Originally Posted by Dwight Clock In order for USAC or any National series to thrive there must be genuine interest created on a National level. WoO packs them in because 410 winged sprints are a staple of short track racing nationally. Same for WoO Late Models. Traditional sprint car racing has only pockets of interest nationally and that needs to change. Traditional sprints are currently popular in the midwest (IN, IL, OH, & MI), Southwest (CA, AZ, NM), with marginal interest in the Plains states (KS, NE, OK). Regional series, whether under the USAC banner or not, will serve to provide a driver pool from which the National series can draw. That will create interest among the fans in those areas to follow their guy. When the USAC National series comes to town you will then see WoO size crowds. That, in turn, could prompt other areas to try traditional type open wheel racing and on it goes. But this is a process that takes some time. Simply finding money to pay larger purses is merely a band aid. The long term fix is in creating national interest through regional series or individual tracks that will provide drivers to the big show and fans to watch them.

I don't disagree with any of this, Dwight. I just wonder if the horse comes before the cart, or if the "big show" needs to be in place before the regional series' can (will?) grow with something to aspire to?

[DonMoore10]

Well, three cheers for the SUPERDUKE. Finally some common sense on here about the outragious costs of racing. Still haven't heard from the new powers at USAC about what their plan is to stop the excessive bleeding $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to run a respectable race team. Mr. Miller, this is way, way, way out of control.

THE DAY USAC BECOMES A "SPEC" SERIES.............I'LL QUIT GOING TO WATCH AND BY A FISHING BOAT!

:moon::kookoo:moon:

[Charles Nungester]

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk My question to Chuck is where do you find cars in some of these areas? Most places except a few areas run 360s only. Also was wondering if your going to PA, as earlier this winter I thought you were considering it. Happy trails.

The man wants ideas, I give em. I don't claim they are right or wrong.

What makes them SE, SW, Upper Midwest spots doable is that it's a group of races for good money. Not a one off show. They are events that people will travel too see.

I really think some people just are pissed that they can't think up anything for themselves (Dirtyd) and have nothing but critizism to offer.

Honestly, I like the fact that Kevin is searching for ways to make it work. Im possitive that 95 percent of what I contribute he or someone there has already thought of. What about the five percent that might make the difference?????

Ideas like making promotional videos or comercials with the people that have the footage, Dean/High Vista, Jackslash. Running them prior to swings in market areas. Of course you need a marketing budget. Id even put em on the website.

USAC isn't using it's existing resources to best measure either. Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Possibly Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, JJ and others. Ask, Purchase their time or maybe they'd even do it to promote their sponsors. But do spots like, I honed my skills in USAC. ect. USAC has drivers with five nascar titles a points leader in ARCA ect. ect.

Over 4 million attend Nascar, Even one percent of that drawn to USAC events is a huge boost.

The biggest marketing tool is already out there. Speed, ESPN, Nascar Now, The Speed Report. Buy spots, Use a couple standard action packed comercials and update em with event scheduals.
Myspace and stuff will work but some of that market goes to movies and text through the whole thing. If they go at all.

I've always said the best marketing tool is word of mouth. Get enough people raving about it and the rest will take care of itself.

The events are going to have to go off with tracks and people willing to give it a couple years to grow and not change direction every six months.

Chuck, saying the nasty parts of this reply were not to you Brent. I seriously had intended doing the PA swing but a shared trip with relatives only one week after kinda put the kabash on that. Select Sprint Week and Midget week shows along with MSCS fall events are still on

[BrentTFunk]

My concern was just the lack of cars. Sorry you can't make the PA trip it was BIG fun last year. I took no offense to anything said.

[SUPERDUKE]

Originally Posted by Sprint Fan THE DAY USAC BECOMES A "SPEC" SERIES.............I'LL QUIT GOING TO WATCH AND BY A FISHING BOAT! :moon::kookoo:moon:

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IRL NASCAR IS? ITS ALL SPEC RACING ONLY THERES TAKES $10 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO RACE!

[AlkyMadness]

Time for me to act like I know what I'm talking about again.

The question shouldn't be how many people does it take to make a big event, but how much does it need to pay (especially if this big event entails a long tow by the teams).

I've said this before, I'll say it again: Any/all series need to be more worried about building a strong home base as opposed to playing Captain Kirk and boldly going where no series has gone before.

Unless drastic changes occur, gas will be approaching $5/gallon by the end of the season and diesel will probably be $6/gallon. Inflation is creeping into everything. Corporate (or even local) sponsorships are being cut back as everyone trys to survive. Record numbers of home foreclosures, soaring credit debt and layoffs. Add all this up and people are starting to circle the wagons, watching their expenses.

Anything that results in higher team (and fan) expense needs to be put aside (for now/not forever).

That is unless the sanctioning body is going to start paying a minimum of $10,000 to win, $500 to start for every race run outside of Indiana (in addition to paying tow money of $250 to any team that participates in at least the non-qualifiers race).

And that would still be an average race when measured against the other successful touring series (ie WoO sprints, and numerous dirt late model sanctions). A truly Big Event should pay at least three times that much. Again, look at the successful touring series.

Another aspect of growing the series out of Indiana: You stand a great chance of dis-enchanting your current loyal fan base. All you have to do is look at NASCAR for that (they won't admit it, but they now regret some of their moves away from tradition). Their loyal fans feel betrayed and left behind. I used to be one of them and now, I could care less about going back even if they gave me tickets. I've moved on and that void has been filled by something else.

Another concern: will your teams even elect to do the travel? If you've got a race 500+ miles away and MSCS or POWERi have a good paying event close to home, will at least 30 plus make the trip, or race close to home.

And then their's the idea of marketing to the younger crowd and winning new fans. Again, this comes with the possibility of turning off the loyal fan base. USAC sells itself on being "TRADITIONAL" and "HISTORIC". And those are qualities that I admire and appreciate. But I'm 50 and, somehow, I don't think the new manifesto of growth is aimed toward people like me.

The people who this new approach is aimed at don't give a flying f... about History and Tradition. They want glitz/glam/speed and fury. Not saying USAC sprints don't have speed and fury (I think they've got more fury) but them there danged wanged sprinters why they fly. Average American doesn't want the History Channel, they want American Idol (even though the History Channel would be better for them). And, don't count on them sticking around if they do come your way. In a few years, you are "yesterday's thing" and you're not cool anymore and you'll be dumped by about 80%.

I still think USAC needs to stick to it's roots (and forget that damn spec engine ****) and stay where non wing 410s are popular. Mainly Indiana. If you want to expand, look at running more in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan. These are not long hauls and our kind of sprint racing is not exactly a major commodity in these markets. I mean, look at it. There is a handful of USAC sprint races in Ohio (four I think), one race in Illinois and zero in Kentucky or Michigan. Now, these are the states that you could grow a bigger fan base and these people live close enough that they could somewhat afford to drive around (as in to Indiana) to support the series. There are a lot of wonderful race tracks in these states, dirt and asphalt. Use them. After ten years, if that's successful, then grow a little further.

And, as always, forget about the Southeast. Nobody cares. After all the events run at the Lowes dirt track, I've yet to hear a single person in this area say that they missed the USAC sprints. And, they are struggling to sell tickets for this coming weekends WoO show (the biggest draw to locals is the Fastrack crate late models).

The only open wheeled show that people in this area still talk about is the super mods at Concord.

I don't envy Kevin Miller and associates. It's a thankless job and you'll never satisfy everybody (and those that are satisfied will rarely admit it). I wish him luck in tough times.

Hell, even Humpy Wheeler has announced his retirement. That should tell us all something. He could care less about his age, his enthusiasm is still as strong as ever. But, he sees the writing on the wall and I think he wants to go out on top and not live thru the decline.

Hopefully, I haven't put you all to sleep.

[Jerry Spencer]

Originally Posted by AlkyMadness Time for me to act like I know what I'm talking about again. The question shouldn't be how many people does it take to make a big event, but how much does it need to pay (especially if this big event entails a long tow by the teams). I've said this before, I'll say it again: Any/all series need to be more worried about building a strong home base as opposed to playing Captain Kirk and boldly going where no series has gone before. Unless drastic changes occur, gas will be approaching $5/gallon by the end of the season and diesel will probably be $6/gallon. Inflation is creeping into everything. Corporate (or even local) sponsorships are being cut back as everyone trys to survive. Record numbers of home foreclosures, soaring credit debt and layoffs. Add all this up and people are starting to circle the wagons, watching their expenses. Anything that results in higher team (and fan) expense needs to be put aside (for now/not forever). That is unless the sanctioning body is going to start paying a minimum of $10,000 to win, $500 to start for every race run outside of Indiana (in addition to paying tow money of $250 to any team that participates in at least the non-qualifiers race). And that would still be an average race when measured against the other successful touring series (ie WoO sprints, and numerous dirt late model sanctions). A truly Big Event should pay at least three times that much. Again, look at the successful touring series. Another aspect of growing the series out of Indiana: You stand a great chance of dis-enchanting your current loyal fan base. All you have to do is look at NASCAR for that (they won't admit it, but they now regret some of their moves away from tradition). Their loyal fans feel betrayed and left behind. I used to be one of them and now, I could care less about going back even if they gave me tickets. I've moved on and that void has been filled by something else. Another concern: will your teams even elect to do the travel? If you've got a race 500+ miles away and MSCS or POWERi have a good paying event close to home, will at least 30 plus make the trip, or race close to home. And then their's the idea of marketing to the younger crowd and winning new fans. Again, this comes with the possibility of turning off the loyal fan base. USAC sells itself on being "TRADITIONAL" and "HISTORIC". And those are qualities that I admire and appreciate. But I'm 50 and, somehow, I don't think the new manifesto of growth is aimed toward people like me. The people who this new approach is aimed at don't give a flying f... about History and Tradition. They want glitz/glam/speed and fury. Not saying USAC sprints don't have speed and fury (I think they've got more fury) but them there danged wanged sprinters why they fly. Average American doesn't want the History Channel, they want American Idol (even though the History Channel would be better for them). And, don't count on them sticking around if they do come your way. In a few years, you are "yesterday's thing" and you're not cool anymore and you'll be dumped by about 80%. I still think USAC needs to stick to it's roots (and forget that damn spec engine ****) and stay where non wing 410s are popular. Mainly Indiana. If you want to expand, look at running more in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan. These are not long hauls and our kind of sprint racing is not exactly a major commodity in these markets. I mean, look at it. There is a handful of USAC sprint races in Ohio (four I think), one race in Illinois and zero in Kentucky or Michigan. Now, these are the states that you could grow a bigger fan base and these people live close enough that they could somewhat afford to drive around (as in to Indiana) to support the series. There are a lot of wonderful race tracks in these states, dirt and asphalt. Use them. After ten years, if that's successful, then grow a little further. And, as always, forget about the Southeast. Nobody cares. After all the events run at the Lowes dirt track, I've yet to hear a single person in this area say that they missed the USAC sprints. And, they are struggling to sell tickets for this coming weekends WoO show (the biggest draw to locals is the Fastrack crate late models). The only open wheeled show that people in this area still talk about is the super mods at Concord. I don't envy Kevin Miller and associates. It's a thankless job and you'll never satisfy everybody (and those that are satisfied will rarely admit it). I wish him luck in tough times. Hell, even Humpy Wheeler has announced his retirement. That should tell us all something. He could care less about his age, his enthusiasm is still as strong as ever. But, he sees the writing on the wall and I think he wants to go out on top and not live thru the decline. Hopefully, I haven't put you all to sleep.

:applaud: :respect:

Jerry #66j
www.joshspencer.com

[Dave Rudisell]

Originally Posted by dirtyd6305 I'm glad to see that thousands of message board posts now equal a business degree. So many people on here think that they have some type of special insight that someone, o say Kevin Miller, is lacking. Why don't you ask intelligent questions instead of using this time to act like you actually have a clue about what needs to happen. Chuck, please STOP thinking that USAC members on here will actually listen to someone who probably never seen a race outside of Lawrenceburg.

If you don't like his posts don't read them, Duh!!
Poof!!

Originally Posted by SUPERDUKE WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IRL NASCAR IS? ITS ALL SPEC RACING ONLY THERES TAKES $10 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO RACE!

You are 100% correct, that is Xactly what they are, and you won't see my ass at any of the IRL or NASCRAP (spec) races!

My racing dollar stays at the local and regional levels of Sprint Car and Late Model racing, and probably 90% of those will be dirt tracks too!

So what your saying is you want USAC to follow the IRL and NASCRAP lead and turn it into a spec racing series too? :headbang:headbang:headbang