Truth, Lies, Rumors and all points in between!

[Shiny Side Up 18]

I too really enjoy DOD, however I didn't exactly appreciate Michael jumping on the fans for sharing their opinions, as if all we do is cause trouble. I don't recall hearing him jump on Feger for his hot takes. For someone that "doesn't know everything", there seemed to be a lot of agreement with what Driggers did in this week's Fast talk piece. It seems like a case of "go along to get along". I like Michael, but I think what he said last night was just a tad uncalled for.

[DirtonDirt]

Hey guys,

Don’t often chime in on here, but this is a topic I’m somewhat passionate about so I thought why not!

The original poster and some of the follow-up comments actually raise some good points. When it comes to the “journalistic” side of things I’m always happy to talk about those issues. And I actually brought the point up on LML last night that I shoulder some of the blame as well, and am not just pointing the finger at everyone else. It rests here too.

A few things to consider.

In the 10 years of doing DirtonDirt.com now (where has the time gone?!?) … Todd, Amber and myself have always strived to not be a “knee-jerk” website. Todd and I specifically have a journalism background, and we set out from the beginning to NOT print details that we didn’t have, couldn’t get, or run with something on hearsay or rumor. Sometimes fans grumble at that, but we always thought it was very important to only run … with what we could verify. We’ve stuck to that and it’s served us pretty well for a decade. In this industry more than ANY I’ve ever spent time in, the amount of “unverified” information is wide and sweeping. You really have to dig to get something, and someone on record.

Keep in mind we’re also on the hook for a libel or slander suit if things go wrong. This isn’t a random Facebook or Twitter post for us … it’s our livelihood. Something I don’t think people often consider enough. It can mean legal ramifications if not handled properly.

It’s also amazing how much the “news” has changed in ten years. The advent of cable networks doing more and more “opinion shows” has blurred the lines between news … and just that … opinions. We could easily do programming or point-counterpoint pieces where people scream opinions at each other for 30 minutes or 1,000 words of print, but that’s a huge turnoff to me and something I’ve never liked. It also doesn’t advance the topic, as much as it does create more hate and vitriol between the two sides of the discussion. Part of the reason I think we’re becoming more “divided” as a country. We didn’t want to create that environment or atmosphere in late model racing. Despite those in our industry (news, not racing) … doing it more and more.

Specifically regarding the tire/lawsuit story. I promise you we did a lot of digging, and were presented with a lot of information. Again though … when it comes to something “controversial” in our sport, DoD gets met with a lot of “no comment” … “off the record”, etc. We have become in a way the “paper of record” for dirt late model racing, and when we print something people know it’s official … so they sometimes shy away from taking that final step with us and going on the record. They know if we print it, people will believe it, because it’s been vetted and verified. It’s great people respect us that much, but it’s one hurdle we have to clear that many others don’t.

I know we live in a TMZ-age, where people like blood in the water, and constant “scoops”. But you have to remember in our industry (Unlike the NFL, NBA, MLB) … where those are multi-billion dollar enterprises that can withstand ANY AND ALL criticism, our sport is small and limited. One bad story about a promoter, a track, a driver, a sanctioning body can have a REAL and immediate impact, and usually negative. We have to balance that out, as we do feel we have a duty to the industry to leave it better than we found it. I get that people love negative stuff, and we’ll never “withhold news” that we think needs to be out there and can be verified. But we’re not going to print a he-said, she-said tire story just because we think the “fans want blood”. If that makes sense.

All that said, if you dive into the website regularly I think you’ll see we have a lot more hard-hitting stuff than you might think. It may not be titled … “click here for a crazy story”, but if you’re savvy enough it’s there, and you know we’ve double-checked it, and it’s true. We’re not a click-bait website and never will be. But we are constantly breaking news, and have new information, so I’d suggest you really click all over the website, and you’ll find it.

Side note … Dirt Track Warriors on CNN was awesome and I loved it.

Side-Side-note … I was an original member for 4m back in the day (first 100 in the door) … this place will always have a spot in the history books of dirt late model history.

Michael Rigsby
DirtonDirt.com

[chathamracefan]

I've had DoD since the early weeks in 2007 & it is great. I have no problem with they way they cover this kind of stuff. They are an unabashed advocate for the sport (it is in the title after all). It would be interesting to hear some of the behind the scenes speculation but I think it is more important that they serve their role in being an advocate for the sport and trying to help it grow through their great coverage instead of just fueling into controversies and being a click bait type of website as Michael referred to it.

It sure has come a long way from the days of waiting for Speed Sport News each week to get the results. As to this particular situation, I'm sure there are more facts that none of us know. On the surface, it might appear the big bad WRG is picking on a promoter but I don't know all the facts behind the scenes.

[W2Racing09]

Thanks for the insight DoD, good post.

Since you are reading this thread now I do have one suggestion (I don't know if I'm the only person who would appreciate this). Would it be possible to create like a Spoiler-Free place to sign in and watch the highlights from the previous night? I subscribed to NHL.tv this past hockey season and they had an option for this and it was great. I like to login on Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch all the highlights from the previous night but often the homepage has a picture of one or two of last nights winners, and if it does not I still have to scroll past the recap thumbnails that usually have a picture of the race winner. Its not a huge deal but was just thinking that might be cool or helpful.

Thanks,
Jeff.

[DirtonDirt]

Thanks for the insight DoD, good post.

Since you are reading this thread now I do have one suggestion (I don't know if I'm the only person who would appreciate this). Would it be possible to create like a Spoiler-Free place to sign in and watch the highlights from the previous night? I subscribed to NHL.tv this past hockey season and they had an option for this and it was great. I like to login on Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch all the highlights from the previous night but often the homepage has a picture of one or two of last nights winners, and if it does not I still have to scroll past the recap thumbnails that usually have a picture of the race winner. Its not a huge deal but was just thinking that might be cool or helpful.

Thanks,
Jeff.

Working on that. Honestly it never really occured to me that people might want that lol. I'm a news junkie and want the information now, and I'll watch highlights later.

Version 2 of website coming in next few months ... and we're attempting that.

[W2Racing09]

Working on that. Honestly it never really occured to me that people might want that lol. I'm a news junkie and want the information now, and I'll watch highlights later.

Version 2 of website coming in next few months ... and we're attempting that.

Sounds good - I look forward to it.

Thanks again for all that everyone at DoD does for DLM racing!

Jeff.

[BirkyTime15B]

Thanks DoD for responding. I've been a subscriber for a long time and will continue to be. You've brought real time coverage to a sport that, without you, still wouldn't exist. I disagree with some things said, but that's life. Move on to the next race, and lets see the green flag! Cheers.

[In The Gas]

Excellent reply Rigsby!
DoD rocks and is a website I enjoy everyday. Keep up the great work!

[a25rjr]

Well said Rigsby.....been a long time subscriber! I appreciate what your company has done for dlm racing.

Butttttt.......Any political news show can get many "experts" on a talk show to discuss politics. Even when they are on totally opposite sides of the fence. But yet, we cant get opposing views, on your live show? Not saying you haven't tried, but why want they?

[Hovlane]

I too really enjoy DOD, however I didn't exactly appreciate Michael jumping on the fans for sharing their opinions, as if all we do is cause trouble. I don't recall hearing him jump on Feger for his hot takes. For someone that "doesn't know everything", there seemed to be a lot of agreement with what Driggers did in this week's Fast talk piece. It seems like a case of "go along to get along". I like Michael, but I think what he said last night was just a tad uncalled for.

Well if DOD doesn't lean on the side of Driggers, the big heavy hand of WRG will beat them down and ban them from all their events and sanction tracks. That would be a major blow to DOD's access to the sport.... Just my opinion on what I think would happen...

[chupp n bloomer fan]

DoD

Thank you Rigsby and everyone at DoD. You guys do a helluva job.

[ptown]

Well if DOD doesn't lean on the side of Driggers, the big heavy hand of WRG will beat them down and ban them from all their events and sanction tracks. That would be a major blow to DOD's access to the sport.... Just my opinion on what I think would happen...

Good point.....

[ptown]

Hey Rigsby, I tried to quote your reply but you must have disabled that option.

Whats up with that?

[MUD MAESTRO]

Well if DOD doesn't lean on the side of Driggers, the big heavy hand of WRG will beat them down and ban them from all their events and sanction tracks. That would be a major blow to DOD's access to the sport.... Just my opinion on what I think would happen...

exactly......DOD better off to avoid the hard stuff. Let us do the ragging on the WRG's and MARS of the racing world.

[Illtsate32]

DoD right in the middle of UMP country also....