LUCAS Drivers did NOT want to run at Tyler County?

[latemodelman]

I will say on Thursday. This is the way I wish it would be at Eldora for World 100 week. Sunday Baltes Classic. $10,000 to win $1,000 to start and then Thursday tech inspection all day and hotlaps that are optional from 6p.m. to 9p.m. Friday start with split group features then Saturday heats set by Friday qualifying times. Also Provisionals based on highest finishing group A non qualifier and highest finishing group b non qualifier from features.

[Tyy7777]

IMHO, Eldora has too many big DLM shows now, eventually like Bruton Smith learned with copying something special, you lose value with each successive copy. In much the same way if they keep adding races to Eldora it loses its mystique and what makes it special... Lucas and WoO, just like Nascrap, have so taken over the calendar that the once independent major/regional events die. I would like to see both series go away in favor of something like "Big Johnson" was back in the day and let the teams roam around at hit the events they want to instead of chaining them to a traveling circus. Welcome to the next level that was promised and sought way back when... Its sad to watch.

I agree 100%.

[Spanky44]

So I was texting back and forth with a lucas driver sunday. He stated he was pissed lucas oil made them hang in that area all weekend when they should have called the hillbilly early that morning. He stated he did not want to unload in all that mudd (he loved to race at tyler) but not in those conditions. I got to the track after 12pm. No lucas oil rigs or any driver was there until about 1230 when hudson o neal and the kid from florida 17 pulled in along with flo racing when they cancelled. So yes, the drivers did refuse to race and Rick schwallie needs to step down if your going to let the inmates run the jail.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

So I was texting back and forth with a lucas driver sunday. He stated he was pissed lucas oil made them hang in that area all weekend when they should have called the hillbilly early that morning. He stated he did not want to unload in all that mudd (he loved to race at tyler) but not in those conditions. I got to the track after 12pm. No lucas oil rigs or any driver was there until about 1230 when hudson o neal and the kid from florida 17 pulled in along with flo racing when they cancelled. So yes, the drivers did refuse to race and Rick schwallie needs to step down if your going to let the inmates run the jail.

They've done it 3 times in the last 5 years. The photographer has always let the inmates run the asylum.

[KTMLew]

I will say on Thursday. This is the way I wish it would be at Eldora for World 100 week. Sunday Baltes Classic. $10,000 to win $1,000 to start and then Thursday tech inspection all day and hotlaps that are optional from 6p.m. to 9p.m. Friday start with split group features then Saturday heats set by Friday qualifying times. Also Provisionals based on highest finishing group A non qualifier and highest finishing group b non qualifier from features.

And Harry Gant always gets provisional. Of course. Maybe even add Jeff Goran at last minute.

[KTMLew]

this. They’ve single handily killed super racing in this area. We’re going to be left with nothing.

Race 10 times each at WVMS & Pennsboro. Both been roaring success last 20+ years. Hate Interstate is long gone. My fav WV track.

[Pennsboro32]

Race 10 times each at WVMS & Pennsboro. Both been roaring success last 20+ years. Hate Interstate is long gone. My fav WV track.

it’s funny when the series and drivers say the fans matter.

Lucas put the final nail in the coffin at WVMS. say what you want about the track being too big and racing being bad, I would agree. But the place always packed the hillside and the car counts for those Historic races weren’t terrible considering everything. Had they not taken a terrible hit on that event in June 2023, they’d likely still race a time or two a year.

Ohio Valley, Elkins, and Beckley are all likely too small to hold any huge events.

Pennsboro, don’t even get me started.

Tyler County, The Watsons took a hit this past weekend and are left with the blame. The man hours they put in to make this event happen won’t go unnoticed with me. New promoters next season so the Hillbilly is likely gone.

I-77 closed.

I too wish I-79 was still a place.

[Buford.Justice]

To be honest what has hurt is these big races being Sanctioned by Lucas or WOO.

Yes, they have steered the biggest events to Eldora and now Lucas Woo and Eldora have a monopoly, because the facility there will draw and handle the biggest crowds by far. I just wonder what Earl would have done about taking in all these big events? I just can't see him doing it.

The big teams now have more track knowledge at Eldora and don't have to figure out a track like Tyler for just one weekend. Just a logical opinion.

[Drop Shock]

WVMS was a failed mission from the start. You can’t prep the track at a million dollar plus facility with a $5000 water truck and a $10,000 grader. They were on borrowed time

[chathamracefan]

To be honest what has hurt is these big races being Sanctioned by Lucas or WOO.

This is correct. Now all the big races except the Dream & World have multiple series provisionals. Part of the "big race" atmosphere is there were so many cars that would show up & everyone started the show on equal footing. Some big boys would go home. There are precious few that still have that. Dream, World, Knoxville sprint car nationals, Chili Bow & Kings Royal. All the other "big" shows are sanctioned now & with that comes the provisionals & sometimes preferential treatment for series regulars.

[MRM]

I miss the big Labor Day weekend shows. Near me, we had the big HAT/UDTRA weekend at Atomic. When Carson Branum sold Atomic to Jim Varnell, he kept it going with the World of Outlaws in '04. He sold the track after that and the new owner didn't want to do anything like that. So that ended. We don't have much of anything go on in or around East Tennessee anymore. But other track owners have told me it's hard to get cars for Labor Day weekend races because everything is gearing up for Eldora. I realize Eldora has all the prestige but they're swallowing up too much of the schedule.

[Scott1fan]

it’s funny when the series and drivers say the fans matter.

Lucas put the final nail in the coffin at WVMS. say what you want about the track being too big and racing being bad, I would agree. But the place always packed the hillside and the car counts for those Historic races weren’t terrible considering everything. Had they not taken a terrible hit on that event in June 2023, they’d likely still race a time or two a year.

Ohio Valley, Elkins, and Beckley are all likely too small to hold any huge events.

Pennsboro, don’t even get me started.

Tyler County, The Watsons took a hit this past weekend and are left with the blame. The man hours they put in to make this event happen won’t go unnoticed with me. New promoters next season so the Hillbilly is likely gone.

I-77 closed.

I too wish I-79 was still a place.

Penn, have you heard anything about who may take over at Tyler?

[Jim11h]

Yea curious myself of new promoters next season at tyler county and why? Did current one say this the last season then retiring? Friday night the dirt wasn't bad but track was rough with soft spots. The rain that unleashed Saturday early afternoon was a soaker and when we left we hit flooded roads and another gusher by I-77 so I'm guessing that hit track as well. Seen few pics of pits and it could been graded to park people and I think enough running track in could resulted in a show but primadonna racers want SMOOTH & SLICK plus they all hate the real tracks that made dirt racing great......the bullrings

[Pennsboro32]

Penn, have you heard anything about who may take over at Tyler?

Yes. PM me.

[Pennsboro32]

Yea curious myself of new promoters next season at tyler county and why? Did current one say this the last season then retiring? Friday night the dirt wasn't bad but track was rough with soft spots. The rain that unleashed Saturday early afternoon was a soaker and when we left we hit flooded roads and another gusher by I-77 so I'm guessing that hit track as well. Seen few pics of pits and it could been graded to park people and I think enough running track in could resulted in a show but primadonna racers want SMOOTH & SLICK plus they all hate the real tracks that made dirt racing great......the bullrings

Hometown Racing have been the promoters for 13 years. They’ve done the best job by far at that place. I can’t speak for them but I imagine they’ve had enough and who could blame them? That’s a lot of summer weekends taken away from doing family things. This past weekend just puts the stamp on it. They’ve been great for racing, but racing hasn’t been so great to them.

As someone in the HT group said to me. “I’m afraid the good Ol days of racing are over.”