What, they don't have the balls to come out and say something in public?

If you think I am calling this person out, you're damn right I am.

I agree with you 100% Kevin. Being a retired person on a fixed income, I generally support the local tracks and the weekly shows and my local drivers,like Bloomington,Lawrenceburg and occasionally Kokomo.I only go to the USAC shows at these tracks.

Steve, did he threaten you with legal action or some other retaliation? If not, why did you apparently have a problem with his PM? Was your opinion actually based upon rumor/hearsay? If it was factual, I can see your point. Just wondering as USAC folks have always been pretty candid and fair with me when I had issues.

How is telling the USAC regular drivers not to run at a local show going to raise the purse at a USAC show? I am not getting this. Where would the extra purse come from? Increased ticket prices? Can't they do that anyway.

copied from an e-mail to another friend today:
I do not consider myself to have been one of those who were harsh about him whatsoever. His PM asked why I considered myself to be moving away from being a USAC fan. His tone, regarding his opinion of how I had formed my opinions, was condescending to the point of being sarcastic. He alluded to my opinions likely being based on rumors and unfounded gossip. Disregarding the sting I felt when reading his inquiry, I was polite, and yet honest in my response. His stated opinion posted on IOW had been that there was no need for tight engine rules for USAC midget engines ($40K motors running for peanuts). I disagreed with that opinion, and used the poor fields at recent races to reinforce my thoughts.

If you want to see LEVI, Coons, Tracy, Hagen, Whitt, Darland. ECT.
YOU will only be able to see them at a USAC show. Usac can charge more because you want to go see them at least once in awhile over a local show. Thing is, If USAC's at your track 2-3 times a year. Your gonna see em anyway.but pay more to do it. OR NOT

Chuck

These are just my thoughts, seems to me I followed the Benic Hauler a couple of times during the TNT tour this year and saw it at a couple of races also.This dispells that one?As for EH, well we pulled into Rock Rapids IA on that Sunday, I asked about racing,I was told K-ville was racing, oh too much rain here, hmmm, cancelled. OK, on to Lincoln, raced there, Tuesday off, raced Wednesday @ OK City, on to Creek County Thursday, talked to EH there early in the am, no problem we are racing tonight,guess what cancelled. Oh well I don't think TNT will "take over" open wheel racing.
However if not for all of the teams based out of Indiana, IMO the TNT wouldn't have maybe twelve cars on the average every night.

I know it's sad to have to say that perhaps a national sanctioning body might need to work with their tracks, but I think that a body like USAC, who has a larger budget for staff than your local tracks on the regular national schedule, might be able to help marketing in local markets. I know it is tough everywhere financially, but I'll tell you that when I lived in PA, you couldn't go very far without hearing on the radio or seeing even flyers about the Outlaws taking on the PA Posse at Williams Grove and that's even in a market where you don't even need to hype it. that track always was sold out at $25-30 in the mid-90's. Now, if we can get local Indiana tracks to perhaps get a little marketing push from USAC the few weeks leading up to a race, maybe the tracks can get some ad money to help push purses. Lap money always helps and tow money too. I know it may be a small surprise, but most tracks don't have people that have the time to track down sponsor money for races to support purses. Bloomington has always been awesome about having great "bonus" nights as well as Lawrenceburg. LPS has got Joe Spiker who has now got some advertising at the track now, but how awesome would it be if USAC had a PR Rep that would work with tracks in setting up advertising dollars to help the drivers make a living?!

I think that if they are going to limit these drivers to "just" their USAC shows ,then USAC needs to offer them the ability to have a gaurantee that they will get to "INDY" or nascar because they are putting a limit on these drivers ability to make more money.

If this IS TRUE, You have to think of both sides. I do not think USAC is strong enough to pull this off. When the majority of their races are in IN how many times a year is the same promoter going to pay their fee's? I agree they need way better payouts but locking drivers out of racing and making a buck is sketchy at best. I see a lot of Luke Warmwater and Smoke Johnson type names running local shows. When they start to penalize drivers who race outside the network "sounds like health care Ins." is when the revolt will begin. USAC is not powerful enough or deep enough to suspend drivers or car owners to maintain a healthy series. If USAC does this it will be the death of them. Regardless, if they think this will help them it will hurt them and drivers will only play for a short time. Still waiting for Hann and the Fly'n Shu to come into town and do it right and get support from the local tracks and drivers.... If they do? USAC will be sanctioning big wheel races in Walmart parking lots and Mr. "no marketing" Miller will be drawing slurpee's at a 7-11.

The other side is you will have special shows when USAC comes to town but Indiana is pretty much the sand box they play in anyway. They already have proved when traveling the car counts are very low and half the owners can not travel all the time. Spridge defends they are a national series but I think most know better and USAC's bread and butter is right here. 8 USAC shows at say the Burg or Gas City is now not that special.
Yea USAC needs to grow and gaining exposure is important but this lockout and paying drivers not race won't last long.