Chapter 1: What Would You Do If You Were the Track Promoter

[Ben Shelton]

Fans, crews and racers talked, and I listened. Check out my first installment of "What Would You Do If You Were the Track Promoter."

>> https://www.onedirt.com/features/editorials-opinions/chapter-1-what-would-you-do-if-you-were-the-track-promoter/

- Ben

[HoosierDirtFan]

Very good article Ben. Shed some light on the subject as a whole.

[Paradox28]

When these people are referencing having a show over by 10pm.....what kind of shows are they talking about???? To run even just 4 classes with 20 car fields from hot laps to last checker is pushing 4 hours. I agree that the "special" feature should be over by 10pm at the latest but in the heat of summer where I live you would have to start when its still roasting hot outside and you'd have no chance of keeping any moisture in the track. I have no problem with a 6 hour night for a 4-5 class weekly event.

[TS3g]

I agree Ben. Barring something out of the ordinary, there is no reason a weekly show cannot be finished in 3 hours with 4-5 classes. Here are things I think are needed to keep the show moving. Remember, the on track racing is the show, not all the other garbage

-If the start time is advertised at 7pm, the National Anthem better be queued up and ready to hit play by 6:59. The first heat should be hitting the track almost immediately after. Hot laps are not part of the show IMO. If you want to watch them, arrive earlier

-There is no need for 6 parade laps ever. Heats and Bs should roll onto the track and be racing the next time by the flag stand. A mains, 2 or 3 laps, then green

-Make the yellow flag weigh 25lbs so the flagman has to NEED to pull it, rather than throwing it out every time someone farts (I'm exaggerating, but you get the gist). All cars / all classes must use Raceceivers to promptly line back up and be told of cars off pace or in the way. It's also the drivers responsibility to line up under cautions. The officials will put you where you need to be. Riding around three wide because you think you were ahead when the caution flew doesn't help anyone

-One and done rule in heats and Bs. If you can't make 2 laps without spinning out and causing cautions every race, stay after and practice, not hold the show for everyone else

-Teach the tow truck drivers / safety crews how to properly and promptly remove damaged cars. One track I attend hires in commercial tow trucks and OMG are they slow about getting cars off the track. It's not difficult. Also be prepared when cars get hooked together. Having a simple set of tools (lug wrench, hammers, sawzall if need be) would help a ton

-Time limits for all races. It sucks as a driver when you only run a 4 lap feature (been there done that), but it sucks even worse for the fans having to sit through that nightmare of a race

This all pertains to a normal weekly show. Special shows tend to go longer as there is other things going on, but a lot of same stuff applies. And of course, these are just my opinions as a driver / sometimes crew member / sometimes fan of 32 years

[nc mudcat]

11:00 is the right time for me. I'll stay a little longer, but I won't be happy about it. I think 10:00 is pushing it. 6 hours? No way. One of my local dirt tracks did that too me with a 7-class "Fan Appreciation" night, and I haven't been back.

[Rocal145]

Depends on what part of the country and the challenges that region's competing tracks have to throw at you.

[mcarter815]

There are tracks here that can get a five class night done from hot laps to final checkered flag in just over three hours. Six hours is crazy for a weekly race.

[Rocky]

This summer I went to a race track for a wild West tour modified race. Nice place friendly people.... Started the Modified A main at 1230 PM when nobody was there to see it. I bowed out on about lap 15 with a 2 hour drive ahead of me. They did so much right, but never ever run the show last. Don't have 3 intermissions, even if they are for track prep.

[waaac77]

As a promoter you're running a business and you need demand for your product. Dragging out the show does not help create a demand. Putting a good product out there and giving the people what they want is how you have success, putting the customer first and these days with the swift technology you really need to get people in, wow them and get them out. That's how they come back.

TS3g makes a lot of great points and if tracks actually followed those guidelines and ran less classes they would have much more success because people don't have time to wait around. You make customers wait, they get upset. Goes for any business.

[strong08]

My two cents. I agree with starting the show on time. To me 7 oclock is reasonable time to start hotlaps. The show should have a steady pace. But i dont dont understand why people want the show to only last a couple of hours, especially when people are complaining about not getting there moneys worth. Going to races is a hobby and it usually takes place on Saturdays which means there is no work that day or the next day for most people, there is no hussle and bustel of the world, so I dont understand why people get bent out of shape for being there more than 3 hours because we go to race to enjoy ourselves and get away from the real world for a while so I am not any big hurry to return to the real world especially when I am having fun. I really dont want to stay all night either so I think 12 to 12:30 is a resonable time to end a show. I am also a driver and when a track is rushing through the line up it makes it really hard to get the car ready between each runs, most weekly drivers dont have a bunch of people helping turn wrenchs and if a problem occurs through out the night it makes it hard to make repairs when the track is rushing.

[play4kps]

Wow, Probably first and foremost a healthy prize for rookie of the year, hopefully keep interest and promoting new drivers. Work with other tracks on dual point programs to help insure good car count for yours and other tracks.
On time ( dont waste peoples time.)
Weight breaks and or spoiler breaks for smaller or crate engines, hopefully not slowing down races, but keeping same speed, that should insure better car counts.
If a travelling series comes in, a nice healthy bonus to the top 3 finishing locals who have raced at least 80% at your track.
3 divisions at most.
Some good, some bad.

[dirt crow]

I’d implement everything Todd Turner has said for decades. The man is a genius. He knows what tracks do right and do wrong. He’s correct in every aspect. His “Throwing Cautions To The Wind” article in National Dirt Digest is my favorite.

[thexfactor0210]

My two cents. I agree with starting the show on time. To me 7 oclock is reasonable time to start hotlaps. The show should have a steady pace. But i dont dont understand why people want the show to only last a couple of hours, especially when people are complaining about not getting there moneys worth. Going to races is a hobby and it usually takes place on Saturdays which means there is no work that day or the next day for most people, there is no hussle and bustel of the world, so I dont understand why people get bent out of shape for being there more than 3 hours because we go to race to enjoy ourselves and get away from the real world for a while so I am not any big hurry to return to the real world especially when I am having fun. I really dont want to stay all night either so I think 12 to 12:30 is a resonable time to end a show. I am also a driver and when a track is rushing through the line up it makes it really hard to get the car ready between each runs, most weekly drivers dont have a bunch of people helping turn wrenchs and if a problem occurs through out the night it makes it hard to make repairs when the track is rushing.

A show running from 7:00-12:30 seems okay to you? I can gurantee you that is one reason why the sport is dying. No one wants to sit on a wooden bleacher for 5 and half hours past midnight. Then you have to drive home afterwards. Also, kids cannot attend then and won't be awake to see drivers in the pits which is an awesome thing in the sport. A hotlap start time of 6 with the show done by 10:00 p.m. is ideal in my opinion.

[Rocky]

I don’t want to sound like I was bashing that race track. They were 45 minutes from having a home run event. All they would have had to do is flip the order around or run the main event second to give the b main cars time to fuel and put a right rear tire on the car.

[fryefan]

As a promoter you're running a business and you need demand for your product. Dragging out the show does not help create a demand. Putting a good product out there and giving the people what they want is how you have success, putting the customer first and these days with the swift technology you really need to get people in, wow them and get them out. That's how they come back.

TS3g makes a lot of great points and if tracks actually followed those guidelines and ran less classes they would have much more success because people don't have time to wait around. You make customers wait, they get upset. Goes for any business.

I agree 100% with this assessment.

[fryefan]

A show running from 7:00-12:30 seems okay to you? I can gurantee you that is one reason why the sport is dying. No one wants to sit on a wooden bleacher for 5 and half hours past midnight. Then you have to drive home afterwards. Also, kids cannot attend then and won't be awake to see drivers in the pits which is an awesome thing in the sport. A hotlap start time of 6 with the show done by 10:00 p.m. is ideal in my opinion.

Agreed. Most promoters could learn a lot by going to a Bob Sargent ran show. He starts on time, has a well prepared track and completes his programs in a timely fashion.

[GrocMax]

https://www.race-monitor.com/Results/Race/89276 Look there for an example of doing it WRONG. From last night. Note start time and finish time. 10+ hours, 3AM preliminary night finish time. No intermission to speak of, and they try to run the show quickly. Its just too much. I stay away, and its the best facility south of Knoxville, including Wheatland. I'm tempted to go tonight for the final, but experience tells me the late model main won't roll till after midnight, and I stay away. Oh and the track prep is historically bad, deep hole over the tunnel, etc.

[Dlmfan123]

Was checking out Texas on google earth and looking at some pics/videos, looks like a super nice place

[backspace]

TS3G,,,time limits may work for your area but not mine,,,,It is not drivers fault for wreckers taking enormous amount of time to tow off car or not their faults for enormous amount of time for track workers get cars lined up,,,,just saying

[Illtsate32]

Running a business is what's killing dirt racing, $$$$$$$ is all people think about, racing foe a HOBBY is what grew dirt racing and made it what it is today. The business side is what's killing it..

[backspace]

They are hiring engineers at dirt racing levels,,,wow

[GrocMax]

(Forum posting tools broken) "Oh and the track prep is historically bad, deep hole over the tunnel, etc." Looks like I was dead wrong on the track prep, vid sez they did a good job considering the laps run- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc7Pcct7EG0 Good for them.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

There are tracks here that can get a five class night done from hot laps to final checkered flag in just over three hours. Six hours is crazy for a weekly race.Six hours is I won’t be back. Barring an electrical outage, fence torn down, rain shower, no excuse

[chupp n bloomer fan]

Running a business is what's killing dirt racing, $$$$$$$ is all people think about, racing foe a HOBBY is what grew dirt racing and made it what it is today. The business side is what's killing it..But the track has to be ran as a business. It isn’t some charity. Run a fast, efficient, cost effective show, and take baby steps to have bigger events. And do special things for the fans, young and old. Think outside the box. You don’t run a track as a business, you won’t have it long.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

They are hiring engineers at dirt racing levels,,,wowMost definitely.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

My two cents. I agree with starting the show on time. To me 7 oclock is reasonable time to start hotlaps. The show should have a steady pace. But i dont dont understand why people want the show to only last a couple of hours, especially when people are complaining about not getting there moneys worth. Going to races is a hobby and it usually takes place on Saturdays which means there is no work that day or the next day for most people, there is no hussle and bustel of the world, so I dont understand why people get bent out of shape for being there more than 3 hours because we go to race to enjoy ourselves and get away from the real world for a while so I am not any big hurry to return to the real world especially when I am having fun. I really dont want to stay all night either so I think 12 to 12:30 is a resonable time to end a show. I am also a driver and when a track is rushing through the line up it makes it really hard to get the car ready between each runs, most weekly drivers dont have a bunch of people helping turn wrenchs and if a problem occurs through out the night it makes it hard to make repairs when the track is rushing.Because we also have home lives and families. Not getting home from a track till 1-2:00 or later in the morning, and trying to have a productive Sunday, plus be ready for work Monday isn’t ideal for most of us. Sitting on bleachers for five hours plus is zero enjoyment. Weekly show, 3-4 hours and classes. Pay them well, and don’t have three types of the same car. Why they don’t get good car counts some places.

I understand your point too. My brother races. If they stagger them correctly, you should be fine.

Somewhere that has made great strides in their program the last two years is Sharon Speedway. No joke, car count, everything. Especially the track.

[3 wide]

I have been going to dirt track races for 50 years now every race track close to me wants to run 8,9 & even 10 classes my health want allow me to sit there for 6,7 or 8 hours.

[GrocMax]

https://www.race-monitor.com/Results/Session/6826186 As predicted, Texas Motor Speedway (dirt track) first main didn't roll out till after midnight. Mains not finished til after 3AM. 7PM-3AM. Glad I wasn't there, but sorry I missed a local event. Prime example of what not to do.

[DIRTisREALracin]

Everyone obviously wants to have a "fast" show. Let me ask this:

How do you handle the drivers/crews and have them be lined up and ready to go? How do you curtail the antics/refusal to line up correctly under caution? Many guys will be willing to help, but there will always be guys that think that since they have the $xxx,000 toy, they can do whatever they want and they don't owe you a drop of effort.

Fines/penalties won't fly in the long run. If you tick off the drivers and crews, they will find another place to run. You will probably get blasted on social media, so you will be viewed negatively throughout the dirt world.

I hate to say it, but promoters have it rough in the modern dirt scene. There is almost no way they can win without angering either the drivers or fans. To strike a balance, you appease both groups and just kinda go half way with everything and that has been shown to be a financial loser.

It's not a simple answer...

[backspace]

Check out USRA for drivers not wanting to line up,,,,,they give you one lap to correct yourself or else

[play4kps]

Dirtisreal you nailed it. For some reason the track have somewhat created this mess by catering to the drivers more than the fans. A lot of tracks take a lot of pride in having big name drivers show up and then cater to them, kind of throwing the regulars under the bus at times. I was at Oakshade about 15 to 20 years ago, and if anybody had any idea how pi@@ poor the the flagman was. This actually happened, it was a 10,000 to win race, the birthday race before the summernationals came there. 50 lap race, 48 laps completed, running order Matt Miller, Shane Yoder and Donnie Moran 3rd, spin on the track, flagman gives Miller and Yoder the yellow, car that spun gets off track, never game Moran the yellow, Miller and Yoder never had a chance. Moran flew on by them to take the white, then the checkered flag for the win.
If you have a track, grow the track, do what you can to keep your drivers happy.
Forget the extremely top heavy purses to lure some big names it, pay better thru the field, your car count will grow.
Ive seen tracks give provisionals to big name drivers when they didnt make the feature.
As much as he has been a major part in hurting the sport, Scott Bloomquist was right when he told Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman that was chicken sh@t taking provisionals at the Knoxville nationals several years ago, he made the comment, shame on those 2 taking spots away from guys that deserved it.

[play4kps]

Look at the state of Michigan, Dirt late model racing is actually growing up there, Those drivers rarely ever venture out of the state, plenty of 4000, 5000, and 10,000 dollar shows. And they are drawing usually 20+ cars for most shows, and when and if Lucas or WOO show up, they really have their hands full with the locals. In fact I think locals have won 2 Woo shows at Berlin.

[dirtcrazy4u]

Go to Screven for there winter series woo show. 10:15 PM and the first late model heat wasn't on track yet. Time means absolutely nothing at that place. They'll tell you how good there food is and make dang sure they sell as much as possible. It's a shame because the place has a great surface and can put on a really good show. Fans traveling south have learned GIS packs them in and the track is not nearly as racey as screven.