I cant think of one time that I have posted that I was getting beat by better equipment. In another post I admitted that the driver and setup was the reason I didnt make the show at Brownstown. Anyone that knows me personnally knows that I admit that I am not on my game like I used to be. I also have always admitted that I am blessed with alot more than most. So if you want to slam me about my driving go ahead. I was just happy to get the oppurtinity to drive a sprint car. So just winning one race in my career is a highlight. I dreamed my whole life to get to wheel one of these things. I feel sorry for everyone that doesnt get that oppurtunity. I learned through my school there are alot of guys with tons of talent but no oppurtunity to own or drive a car. That is why I say there are NASCAR champion caliber drivers in the bomber class but can't afford anymore than that.

All I have been complaining about is not getting any prize money for particpating in an event. I got my but kicked by some very good race car drivers but I risked my life just like they did. So I figure I should recieve some money for it. I bet the winner of the race Levi Jones, Brady Short, Brad Sweet, Hud Cone and all others competing agree that it is wrong that you get no prize money when you dont transfer out of the non qualifiers race.

I respect your opinions and not complaining about my equipment or saying I can beat them with equal equipment.

Thanks to all the nice things said about me in this post I appreciate it.

:greenflag:Talking about entry fees is a waste of time.

"TOP TEAMS" this is term that is used a lot on these boards of people who have the cure for everything in the world. Why are your top teams the top teams? Here is my opinion!


By far one of the most under funded race teams in the pit area comes from the Santos family. Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, and another family member. On any given night that they roll into the race track they are looked at as a car to beat. All of you guys are complaining about the entry fees and prices. This family drives from the New England area, pays for gas, pays for hotel rooms, crams 5 people in the least expensive hotel room they can find, if they dont just sleep in the semi, shows up to the race track, you can always walk to their trailer and see Bobby in the trailer mounting and dismounting tires. They have two sets of wheels so through out the night you will see him dismounting tires and re mounting new tires. They show up with used tires for practice and never have the opportunity to test at a track. Bobby is always in the front and when the night is over and your fortunate enough to say that you beat the black 98 car you are saying something. Did money win that race for them. HELL no it didnt. That race was won on passion for the sport and working their buts off to get their race car to the track and get it ready. They show up in a semi from the 80's and a trailer that looks like a street stock would come rolling out of it (not a shot at street stockers. they are staying in their budget and doing what they love). They show up work their butt off all night long, keep their mouths shut, stay in their pit area and run the race. Load up. Bobby stays and talks to fans signs the three year olds hat that his dad got him from a trailer at the front gate, takes a picture and goes home. Leaves the race track the family analyzes the night at the race track and is already making a list of what needs to be down before the next night racing. they arent running home to post on a message board how bad the track was, how USAC screwed them, they dont go partying with all of their buddies, they get prepared for the next night. Get to the hotel get some sleep wake up bright and early work on their car all day long. Go to the race track and do it all over again.

Does money buy better equipment? yes.
Can the more expensive part work the same? yes. its heavier? make it lighter.

Everybody wants to sit on their but all day and bash USAC and all the top teams about money and how good they are.
Get out from behind your computer, get in the garage, work on race car, and when it comes time to race grow a sack and drive your race car.

Are your Levi's and Hines' and Yeley's and Short's that much better of drivers? No. Everybody started off running around the back of the pack sucking struggling to make shows. But instead of it being everybody else's fault they watched videos from the night and found places to where they could of picked up a tenth of a second. They go in the grandstands and instead of talking to friends and complaining they are sitting their with their mouths shut watching and studying where people are running and where the fast places on the track is. They get in their car and stick their right rear their and go fast. they see the track is tight. They loosen their car. The track is loosening up so they tighten their car up.

People complain about drawing for heat races but then they complain about the cost of racing. Let's add fuel for all of those qualifying attempts for the season and your spending more money.
$4 a gallon 1 gallon to qualify. you qualify 30 times a year there is a $120. there is a right rear.

People complain when you qualify because the track falls off so much at the end of qualifying. 4 or 5 years ago JJ at Terre Haute was last to qualify and qualified on the pole. How did he do that? Turns 1 and 2 he his left front on the cushion and his right rear by itself where all the moisture had blown off to. before climbing in for qualifying he said there was a lot of race track not being used in turn 1 and 2 and that's where he put his car. He was in the grand stands watching the race track.


In closing if you want to go fast then get in the garage work and work on your car. Races are won before you leave the shop.

Go ahead and tell me how wrong I am..
:checkered:

My biggest issue is with the cost period I do it because I love it, I am there to win every night I show up and pay my money for part tires fuel ect like everyone els but the fact of the matter is we are spending more and racing for less than they did 10 years ago

hustsogood369, you do know that Kevin Briscoe, the author of this post is one of the all time legends of Indiana dirt track racing right? And that he's won more races than anyone could ever dream of?

I really fail to see how anyone can disagree with Kevin on this topic.:headbang:headbang:headbang:headbang:headban g

Never said he wasn't.

That's fine too. Never said that was an issue.

I never made comments about Short Racing. Never said it wasn't HIS decision. Never said it wasn't HIS MONEY!

That statement that you see as "clear and accurate", I see as arrogant and insulting.... I'll explain in a sec.

Never questioned his work ethic, or what he has achieved in life.

Sigh... I never questioned his choices about Short Racing.


There Fathers don't come on this board and give me financial advice such as: "if you have to vacation to florida lets not be angry at those that get to go to australia"


Now that I have answered all the things that I haven't said... It always amazes how the written word is percieved/interpereted, and can be received so far away from it's intended meaning.

Bottom line is this: It is attitudes such as: "if you cant afford to play the dollar slots play the quarter.....if you cant afford to drive a cadillac drive a chevy...if you cant afford to run with usac run with another series or at a local track .... there are always options but remember a lot of those that can afford the larger things in life,or racing, couldnt always and had to work hard to get there" (it almost has a CART in the mid 80's feel) that are driving out many from the sport.
Then there is this gem: "if we have to play at the 2 dollar blackjack table lets not look down at those who can afford to play at the 100 dollar table.....some people have bigger boats than others and some people make more money than others..... some people work harder than others and some have two jobs.....and some people have won the lottery" My "perception" of that: Kevin Briscoe should work harder, maybe get a second job if he wants to run where the folks like Mr. Short race. Hence the "POMPOUS" part!

Make statments like those to Roger Rager at Indy! Should he have tried to run there on his budget with the legend of the school bus engine? According to Mr Short, no. What about Bobby Alllen when he won Knoxvillle? Did he have Karl Kinsers budget? No, so maybe he should have just stayed in PA and played the $2 dollar blackjack instead! The things he said, are to me (again, that perception thing), a slap in the face of every guy who has ever slept in his truck, barn, or field, becuase all he could afford was the gas to get to the next race... Where he would "borrow" pit pass money to get in!!!!! This sport is littered with tales of people who have sacraficed everything just to be there, yet according to Mr. Short (who I remember argued for an open tire rule... Because he could afford it) maybe should have gone out and worked harder until they could afford! That's crap! If you don't believe me, ask Elanor Vogler what life was like for her Don, and Rich!!!! But hey, maybe they should have just stayed in Chicago and ran UARA. If you take out all the people in this sport that truly "can't afford" to this.. have done 2nd mortgages, hocked things, etc.. You would have some pretty slim fields of cars!

I could go on, but thankfully for you the reader, I gotta get to work... Hey look at that Mr. Short, I am trying to make buck for my racing program! Imagine that! (that line is an inside joke to Mr. Short who PMed me about my suppossed lack of work ethic... hey, at least his message is consistent)

The people with the $ means nothing attitude are driving great racers like Kevin and Kent Christian out of the sport by continually driving up the costs. That is just flat-out wrong. These guys have been doing this there whole life, this sport his there life... Not just a play thing for a few years!

Now for the sake of Mr. Briscoe: This subject was about entry fees.. Please continue with that!

Sorry Kevin but your message must of got lost in translation. This thread, if you read the very first post by Mr. Briscoe never mentioned not being able to afford to go or raised a question about the have and have nots.

It is very clearly stating that if you go to a race and pay to race you should receive something in return for your efforts. Not looking for hand outs but a racer deserves something for being part of the "show".

[QUOTE=Eagle14;40305] Yes USAC does have "The Greatest Drivers" persay.... but they don't have the nostagia of having the little guy, with mom, dad, brother and sister working on the car on an open air trailer.... and at this point in time... they never will again.QUOTE]

Ahhhhhh, the open air trailer! Weren't those fantastic? For those too young to remember, here's an example below.
1968, Holiday Inn parking lot, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lloyd Ruby's Indy Car. Single axle trailer? Is that a freakin station wagon it's hooked up to? Can you even imagine a Penske or Ganassi car in this setting?
By the way, Ruby won the next day. So you see, you don't need a rolling house/workshop to be successful. (If you know where to spend the money effectively.) :thumb Just tossing that out there.
David.

It's probably not an accident that Crankin takes the stance that he does given the fact he runs his sprint car team and trade show under the auspices of "Shoestring Racing."

I read Mr. Shorts post and had the same thoughts, I agree with Crankin 100%:thumb

As for Mike Hunt and Triplexxx, you guys are about the most disrespectful idiots I've ever seen.

Mr. Briscoe I support your decision, I believe this is the beginning of a trend and I think more will do the same as Kevin and I don't blame them a bit, that's what it's going to take to make a change. It just sucks that you can't get people like Mr. Short to side with Kevin. If you could get teams like Short Racing, KKR, TSR and other bigger more well funded teams to support the smaller teams in times like this, it would make for better racing because more teams would race. :Steer

Thank you for saying what I try to say on here all the time but anger gets in the way of. If more people understood the truth of that statement, our fine sport would be much better off.