I listened in live last night on the Racin with D.O. show.

First off, and then I'll shut up about it, I'd just like to say...I'm upset with Jerry Coons Jr. for going on the show and complaining about Dodge County Fairgrounds in WI, where he has already WON at. If it's one thing that bugs me about racecar drivers, it's when they still find time to ***** after winning...please Jerry..save us the whining, you sound like Kyle Busch.

Second. BIG BIG BIG thumbs UP to John Gurley, for basically stepping up and just saying it...SPRINT CAR DRIVERS THESE DAYS ARE JUST SIMPLY NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH!! And I agree with him...Kokomo, Gas City, Bloomington...they're all great tracks...but why they can't come up with more than 1,500 to win for a regular show...I just dont know. Over in Ohio they get 2,000...sometimes 3,000 for winning local shows! Yea, they have the wings on but...still...it's a 410 sprint car and the cost is the same for everyone. I like what John's doing, although I'm a little confused on the whole...we wanted to be steel blocks only...but now we're letting everyone...at least they're TRYING to do something to not only even the competition, but also bring costs down.

I wish John and the ASCT the best of luck, and I'm sure I'll venture to a track or two to catch a show. If they can continue to keep the payouts going like they say they want them for the rest of the year, I'm sure more and more racers will decide to run with them.

And so far 26 midgets committed...that's more than USAC National had at several races last year. Indiana NEEEDS a midget series!

Again...I hope things go well for this series...I can only see it helping everyone involved in Indiana sprint car racing.

Thanks.

Colin

Took the word right out of my mouth. Give the series a chance before you start whining about it.

I didn't hear any whinning last night. Some posters keep spinning the facts.

"I'm upset with Jerry Coons Jr. for going on the show and complaining about Dodge County Fairgrounds in WI, where he has already WON at. If it's one thing that bugs me about racecar drivers, it's when they still find time to ***** after winning...please Jerry..save us the whining, you sound like Kyle Busch."

You have a right to be upset and so does Jerry.

As for Jerry's coments about Dodge County Fairgrounds, He said he didn't like the track because he had busted his ass there and he had seen Scott Hatton carried out twice in the midgets.
Well it was his ass in the seat on that track and he made a fair personal comment about running midgets on that track. He has first hand experience.

Talk is cheap and the keyboard is free. Go buy a car or a race track or promote an event and get a schooling on what racing cost and is about.

Colin,

It is my opinion that if you are trying to have a "budget" series, you dont need to be going to fast, dangerous half mile tracks. Keep the guys on short tracks so their steel engines last all year. Why do you think the midget car counts are down on the big tracks? Also, I have never complained about a racetrack being too fast or too dangerous. But the configuration of that track makes it different than any place Ive ever been. They are going to rely on some MSA cars to pull the wings off and run. Most wing teams dont have the right front axle to run without a wing and do not have the correct offset right rear wheels to run. I called it sitting in the stands at the last Charlotte race when I saw a car lining up for the heat race. I told someone sitting next to me that this car isnt gonna make it a lap. He didnt. It was a regular wing driver and the kid got seriously injured. I dont want to see that happen there. Im not the only driver that feels that way. Brian Clauson said he wasnt going to get off the bottom cause he hated it and didnt care where he finished, Brad Sweet said he'd never go back and Chad Boat didnt like it. I know there were more. Racing is dangerous. No doubt about it. But there is a point that too much is too much. Same reason NASCAR has restrictors and why they slowed Indy cars down.

Jerry

I agree about giving ASCT a chance and wish them well. But to single out Jerry Coons Jr. for giving his opinion about a track is not necessary. As drivers we all have tracks that we like, don't like, run well on and can't hit our ass with both elbows. Don't think there is a driver out there that I respect more than Jerry and he is welcome to that opinion. I personally agree with what he is saying about the economy class that John is trying to promote. I don't run some tracks because they are to big not because I am afraid but because I know how hard it is on equipment. Most of us need to make a motor last an entire season and if you do crash at a place like Dodge County you don't just put the car back together. You most likely replace it.
Again, good luck to ASCT and keep speaking your mind Jerry.

Chad Branson
#71

Just as Jerry has the right to his opinion I also agree that Colin has the right to his opinion as well. That is why we love this board...

You definitely have the right to your opinion, but that doesn't mean that you get to do so and that opinion can't be questioned. In this case, the driver you're calling out just happens to be one that has won championships in all three USAC divisions. And one that has not only ran that track many times, but finds a way to get up to Wisconsin and run with BMARA on many nights that USAC doesn't have something going on. This is a driver that has unquestionably earned the right to state his opinion. And that's what DO's show is all about, anyway. It's an outlet for drivers and other people in racing to go and be candid.

Jerry

I like what this guy said. give the series a chance. also singleing out Jerry Coons Jr. is wrong; we all have certain tracks we like and don't like. He just happens to not like the Dodge County Fairgrounds track. All race tracks have a good & a bad about them.

D.O...you need to add MONDAY NIGHT FIREWORKS to your show title....

Keep the good shows coming peppered witha little controversy!

I don't really know the tracks well on the schedule, but Jerry's concern matches mine for any tracks that don't really fit the "mindset" of this series.

With that being said, I'm not sure which way he's going with this series. On one hand, he seems to want to make this a series of guys who do not feel like running elsewhere, or do not feel competitive, but I guess he is now trying to attract some of the bigger names, also. The pay will certainly attract some of those guys and push those he originally intended the series for back to being also-rans.

Where is the money coming from for these races? Are these being put on by Mr. Gurley himself or are these purses being paid by the tracks? Those are some pretty healthy payouts, especially for tracks that don't have a history of hosting higher-purse events. Some very interesting things on the show last night!!

A good percentage of these races Mr. Gurley is coming out of packet to put on. There are serveral events that the tracks have stepped up to the plate and hosting the show, but not the big ones. My Gurley is renting several facilities, and is responsible for all payouts. This is why instead of bashing the man, he should have more support for stepping up and offering the racers a descent payout.