CLake...A Farmed Track is a better track?

[TUTY]

All tracks do it different and all tracks have there reasons. All are good that are still drawing the fans and cars. Car counts are down everywhere but the fan count was very good at I80 and Cedar Lake.

[a25rjr]

If your track prep is that inadequate that you have to completely tear it up on Saturday night just to make the feature good. Then maybe you should really re think things. If you are doing it to sell hotdogs and beers. Then you REALLY need to re think things. Either way, it's unacceptable.

Maybe that's why only 42 cars showed up. I don't even bother with the ppv because I'm not paying money to watch tractors and water trucks circle the track for an hour plus. On top of firework display.... yes we must do that to waste more time.

Agree.....it took too many laps for the track to slicken off. They should have left it alone and the racing would have been much better.

I rented the ppv both nights, and they drug out the show, WAY too long!

[ptown]

I rented the ppv both nights, and they drug out the show, WAY too long!

Yup same way last two years I've went too many sideshows, one reason why I won't be returning.

[Clayton_Wetter]

Cedar Lake, Has the reputation to provide the best racing surface possible. They do that by farming the track several times during USA Nationals. But when is track prep to much? Listening to a few drivers ( Madden, Bloomquist, Simpson)....they believed reworking the surface prior to the main event hindered the set up on their cars and reduced chances of a good run.....Are the drivers right or do the fans want the fast and furious pace of the first 50 laps of the USA nationals.

Those drivers are all wrong. The ones that can get the best power to the ground on slick tracks are trying to gain an unfair advantage. And they sure can come up with a lot of reasons to defend their stance. The fans need to start speaking up for better track conditions and not let those prima donnas spoil the sport like they do.

Cedar Lake makes a real race track!!!

[Clayton_Wetter]

They knew it was coming. They stood there and watched. Had plenty of time to make adjustments. Late model drivers are becoming to whiny. What happen to the days of just wanting to race.

The big dogs don't like it too well when they have to actually get out there and have to race all out. It takes their advantage over the locals and teams of lesser knowledge, technology, and money for those special shocks and setups, away.

No driver even Bloomquist should be able to dictate the track conditions to their personal favor.

[drich24]

Fireworks are cheap now-a-days and not much extra would have been added to the purse. I am not a big fan of fireworks and am there to see racing, but tracks are trying to make these big races an event and appeal to others beside us hard core DLM fans.

Husker, we had this same discussion after last year's USA Nats. The clay is totally different than the clay at Knoxville and I80. They can't just leave it alone all night, it will rubber up! I don't like the big delay either, but I believe it is a necessary evil at CLS.

Funny how all the whiners didn't listen to what BShepp said prior to the feature and only listen to a few whiners like Bloomquist. BShepp said that in order to have the track racy throughout they needed to work the track like they did. He was right, it provided for a feature full of side-by-side racing even through lapped traffic. There was so much going on throughout the field for 100 laps it was hard to decide what to watch.

As far as Bloomquist, funny how he is going to talk to the CLS owners about prepping the track the way he likes it. Of course he wants it drier so he can run through the middle...that is when he excels, when others can't run through the middle like he can! If all tracks just prepped it his way, he would win even more.

To CLS, keep doing it your way! The racing has been good for the vast majority of the 30 years of the USA Nats. To the complainers, stay home or stop complaining and enjoy the racing.

[Cast-Iron-Junkie]

Outstanding post.

Nicely done!

[Zonks32x]

If your track prep is that inadequate that you have to completely tear it up on Saturday night just to make the feature good. Then maybe you should really re think things. If you are doing it to sell hotdogs and beers. Then you REALLY need to re think things. Either way, it's unacceptable. Maybe that's why only 42 cars showed up. I don't even bother with the ppv because I'm not paying money to watch tractors and water trucks circle the track for an hour plus. On top of firework display.... yes we must do that to waste more time.

So...YOU weren't there in person, and DIDN'T watch the race (your own admission), but YOU know exactly what the track needs to do, what they should've done and that their track prep is inadequate.

Track prep is not the reason why there were only 42 cars in attendance. If so, Bloomer, Owens, Moyer, Pierce, Feger, etc. wouldn't come back year after year.

The car count is what it is b/c CL is a hall, even for race teams in IL, IA, and SE WI. A handful of IA drivers that normally attend, did not this year. I'm sure the CBC races scheduled for this week were a major reason for that.

As an I-80 supporter, you can certainly relate to living near a quality track that is a hike for most everyone else. Every year some teams don't attend the SDN b/c of the distance and that's too bad. By all accounts the SDN is a hell of a show, but I don't hear you or anyone else in Nebraska dwelling on who wasn't there. Same thing at CL.

Smaller car counts have more to do with the ridiculous cost to race a SLM, let alone the fact that every team just has to lug a toter home & stacker trailer across the country at 4 mpg.

Car counts are down across the country for Lucas and WoO shows as well as the summer nats. Even Eldora has felt the sting.

40-50 is the "new" 70 and 65-75 is the "new" 100.

[huskerdirt]

So...YOU weren't there in person, and DIDN'T watch the race (your own admission), but YOU know exactly what the track needs to do, what they should've done and that their track prep is inadequate.

Track prep is not the reason why there were only 42 cars in attendance. If so, Bloomer, Owens, Moyer, Pierce, Feger, etc. wouldn't come back year after year.

The car count is what it is b/c CL is a hall, even for race teams in IL, IA, and SE WI. A handful of IA drivers that normally attend, did not this year. I'm sure the CBC races scheduled for this week were a major reason for that.

As an I-80 supporter, you can certainly relate to living near a quality track that is a hike for most everyone else. Every year some teams don't attend the SDN b/c of the distance and that's too bad. By all accounts the SDN is a hell of a show, but I don't hear you or anyone else in Nebraska dwelling on who wasn't there. Same thing at CL.

Smaller car counts have more to do with the ridiculous cost to race a SLM, let alone the fact that every team just has to lug a toter home & stacker trailer across the country at 4 mpg.

Car counts are down across the country for Lucas and WoO shows as well as the summer nats. Even Eldora has felt the sting.

40-50 is the "new" 70 and 65-75 is the "new" 100.

My point is, it's the same side show every year. It doesn't matter what condition the track is in. They are gonna dig it up and farm the sh!t out of it on Saturday.

I've been to cedar lake in 2012. Been watching it every year before and after, except this year. Last year they spent a good 35-45 prepping before the NASCAR feature. Then after that feature, another hour getting it ready for the 100 lapper. That was last straw for me.

Either your track prep is that bad, or you are trying to sell more hotdogs and beer.

Having "great" track prep is not having to go out there multiple times or even once a night to do extensive prep. I hope Cedar Lake isn't mentioned among those anymore.

[Highside Hustler25]

Funny how all the whiners didn't listen to what BShepp said prior to the feature and only listen to a few whiners like Bloomquist. BShepp said that in order to have the track racy throughout they needed to work the track like they did. He was right, it provided for a feature full of side-by-side racing even through lapped traffic. There was so much going on throughout the field for 100 laps it was hard to decide what to watch.

As far as Bloomquist, funny how he is going to talk to the CLS owners about prepping the track the way he likes it. Of course he wants it drier so he can run through the middle...that is when he excels, when others can't run through the middle like he can! If all tracks just prepped it his way, he would win even more.

Great post.
That was my exact take when I read Scott's comments. I'm sure the CL folks took notes when Scott was talkin.
From the video, it looked like a dang good race. Best of both Worlds. Hammer down and slicked off.

As far as the car count, I'd say it has more to do with location then anything.

[Minny Lakes]

I'm all for a track farming the surface before a long late model feature. If they start out a tad dry slick, they seem to rubber up for the last 20 laps or so. I'll gladly take the first 20 laps being hammer down single file with perfect conditions at the finish over good conditions early with train racing in rubber at the end.

[blncfn57]

So...YOU weren't there in person, and DIDN'T watch the race (your own admission), but YOU know exactly what the track needs to do, what they should've done and that their track prep is inadequate.

Track prep is not the reason why there were only 42 cars in attendance. If so, Bloomer, Owens, Moyer, Pierce, Feger, etc. wouldn't come back year after year.

The car count is what it is b/c CL is a hall, even for race teams in IL, IA, and SE WI. A handful of IA drivers that normally attend, did not this year. I'm sure the CBC races scheduled for this week were a major reason for that.

As an I-80 supporter, you can certainly relate to living near a quality track that is a hike for most everyone else. Every year some teams don't attend the SDN b/c of the distance and that's too bad. By all accounts the SDN is a hell of a show, but I don't hear you or anyone else in Nebraska dwelling on who wasn't there. Same thing at CL.

Smaller car counts have more to do with the ridiculous cost to race a SLM, let alone the fact that every team just has to lug a toter home & stacker trailer across the country at 4 mpg.

Car counts are down across the country for Lucas and WoO shows as well as the summer nats. Even Eldora has felt the sting.

40-50 is the "new" 70 and 65-75 is the "new" 100.

Both sides have good points on this topic IMO Some people are ok with the downtime in exchange for what they think produced better racing, but there's really no way to know what the race would have been like if the track was left alone. Some people don't care for the sideshow and are there only to watch cars race.
Personally, I am ok with a little track maintenance being done when it's needed, but to feel like I was held captive for 5 hours to see about 3 hours of racing was a bit much. It wasn't just the track prep, there was alot of down time throughout the whole event, from start to finish.

[Tireguy17]

They got the pre-feature track prep just right this year. In previous years, it's built a monster cushion, gotten rough, with more than half the field pulling off or suffering a part/engine failure. This year there was a cushion, but they were able to pass on the low side if their setup allowed it. The 4 car battle for the lead in the middle stages of the race was worth the ticket. Less cautions, more cars went the distance, lots of fans and campers in attendance, I'd say the event is doing fine. I dont like the delays either, but we all know they will take the time they need for track prep. Now.....the car count does need some work to improve. If it wasn't for the Fans Fund the event could be in the 30's. We all know its a haul to get up to the track, and I think the busy Lucas schedule is having some affect on getting some of those guys to give up an off weekend to come to CLS.

[blncfn57]

I'm all for a track farming the surface before a long late model feature. If they start out a tad dry slick, they seem to rubber up for the last 20 laps or so. I'll gladly take the first 20 laps being hammer down single file with perfect conditions at the finish over good conditions early with train racing in rubber at the end.

From my experience, rubber on the track provides traction. It becomes an issue when there's only one lane of it so everyone has to be nose to tail in one lane. Eldora back in the day, for example, would take rubber from top to bottom throughout the night and they would race all over it in the main.
I'm not a Bloomer fan at all, but I understand what Scott was trying to say. There's a good chance that if the track was left alone it would have gotten better for racing as the race went on. Imagine if you flopped the first 40 laps and the last 40 laps of that race. It might have been a good race up front towards the end instead of at the beginning. Before I get ripped apart, I said "a good chance" and "might". There's really no way to know for sure.

[BirkyTime15B]

Well this was the first and last time I'll buy that PPV. I fell asleep waiting for the dang thing to start. PPV production was great, but the fireworks, driver intros, and track prep made my decision about NOT ordering next year. Put the (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) cars on the track and lets race. Must've made a killing at concession stand. Just my opinion, racing should be concluded by 11:00pm local time, excluding when mother nature is involved.