FUPS Sportsman and Trucks Please Read!!!!!

[Matt Albee]

TRACKS THAT HAD RACE DATES AND SCHEDULES ALREADY PRINTED WITH TONS OF INTEREST FROM SPORTSMAN AND TRUCK TEAMS ONLY TO HAVE THEM CANCEL FORCING THE PROMOTERS SERIES TO REGROUP WHEN TWO OF THERE SUPPOSEDLY UNITED PROMOTERS DECIDED TO BAIL

There's no such thing as promoters that are united. They're only united until one of them breaks rank.
I understand some people would be upset over tracks cancelling races. But the Sportsman and trucks you mention already race at tracks every week. So they'll still be racing with or without a touring series.
I see a notice that NSS is going to have a drivers meeting on Saturday night, they might have some information on truck and sportsman classes at NSS.
Concerning the OWMs, there was a race a while back over here at Showtime that drew a huge field of modifieds. No touring series was involved or needed. That shows me that classes can survive nicely without a series as long as tracks are willing to make an effort.

[scottgarrity07]

The Weekly Truck and Sportsman races at NSS have drawn about 5-8 cars/trucks on a consistant basis. Maybe it has to do with the $200-$300 payout to win. All I know is I don't think I'll be towing from Port Richey to New Smyrna for $200 to win in a 5 car field when I can consistantly race against 20-30 cars in the FUPS Sportsman Touring Series for $750 to win (look at the old Southern Sportsman Series car counts for evidence). It doesn't matter to me if NASCAR, ASA, ARCA or FIA is sanctioning....

[Bill Chapman]

fups

Matt,
FYI do you even race in Florida?

[Matt Albee]

No, i don't.

[Jane]

Matt, I differ your opinion about no series has worked here in Florida. On that you are wrong. Florida Pro was very successful and had lots of cars and fans and if you ever interview a Super Late Model driver back then, their one big goal was to race in a Florida Pro race. At that time, it was the only Super Late Model series until the Sunbelt was formed. Then both series lost out in the end. The SARA Series for Late Models and Modifieds was great and also had good car counts and fans. Watching those Modifieds at USA International was a treat but that also ended. Todd Hutto had a great Mini Stock Series with plenty of cars but sold the series and after that it kindof went downhill. But there has been alot of Florida Series that have done well in the past. We also had a Truck Series at one time and the name leaves my head right now but the trucks were more like Craftsman trucks and they did real well but kindof disappeared. I think Scott Bramlett drove a truck for awhile but that was in maybe 1998 or 99

A series can work in Florida if you can get the tracks to run on. Alot of guys prefer the series to racing every weekend at the same track. They like the travel and the challenge of a different track since they surely aren't all the same size. Back then we had USA International and Sunshine Speedway still running and they had series racing at both of them. But USA was the ultimate goal of every racer to race on once. It was the local short track racer's Daytona in Florida.

But series can work and they can pull lots of cars and have fans and I am sorry you never got to see one of them because you missed some great guys, good racing, and golden memories.

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

There is a simple solution to all of it...rent the tracks!! I can just about bet that any of the tracks mentioned would be willing to rent the track out for a night. Tracks get a little nervous when the car counts are not what they should be and they have a big purse.

If these series are doing well..and I do not know if they are or not...rent the track and make all of the money! Take a chance just like the track owners do each week. Not trying to be a smart.....but IF it works it works!

[Matt Albee]

Those were all good series i'm sure, but not one of them survives today and that's my point. I don't say a short track series can't survive in Florida, i just can't name one that has.
Rusty has a good idea for any budding series though, rent a track or tracks for a night or weekend and put on a race. I don't know whats involved in doing that, lot's of money up front and plenty of headaches i would think.

[Frasson118]

The ONLY series that has withstood the test of time, is the TBARA... and now they are struggling to get dates themselves.

[Osmosis Jones]

"If you build it...they won't come."

I'm a little confused by your post, Jane.

You start off by saying you don't agree with what Matt Albee says in his posts...but then you go on to drive his point home with the rest of your post.

Matt, I differ your opinion about no series has worked here in Florida. On that you are wrong. Florida Pro was very successful and had lots of cars and fans and if you ever interview a Super Late Model driver back then, their one big goal was to race in a Florida Pro race. At that time, it was the only Super Late Model series until the Sunbelt was formed. Then both series lost out in the end. The SARA Series for Late Models and Modifieds was great and also had good car counts and fans. Watching those Modifieds at USA International was a treat but that also ended. Todd Hutto had a great Mini Stock Series with plenty of cars but sold the series and after that it kindof went downhill. But there has been alot of Florida Series that have done well in the past. We also had a Truck Series at one time and the name leaves my head right now but the trucks were more like Craftsman trucks and they did real well but kindof disappeared. I think Scott Bramlett drove a truck for awhile but that was in maybe 1998 or 99

A series can work in Florida if you can get the tracks to run on. Alot of guys prefer the series to racing every weekend at the same track. They like the travel and the challenge of a different track since they surely aren't all the same size. Back then we had USA International and Sunshine Speedway still running and they had series racing at both of them. But USA was the ultimate goal of every racer to race on once. It was the local short track racer's Daytona in Florida. (On this, I think you are just plain wrong, though....sorry)

But series can work and they can pull lots of cars and have fans and I am sorry you never got to see one of them because you missed some great guys, good racing, and golden memories.


An awful lot of past tense verbage......


If these "touring series" were so great and the racing was so good......what happened to them? Where are they now? And if that boring-ass, 3/4 mile, mini-Daytona was every short track racer's dream....why is it just an empty field now? Maybe they should have just massaged the old, EXTREMELY FUN AND EXCITING quarter-miler out to a full third or a maybe a little half and gone with that.
But noooooo......the old "Bigger Has To Be Better" mindset took hold.

But that's another rant all together.

What was I saying?

Oh yeah....what I got from Matt Albee's stuff is that there just aren't any touring series that have withstood the test of time (except the TBARA like Jerry pointed out....and they seem kind of wobbly, lately) for racers or fans to support. It's obviously a business plan that just does not seem to work here in Florida for any length of time. Not that there have never been any attempts at starting them.

And your post kind of helped him make his point.

And I'm betting that's not what you intended.

OJ

[scottgarrity07]

OK, so this thread has been kinda hijacked. The title is "FUPS Sportsman and Trucks Please Read". It was started by Craig Cuzzone (a Sportsman Racer) kinda putting it out there to other Sportsman and Truck competitiors to see if we would be willing to travel to other venues in numbers to support additional shows now that NSS and OSW have removed themselves from the FUPS schedule. It's a long shot but he is being positive and at least trying. Now you can help build something or you tear it down. We all know which is easier. I appreciate the fact that Rick Williams is taking on the task of creating touring Series for Sportsman, Trucks and OWM's. He has done this because the RACERS have asked for this. He has sold this to a few promoters who are on board. Despite OSW and NSS backing out, these Series WILL CONTINUE. So instead of being a naysayer and pointing out the history of every failed Series that has ever turned a lap in this state, how about coming out and supporting these events in some way shape or form? A triple header of 50 lappers for Sportsman, Trucks and OWM's with good fields will be great shows. Let's not forget that the economic downturn of a few years ago was what really killed all the series at that time. Before that the Sunbelt, Goodyear, Gulf Coast Mod, Southern Sportsman and Mini Stock Challenge series were all very healthy. Let's help this thing succeed (not take a crap on it before it even starts). You don't have to do much, just come out and watch a great show...

[VeaseyRacing]

I agree Scott. Please keep this thread on topic. Any posts off topic maybe deleted.

[Mmartin73]

FUPS Sportsman and Trucks

For the #7 Truck and Sportsman....We will travel. Count us in.

[Jane]

Sorry TBARA and Top Gun Sprints for leaving you guys out. TBARA has been around for quite awhile and as far as I know is still trucking. And it is not Florida that has series come and go, it has happened everywhere. And I am sure that Rick will do great with his series and there are sportsman, trucks, and modifieds fans and drivers who will support these series.

We can debate this forever but the most important point is support your local track and support whatever series you like because tomorrow it could be all gone.

Hope everyone has a good weekend. I hope to go and see the new Melbourne dirt track if possible since it is my local track and closest to me. And you can tail gate there and sit in your lawn seats and have a fun night.