Some Ga. racing news

[mocha2@dishmail.net]

Good to see that Wall is doing well it didn't look too good a couple of years ago.Imagine if the Nascar mods had gotten a chance to run Lakeland with a full field that would have been pretty good I bet.

[SeminoleWind]

Things are very tough in Georgia right now. Many people involved in racing were also in the construction industry. Kinda tough to drop money on racing when you are struggling to pay your house note.
Asphalt racing seems to be taking the biggest hit right now, but many dirt tracks are struggling as well. It's possible that the asphalt tracks just get more press, so they appear to be worse off.

My unofficial observations:

Peach State Speedway (now Gresham Motorsports Park) is undergoing a complete renovation. They more or less tore the track down and rebuilt. From what I hear, they will not be racing weekly in 2010, doing special shows only. I expect very good crowds if the car counts are respectable.

Lanier, which owns the GAS Series, has had an off and on year. The Legends and the Late Models have had decent car counts, the 5 support divisions have had single digit fields. The GAS Series have good car counts at Lanier, but the counts have been lower when they travel to other tracks. To Lanier and GAS credit, they have stuck out the hard times and as far as I know, have honored their promises. There was a rumor of going dirt in 2010, but I read a press statement that it would not happen. The dirt rumor has been around for a decade, so I suppose it is just that (a rumor). Good management and promotion at Lanier, so I expect them to survive if they can rebuild the car count.

As far as I know, Senoia is basically up for rent if you want to put up the money. The ASA Late Models were promoting special events, decent late model fields, small support division fields, even smaller crowds. Cool little track, don't know if it will ever see glory days again.

Watermelon has decent racer and fan support, but they do not run late models, so when traveling series stop by, there are no local late models to bolster the car count. So, the traveling series have to rely on bringing every car.

Dixie Speedway (dirt) has had very good car counts and good crowds. It doesn't hurt that they are pretty much the only dirt track left in the metro Atlanta area.

Rome Speedway is always packed for their 4 or 5 Sunday night events.

North Georgia has discontinued their Friday night shows while Boyds Speedway, on the Tennessee line, has had much success on Friday nights.

[mizechris]

george I can't believe I agree with you. LOL Mods are a sight to see. ROC and the Whelen series are basicaly same rules. In Ohio and midwest area USA modified series does real well. It is a basic mod almost like IMCA but the motors are opened up more. Alot of tracks in Ohio are really close to there rules so very little change to run. What I saw in the south was this. (this is where I agree with you most) there is always the track that believes if he sets his rule different his cars can't and won't leave. Then you get 3 ir 4 tracks do this and its screwed. I think if ROC or Whelen ran 8 or 10 times a year there it would be huge.

PS. On a side note supermodifieds up here want to come back down to Fla for speed weeks. That was some great times in the 90's when they ran Volusia!!!!

[mizechris]

Don't forget the Supermodifeds either. Lots of talk that the guys would love to go to Fla. during speedweek again like they used to at Volusia in the 90's.

[jimmy11owm]

supermodifieds

A lot of fans in florida would like to see the supermodifieds run down here. I would like to see them run in florida as a series or a div. at a track.

[modracer22]

As a modified racer I also like the tour type mods. At one time they were thinking about putting the fla modifieds on a wider tire but some of the drivers shot it down. I personally think it would draw more fans and I was for it. If you look at Citrus and A-dale the have really good car counts and put on a really good show and they run florida type modifieds.

[mocha2@dishmail.net]

I would love to see the supermods down here.If they did come what tracks would everybody like to see them at?Back to the asphalt late model thing speed51 has had some interesting stories about the ASA SAT this week.They are supposed to go back to CCMP in October I wonder if that will still happen.

[jimmy11owm]

supermodifieds in fl.

I have seen supers run at Tompson CT. 5/8 Stafford CT. 1/2 lee NH.3/8 Seekonk MA.1/4 Star NH. 1/4 Volusia FL 1/2 The best shows hands down are the 1/4 mile tracks they are so fast on the little tracks. I would like to see them at orlando. I think that they would be in the 10. second range or faster

[mocha2@dishmail.net]

I have seen them at Thompson,CT. Star,NH and Oxford ME.The Star classic was always a great race but is in danger of not happening this year because of the clown running Star Speedway.

[Frasson118]

Star Speedway... is that clown running things the guy who calls himself "The Show Stoppa"?

In an interview I read with him, he came off as a pompous ass, and borderline crook. Since that article, I see he's had some trouble with local and/or state authorites.

[mocha2@dishmail.net]

Yes that is the guy.He has taken a nice little track with a lot of history and run it into the ground in less than 3 years.Owes drivers money sanctioning bodies money and had his Nascar sanction taken away in July.But back to the supermods I would like to see them at New Smyrna for the speed and Citrus,Orlando or even Bronson.In fact while I am dreaming I would like to see them at Columbia too.At Thompson CT. a 5/8 mile track when they take the green and head into turns one and two the trees at that end of the track are shaking like a hurricane is coming through.