Sunbelt Results?

[Edm]

I remember when the results used to be published in the local newspapers and I'm not that old.

[Frasson118]

The Dirt Late Models brought 63 cars to Volusia.

Ocala had around 30 Sprint cars a few weeks back.

Citrus, Desoto and Charlotte County tracks usually have about 20-25 SLM cars.

But yet the "premier" Sunbelt Series can only bring 12? Do all the other racers live in some magical county where the recession hasn't hit yet? The economy only sucks for the Sunbelt teams?

In general, car counts are off everywhere, but not at the level of the Sunbelt deal. Blame the economy all you want to, but you are barking up the wrong tree. Try blaming the outrageous fees that are associated with Sunbelt... starting with practice sessions that cost $200.00 per car (not to mention the set of tires, the half tank of racing fuel, and 100 laps closer to sending your motor back to Progressive for a rebuild). How about Hotel rooms for the whole team? 2 days worth of meals for everyone. How about skipping a day of work to make it up there for practice.

And if you choose NOT to spend Friday blowing a ton of money for ZERO return, then you can spend another $1000.00 for tires, fuel and entry fees, all for the priveledge of watching Russell and Anderson's back bumpers as they run away from you. They have team owners and sponsors who are willing to pony up the budget to spend every dollar that Sunbelt/Columbia is willing to let them spend. And that is TOO many dollars.

Gone are the days when a guy could wake up on Saturday morning, change the rear-end gear, and haul to some out-of-town track, and have some kind of a chance to perform well.

The racers with a big budget are ALLOWED to outspend all of the lesser-budgeted teams, to the point where they say "why bother?"

When it comes to Sunbelt, and why it ISN'T working, I think it's time to look out for the health of the entire class. Quit worrying about how to suck every dime possible out of the pockets that CAN afford it, and start figuring out how to get a few dimes out of the pockets that can BARELY afford it.

Blaming the economy is just plain bullshit!

[Joe]

Here, here, Jerry. You make some great points there. As someone who is getting laid off in 2 weeks, I too could blame the economy for why I'm not going to the track. But I am still going. Why? Because I enjoy it. Because the people there are friendly and welcoming. Because I don't know who's going to win (except Keith Briggs. But I'm not a mini stock guy anyway).

I'm dropping $20 this week to go see Crash-A-Rama because it is an entertaining show. God bless Wayne Anderson, but I wouldn't pay $15 to watch him win over 15 hopefuls, especially if it's a done deal.

[Jane]

Edm

I had a racing column in Florida Today for over 3 years. Last year because of BUDGETS, they cut the column completely but it was great. They say if things improve, they will bring it back but who knows. I tried to get them to run the column in the on-line paper but not enough people wrote in for them to do it. But the best thing anyone can do is write their local paper and complain and if enough do it, they will bring it back. But I remember alot of things also. One year, when Dick was still at Orlando, we had a two page story with lots and lots of color pictures of local drivers. Orlando paid not one penny for that or anything I did for the Brevard racers which put Orlando and New Smyrna in the paper weekly. It was great and the guys actually told me how much they appreciated it all but once again, money came into the budget and local racing went to the wayside for little league.y

Keep on writing your local paper and sooner or later if they get enough letters, they might just hear you.

Jane

[Edm]

When they were pulling that article I wrote the guy you mentioned. He wrote back told me that he had no control over it. When the Florida Today came into my office and wanted me to advertise with them I gave them the same answer, then I explained to them how I felt about the racing articles they pulled.

I remember the News Journal used to have the results too.

[carolwicks]

tracker 84

i just want to make sure you know you were wrong to post that about CCMP... Wayne has been treated very well at our track and so has his son...we have never left him out of anything. i dont see anything wrong with a fan defending their favorite driver but in this case you are wrong.
carolwicks aka OZ

here are the headlines of the stories that are in three locations, ccmp web site, front page of karnac, and click on tracks go to ccmp.

IT'S TIME TO RACE!!
August 10, 2008

Wayne Anderson First in Super Lates at CCMP
ANDERSON AND JEFFERSON COME OUT ON TOP AT CCMP


IT'S TIME TO RACE!!
May 11, 2008

Anderson Wins the Pepsi 100 at Charlotte County Motorsports Park



IT'S TIME TO RACE!!
April 13, 2008

Wayne Anderson Wins Super Late Model 100