Where are the Late Models?

[1969racing]

There have been almost double the amount of Big Blocks this season! In most areas The SLM's are growing and are the premiere class while BB are dwindling. I have looked on line at a lot of tracks and they are having a lot of SLM. I have even noticed that some of our "locals" are competing at other tracks. Any theories besides the obvious?

[crazyness]

well lets see, every week is a different track surface, crap for tires only allowed, points fund money sucks, late models dont get paid same as big blocks for a win, different rules and double standards every week depending on your last name, and what incentive do locals have to go race for fun against a guy whos job is to race and is pretty much unbeatable, unless he breaks or the seas part ways for a miracle to happen. Oh and letting the bs outlaws come in and run the track and ganging up on the local boys out there beating them

[1969racing]

So crazyness,basically it is a Catch-22 type situation; there are no cars because there is not enough money but, there is not enough money because there are not enough cars. are tires really an issue with the competitors? I thought that this was to keep the cost down! And the person racing racing for a living there will eventually get hungry and have to go elsewhere!

[Burt Q]

To address Craziness' post:
The track is a dirt track and as such it is affected by the weather. How much rain? Lots of sun during the week? Was it windy? About the only way to get a really consistant track is to pave it. Then the racing goes to pot.

Same car winning every week. I agree to a degree. It's more exciting if several (lots?) of cars have a chance at the top position. But what's the solution? It would be tough to penalize or ask the the winning driver to go somewhere else to race. Not a good solution for a promoter. By running local and having a good chance to win every week the dominant driver is probably better off financially than if he traveled every week. When the costs of going to Hagerstown, Winchester or Potomac are considered, along with the lower probability of a top finish
I believe the scales are tipped toward running local.

Tires? I know very little about the tire situation, but I suppose the "track tire" provides an income stream for the promoter. I believe an open tire rule would only raise the cost of racing and from what I saw last night, I don't think the late model field needs any more expense.

Points fund money, where's it going to come from. The only place to get more money is to raise spectator or pit fees. I'll bet this would be very unpopular and do more harm than good.

The Outlaws coming in and beating up on the locals, I don't think so. This is a "special" mid week show. It takes nothing away from the local racer. It gives them a chance to measure themselves against some of the best SLM drivers in the country. The bigger purse would never happen with a "locals only" show. For me, it is one of the "must do" races of the year.

I guess now we need a solution for the SLM dilemma. Maybe a "bounty" on the winner to draw a few more cars to the track. If after some set number he still undefeated, give it to the dominanting car and start over. Anyone want to step up to the plate and make it happen? Any other ideas?

Maybe to put my post in a better perspective, I am not an owner, driver or promoter, I'm just a long time fan in the stands who enjoys racing hopes to see it continue.

Burt Q

[1969racing]

Some excellent points Burt Q. Like you I am not an owner, driver or promoter, I have been attending races regularly there since around 1970. But I have not been yet this season because I am not going to go knowing who is going to win half of the features before you even go.

[mddirtfan]

I have been a race fan for over 45 years, and and seen this type of thing several times before. I do not agree with the "bounty" solution, since I feel it would cause a dangerous situation out on the track. I've seen drivers get sent to the hospital (not locally) due to accidents caused by over aggressive driving on the track and I do not want this to happen here.
What the promoter did was to make a few phone calls to some other area "hot-shoe", offer him/her appearance money to commit to appear on a given week, then promote the tar out of it a week or two prior to it actually happening. Seemed to work pretty good, the stands filled up more as well as the pits.

[Burt Q]

According a post on the SJDR racing board a $500.00 bounty has put up for any SLM that can beat Ricky Elliott at DIS. I guess we will see if this brings any of the locals back home. If not, then I would suppose the size of the winner's portion of the purse is not the problem.

Burt Q