Something needs to be done

[moyerfan1]

I am already tired of hearing about this areo stuff already...

[EDERDS]

SLM racing has pretty much sucked this year.

[KTMLew]

The couple heats I watched here earlier were a freight train.

I went and watched the Bristol Truck race. Timed out pretty well.

[MRM]

1- Get the slope out of the deck and roof.
2- Do something about the right front tire/fender.

Get rid of the laid back nose pieces. They're starting to resemble the wedge cars.

[weatherman85]

Interesting interview at Eldora were Overton blamed the poor racing on the tires (LM30) used this year as opposed to the aero issue. A tire that gives out would only mask the areo issues IMO but I'm certainly no expert and in no position to question Brandon's comments. Is good to see him bringing up the fact that something needs to be done.

[Josh Bayko]

Get rid of the laid back nose pieces. They're starting to resemble the wedge cars.

People like to blame not changing the noses on the body part manufacturers, but the reality is new less aerodynamic noses would make them even more money because literally every late model would have to buy one and probably at least one spare.

[JimBo]

Cut the rear spoiler down to one inch height. That would make a huge difference.

[warrior18]

Cut the rear spoiler down to one inch height. That would make a huge difference.

That would ruin the looks of the car though.

[Raceready]

Leaf springs ! !

[ZERO25]

Interesting interview at Eldora were Overton blamed the poor racing on the tires (LM30) used this year as opposed to the aero issue. A tire that gives out would only mask the areo issues IMO but I'm certainly no expert and in no position to question Brandon's comments. Is good to see him bringing up the fact that something needs to be done.

Tmac basically said the same thing. He said the 30's just dont give up near as much as the 20's!

[moyerfan1]

Would closing the sail panels help?

[Mike]

Get rid of the laid back nose pieces. They're starting to resemble the wedge cars.

LOL Starting to resemble the wedge cars? I coined the name modern day wedge when describing Dirt Late Models at least 10-15 years ago. Nobody wanted to listen though.

[Mike]

I am already tired of hearing about this areo stuff already...

Better get use to it. As long as drivers & fans continue to support the people that could change it nothing will change

[moyerfan1]

If fans are continuing to support all of this why do i hear where are all the fans at all over facebook from tracks...Or even some tracks closing.. Something thing is wrong with this problem...

[lokwaidid]

car counts keep going down and local tracks keep dropping lates as a weekly show. less and less lates. when lucas or woo shows can barely make 3 heats and no consies, will fans continue to pay $30 or more dollars to watch? it would seem like the different series would get together with some ideas to try to avoid the complete death of late model racing.

[Mike]

If fans are continuing to support all of this why do i hear where are all the fans at all over facebook from tracks...Or even some tracks closing.. Something thing is wrong with this problem...

It will not change until fans & drivers stop showing up at Lucas Oil, World of Outlaws and Crown Jewel races. Those are the people that are in position to make the needed changes but they don't care because it's not effecting them. Yes fans complain on facebook and yes weekly racing is dying and tracks are closing yet....the national series and crown jewels are still big draws and the people in charge have blinders on. They have been running the same tire rule scheme for the last 10 -15 years (or longer) to make it look like they are trying (ie the Lucas oil LM tire that was going to reduce compounds and save racers money in 2013) Here was the big Lucas Oil announcement from PRI after they had a "cost saving" test session at Florence Speedway in 2012 the week before the first Portsmouth Raceway Park DTWC https://www.performanceracing.com/magazine/industry-news/02-28-2013/lucas-oil-late-model-dirt-series-announces-exclusive-partnership.

Fast forward to 2022 and we have the new unified tire rule that's going to limit compounds and save the racers money. Color me shocked....tires are always the go when they want it to look like they are trying to do something...All the while the modern day wedge has become more & more aero dependent . As Josh Bayko pointed out in another thread: guys just kept pushing things like deck height until the tech guys just let them run whatever (all that mattered was tires) . Funny thing is way back then when all that was happening there was a small group of us that was screaming about the direction the bodies were heading but it fell on deaf ears.....All anybody wanted to talk about (even some of he ones that are complaining now ) was how the new tire rule was going to save dirt late model racing.

[Rajflyboy]

It’s Knoxville. It’s never been an exciting late model track. Move on people. Next week it’s on to better tracks and we will see more passing/racing.

[play4kps]

Nothing will be done! The attitude on 4m is, as long as big races get good crowds, the state of the sport is good. Very few in 4m land care about grass roots racing, weekly racing is dying without a fight. Ive read post saying all teams have the same money, they need to just get busy. These top heavy purses are destroying the sport. example dirt million biggest race of the year, 4th pace 15,000, 8th 7500, 14th 5822, 20th 5450 and 2nd 100,000. Other than 1sr or 2nd those are numbers are not season changing. Im glad Davenport won a million dollars for winning that race. But the Landers spends millions a year to race. So nothing big to that team. I think something drastic has to happen. Sadly the direction of dirt probably needs to go the same direction pavement racing has. A top tier of maybe 20 teams for Lucas, WOO, and Eldora with their rules. hopefully the regional teams will still get some money thrown at them. Race teams trying to keep up at a local level with Tmac, Overton, Davenport, Oneal and those level teams has destroyed and bankrupted local racing and race teams. I actually think dividing the super teams from the rest might actually be good for the sport in the long run.

[Pennsboro32]

Nothing will be done! The attitude on 4m is, as long as big races get good crowds, the state of the sport is good. Very few in 4m land care about grass roots racing, weekly racing is dying without a fight. Ive read post saying all teams have the same money, they need to just get busy. These top heavy purses are destroying the sport. example dirt million biggest race of the year, 4th pace 15,000, 8th 7500, 14th 5822, 20th 5450 and 2nd 100,000. Other than 1sr or 2nd those are numbers are not season changing. Im glad Davenport won a million dollars for winning that race. But the Landers spends millions a year to race. So nothing big to that team. I think something drastic has to happen. Sadly the direction of dirt probably needs to go the same direction pavement racing has. A top tier of maybe 20 teams for Lucas, WOO, and Eldora with their rules. hopefully the regional teams will still get some money thrown at them. Race teams trying to keep up at a local level with Tmac, Overton, Davenport, Oneal and those level teams has destroyed and bankrupted local racing and race teams. I actually think dividing the super teams from the rest might actually be good for the sport in the long run.

The funny part to me is all the national level guys crying about how expensive racing has become. Randall Edwards said in a Flo interview that they shouldn’t race any 100 lap races anymore, motors are too expensive for that. Lmao these guys kill me.

[ZERO25]

It’s Knoxville. It’s never been an exciting late model track. Move on people. Next week it’s on to better tracks and we will see more passing/racing.

yep, cuttem all down to 1/4-3/8!

The excitement will return.......aero solved!

[Mike]

Zero25 cutting everything down to 3/8 and quarter miles will not solve aero

[Andrews42FAN]

"its Knoxville" my ass.... I travel to a lot Lucas shows - Eldora 2x a year etc. The racing has sucked and its reached a point where I can easily sit on my ass at home and watch the (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) product vs traveling hours and spending 3x as much. Will re-evaluate and pull back on travel if the racing keeps deteriorating and continues to resemble NASCAR

[Crossbones]

Nothing will be done! The attitude on 4m is, as long as big races get good crowds, the state of the sport is good. Very few in 4m land care about grass roots racing, weekly racing is dying without a fight. Ive read post saying all teams have the same money, they need to just get busy. These top heavy purses are destroying the sport. example dirt million biggest race of the year, 4th pace 15,000, 8th 7500, 14th 5822, 20th 5450 and 2nd 100,000. Other than 1sr or 2nd those are numbers are not season changing. Im glad Davenport won a million dollars for winning that race. But the Landers spends millions a year to race. So nothing big to that team. I think something drastic has to happen. Sadly the direction of dirt probably needs to go the same direction pavement racing has. A top tier of maybe 20 teams for Lucas, WOO, and Eldora with their rules. hopefully the regional teams will still get some money thrown at them. Race teams trying to keep up at a local level with Tmac, Overton, Davenport, Oneal and those level teams has destroyed and bankrupted local racing and race teams. I actually think dividing the super teams from the rest might actually be good for the sport in the long run.

I highly doubt Landers is spending millions of dollars per year Racing..lol Hudson O' Neal's car owner has a $250,000 per year budget, that seems about right to me. Why don't you just watch late model crate racing? Why turn super late model racing into something that already exist?

[foxfire2dirtracing]

Roger didn’t exactly say he had a 250k budget. He stated all his equipment including the hauler & shop was paid for. Barring any major problems: he estimated 250k. ( that means not destroying a 60k car or 60k engine.
He has 3 full time employees and to be honest I seriously doubt he only spends 250k. Maybe he meant his out of pocket $$. He has a sweet deal with Lazy Days RV Center. He could very well be doing it tho - just don’t know how to relate the 250k statement.

[Crossbones]

I'm talking about the average yearly cost, not the initial start up cost of a national touring team with hauler, shop and cars/engines.

[dirty-white-boy]

I highly doubt Landers is spending millions of dollars per year Racing..lol Hudson O' Neal's car owner has a $250,000 per year budget, that seems about right to me. Why don't you just watch late model crate racing? Why turn super late model racing into something that already exist?

It's Safe to say you failed math class.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

I highly doubt Landers is spending millions of dollars per year Racing..lol Hudson O' Neal's car owner has a $250,000 per year budget, that seems about right to me. Why don't you just watch late model crate racing? Why turn super late model racing into something that already exist?

The serious teams are spending 500k plus.

[play4kps]

Landers said they have 4 full time engineers. How many other teams can afford this?

[Buford.Justice]

There was a time when late models were owned by local drivers and individuals who would pay for the building of a race car. They would take a stock car frame, often chevelles, camaros, mustangs, and about any car make. They would build their own roll cages, motors, and everything pertaining to the car themselves. These cars put on a lot of great racing. Even though they weren't awesome in appearance and technology as the cars are now, they in their own time were the best. Races were won far more on driving ability rather than how good the car itself was.

Local racing was affordable even though the purses were not that great, there were plenty of late models out there to provide racing at about all of the dirt tracks around, and the fans did not have to worry about having races canceled by rain forecasts. The fans and cars all showed up and took their chances back then.

Even when the chassis building businesses started coming into play with Howe, Jigalo, Callahan, Rayburn, Wright, and the rest started builing race chassis things were still pretty good.

I miss those days very much.

A couple of examples of the old cars.

[Cleetus Motorsports]

Better watch you say about the almighty 49. When Rigsby was ready to crown him on twitter last week, I mentioned he drives for Landers who is a millionaire and has engineers behind him all the fanboys went on the attack. I even had his merchandise peddler and Landers old lady chime in. She claims they don't have anything that no other team has which is completely laughable in itself.

[EDERDS]

49 car is very different in clean air, it’s a rocket ship. Once JD got by Pearson, I’m guessing his tires were gone, there wasn’t any lap cars around and JD got that clean air in the outside land and it was over

[zyoung25]

There was a time when late models were owned by local drivers and individuals who would pay for the building of a race car. They would take a stock car frame, often chevelles, camaros, mustangs, and about any car make. They would build their own roll cages, motors, and everything pertaining to the car themselves. These cars put on a lot of great racing. Even though they weren't awesome in appearance and technology as the cars are now, they in their own time were the best. Races were won far more on driving ability rather than how good the car itself was.

Local racing was affordable even though the purses were not that great, there were plenty of late models out there to provide racing at about all of the dirt tracks around, and the fans did not have to worry about having races canceled by rain forecasts. The fans and cars all showed up and took their chances back then.

Even when the chassis building businesses started coming into play with Howe, Jigalo, Callahan, Rayburn, Wright, and the rest started builing race chassis things were still pretty good.

I miss those days very much.

A couple of examples of the old cars.

I'm closing in on 40, I remember some of this. I'm beginning to miss the old days that I got be apart of, I'm talking early 90s times.

I miss handmade/homemade bodies and single layer vinyl. I can handle today's wraps, but I hate the laser cut bodies of today.

[Crossbones]

It's Safe to say you failed math class.

I understand math fine.

The only reason a team would be spending 500k+ per year is they have several really well paid full time employees. What's that got to do with the cost of racing one of these cars?

Someone could claim they spend $5 million per year and you people would believe it, but won't believe a car owner that says his yearly budget is $250k per year because you people don't want to believe it...lol

[Phatdaddy]

Everybody should watch (and then direct message) guys like The Chaz. He regularly finds and interviews some of the top officials, drivers, etc.. in DLM and Sprint Car racing, then posts them on his YouTube.
It's going to take those types of media guys to get the fans' issues like aero & formats addressed at PRI.

If you want an example, go find the video of him questioning Kyle Larson about his new Sprint Car Series that scheduled against the Jackson Nationals.

[Rajflyboy]

JD did not win last night

[Dlmfan123]

If you want an example, go find the video of him questioning Kyle Larson about his new Sprint Car Series that scheduled against the Jackson Nationals.He made himself look like the idiot he is in that interview, larsons race wasn’t schedule against the Jackson nationals at all, some guys even went to both races

[TS FAN]

Racing has been fine this year if you watch second on back in the races JD starts on the front row.
On some tracks you have to go fourth on back. I do miss the old days but you had to attend those races, no home viewing.

Now home viewing is a great thing, but it has driven the sport into mega bucks. No local racing for sure

[Pennsboro32]

Racing has been fine this year if you watch second on back in the races JD starts on the front row.
On some tracks you have to go fourth on back. I do miss the old days but you had to attend those races, no home viewing.

Now home viewing is a great thing, but it has driven the sport into mega bucks. No local racing for sure

No it hasn't. If you can't slide someone, you can't pass. It's been average at best.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

I understand math fine.

The only reason a team would be spending 500k+ per year is they have several really well paid full time employees. What's that got to do with the cost of racing one of these cars?

Someone could claim they spend $5 million per year and you people would believe it, but won't believe a car owner that says his yearly budget is $250k per year because you people don't want to believe it...lol

2 new cars turn key is $200k. You ain't turned a lap yet. If you don't have a couple guys that add up to at least $100k, you got bad help. Now, a drum of fuel is $1000. You go through a lot of those and tires. You gotta keep the hauler full of fuel and food. Every 1500 laps, your engine needs a $12k freshening.

[Crossbones]

2 new cars turn key is $200k. You ain't turned a lap yet. If you don't have a couple guys that add up to at least $100k, you got bad help. Now, a drum of fuel is $1000. You go through a lot of those and tires. You gotta keep the hauler full of fuel and food. Every 1500 laps, your engine needs a $12k freshening.

These guys buy a new $40,000+ Longhorn and sell their old Longhorn for $30,000.

[dirtcrazy4u]

And the only reason they sell there old cars is because it's tweaked and no matter what they throw at it it doesn't respond to changes like the primary car. Then what do you have ? A 30K pc of scrap metal. Happens more than what anybody knows.

[moyerfan1]

I just wish the powers to be would figure something out before its too late..

[TwistedNate01]

SLM racing has pretty much sucked this year.and im pretty sure it will just keep getting worse........ UNFORNITLEY./ we not out the deep water yet with covid. The world ruling ocult not DONE yet........

[JabberJaws83]

and im pretty sure it will just keep getting worse........ UNFORNITLEY./ we not out the deep water yet with covid. The world ruling ocult not DONE yet........

Are we seriously tying the terrible racing of dirt late models to COVID?

[Highside Hustler25]

Are we seriously tying the terrible racing of dirt late models to COVID?

Tailgate section was shut down for maintenance. He needed attention.

[fastford]

I am already tired of hearing about this areo stuff already...

its the whole package , not just aero that has put late model racing out of the reach of the average budgeted racer , thats why there is lower level classes that are more affordable , racing is racing , just stay withen your means ......