Mid-week shows don't work...?

[OldSchool+]

PJ,

I am a fan, but then, no fans, no track, so seems like that perspective is a valid one.

Have worked with Teams in the pits along the way and have been to many pre-race meetings, providing insight into how promoters work.

Finally, Yoho wears his heart on his sleeve and is one of my favorite parts of the "Showtime Experience".

It seems like promoters and owners are individualists--that is, rugged individualists--that generally prefer to do things "their way", even if the results are questionable.

And fair enough, they put in the time, it is their deal.

Further, seems like with most things in this sport, it takes money--and boatloads of it--to see if something will "work".

Like the Speedworld "fix", the recipe for mid-week racing is simple:

>Start with lots-O-cash. Pay big purses.
>Find out what the weekly car count shakes out to be.
>Then find out what the weekly spectator count shakes out to be. Without the first two steps, the third one is kind of predictable...

>Finally, count your cash to see if you are ahead or behind.

[OldSchool+]

"Seekonk Speedway in Mass. is doing a Wed show with 45 Modifieds entered, $10,000 to win."--Frasson

Yep, there it is now!

[Phil Jacques]

PJ,

I am a fan, but then, no fans, no track, so seems like that perspective is a valid one.

Have worked with Teams in the pits along the way and have been to many pre-race meetings, providing insight into how promoters work.

Finally, Yoho wears his heart on his sleeve and is one of my favorite parts of the "Showtime Experience".

It seems like promoters and owners are individualists--that is, rugged individualists--that generally prefer to do things "their way", even if the results are questionable.

And fair enough, they put in the time, it is their deal.

Further, seems like with most things in this sport, it takes money--and boatloads of it--to see if something will "work".

Like the Speedworld "fix", the recipe for mid-week racing is simple:

>Start with lots-O-cash. Pay big purses.
>Find out what the weekly car count shakes out to be.
>Then find out what the weekly spectator count shakes out to be. Without the first two steps, the third one is kind of predictable...

>Finally, count your cash to see if you are ahead or behind.

I will tell you what I know is certain... Donny (OSW Manager) is trying his best to make the place work and make it better. He wants the racing to be a success. If he didn't he wouldn't have run this year. He told me this point blank. Why put the effort into something you don't care about?

Unfortunately, I firmly believe that as long as Ozzy is involved there, there will always be a noose around the financial neck of the oval track. The minute they start to lose big money, he will kick the box out from under it and hang the place. Just the impression I get from discussions I have had with people.

The second "half" of the season is going to be a true test for the Oval there... $5 gate prices will surely attract people, but the lack of pay past 10th finishing position surely deters a number of drivers.

If anyone has any suggestions to help OSW, Donny is more than approachable... Give him a call at the track, I would be willing to bet he will gladly take the time to talk to you and take any suggestions. He's a great dude.

[Phil Jacques]

"Seekonk Speedway in Mass. is doing a Wed show with 45 Modifieds entered, $10,000 to win."--Frasson

Yep, there it is now!

This money is raised by 1 person. James Schaffer who is running the Tri Track Series. This was a 3 race series that is minimum 10,000 to win each race plus lap sponsorships and bonuses etc. If you had seen the groundpounding this guy does to get this done, it's almost a full time job in and of itself. More tracks could benefit from someone like James, but the days of big purses in each event are long gone.

Thompson Speedway is the highest paying "weekly" track around here these days... $1500 to win modifieds, $1000 to win Late Models, $550 to win Street Stocks, $300 to win Mini Stocks... They have a lot of big track sponsors like Xtra Mart, Monster Energy, Budweister, Draco Racing Springs etc putting up purse money. Not directly out of pocket of the track every week. I said it before... If tracks could find a weekly title sponsor, or individual event sponsors to help with purses, contingency awards etc, anything to help with purse money, it would help the tracks out financially and allow them to do more. Thompson is the only track up here that does it, and shocker... They have the most cars...

Now, I don't think purses should be crazy through the roof, but I do believe that the winner should always break even on their normal weekly racing cost + $50-$100 in pocket at each event for each division. That's how Thompson works and everyone loves it... But then again, I am comparing down there to up here which isn't fair. The economic standing of each area is completely different and creates unique challenges.

I bet if purses down there were structured differently, more cars would show up, but it would require a lot of extra work by promoters and track owners as well as the inclusion of sponsors. It's much easier said than done. Dishing out more money to the purse can bury a track fast if they aren't getting that money as income from somewhere...

[OldSchool+]

"Give [Donny] a call at the track..."--Phil

Thanks for the suggestion, Donny sounds like a great guy.

The competition side appeals more to me. At one time, worked at least one night a week on a car, then spent 1-2 nights at the track. Also felt lame compared to the time the others put in.

Now, am just trying to keep up with life. Would not rule out another trip or two to the pits (at one time was a mechanic for a living and still work on my own {old} stuff).

All dat said, am grateful for this forum and attempt to be a polite "catalyst of ideas" for the folks that do put in the long hours.

[luke81]

Since mid-week races seem to work well elsewhere, maybe the problem in Florida is the promoters not being very good at promoting.

I agree. Keeping your race track a secret is a real dumb marketing strategy.

Don Nerone, where in the north is racing season 10-12 weeks long? Typical racing season up there is 20-25 weeks long, with some pushing to 30. And given the amount of tracks in proximity, and the fact that some tracks run two nights a week plus midweek specials saying that fans are "looking for more shows" isn't exactly accurate. Lets just talk basic math. Every track in Florida runs Saturday night, so even if you go to the race track every single Saturday night of the year you only get to see 52 races. If you live in central PA or NY you could easily see more than that. Some central PA sprint teams who are running 80 races a year, and they can clearly only be in one place at a time....so.....next reason please?



Maybe this is exactly why these southern promoters don't learn anything from the successful tracks in the north, they don't even bother to pay attention.

[OldSchool+]

"Don Nerone, where in the north is racing season 10-12 weeks long?"--Luke

Capitol Speedway, Willow Alaska, is approx 15 weeks long.

One of the coolest places I have ever been. No lights, as the sun virtually doesn't set in the summer!

And yes, they sometimes race more than once a week, although it is usually Friday & Sat, or Sat & Sunday.

It isn't worth the trip (!), but is definitely worth making if you are headed to the "last frontier".

[scottgarrity07]

Old School, you should work on Phil's crew when he gets down here. I'm sure he'll need some help!

[OldSchool+]

One can never tell. Stranger things have happened...

Phil may not need any more problems!

[Phil Jacques]

Old School, you should work on Phil's crew when he gets down here. I'm sure he'll need some help!

What are you trying to say? That I am an over opinionated loud mouth? LOL!!! GUILTY AS CHARGED if so!!!

[Phil Jacques]

One can never tell. Stranger things have happened...

Phil may not need any more problems!

Ehhh I'm not worried about anyone giving me issues. I just like to say what I think/feel. More people should try it rather than put their cars on jack stands and stop going to tracks.

[OldSchool+]

I am already on Phil's "Team", he just sometimes thinks I am messing wit him...

[Phil Jacques]

I am already on Phil's "Team", he just sometimes thinks I am messing wit him...

Takes a lot for me to trust people, especially ones I don't really know yet. Give it time bud! lol

Should have told you I was going to be at New Smyrna Speedway last Saturday...

[OldSchool+]

It's all good.

Trust is, of course, a 2 way street, but that doesn't look like a Ford, so...

Am comfortable with my deal regardless...

I almost made that show, but was shot and it looked like rain.

[luke81]

"Don Nerone, where in the north is racing season 10-12 weeks long?"--Luke

Capitol Speedway, Willow Alaska, is approx 15 weeks long.

Good to know!

So far this week the northeast mods have raced at Granby on Monday, Drummond on Tuesday, and tonight is crazy 8's at I-88 speedway in NY. And you want to talk about making it worth the trip! Tonight at I-88 the feature is 48 laps for $8,888 to win, $1,488 for 5th, $888 for tenth and $388 to start the feature. The winner of the B-MAIN will get paid 888$, or he can forgo that and transfer to the feature to run for the big bucks. Oh and the entry fee? 15 bucks. Fifteen, and no stupid tires and fuel requirement!
Plus $1,359 in lap money. And I can't even list all of the special contingency awards here otherwise people will get annoyed. But a small example:
Top finisher on Hoosier tires gets a free tire, plus one random driver who doesn't make the main gets a free tire.
Top passing points in each heat race gets $88.
All drivers who DNQ get free car entry to the next STSS race at Accord.
Hard luck award gets a complete set of bumpers and rub rails
5th place gets a free wheel
Hard Charger gets an extra $288....and it goes on and on. When is the last time a track offered anything like that down here?