Perhaps they could make the feature 100 kilometers instead of 100 miles. That would be, what, 60 or so laps? Split the field into two 20 lap heat races. The fans still get to see 100 miles of racing that way, and the format would be more fan friendly without requiring the racers to put more laps on the cars.

That is similar to the "Flash Format" that NASCAR instituted for their Whelan Modified Tour. While it makes a degree of sense it has not been well recieved by either fans or competitors.

I've seen you perpetuate this rumor on Midget Madness and when anyone calls you out on it to name teams or car owners who were "fined", you're coincidentally quiet. Could it be that you're full of BS? Posts like these by posters like you and Don Moore have only one reason: To slander USAC for the purposes of your anti-USAC agenda. Neither of you have any credibility as far as the United States Auto Club goes, your hatred of them is well-documented, so nothing you say about them has any credence at all.

Why? So you can race for free for half the schedule while the teams who are committed to the entire schedule do the right thing and pay the license fees? If you want a handout, go play Little League. I hear they give trophies for even the biggest losers.

It's not the Silver Crown Dirt championship. The championship includes dirt AND pavement. If you want to run a Silver Crown race, you pay the Silver Crown price. Don't like it? Go buy a Modified and whine and complain to UMP or IMCA. You don't want to pay the money but you want the same perks as the full-time teams, get a grip. If you're not going to support the series, why should the series support you?

"Why doesn't somebody just try to market it as a sport for once, not as entertainment."

Sport is entertainment, whether it be baseball, hockey, wrestling or a 100-lap Silver Crown race. If fans are not entertained while watching your sport, you end up with more empty grandstand seats the next time and possibly a backgate driven event for future dates. Or, one that ceases to exist at all.
There are two parts of promoting a race -- getting the fan and competitors to the event, and entertaining people while they are there. There is a whole lot more to organizing one.
Jim Morrison

I asked a simple question so don't get pissy with me. If you want to bow to the Gods at USAC then fine go ahead and bow. It makes no difference to me.

I speak my mind and ask questions when I feel they need askin and if that isn't something you like then don't read my posts.

Get it, got it, good.

Too many people use these lines as an excuse to be a loudmouth blowhard.

You're nothing special.

We're still waiting to hear which teams supposedly got "fined" for running POWRi shows. We won't be holding our breath.

If you want to play you have to pay, thats racing. You may not like it , but that is the way it is. As for USAC, they have had more unsuccessful suicide attempts than any other organization I know of. They have learned one thing in the last twenty years, how to pull the trigger and not receive mortal injuries.

If they hadn't been so busy with their head up NASCRAP'S backside, this wouldn't be a problem to begin with. The people I know have a wait and see attitude because of the ugly sh*tboxes they tried for a couple years They want to see if the guys on 16th street have screwed their heads back on.

I love the Champ Cars on the miles,it is the most tradition rich racing there is, but they were fun to watch at the Grove in the early 80's.The actiontrack is also great.Anywhere the Champ Cars run is fine with me.

I was shooting pictures in one for hot laps at Springfield,and in the early hot laps the FAST GUYS weren't lifting.

just one fan's crackpot opinion:

I still think a national tour of SC dirt cars on 1/2 mi tracks is USAC's best hope for a return to national prominence. Especially if you could get some type of tv (even delayed. on any channel). Nothing's as good as the mile tracks, but you can't build a series on just 3 tracks in 2 neighboring states.

Fans throughout the country can find midgets & sprints (winged) in their region, but the Big Cars are different (but similar enough to be intriguing). Attract the late model, mod, & NASCAR fans by stressing the connection with Cup star alums.

It's a stand alone, one of a kind series. Tinker with the tire specs to make it less costly & easier on the track surfaces. They raced a lot of years on narrower tires. Alter the format, as necessary, to generate the best show. You're not running 410 sprint engs. Could anything be done to reduce eng costs/ increase eng life, using same basic eng size?

ISMA brings their cars & drivers onto the front straight for a short meet & greet with the fans prior to the A main. See the cars, meet the drivers & mechs. Doesn't cost anything, adds to the "event" & pays long term dividends for future year gates.

Rebuild the series on dirt, then incorporate a pavement swing into the schedule.

They have changed the tire rules the last few years. There aren't anymore qualifying tires.

I don't think Don is actually against USAC, I think that he feels that by being the lead organization then they should be the ones to set what he feels would be better standards for the sport. I don't always agree with him and he doesn't always with me, but I do believe he has a strong passion for the sport and wants what is best for it.

To me, although the series was designed as a dirt only portion to compliment the pavement for the National Championship, pavement is important to the series and they have some good dates.

Maybe an olive branch to both the dirt only and pavement only teams could be made and have a dirt series champion recognition and a pavement series recognition with some sort of award to designate the accomplishment. A National champ would still be awarded with what comes with it.

I also think that an award to the person who had the best point total on the dirt miles could be given as well. A "Master of the Miles" award could be given to that person and that award could be used to pay tribute to the roots of the series.

I don't like heats or a split race program. I don't think it adds to the event and I think that it takes away from the race. I don't like gimmecks that distract form the essence of the show. Just like group Quals. I will never like it. I think it's a farce and frankly a crutch that a driver who doesn't like to run by himself to use instead of dealing with the pressure of "All eyes on you". I also hate the fact that it takes away from the drama of who is fast and the fact that it is confusing for the fans.

I have said this before and I will always stand by it: I have never heard a crowd boo or get mad at a fast time run or a new track record. Some of the most electrifying moments I have seen at any race track is when a new track record is run. In my opinion, that is one reason why pole day crowds at IMS are down because they know that they will never see 240 or 250.(Not that I blame the track for slowing the cars down) When they knew that 150,175,200,220, and 230 where in reach, the people loved it. They can say they witnessed something that no one had ever seen before.

If a track says that it is too long or too hard on a track to qualify each car, then they should institute 1 lap quals. It is half as long and half as hard on the track.

Leaders edge, great ideas, but I disagree with one. If you split the championship, someone will eventually be left out. Look at the focus series,dirt and pavement. Oh ,my mistake, they don't run dirt in the midwest anymore, forgot about that.

Seriously though, I don't want to see specialists, I want to see racers, guys like Darland, Jones, Hines and the like. Not guys who can't do one or the other.If you can't do both, well you can't win the title.

The halfs are a great idea. The Grove back on the schedule would be great. Terre Haute was a good show this year too.I also thought Illiana put on a great race under the PRA banner.Stafford Springs was a spectacular night. The halfs work fine.