Low car count should we be concerned this early in the season

[tsand]

Decent 13 degree super engines bring $10k on the used market. You do the math. Nobody wants them. Why? Supers are dead.

the problem is all the series listen to the big money teams nobody listens to the little guys. When the ct525 first came out they were giving a few breaks and when they started kicking ass the high buck teams cried until they were pretty much became uncompetitive. The big teams would rather spend 40 grand for a wide bore than 15 grand for a 525

[golddirt]

Well if kids don't see supers at home track then they will have no desire to go to big late model races, get the drift?! No one is serious about cutting costs. And to tell you the truth I'm getting tired of it too. The street stocks are equivalent to what lates used to be.

[Illtsate32]

The problem with any form of racing is that you can't put the innovation genie back in the bottle. People will never stop innovating in their pursuit of that extra hundredth of a second, and those with the deepest pockets see no problem with how much money it costs. It's part of the reason NASCAR is in the shape it's in.

Sums it up good Shiny..stuff you dont need bump sticks, bump stops, bump stocks, lol bump this bump that added expenses to get more power to ground in turn spend even more money for high power motor...billion dollar shocks is another story all its own but this alone is hurting the supers car count...

[Illtsate32]

Makes for a coil binding aero sensitive a*s up nose down grossly expensive cat tat got kicked in the butt...

[lazyifoto]

Shocks and engines are killing this sport.....

[kd1]

To many late model classes. And to many late model series.

^^ What he said ^^ .. last year I had "Google" on my phone while at the track to explain to a friend the difference in all the "late model" classes (i.e. 602,604,525 ..etc) .. now all the series out there popping up further diluting the car counts .. now that's another story for another day.

[CarolinaDirt]

Is this not the same track that had that big $20,000 to win unsanctioned late model race there 5-6 years ago. They hyped it on here big time and didn't even get a full field if I recall. Maybe that track has something to do with the low car count too.

I agree though SLM car counts regionally are down everywhere .

[EvelB7]

The true problem is no way to win without the 'high dollar car'. Years ago, cars were not as hooked up and a person could at least 'feel' competitive with a decent car and engine; chassis setup and driver meant more. Cars are so different now that you have to have a new piece with the best shocks, etc. to even remotely have a chance to run up front. You used to have to lift the throttle to turn, the guy who could be in the throttle with the least off time won; now everyone is wide open all the time, aero allows little passing, too much about car. Other piece for the clash is the format, tried for years to get them to look at some form of invert-they prefer the train race which in today's racing makes the average guy realize he has no chance.

[Barbecueboy]

Is this not the same track that had that big $20,000 to win unsanctioned late model race there 5-6 years ago. They hyped it on here big time and didn't even get a full field if I recall. Maybe that track has something to do with the low car count too.

I agree though SLM car counts regionally are down everywhere .

Called a guy wrong on tires , announced the winner a week later, and turns out the guy they called wrong on tires , wasn't?

Is that the 20k race at Lancaster you are talking about?

[nc mudcat]

Too many late model classes indeed. At Volunteer last weekend, they had 3 classes of late models. Limited LM pole speed was 13.48, Crate LM pole was 13.52, Sportsman pole was 13.80. 4/100 of a second difference between pole in top 2 classes, and 3/10 of a second difference over 3 classes that all look alike to the average fan in the stands. They had 10, 16 and 19 cars respectively, enough cars for each class, but imagine if you combined just 2 classes for 26 cars, combine the purse from both, and then have a sportsman race with 19 cars. Seems like a win to me.

[Kwd1253]

Big money teams killing it, low payouts, hell it's hard for me get people/companies sponsor small local/regional teams. When I used to just make couple phone calls make it happen for teams. The day of wkend local warriors just see if they can make the field or pull off upset against the top national/regional guys is almost done with.

[grt74]

Too many late model classes indeed. At Volunteer last weekend, they had 3 classes of late models. Limited LM pole speed was 13.48, Crate LM pole was 13.52, Sportsman pole was 13.80. 4/100 of a second difference between pole in top 2 classes, and 3/10 of a second difference over 3 classes that all look alike to the average fan in the stands. They had 10, 16 and 19 cars respectively, enough cars for each class, but imagine if you combined just 2 classes for 26 cars, combine the purse from both, and then have a sportsman race with 19 cars. Seems like a win to me.

and ill bet the top 2-3 in each class would run supers if they were all they had, the rest could move down in class and there is nothing wrong with that, its still racing
then you could have 1500-2000 to win weekly supers, I've been preaching for years on this

[zach51]

I can't figure out how sprint car racing is so healthy. They get tons of cars and run for very, very low money. I suppose the wear and tear (unless you crash) is a lot lower than late models. In a sprint car, if you trash a frame you can get a bare frame for what $3000 or so and build it in the parking lot of a walmart in 3 hours.

[CarolinaDirt]

Called a guy wrong on tires , announced the winner a week later, and turns out the guy they called wrong on tires , wasn't?

Is that the 20k race at Lancaster you are talking about?

No your thinking of Fayetville and I believe that was the Willie Milliken deal.

JD won the 20k Crown race at Lancaster in the Barry Wright car back when AES was a sponsor. They only had 15 cars there JD and Bowyer's 2 cars being the only notables I remember. It was promoted heavily on 4m all winter that year nearly daily as being one of the biggest paying races in the south and no one showed up.

[Josh Bayko]

I can't figure out how sprint car racing is so healthy. They get tons of cars and run for very, very low money. I suppose the wear and tear (unless you crash) is a lot lower than late models. In a sprint car, if you trash a frame you can get a bare frame for what $3000 or so and build it in the parking lot of a walmart in 3 hours.

Sprint cars run for low, low money?

Lol no.