Racing season too long?

[MRM]

Bobby Pierce posted something online over the weekend about the racing season being too long. Myself, I've been thinking for some time the sport is on the verge of burning out people on both sides: racers and fans. Here are Bobby's comments:

https://x.com/357WoD/status/1883362037163835491

This comes on the heels of car owner Shawn Martin posting something similar on Facebook, mainly complaining about January racing.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02AXELGU5LztccB4D4tkU25ntyBPmPPwXpSQUuST8db1sEMLQduyLhTMSWNwFojNdjl&id=100007061137847

I'd like to see what people think about this.

[chathamracefan]

It is WAY too long to be honest. As the quality of racing on the big tracks has gone down due to aero, the costs are thru the roof & the number of races has exploded. Absolutely no reason for Lucas or WoO to have sanctioned events until like mid February. Of course guys could just stay home if they chose to.

Sprint cars seem to have it pretty much right. Outlaws ended in early November & don't race until Speedweeks. High Limit did have the Australia races over the holidays but that was limited # of American drivers. Aussie racings in our winter has always been a thing. Then all the open wheel guys go to the Chili Bowl but thats a long running special event that everyone seems to enjoy. Then they get a month or so off before the season kicks off down south. Much better scheduling. The dome is basically the late model version of the Chili Bowl as an offseason special event.

Honestly nothing much in the late model world feels "exciting" or fresh any more since the season basically never ends.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

It would at least provide less of an excuse to not make rules enforcement changes if there was an off season.

[BTExpress]

It is WAY too long to be honest. As the quality of racing on the big tracks has gone down due to aero, the costs are thru the roof & the number of races has exploded. Absolutely no reason for Lucas or WoO to have sanctioned events until like mid February. Of course guys could just stay home if they chose to.

Sprint cars seem to have it pretty much right. Outlaws ended in early November & don't race until Speedweeks. High Limit did have the Australia races over the holidays but that was limited # of American drivers. Aussie racings in our winter has always been a thing. Then all the open wheel guys go to the Chili Bowl but thats a long running special event that everyone seems to enjoy. Then they get a month or so off before the season kicks off down south. Much better scheduling. The dome is basically the late model version of the Chili Bowl as an offseason special event.

Honestly nothing much in the late model world feels "exciting" or fresh any more since the season basically never ends.

100% agree with everything you said, especially the sprint car part. Give the teams and FANS the months of December & January off, with the with exception of The Gateway Nationals to recharge their batteries and wallets. Come back in the middle of Febraury and both will be recharged for the new season.

[kidrock]

It would at least provide less of an excuse to not make rules enforcement changes if there was an off season.

Good point.....

[weatherman85]

Totally agree that it is WAY too long. Absence makes the heart grow fonder as they say. Need a true break to recharge/reset everything. I think the "National" scene needs to end with the World Finals at the start of November. I'm okay with the Dome race being a one off. This would give drivers/fans 3 months off at least. I would actually prefer a 4 month break but that's me.

[reid boys]

It seems like 90% of the races in march are canceled due to cold or rainy weather anyways. Might as well push speedweeks until March then just flow right into regular racing. I thought this was the perfect year to push back speedweeks. Instead they moved it forward, that was a terrible idea.

[FlatTire]

I enjoy being able to sit in my living room and watch all of these streamed raced from November thru the end of February. But I totally get it for these race teams, I agree they need more of an off season. However, I think to remedy that one needs to pick and choose what makes sense. No one requires you to be at all of the races.

And if the weather isnt good, its no fun for the fans nor the racers in attendance. Its a big risk for both parties. Promoters as well.

[Josh Bayko]

The dome, WWSO, and Lucas and WoO attempting to poach sports car racing fans have made it so there is no real offseason anymore. That needs to change.

[kidrock]

It seems like 90% of the races in march are canceled due to cold or rainy weather anyways. Might as well push speedweeks until March then just flow right into regular racing. I thought this was the perfect year to push back speedweeks. Instead they moved it forward, that was a terrible idea.

Sounds logical to me.

[Pennsboro32]

The reason there’s so much excitement for football to start is because you go without it for 6 months.

There’s entirely too much racing. We need a reset. Take two months.

[BTExpress]

I live near Central Pa. A lot of people think the sprint car season is too long in my area. But the last 410 sprint car race of the year is at BAPS in the middle of November. After a 3 month break, the first race of the new season is toward the end of February at Lincoln. If the weather is decent, the grandstands are packed because the fans have had a break, saved up their pennies and are recharged. The teams are rested and are eager to go again as well. Maybe food for thought for the DLM's?

[cgrace]

I actually enjoy the late models all year and watching them on Flo in Jan. My take is leave the Dome in December, the races out West - which are totally optional - for any team and maybe start Speedweeks the end of Feb.

Personally, I think there is an issue with the Summernationals starting the Wed after the Dream. It is hard on fans too. As a fan, I'd like to have a full week between the two. Currently, teams are getting home Sunday and leaving again Tues or Wed for the Summernationals. But like you said it is everyone's choice to go or not to go. I live in Illinois and am ready to go racing the end of March if we can. It is completely hit and miss with the weather here the end of March and early April.

[Finnfan25]

Practically every sport has an off season, even NASCAR. It's asking too much of race teams to start having sanctioned series races in January, and even February IMO. The Dome and the New Mexico races out west, etc... are fine if race teams have the ability to pick and choose without worrying about points.The financial aspect of this is a burden most teams can't afford and will only further the haves from the have-nots. An off season serves to give race teams a few much needed weeks off, then get everything reset, refreshed and recharged for the new season. Burn out is inevitable at the current pace, for race teams and fans.

[84wedge]

Rockets first year with LOLM T Mac spent the majority of the season chasing Shep when Shep would have ended up thrid or fourth without all those points. Florida is so pointless since they race, then sit around and wait until they can race everywhere else and most of the tracks are still cornfields from winter.