[Kirk Spridgeon]

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester Getting around a lot more than I do. I respect your view. I don't necessarly agree with it. Expecially when it's geared to be EXCLUSIVE instead of INCLUSIVE. Probably 3/4 of the non wing tracks don't qualify. So a guy trys to make a USAC show and is stuck in a Non qualifiers right off the bat that is overcrowded with not enough laps. The Midget week format was far more exciting to me than a regular show. Granted Qualifying can be fun to watch but I feel it just ruins a track for the rest of the night with all cars running the same groove (Wherevers fastest) Where the Midget week and (Chili Bowl format) is more exciting to me is that fourth place isn't good enough. They go for third, second or the win, Why? Because every spot has meaning, Not just the top four. You want to keep it fair for the ones who follow the series, Up the provisionals a few but still base it on points. It's the racers responsibility to get themselves into the feature, Not the tracks, not the sanctioning body or the format. That being said, I feel all these elements should be the fair for everybody. Personally I love showing up to some of these draw series and seeing 50-60-88 sprint cars. Several of which are always capable (IN A RACE) yet I get the feeling say Why Bother? when it comes to USAC due to the format. With Transponders, A good puter program and time limits and Limits on number of support classes. You could see 60 car USAC races with 5-6 ten lap heats, two consis and a feature and be done by 10:30 easy. Don't believe me. There were a few nights burg go the whole program in by 1000 and once by 9"30 last year with 45 sprinters, 40+ mods and another support class.

Honestly, USAC racing SHOULD be exclusive. The thing I like about Supercross or Indy Cars or NASCAR or whatever is that you can't just show up. NASCAR has a great approval process. Chuck Nungester could buy himself a sprint car, show up for his first race, and start on the pole of a heat race with Jon Stanbrough, Dave Darland, and Levi Jones. There needs to be a difference between local shows, KISS shows, MSCS shows, and USAC shows. You're continuing to kill USAC's product if you take away what makes them unique.

The thing I dislike about draw racing is that it depends so much on who you're racing. Some heat races are weaker than regular shows with 20 cars and some heat races are stacked to no end. One guys is driving like an idiot and takes out really good cars. Yes, the same can happen in a qualifying show, but those times are much less common. And I disagree on track conditions. I missed one USAC dirt race last year, and I honestly don't believe that qualifying hurts the track. Tracks are either going to be good or bad, and honestly, qualifying helps to widen out the track a little for heat races. I'm sorry, but I saw too many one-lane heat races at draw shows because the track was just lightning quick.

Honestly, the fields are very stout, and that's the way I like it. Some local guys just aren't up for the competition of a USAC show, and that's fine. But I really don't want to see a format change so the local guys will show up. If guys don't think they can qualify into the heats and race with the top USAC guys, then they probably shouldn't be there....that's why it's great that there are so many races during an Indiana summer. There's no need to see so much quantity when all you need is a little quantity - at the end of the night, you're going to end up watching the same guys!

[Jerry Spencer]

Kirk, I am sure the locals love you now. :rolling

Jerry #66j
www.joshspencer.com

[Larryoracing]

Kirk brought up something that I don't know if it is correct.

(1) "There's no need to see so much quantity when all you need is a little quality - at the end of
the night, you're going to end up watching the same guys!"

a) Don't you need the quantity to pay for the races...ie.. the back gate to pay for the purse.
Kind of like the Chillibowl and 270 contestants.


(2) Can anything be learned on how they run the heat races at the Chillibowl then you got
to run another race to qualify for the "A" main? Must be some kind of point system.
Everybody thought that was fair.


(3) Can anything be learned on how they ran the "Eldora Million" dollar race.

(a) First two from the heat go to the main.

(b) Then you run some other heat races to finally make it to the "A" main?

Just a few ideas.

Larry Otani:rolling

[Charles Nungester]

And some USAC regulars don't drive like idiots? Few but Actually I seen far more out of one or two of them then I seen the entire year at local shows.

Your right, I GET TO START ON THE FRONT ROW with JON! JON races against me and dozens others like me every single weekend. Theres no reason to believe I'd take him out any more than The fastest qualifyer would starting from the rear. In fact, He'd probably be gone and I wouldn't be in the picture.

I know some drivers prefer to qualify. I know it's been part of a show but tell me why arguably a few of the best shoes in INDIANA didn't run more than one or two USAC shows last year? I won't mention names but Id put em against anybody in the country on any given night.

Not trying to ruin USAC, Trying to make it better and small steps are the key. Why not just do sprint week MY WAY and leave the season alone?

I don't think things are BAD, Theres three times the amount of regulars in USAC then when I followed it religiously, Not to mention the semi winged years.

Chuck, who thinks if some of those who have little chance by qualifying can prove themselves they are more likely to seek out and compete with and not against USAC.

[Charles Nungester]

(3) Can anything be learned on how they ran the "Eldora Million" dollar race.

Yeah, don't let a lower class compete in it taking quality car spots Talk about a missmatch

[Wolfe-e]

The Fact that USAC has stated a Goal is a Great Start! At least they can see there was a problem and are willing to at Least Try and Fix it.... USAC has become a Tradition! Leave it alone for the most part.... The Format will be fine and the time problem will work out if they simply do away with All the Open Reds.... Limit those and InForce a Fuel Rule that makes the teams either run enough to make a show, NO Matter how many yellow flag laps or Once your out, your out.... Run out in enough shows and you Start on the Tail... The Excuse that you a using up the race track by Quals, plays into a promoters hands that dozen't want to take the time to prepare the track... Limit the number of Total Cars that race, other than your Headliner, this holds true no matter what the headliner is....Also, remember Good or Bad, the Race Track is the Same for everyone... Good Racers find a way to Pass... USAC, at its Best is the Very Best there is. At its worst, well its still better than most... Have things in the Past made me Mad, Hell Yes.... but in truth, that happens in just about all things...
Gang, its really easy to just see the bad things and everyone seems to stand out, no matter how many Great moments there are... I don;t believe there is such a thing as a Perfect Show... There is always room to improve.... As for USAC and the Tracks and Promoters that put on these shows and others, well remember.... When "Your In The Saddle", Take the Reins........but if your just along for the Ride........."Don't Kick the Dang Horse!"........Wolfe-e

[Larryoracing]

"Yeah, don't let a lower class compete in it taking quality car spots Talk about a missmatch"

Maybe a couple spots but overall I thought the "Million" was a good race...lol!

Point noted though!

Larry Otani:kookoo

[Kirk Spridgeon]

Who was missing during Indiana Sprintweek last year?

I'm telling you that it is VERY close competition when you have guys on that level. In a stacked USAC heat race, it would be hard to do a whole lot from back in the pack. Local or MSCS races have slow guys who act as traffic to make it interesting coming through the pack in heat races.

I've seen a lot of USAC races over the past fifteen years and it has only gotten better and better. Right now, I think the racing is as good as I've seen. The races almost always have battles at the front, there is plenty of competition deep into the pack, and the preliminary events are good because it is tough just to make the feature on most nights.

The only change I would ever make is to follow something closer to the CRA format to make sure guys who transfer from the B Main cannot start at the front of the pack. But otherwise, they would be stupid to make any changes. Again, I have nothing against local shows as I love them too and go to watch a bunch of them during the year, but there needs to be a difference. Please don't mess with the things that make it the best form of racing on the planet, especially when there are plenty of things that could use some work to make sure it thrives for many more years...

[Bill Gardner]

Here are some of my thoughts...

There is a reason that winning a USAC show means something... you beat the best in the sport.:thumb

Racing with USAC is both exclusive and inclusive... everyone is welcome to compete and if your fast enough... you become exclusive.:kookoo Does that make any sense... It does in my head.

USAC has no control over this but track prep needs to be done all week... we wouldn't anyone complaining about dust at a "DIRT" race track.:rolleyes:

USAC shows should always qualify.

Do away with non-qualifier races.

Line them up 32 invert.

Tag the slower cars at the back of heat races and race more laps.

Make the B-main 20 laps.

SIT BACK AND ENJOY ONE HELL OF A USAC FEATURE EVENT (50 LAPS).

It's really pretty simple, let's not make more complicated than it needs to be.

And personally, I know it's probably best for alot people... but I could care less when I am leaving the track... Once I'm there I really don't want to leave... does anyone really want to stop racing. Heck, let's run'em all night long.

USAC has stated they want to make some changes. I think they need to be given that chance.

[FishBurger]

Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon Honestly, USAC racing SHOULD be exclusive. The thing I like about Supercross or Indy Cars or NASCAR or whatever is that you can't just show up. NASCAR has a great approval process. Chuck Nungester could buy himself a sprint car, show up for his first race, and start on the pole of a heat race with Jon Stanbrough, Dave Darland, and Levi Jones. There needs to be a difference between local shows, KISS shows, MSCS shows, and USAC shows. You're continuing to kill USAC's product if you take away what makes them unique. The thing I dislike about draw racing is that it depends so much on who you're racing. Some heat races are weaker than regular shows with 20 cars and some heat races are stacked to no end. And I disagree on track conditions. I missed one USAC dirt race last year, and I honestly don't believe that qualifying hurts the track. Tracks are either going to be good or bad, and honestly, qualifying helps to widen out the track a little for heat races. Honestly, the fields are very stout, and that's the way I like it. Some local guys just aren't up for the competition of a USAC show, and that's fine. But I really don't want to see a format change so the local guys will show up. If guys don't think they can qualify into the heats and race with the top USAC guys, then they probably shouldn't be there....that's why it's great that there are so many races during an Indiana summer.

I could not agree more with these points from Spridge's post. USAC is the Big Leagues of traditional sprint car racing. To water it down so that it's possible, even likely, that a local field filler can sneak into the feature would be a big mistake IMO. Seems to me that the locals who run really strong in the weekly shows have been fairly successful in racing their way into the USAC mains. Matt Westfall, Shane Cottle, Kyle Robbins, Jimmy Light, John Memmer, A.J. Anderson come to mind and there are others. Time trials are another exciting sprint car event for me. I am disappointed when they are replaced by a pill draw. Maybe I'm just a grumpy old traditionalist.......and Spridge is a just grumpy young traditionalist......and Bill is just a grumpy middle aged traditionalist. :wink:rolling:wink