Let's face it. USAC is the minor leagues compared to the Outlaws for reasons previously stated. Give me a non-wing race anytime over a wing race but comparing USAC to the Outlaws is apples to oranges. Steve Kinser is doing his swan song tour in Australia this winter and the crowds will be HUGE to see Steve, I bet even bigger than ever. If Steve would announce before the 2014 Outlaw season started that this year was his last tickets would be hard to come by at many, many venues. Unfortunately, name one USAC driver retiring that could generate any interest like that. Diehard non-wing fans would show up but the Outlaws, and Steve and Sammy, have the brand. Plus, Steve has been around for about 40 years, almost as long as Sammy.
A couple of thoughts: 1) The Outlaws have gone to a lower purse for a mid week show. It is $6,000 to win for a mid week show, not $10,000.
2) Many people on this board want their cake and eat it to. You want all of the USAC drivers to race USAC but also show up for all of the local shows. You don't want USAC to implement the non-complete rule for race nights like the Outlaws do. You complain when you have to pay the $25 for a USAC show because you pay $12 for a regular show. Yet, the Outlaws are charging $35 and above for tickets. You want it so all of the local teams have a chance in USAC, but all of the major Outlaw teams are well financed.
Larson has always talked about an Outlaw team and really never talked about a USAC team. I was hoping that with all of the success he had with the midgets that he would have gone that direction.
Originally Posted by Flatrightrear:
Let's face it. USAC is the minor leagues compared to the Outlaws for reasons previously stated. Give me a non-wing race anytime over a wing race but comparing USAC to the Outlaws is apples to oranges. Steve Kinser is doing his swan song tour in Australia this winter and the crowds will be HUGE to see Steve, I bet even bigger than ever. If Steve would announce before the 2014 Outlaw season started that this year was his last tickets would be hard to come by at many, many venues. Unfortunately, name one USAC driver retiring that could generate any interest like that. Diehard non-wing fans would show up but the Outlaws, and Steve and Sammy, have the brand. Plus, Steve has been around for about 40 years, almost as long as Sammy.
People told me USAC was small potatoes while the World of Outlaws was the way to go and USAC would be out of the sprint car business before long. They were telling me that in 1980. I guess it is some of the same mindset that said in 1955 that Elvis Presley is no Eddie Fisher and would be a has-been in a year.
I don't care about crowds of people in Australia, how iconic and what brands Steve and Sammy are or who will have the most celebrated farewell tours. I do care that my memory bank is full the many wonderful highlights that Dave Darland has given me over the years. If the WoO is racing in very close proximity to me while DD, Bryan, Tracy and company/USAC is racing at Kokomo the same evening I would not give it a second thought about making the 300 mile round trip to see my favorites in USAC run.
