Does the Presence of NASCAR Drivers Help or Hurt Short Track Events?

[Returning to Dirt]

http://insidedirtracing.com/does-the-presence-of-nascar-drivers-help-or-hurt-short-track-events/

After Kyle Busch's Snowball Derby win, the question of whether or not NASCAR help races outside of NASCAR was raised.

[No_Weak_Links]

I could see how they could hurt pavement racing because they can show up and win and might discourage local drivers from competing....I think they are simply a fan draw on dirt. IMO There is not 1 cup driver you can put in a LM that would discourage drivers from showing up. It just speaks for the talent and how good top late model drivers are at their craft.

[Josh Bayko]

I think having NASCAR drivers show up from time to time probably helps short track racing overall. It tends to bump the number of people coming through the gate up, and let's be honest here, unless we're talking Kyle Larson, they're not consistently winning the events they do show up to.

[CIRF]

10 or 15 years ago NASCAR drivers were a significant draw, but in today's short track racing environment it's debatable whether NASCAR drivers are all that much of a benefit. Guys like Larson, Bell and Briscoe have already made their bones with short track racing fans and they stand on their own short track laurels. With that said it's safe to say NASCAR guys other than Larson, Bell or Briscoe probably aren't a detriment if they show up at a short track even though many short track fans look down their collective noses at anything related to NASCAR.

[DoubleZero]

While NASCAR drivers may help pavement / local events, dirt and pavement racing has diverged to such an extent that drivers without extensive dirt experience, will not be an on-track factor. Might affect the ticket booth, but a dirt crown-jewel event being won by a NASCAR driver would be very rare. Snowball Derby type story a'int too likely....unless Larson, Smoke, etc. are in the field.

[Krooser]

It helps the gate a bunch... no fans no racing.

Back in the 80's when I was in the business I worked with Earnhardt, two Allisons, Rudd, Waltrip, Ridley, Bonnett and others... they were a frequent prescense on the pavement, and sometimes, the dirt scene.

Some had their own program and sometimes we worked a deal to have them drive for a local team. Mark Martin drove my IMCA modified for me in 1986.

It cost around $5 to 7k to get a top driver back then plus whatever the car deal was...

[KAOS]

I say weekly progam they are a big draw.Now for a special use your money on somthing else. The local track where Im from raises the gate $5 for Schrader from $10 to $15 when he comes in, Im not sure I agree with that.

[jensenracing18]

the only ones I ever see complaining online are usually family, friends, fans or crew of drivers that typically wont even make the show to begin with.. sorry but if you have a competitive program it doesn't matter who is in the seat of the car next to you, go out and leave it on the track... "to be the man you gotta beat the man WOOOOO"

[Illtsate32]

I have no problem with them running...but no purse $ spread that through the field...no cherries for you, you are already rich...

[Mindwalker]

I have no problem with them running...but no purse $ spread that through the field...no cherries for you, you are already rich...

I agree... If they put it back into the sport where the little guy can benefit from it then thats different. Otherwise it hurts the sport.

[jensenracing18]

so what they should get a participation trophy?? they pay the same fee to enter a race have to prepare a car the same and are running the same race.. so someone with X amount + in a bank account shouldn't be paid what they won?? this is why everyone wants something for nothing... go out and earn the purse

[chathamracefan]

I think it is cool when they show up at places like the Chili Bowl or Knoxville. Big time events where the presence of a big name guy helps add to the buzz of the event. Maybe doesn't add to the gate since those are either totally sold out or close to sold out.

I was at Knoxville on Friday/Saturday this year & when the news broke on Friday that Larson was going to race on the Saturday night of the Nationals, it was a big deal. Also, it is neat to see a guy at his level run a race like Knoxville & be willing to put it all on the line to go for the win. And he was putting it on the line to come up just short of Schatz.

[Mindwalker]

so what they should get a participation trophy?? they pay the same fee to enter a race have to prepare a car the same and are running the same race.. so someone with X amount + in a bank account shouldn't be paid what they won?? this is why everyone wants something for nothing... go out and earn the purse

Yours is a valid point too. As we know though to many guys in LMs have fallen off due to the expense of this sport and its only going to get worse unfortunately. Something has to give right?

[CIRF]

How much guys like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. help any particular event with their participation is dependent upon what event we're talking about.

For example, this past Thanksgiving. Larson, Bell and Briscoe all were in action at Ventura, CA at the 77th annual Turkey Night Grand Prix. We have attended that event in the past and watched it live on PPV this past Thanksgiving and it's a cinch that just the fact they were announced to be there a few weeks ahead of time put a shine on that show that the midget regulars by themselves would not have been able to pull off. That takes nothing away from the TNGP, it's a big deal to most dirt fans no matter who shows up. The thing about Larson, Bell, Briscoe and Stenhouse Jr. is they live up to their hype, and they definitely did that night.

Events like The Chili Bowl and Knoxville Nationals have the hype built in despite the fact that Larson captured the interest of everyone with his participation this past year. Those types of events have the interest and excitement already in place regardless of who shows up. Not all events are that lucky.

[nc mudcat]

Kyle Busch did not help the crowd at the Snowball Derby. It is packed anyway, with the best short trackers that exist, in the asphalt world anyway. The drivers should like running against the best, but the guy that finished second probably disagrees.