[Dave Rudisell]

Originally Posted by riskybrisky5 I agree great night. Love the format wish all tracks would go with this format. The only downer on the whole night for me was when I seen Blake Fitzpatrick rolling up to the line up shoot for his qualifer when they were giving the one to go. I still cannot believe that they did not throw the caution on and let him start the race. Here is a guy who came to support the event had bad luck worked to get his car back together made it just as the cars were taking the one to go flag and they didnt wave the start off. Plenty of time to throw the yellow light shove him off and give him a chance. Yor robbed the fans of watching one of the hottest guys put on a show. I see so many wasted yellow laps every night this is one time I would have liked to have seen a wasted yellow flag lap. I do not know who's call it was but I feel you messed this one up. Someone had to see him coming up the pit lane before the one to go was givin. I was sitting in the stands in four and he was ready to push when they were coming off two before the green even came out. Anyway great night of racing but that has bothered me all weekend. Congrats to Jerry and the whole Hoffman crew great job!

Thanks everyone, and glad you all had fun. As far as Blake, i did'nt even know anything about it until now, why was'nt he on time anyhow? I agree it would have been great to see him race, but its not really fair for the guys who were there and ready on time. I would assume he was busy fixing a broke car, but i really don't know.
Again ,Thanks to everyone coming out to Lawrenceburg, I can't wait until Oct. Dave Rudisell

[riskybrisky5]

Dave I do not know your rule. I am the first to say no favoritism, so if you have a rule that if you are not in the line up chute by a certain time I understand the call. I was just a frustrated fan, because I have been in his situation before, you have crashed earlier and work your tail off to get ready and just barley miss the call. I could understand if they had already gone green. But he was at the gate when they were coming off two plenty of time to throw on the caution for a one to go. The green had never been thrown. I guess what bothered me is the way your pits are they had to see him coming before the one to go was given so give the guy a break. But if that is your rule I understand you have to stick to them. I agree with that 100%. Maybe all tracks should look into making a rule that if your not in the line up chute ready to go by a certain time then tough luck. But have exceptions if you have been in a crash or having mechanical problems and rushing to make the show. Racers spend a lot of money to put on a show for the fans I think they at least deserve to be able to race when they bust there but to do it. But don't let the lazy guy just goofing off late to the chute get away with it. Just something to think about for the future.

[Poorboyjocko]

Originally Posted by HurstBros0 Too much racing for free ..... If you are going to add races at least pay a token amount to cover fuel costs. Heck in 1984 the heats paid 40 - 30 - 20 - 10. Just an observation .

Yes it is a lot of racing at an extra cost to the racers and a good format for the fans. If you use it on a local show, the local racer is so straped for funding that is asking, how much more do you want me to lose to put on a your show. On top of that the Burg is the first to raise pit passes to $35 and I would think all tracks will follow on special shows. It won't make any differance what it pays to start, it will be the trend. Once again the back gate and the racer is expected to pay the big part of the purse. Blake F. should of been able to start. No points race and he would of taged the tail as his penalty. Good race, but I did notice that Darland did not get the luxury of the move over flag during the middle of the race like Jerry did. He did get it the last few laps. Good night over all and a great facility over all.

Phil Poor

[Dave Rudisell]

Originally Posted by riskybrisky5 Dave I do not know your rule. I am the first to say no favoritism, so if you have a rule that if you are not in the line up chute by a certain time I understand the call. I was just a frustrated fan, because I have been in his situation before, you have crashed earlier and work your tail off to get ready and just barley miss the call. I could understand if they had already gone green. But he was at the gate when they were coming off two plenty of time to throw on the caution for a one to go. The green had never been thrown. I guess what bothered me is the way your pits are they had to see him coming before the one to go was given so give the guy a break. But if that is your rule I understand you have to stick to them. I agree with that 100%. Maybe all tracks should look into making a rule that if your not in the line up chute ready to go by a certain time then tough luck. But have exceptions if you have been in a crash or having mechanical problems and rushing to make the show. Racers spend a lot of money to put on a show for the fans I think they at least deserve to be able to race when they bust there but to do it. But don't let the lazy guy just goofing off late to the chute get away with it. Just something to think about for the future.

That race was a USAC race, officiated by USAC. I don't know thier exact rules on this for USAC.
Thanks, Dave

[Charles Nungester]

Originally Posted by Jim Gardner What about running this sprint bandit format for local shows? Especially with smaller car counts I think it could be exciting for the fans to see the sprints on the track more often and everybody battle for each position, not just transfer spots. However, more time on the track would result in more attrition. We ran a passing points system at the Mini-Magic Mile in Duquoin a couple of years ago in the mini-sprints and it was awesome. Any thoughts?

I mentioned this a while back, When I got to a sprint car show, I want to see at least 5-6 sprint races. Even if you get 16 cars, You still get five races in this format.

Chuck, who enjoys going and seeing three races but when your used to four or five heats, one or two consis. THree is I wouldn't say let down but not as good as five

[Tim Clauson]

At the pit meetings I have attended, on restarts anyway if you are not ready to be pushed before the one to go, IE, if the drivers get the one to go signal you are not getting a push until the next caution. Not sure if this has been addressed as far as original starts but i would assume it to be the same. I have seen both USAC regulars as well as non USAC regulars bit by this rule. You have to have some cut off point... Sucks for Blake and every other driver who has been ready as they have taken the one to go.

While I agree to a certain extent on the "more races for free" outlook I personally would take the expense of 8 more laps and it taking the draw completely out of the equation then what we do at the majority of the races. Of all the ways to qualify to me this is the best most exciting way to do it. On the gas passing cars from the time you unload until you put it back in the trailer.

Just my 2 cents ..

Tim Clauson

[Charles Nungester]

Originally Posted by Poorboyjocko Yes it is a lot of racing at an extra cost to the racers and a good format for the fans. If you use it on a local show, the local racer is so straped for funding that is asking, how much more do you want me to lose to put on a your show. On top of that the Burg is the first to raise pit passes to $35 and I would think all tracks will follow on special shows. It won't make any differance what it pays to start, it will be the trend. Once again the back gate and the racer is expected to pay the big part of the purse. Blake F. should of been able to start. No points race and he would of taged the tail as his penalty. Good race, but I did notice that Darland did not get the luxury of the move over flag during the middle of the race like Jerry did. He did get it the last few laps. Good night over all and a great facility over all. Phil Poor

Not saying you observations aren't valid but the pit pass was 10 more than the front gate. Par for the course. Go to tracks like florence and others who have 10-12 dollar front gate passes and charge 30 at the pit gate for a regular show. I said USAC should split the difference in WoO vs their standard. UP it to 25 admission 7000 to win 700 to start.

You increase the purse by putting butts in the seat. The format and racing are what puts butts in the seats. There is so much less racing than in years past as it is. NO QUALIFYING, NOT TROPHY DASH. NOT EVEN A VICTORY LAP. Hell they used to qualify and put the fast guys on the tail of the feature no matter how they finished their heat. and DQ'd you if you ran faster than your QT

That place was packed, There were more than IMHO than the WoO sat show. If the main stand holds 6g Id say there were 5g in it. another thou throughout the place

Chuck, remembering august races with less than 800 butts in the seat on a track that was 90 percent huggy pole unless it rained the night before..

THANKS DAVE!

[Sandy Lowe]

I think the main grandstands seat just a tad over 3,000.

On the Fitzpatrick situation I know that on the first caution after the original start they asked if he was still in the chute so they could get him in the race. By that time he had already went back to his trailer.

The officials working the lineup chute don't always know why a car may or may not be late. While the races are being run they are busy lining up the next one so that we may put on an efficiently run show for the fans. They don't get to watch all of the races so they might not know who would be thrashing to make repairs.

[Charles Nungester]

Originally Posted by Sandy Lowe I think the main grandstands seat just a tad over 3,000. .

Ok, sorry Sandy. Still a far cry from half or less than half full main grandstand. Even at some USAC shows.

[Go Fast]

I was sitting on the 4wheeler behind Hunter in the chute when Blake came rolling past us. Man it was close. He got to the gate and was acknowledged by the pit steward at the exact same time the flagman gave the one to go. By the time the pit steward called on the radio that there was another car it was too late. Blake sat there ready in case there was a quick caution in the first lap which did not happen. The caution came out after one lap had been scored. At that point he would have came out one lap down with little to no opportunity to score any points.

I was very impressed with his team. They did not argue or make any fuss about it at all. They knew the rule and accepted that they had missed it, if only by about a second. They all represented themselves in the utmost professional manner and that earned them a lot of respect from me.

Oh BTW, Thanks for a great night Dave. I loved the format much the same as everyone else. I also appreciate that you left the track alone. It was nice to be able to adjust the car to the way the track was changing and not have to worry if it would get reworked at the last minute, thus nullifying all the work I had done to get ready. I think when it slicks off a little the racing is better. Everyone isn't locked down fast and you can actually see more passing.
Plus it doesn't just turn into a "Big Donkey Show."