[cmakin]

Originally Posted by Tbird4vkcc Any video out there that you know of? I checked out the site, nice pics, any of the photo finish??

I had one of the leaders entering turn one of the white flag lap, but that "loveracinbruce" guy wasn't paying attention and wandered into my line of sight.

I do have one of Jesse and Robert just after the checkered. I am updating my site as I write this.

It was a great race considering the low car count. It took Bacon 23 laps to get around Rilat. The track was in awesome condition. Bacon used the extreme low line to get into the lead, then Ballou used the cushion to get around him. Hockett dove between both Bacon and Ballou going into 3 going for the checkered and came up a little short.

Ballou was a little P.O.ed after his heat race incident, but channeled that emotion to a great win coming from the back - just as Hockett did.

I'm hoping the low car count doesn't hurt the chances of the non wing cars to return here in the South. I really think the forecast turned some people away. All week showed scattered thunderstorms with Friday being low overcast and drizzly all day in Houston. I never saw rain on the weather channel for Beaumont, but the chance of rain probably scared away some cars as well as the fans - so they called Friday's race. Also, there were only five, maybe six 360 cars that I came out. There should have been more. I don't know why more of the Gulf South cars did not come out and support the show - they should have and shame on those that could have. An extra five hundred was the determining factor for a couple of the cars that did come out. Maybe a couple extra hundred would have helped bring more "little" cars.?? As far as more 410 non wing cars, I think the purse has to be better to get more cars to travel this far (and no competing races, see below). Or maybe have some local sponsorship bump up the winner's take to attract more competitors. $5000 sounds a whole lot better than $3000. Hopefully this can be worked on for future events and not let this first low car count show be the last. In addition, here's a not so new idea. Don't schedule conflicting races, USAC, and also don't have any moronic rules about no-compete contracts. Let's advance and grow the sport, not limit and harness it. A lot of these guys race for a living - a no compete clause takes money out of these guys pockets. Let 'em race - as much as possible.

On a positive note, the 360s were more competitive than expected on this track. The 410s did not disappear from the 360s. The iron blocks held their own and gave the recycled beer can engine cars all they wanted - for a couple of laps. The Beaumont race would have been a good venue for the 360 cars to show their competitiveness. Oh well, maybe next time. Rant over.

[quicktime3]

I agree. USAC should take every weekend off so everyone else can race with their drivers.