Like it or not I believe we have just witnessed the end of another era. Over are the days when a NASCAR team associated driver shows up at your local track to "mix it up with the locals". The statement that I'm about to make has no "evidence or proof" just my observations from 25 yrs of rolling around in the dirt under late models . When a "star" shows up at a local track there is a small percentage of racers who suddenly have something to prove. Their on track demeanor changes ,
Hell even their off track demeanor changes. They become "occupied " with the " star" and what he's doing. On track they will put themselves and their cars in positions / places that they wouldn't on any other Saturday night. They get a " chip" on their shoulder so to speak. This will now b seen as opening up the team drivers and their sponsors for liability and litigation. The lawyers are about to nail the coffin lid shut on this era.

Sadly you're likely right.

I agree with you on this one. In this whole situation, & the media/public reaction to it, I was thinking how it will change our sport, and I believe it wil be dramatic. NASCAR owners and sponsors, are not going to take the chance of bad pub. So will not allow drivers to cross over. Insurance for tracks will rise, thus gate price. There may even be some sponsors, already hard to find, that shy away. I have already heard of some rule changes at tracks,(although this could be good). The ole axiom "any publicity is good publicity", definitely does not hold true in this case. I think you have to keep in mind too, that when media persons report on this, they have never been to a sprint car race, and can't imagine sitting thru one with all that darn dust gettin in their beers, let alone pitching a car sideways just to turn left.

I never thought Tony Stewart should have been running as much as he did and especially with such low level competition. When a guy with unlimited funds pulls in to steal the show from a bunch of low budget locals, they take offense to that. They were probably pissed at Stewart as soon as he unloaded, knowing they had little to no chance of beating him after spending all their hard earned money to race that night. Stewart should stick to big time sprint car racing and unless his sponsors abandon him, keep right on doing it.

If I'm not mistaken, either the track or the county tourism board. Has promoted that tony will be there. So if the poor guy doesn't want to be beat by the "star" then they have the choice of staying home or racing else where. Promoters like when big names show up & know in advance so they can fill the stands.

Throwback

I think Tony was right in his element, I truly think he identifies with the low budget racer. This is the kid that started racing a 10 year old Go Kart at the Columbus Indiana 4H fairgrounds, the same kid that would be late to qualifications for a USAC Midget Race because he was racing RC Cars across town and had to finish his race. He is the same "HOT HEAD" that doesn't like loosing at anything, perhaps that is why he is the driver he is and perhaps that is why he is probably the the best thing that has happened to Open Wheel racing in a long time. When you are racing a 410 Winged Sprint car you are not racing with Chump Change no matter where you race. Now if he borrows a TQ he might just be racing on the cheap, (and he has also done that) but he is still giving back to his roots.

I remember back several years ago to when they were still racing Midgets In Indy at the center. On the Sunday after the races I took my son and a few of his friends to "Steve Johnson's indoor Go Kart track" to get some laps in before heading back home. Tony was there as usually with a few fellow Midget Racers. One of My boy's more reserved friends managed to get into a race with Tony and starting behind him >>>WELL>>>> he managed to spin Tony out. This today is still one of his magic moments in racing, and Tony did not even get out and throw his helmet at him.

Tony and racers like him are an integral part of dirt open wheel racing, when they show up to race, so do the crowds, like in the good old days when we could watch all the Indy 500 Stars on any given weekend by just going to a Midget or Sprint race at our local track. They were doing what they liked best.

Granted throwing a Super Star in the field of "Weekend Warriors" is much like putting a camera in a Court Room, it will bring out the Show Boat in most anybody. What the Weekend Warrior needs to keep in mind is there is very little talent separating them and the Super Star the difference is sometimes nothing more than luck of the draw. Race them as you would race anyone else, they usually don't show up to steal your thunder but on the contrary they might add to it.

An old comedian Dave Gardner once said "There is no such thing as an accident, just premeditated carelessness." We need to be very careful around race cars, and hopefully when the mainstream media drops it's coverage for bigger juicer story's we can all get back to normal.

I wish that Kevin like my son's friend was back in his garage right now telling his friends stories about banging wheels with "OL Smoke" on the race track.

Honest Dad himself

I also immediately thought the same thing. I was shooting at my local track and probably standing on the track during a red flag 15-20 minutes before I first read about this. Looking through my own pictures and seeing many drivers do this over the years, it now is so different.

I can remember going to see Bobby Allison and DW race at Cayuga against Jr Hanley and all the ASA guys when I was a kid. That is what drew me to a racer like Stewart who I have also saw race a stock car at Cayuga.

Kyle Busch won a template race and finished last in an outlaw super late model race a K'zoo last night. Hoping that won't be the end of this.

As for the ESS competitors, I have seen a lot of them race over the years. They generally seem like a well run series with many adequately funded teams, not sure if the statements of something to prove and low dollar are accurate in this case.

And the place was packed to the rafters for a Wednesday Night. It was a promoter's/owner's dream come true.

As much as some might feel this could be coming to an end, or is more or less cherry picking, this is good business - for all.

On the topic, though, Johnny Van Doorne finished second to Kyle last night in the ARCA/CRA Late Model race on the undercard. During the post race interview, ironically he made a comment to the sort of, "I was going to put the bumper to him late in the race, but I couldn't CATCH him."

He said it in somewhat of a comical manner, but it goes along with local drivers stepping it up for the big shows, which, in my opinion, is to be expected.

I think you are full of it, I've raced with Tony, and a lot of other "professionals", it never bothered me, they put their pants on just like I do, one leg at a time, and as far as them taking away any money, never happened, usually sweetened the purse, and just because they drive nice shinny, all new stuff, doesn't mean that they don't have some parts that break also, they don't always have the perfect race either, money doesn't make your luck any better, or give you better breaks in the line you choose to run, I've known Tony and family since he was 6 yrs old, my wife and his mother were on the scoring staff, they never had it so good either, starting out, I can understand a big dollar sponsor wanting to protect his investment, but then at least for now, in this country, we aren't bought and sold like cattle, sometimes you gotta suck it up buttercup, and kiss some butts, but don't we pretty much do that on a regular basis anyway, tell Kenny Schrader that he can't run where he wants to, there are a lot of talented drivers, and then not so much, but they all race just for the thrill, and the competition, the money just makes it better somehow, I just don't understand your thinking on this, your stage name makes one think you have been around a long time, but your bio shows different! Bob

I personally think, Give it till next season where most of it blows over. I think most Nascar teams do have restrictions on most of their drivers. Heck its the reason Tony when his own way.

Wait and see, Sponsors will go where people will go to see em. Short track racing is bigger than nascar nationwide. Its just divided into many different segments. And 500-20,000 at each event times 400 tracks rather than one 50-200,000 track.