacking in Illinois?

In 2024, MARA/BMARA contested 15 shows (and lost 5 others to weather). Averaged 21.8 cars per night (including three 30+ car counts).

POWRi/Xtreme hosted 5 shows averaging 23.4 cars. They lost 2 shows to weather.

POWRi Speedweeks hosted 3 shows (and 1 cancelled for "weather") averaging 19.7 cars.

And, POWRi sanctioned the Knepper show with 55 cars participating.

For 2024, that's 32 midget shows scheduled with 24 actually happening, averaging more than 20 cars per show.

As it stands now, POWRi/Xtreme has 7 shows scheduled. IMRA-POWRi is apparently resurrected and planning at least 9 shows (at Spoon). And MARA + BMARA is scheduling approximately 20 shows again. All in the state of Illinois. That's not bad in my opinion. Is it what it was in "the glory days"? Certainly not. But none of open wheel racing can claim the numbers they put up way back when.

I think the question is, how will IMRA and MARA schedule each other and will they tear each other apart, or help each other? Theoretically, a "built" MARA engine isn't legal at an IMRA show, much like we are not welcome at USAC D-2 shows...