Criteria for Crown Jewels?

[Late_Model_Mark]

In some recent conversations with some DLM fans and one in particular, what is "your" criteria for a DLM event to be a Crown Jewel? In talking to one long time fan who is a "expert" and a "authority" on DLM racing, opined his views on this subject. The famous "Coca Cola" man said it was a combo of $$ and track. Even going to say that the 1-day Hillbilly 100 is no longer a crown jewel, I was kinda surprised.

So what is it?

A. Longevity?
B. Track and location?
C. Winners purse?
D. Car Count?
E. Sanction?
F. Or ???

Thanks in advance for all viewpoints.


Late Model Mark
TST Announcer

[Rocky]

Is it the World 100? Yes = 👑 💎 no = not a crown jewel. Plenty of big races, maybe better races, but there’s only one. That’s my opinion and you know what they say about those.

[WisWildManFan]

When Scott Bloomquist is racing

[t4g2]

the track format and fans. A promoter can't call it a crown jewel even when they raise the winners check. Just because it pays 50k doesn't make it a crown jewel. the drivers and fans decide when it's a crown jewel. Def the world is hard to top.

[jr29]

The World 100 is the only one at this point.

[4Barrel]

I've always been told the World 100, Dream 100, North South 100, and Dirt Track World Championship are the 4 crown jewels.

[Barbecueboy]

The World .....The end.

[Rocky]

There’s lots of races that I would love to go to that aren’t the World 100, the Prairie Dirt Classic, The North South, DTWC, The Show me,The World Finals, The Hillbilly, Maybe Knoxville, (rather go for the 410 Nationals) went to the Firecracker one year, the Dream another. If something is your local track’s showcase event, it can be your own crown jewel and certainly a point of local pride no doubt might even be a $5000 to win regional show. I love ‘em all. I just defer to the Granddaddy anymore.

[1forthe$]

One thing that sticks out to me is this.. would winning that race make your resume?
Like when they announce Moyer, they always preficit it with 'the 6x World 100 Winner'.. Mr. Smooth Billy Moyer..

They only race that I can remember anyone consistently doing that about is the World 100.

But if there were other Crown Jewels to make an official list.. I would hope it to be no more than 5 total. If you just keep adding races it takes away from the others that are a lock.
1.World 100
2.Dream
3.Knoxville
4.North/South
5. Show-Me

On top of that, wouldn't it be kinda cool if someone made it official and made crowns for the winners and you got a jewel to add to your crown everytime you won? Each jewel be specific to its event. (like a globe looking jewel for the World..) Even make them and distribute them to the past winners. Maybe kinda cheesy.. but it be cool as a driver to have it sit in your trophy room or whatever as a talking piece.

[RiffRaf67]

Not this again. We've had this discussion and there are 3: World, Dream and DTWC.
That is unless you listen to the lucas guys, then every event they have that pays more than 5K is a crown jewel and the lucas crown must have at least 20 of them by this point...
Wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard Essex say "crown jewel"

[waaac77]

Yepo here we go again!

There's only one and it's the World. Especially since the meaning of the word or phrase is the one major event. Plus crown jewel is singular. That should tell you all you need to know.

I would say there are 10 races that all drivers/teams would really like to win more than any other race every signle year.

Show-Me
Dream
Silver Dollar
PDC
USA Nationals
North/South
Hillbilly
World
Knoxville
DTWC

These are the big 10. Everyone wants to be in victory lane at one of these races because it will solidify their career and put their names on a list with the greats. These 10 are all big races but everyone knows that if any driver could pick one race to win it would be the World 100 and that's what they all seem to say.

I am curious to hear what the drivers would say about this question. We've gone over this so many times and seen claims of a crown jewel everywhere and from everyone. Fans are a huge part, or maybe the part, of why racing exists just like any sport but this really doesn't seem like a question for the fans anymore. I think we need to hear from the drivers on this matter. We're all just speculating what we think the drivers think.

[Rocky]

I don’t blame anybody for wanting a crown jewel or to say their race is. Laying a quarter million bucks on the line and having faith that the weather is good, that’s something right there. Lol

[Bloomerdirtking]

IMO~~World 100, DTWC, North/South 100, Topless 100, Show-Me 100, The Dream, USA Nationals

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

IMO~~World 100, DTWC, North/South 100, Topless 100, Show-Me 100, The Dream, USA Nationals

Isn't the show me basically a regular Lucas show now?

[Bloomerdirtking]

It could be called that i guess since it has been moved to Forrest’s place now.