Unfortunately in the world we all live, we create our own supply chain problems through our buying habits. The 'ol chicken and the egg paradigm, which came first?

Case in point, aging consumers want small towns that have all that character and history to thrive yet most of those consumers do their shopping at big box stores such as Wal-mart and Target because they are price sensitive. The selection and prices are certainly more beneficial at those stores and the revenue is used to feed the head of the monster and benefits the local economy, more importantly the workers, little to none. Still yet, we want to see that little mom and pop store down on main stay open. The same place we think they are overpriced and the selection sucks but crucify the owner the day the "going out of business" sign goes up. We almost take it personally that someone dare take our memories and board them up, even tho we did little to nothing to help keep that front door open. We all want to walk main street on the beautiful summer evening but aren't willing to pay for it the rest of the year.

Racing, not just open wheel, is no different. Sectors of racing that in the past have been thriving and viable just don't make fiscal sense to the average consumer (the car owner's and spectators) at this point and they have taken their dollar to the Wal-Mart of open wheel racing which is local dirt tracks. It's quick, cheap, easy, you know there will be cars and the racing should be good. Same as the model above, the folks that won't spend their dollar are the same that call out foul when events and car counts die out and "main street" goes dark. There is nostalgia in silver crown racing, there is nostalgia pavement racing, and certainly there is nostalgia in almost all the crown jewel USAC events that are really struggling right now. Nostalgia is expensive and if it's to be kept, we all must pay and do our part... at least if it's still important to us and want to be shared for the future.

USAC has dipped into their pockets for a while to keep "main streets" lights on and I think that is where KM is coming from. I don't at all agree with the overhead at USAC and the structure of operating a non-for-profit as a profitable entity but having said that, it's allowed the lights to stay on longer than they would otherwise. For the general racing consumer, it's been a savior because it's allowed for those summer walks past the storefronts without actually putting money in those same cash registers. Unfortunately it's starting to look like the end is near unless us racing consumers start dropping some change into the events we love.

Can it change? Of course it can, but only if "main street" becomes part of our shopping routine. Balance is ok, hit the local dirt tracks 3 weeks out of 4, but that 4th week.. make it a special night watching or racing something different and nostalgic.

After looking at car counts from other clubs, not good. I'm guessing attendance isn't that great either.

http://www.midgetmadness.com/

It really doesn't matter what kind of car midget, sprint crown a half mile is hard on the motors Also wasn;t the Hulman Classic held on a Thursday night? I am thinking a awful lot of teams had to work that day and the day after. Not argueing just saying

From my understanding the incentives were good for the Night Before, but these incentives were not offered, or brought to surface until less than two weeks before the show. When other drivers already had commitments to run else where (Little 500 etc). I like what they offered, but offer it at the beginning of the year when people form/plan their schedules

dont really think low car count at hulman classis has to do with it being a half mile or thursday as much as it has to do with the wall they put around it. didnt really bother people much untill shanes wreck think that opened up peoples minds know after the walls went up we quit taking our sprints there . jmo

[QUOTE=ThrowbackRacingTeam;381707]If there are so many dirt cars , why not just just run those on pavement and outlaw the special built pavement cars. QUOTE]

Success is not measured by car counts alone, although they are part of the equation.
I do agree with you here Throwback. It took a real talent to make the same car work on both in the past. So change the rule and make it so they have too. Put those 11 midgets in the crusher (just kidding) .
I don't know, maybe be the sanctions need to be more cordial and appealing to the car owner group not the corporations.The corporations as well as the kahnes, stewarts and such shouldn't be fielding race car teams but putting the money towards the sport as in sponsorships of racing events ie Stoops with Kokomo Smackdown. This is surely to ease the pressure off of the venue, promoter and sanction to operate efficiently and concentrate more on the task at hand.
Not sure that I agree wholeheartedly with the dirt midget comeback until the 2 major sanctions level the playing field to back away from certain toyata dominance (Honestly, my interest has waned, when all too frequently there is at least 1, 2 if not 3 Black & Red Toyotas on the podium.). I see the real racing going on for 4th, 5th & 6th when the 3 Toyota amigos thing develops up front. Honestly, If I could freely get out of my rooms in Wisc. this weekend, I wouldn't be making the trip. For I fear, that is what I will see on the podium up there.
I don't want to see the corporate teams win. I want the grass roots guys in victory lane. How long do you think the numbers will stay up there when they know, they don't have a chance to even win a heat race let alone make the feature ? You end up doing the race teams economics and well......Parity is what is good for the sport not dominance by 1-3 drivers or black/red Midgets. I expect to start seeing more clubs start back up or strengthen before they throw in the towel. After all isn't this USAC National Midget Series supposed to be the HONDA midget series? I would think they would be questioning USAC about the Toyota dominance?

Many of you more veteran users here, can remember NAMARS was the originator of Midget week (The 5 Crown Nationals).
That group put on some very good shows (Pavement & Dirt), whether you liked their personel or not.

You young-uns read the following link.

Ref;
http://www.circletrack.com/eventcove...g/viewall.html


Well now that I've rambled on like this,
I fear I should have stopped after the first sentence, as I'm sure I have opened the proverbial can of worms.
However, I'm feeling my freedoms as we approach the july 4th celebrations, so there it is. I can always unsubscribe and go back into the shadows and lurk.

I remember the NAMARS 5 Crown series quite well. They put on some great shows,

The Hulman also had severe weather all around all day but they still got it in. They put some dozer tires and stuff on top of the wall that would lessen a impact on top of it.


What worries me is, The low number of local and budget teams that are showing. Not just the Hulman, It wasn't well attended last year and it did rain but Sprint Week as well, It was the lowest count.

While Brents statement of what teams weren't there that could have won may be true, In five years when some of them teams and drivers aren't around, Where's the next batch? People used to race at Terre Haute *BECAUSE IT WAS TERRE HAUTE*

From what i've seen of it, It really isn't all about *TOP EQUIPMENT* but the number of laps the drivers have on it.

USAC needs a feeder series and HDP or FOCUS isn't it. Something they can draw from, Not exclusive too. There should be a dozen new racers coming into it every year and maybe 20 percent of that will move on to Midget, Sprint and SC if they can find the means. Something a family could afford to run with the hopes that a standout would be picked up or noticed by somebody who could sponsor them.

Something like TQ's or 600 NW Mini Sprints or even a USAC Modified series.

YMMV but IMHO The problems right now are more people leaving the sport entirely or seeking other options like MOWA, Powri, WOO, ASCS and others, than is coming into USAC is whats killing it more than the Pavement vs Dirt argument.

Also, Without some of the pavement, I think that door to Nascar is slowly shutting again.

NAMARS was fine with Jack Calabrase. The series crumbled after he was gone. As for Bill Carey's comments. I agree that is a lot of money, but that is true with most not for profits. Such as the National Football League. We have not for profit charity in Kokomo that lives off donations and the United Way where the Director makes $129,000 a year. I am not saying right or wrong, I am saying it is very common. Hey Bill, what did the guy make before Kevin Miller , or the guy before him? I am sure it was comparable, yet I don't remember you ever complaining about that. I think I know why. When I worked for a promoter he asked what the nightly payroll was for his Sprintweek race. You were paid $500 a night, your wife was paid $250, and your son was paid $250. So let's not act like people were donating their time until Kevin Miller showed up. I don't think you are concerned with what the President of USAC makes near as much as you are bitter that your cash cow died. Why else would you have been so silent so long? Please feel free to answer my questions.

Car counts for STARS midgets so far in the 2014.
May 31 Grundy - 16 cars
June 14 Grundy doubleheader - 15 cars started the first feature and 14 for the second.

Must See Sprints
The Florida races had 18 on night one and 17 for the second.
May 21 Anderson - 15 cars
May 24 Little 500 only 33... no bumping. People on this board bitched and moan when USAC sanction this race and the car count went down to the mid 30's. This year....silence from the critics.
June 7 Auto City - 15 cars
June 21 Owosso - 17 cars.

It's funny to me nobody points this out.

Addition of the AVSS sprint club
Angola - 17 cars
Kalamazoo - 16 cars
Toledo - 18 cars
M40 - 13 cars
Birch Run - 14 cars

This no reflection on the drivers,car owners or officials. Car counts are down all over, one club gets ripped and the other ones are given a pass.