New Smyrna Speedway Results 5/30

[Phil Jacques]

I still say these places are apples and oranges. There are far more points racers up north. To win a championship up there means something. I find it far less important down here. If you see guys running points at one track and also racing elsewhere, that tells me again that they have better funding than the average FL racer. For my money, Patrick Thomas and Aaron Williamson are the best sportsman guys in FL, and I don't think they are rolling in dough. Curious how many races a year those guys run?

As far as I know Patrick is only running for NASCAR points @ NSS right now and may dabble elsewhere on occasion. I don't personally know Aaron but I know I see his name all over. I don't know if he focuses on points at one track and dabbles elsewhere or what. And no, neither are rolling in dough to my knowledge. Both are very smart and know how to make the best of what they have and build good pieces.

You kinda just proved my point though. We have 15 or so guys at each track that go for points in each division. You guys probably have 5 or 6 if I had to guess, at each track in each division that do the same. The rest either go when they can or dabble, so this business of FL races more, is nonsense.

You know another thing that contributes to all that and giving guys the ability to run more is sponsorship.

I will use myself as an example. I mentioned, I make 65k... But without sponsors, there is no way in hell I could afford to run 20+ races if I wanted to. I have Tire and Fuel sponsors and small associates that help with oil and other expendables. The reason I have those sponsors comes down to Marketability... If you have 40 fans in the stands, is it really worth the effort putting money into a racecar, when you can advertise at a baseball or football game that probably gets 2000 people on a weekly basis? That is all simple economics and a HUGE part of why there is a major inconsistency in car counts I believe. If guys could afford to run more, they would. No racer likes sitting at home seeing his car sitting on jack stands.

When you start treating the drivers better, they will show up. When more drivers show up, more fans will show up because it's a better show, when more fans show up, businesses are more willing to advertise not only with the track but by sponsoring cars. When they can sponsor cars, guys can race more which brings more cars weekly, and then come the fans, and more sponsors etc etc etc. It's a cycle.

You will always have your independent guys who can afford to race out of pocket weekly without an issue, but there more guys who rely on sponsors or a week to week paycheck to see if they can race. If they can do it you damn sure can put money on the fact that they will be there to race.

[OldSchool+]

"...[Up north] we take the extra time to tear down and repair/reassemble the cars every single winter here. Not saying FL guys don't maintain, but I feel there is a bit higher standard here when it comes to that."--Phil

C'mon, Phil... I have worked with racers who spend 5-6 days a week on their cars.

I would suggest that there are well funded top teams that are able to maintain & move forward a little faster than some, but it has always been that way, and I have never seen a race--including NE mods, heck, including CUP, that there is not some difference from the back of the field to the front.

And, you know, you have the longer winter season to work on that maintenance...(lol).

We'uns got plenty of time to play the jug and open up this here can o nails and work on the race car.

[OldSchool+]

"When you start treating the drivers better, they will show up."--PJ

Precisely, who is "you" that is to come up with the jack?

It is the promoters, and they are indifferent to how you feel (no offense, Phil).

[Phil Jacques]

Another point. You aren't thinking of one thing. Dirt! There are zero dirt tracks that I can think of in the entirety of New England. We have plenty down here. That takes away asphalt racers.

Devils Bowl has a dirt track, and then just to the west over the NY line you have Albany Saratoga, Lebanon Valley, Fonda and Glen Ridge all within an hour of the New England Border and within about 2 1/2hrs of most anywhere in central new england which in FL isn't really a stretch to think some guys may travel that to go race at different tracks. No, NY isn't technically New Englannd, but it's not very far off. I can drive from my house (which is an hour from Boston) all the way to Glen Ridge, in 2.5hrs. I mean it's really not that big of a deal that there aren't any IN New England. Dirt in NY is pretty big.

[Phil Jacques]

"When you start treating the drivers better, they will show up."--PJ

It is the promoters, and they are indifferent to how you feel.

They can be as indifferent as they want, but our formula clearly works. Does yours? Pull your thick head out of the sand and stop lofting excuses. Excuses are for losers. Have a nice day.

[Weftracing96]

Phil, you are also forgetting that the lifestyle here is different. There are way more things to do. Tons of people own boats, fish, hunt, etc etc. There are a zillion things to do. Now you tell me what people do in Waterford, Stafford Springs, I dated a girl from the next town over to Thompson, I know there is absolutely nothing there, Seekonk, Lee, etc etc. Again, this is apples and oranges. I talk to people all the time who have no idea there is a race track in Bradenton, Punta Gorda, Inverness, etc. People down here are from all over. If I ask someone from my hometown if they have ever gone to Seekonk Speedway, they may not have been, but they at least know it exists. It's a diff world, and if you get down here and get integrated into it all for awhile, you'll understand. I know you've been here, but spend a couple years. You'll get it. I'd def like to meet you. Yankees may not always agree, but we stick together

[OldSchool+]

Dirt is for driving out of the pits on to get on the asphalt!

(juuuuust kidding, dirt fans)

[Phil Jacques]

"...[Up north] we take the extra time to tear down and repair/reassemble the cars every single winter here. Not saying FL guys don't maintain, but I feel there is a bit higher standard here when it comes to that."--Phil

C'mon, Phil... I have worked with racers who spend 5-6 days a week on their cars.

I would suggest that there are well funded top teams that are able to maintain & move forward a little faster than some, but it has always been that way, and I have never seen a race--including NE mods, heck, including CUP, that there is not some difference from the back of the field to the front.

And, you know, you have the longer winter season to work on that maintenance...(lol).

We'uns got plenty of time to play the jug and open up this here can o nails and work on the race car.

The TOP driver in New England right now is pretty much Keith Rocco. He works for Pettit Racing Engines making a fair wage but not really a whole bunch more than me. He still manages to run multiple tracks multiple nights a week. Why? Sponsors... Which is how guys like Ryan Preece, Woody Pitkat and others also are able to race multiple tracks multiple times per week. Thanks for playing!

[Weftracing96]

And yes Phil, know Devils Bowl has a dirt track. My friend owns the track, lol. It's inside of the asphalt oval. But seriously, all those tracks are worlds away mentally from the New England asphalt tracks, not intermingled with any of them. What I see is the same thing I was often criticized for. A northern elitist mentality. This isn't the north, we have to work with what we have.

[Phil Jacques]

Phil, you are also forgetting that the lifestyle here is different. There are way more things to do. Tons of people own boats, fish, hunt, etc etc. There are a zillion things to do. Now you tell me what people do in Waterford, Stafford Springs, I dated a girl from the next town over to Thompson, I know there is absolutely nothing there, Seekonk, Lee, etc etc. Again, this is apples and oranges. I talk to people all the time who have no idea there is a race track in Bradenton, Punta Gorda, Inverness, etc. People down here are from all over. If I ask someone from my hometown if they have ever gone to Seekonk Speedway, they may not have been, but they at least know it exists. It's a diff world, and if you get down here and get integrated into it all for awhile, you'll understand. I know you've been here, but spend a couple years. You'll get it. I'd def like to meet you. Yankees may not always agree, but we stick together

Nah I don't forget that. In the summer there is quite a bit to do here too, but FL has the advantage. But once again, it comes down to bang for their buck. If people think they will have a better time at Disney or other than at the track, they will go elsewhere. If you give them a good product and an enjoyable family atmosphere to visit. They will go wherever that is, no matter if it's the track or disney or whatever. People want the best bang for their buck and when it comes to entertainment, oval in general doesn't offer what it use to.

[OldSchool+]

"They can be as indifferent as they want, but our formula clearly works. Does yours? Pull your thick head out of the sand and stop lofting excuses. Excuses are for losers. Have a nice day."--Phil

Any day with Phil is a day with !

No lofting. No excuses. Just no pie in the sky "straw man" argument of what a mysterious but very bad "You" is supposed to do.

Again, who's money? Ship some down & we will see that NSS gets it to the rear of the Sportsman field.

Not your money? Not my money either. So whose money is it?

[Phil Jacques]

And yes Phil, know Devils Bowl has a dirt track. My friend owns the track, lol. It's inside of the asphalt oval. But seriously, all those tracks are worlds away mentally from the New England asphalt tracks, not intermingled with any of them. What I see is the same thing I was often criticized for. A northern elitist mentality. This isn't the north, we have to work with what we have.

You are absolute misinterpreting what I am trying to say. I am not trying to make the South into the North, what I am trying to do is offer suggestions for things that work here to give it a try. As I have said, our formula works. Everyone always says "it won't work here" But have you tried? I promise you that answer is a resounding NO because of how hard headed everyone is. Again, it's cyclical. Everything takes care of itself once the ball gets really rolling. But you gotta have the right hand in place to roll that ball.

[Weftracing96]

Again, there is more money in NE. I found it easier to get sponsors myself. Do you know the particulars of woody and Keith's sponsors? Are they personal friends, or do they share business interests. A lot of stuff like that goes on.

[Phil Jacques]

"They can be as indifferent as they want, but our formula clearly works. Does yours? Pull your thick head out of the sand and stop lofting excuses. Excuses are for losers. Have a nice day."--Phil

Any day with Phil is a day with !

No lofting. No excuses. Just no pie in the sky "straw man" argument of what a mysterious but very bad "You" is supposed to do.

Again, who's money? Ship some down & we will see that NSS gets it to the rear of the Sportsman field.

Not your money? Not my money either. So whose money is it?

Again... MONSTER ENERGY Mini Stocks, XTRAMART SUPERMARKETS Limited Sportsman, SUNOCO RACE FUELS modifieds... Is this really that hard for you to comprehend? Another simple thing is Don Hoenig OWNS Thompson... Bruce Bemer OWNS Waterford, Vendetti OWNS Seekonk, Arute OWNS Stafford... Nobody leases... a lease limits you because it's added overhead, so right from the start the leased tracks have their backs against the wall. Intelligent business finds a solution to this problem. We all know this isn't EASY by any means, but with some effort it can be done.

[Phil Jacques]

Again, there is more money in NE. I found it easier to get sponsors myself. Do you know the particulars of woody and Keith's sponsors? Are they personal friends, or do they share business interests. A lot of stuff like that goes on.

And the cycle continues... Yes, it's easier to get sponsors here... You are absolutely right and just proved my point again. Why is it easier? There are more fans in the stands? Why is that? Cause there are cars on track? Why is that? Cause the tracks treat us well... And it just keeps going.

My primary sponsor is located in Vero Beach, FL... and I only met them in the last 8 months. They are down there if you look and if you can give them a market they can advertise to that is worth their time, they can and will do so.