The Crown Jewels Question Again

[HoosierDirtFan]

TIER 1
World 100
Dirt Late Model Dream
Dirt Track World Championship

TIER 2
North/South 100
Prairie Dirt Classic
USA Nationals
Show-Me 100

TIER 3
Topless 100
Knoxville Late Model Nationals
Firecracker 100

TIER 4
Jackson 100
Hillbilly 100

TIER 5
Pittsburgher 100
Illini 100
National 100
Silver Dollar Nationals

If the Colossal 100 at Charlotte would still be around it could have high up on this list.

[Pennsboro32]

I wouldn’t put the hillbilly in the top 10 and yes I would still say that if the race was being held in West Virginia.

1.) It’s been canceled three of the last five years.

2.) it only pays $30k while others continue to grow and add purse.

3.) The drivers don’t seem to care about it and would rather have an off weekend before going to Eldora.

[ftfiowa]

World
Dream
Knoxville LM Nats
PDC
North South 100
Hillbilly 100
DTWC

other multi day shows arent crown jewels imo.

I dont think 1 day shows are Crown Jewels

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

I wouldn’t put the hillbilly in the top 10 and yes I would still say that if the race was being held in West Virginia.

1.) It’s been canceled three of the last five years.

2.) it only pays $30k while others continue to grow and add purse.

3.) The drivers don’t seem to care about it and would rather have an off weekend before going to Eldora.

Unfortunately, you are correct. I remember when it was easily top 5.

[lurker]

Personally, I think the words Crown Jewels in DLM racing are diluted and mostly overrated. But then again, I’m old and I remember when NDRA races were just big races and the words Crown Jewel were never mentioned.

[jog49]

"I've said for several years for any race to be considered a crown jewel, it's one that every driver wants to win,"

I've never met a true race car driver that didn't want to win them all so every event must be a crown jewel to some. However, a so-called crown jewel is just one race. The best driver in the world can have a great day or a lousy day, just like every other race in which he participates all year long. Crown jewels are mostly some crap in the fans' minds more so than the drivers' minds.

[Snake X3]

I appreciate everyone's input on the subject. I think that the lack of consensus on the subject says it all from a fan's perspective and the car counts at the other big races shows how prestigious they are to the teams/drivers. A week off is often perceived at being more valuable to them, while they will take a week off just to prepare for the big two at Eldora. Times have just changed. The national tours pay enough now that any single top heavy big purse for a race doesn't move the needle that much.

As long as the fans are still turning out in big enough numbers to keep the other races going, I don't think being labeled a crown jewel by the powers that be matters much, if at all.

[intel8]

Knoxville rapidly declining, gotta have a fresh big cube motor or don't even try, great facility, community, just no electricity in the air at the event anymore unless you look forward to the grilled cheese giveaway at the campground, lol....

[Moonran22]

TIER 1
World 100
Dirt Late Model Dream
Dirt Track World Championship

TIER 2
North/South 100
Prairie Dirt Classic
USA Nationals
Show-Me 100

TIER 3
Topless 100
Knoxville Late Model Nationals
Firecracker 100

TIER 4
Jackson 100
Hillbilly 100

TIER 5
Pittsburgher 100
Illini 100
National 100
Silver Dollar Nationals

If the Colossal 100 at Charlotte would still be around it could have high up on this list.

I think you’re pretty close but I’d move Florence, Cedar Lake, and Fairbury up and DTWC down.

[zyoung25]

I appreciate everyone's input on the subject. I think that the lack of consensus on the subject says it all from a fan's perspective and the car counts at the other big races shows how prestigious they are to the teams/drivers. A week off is often perceived at being more valuable to them, while they will take a week off just to prepare for the big two at Eldora. Times have just changed. The national tours pay enough now that any single top heavy big purse for a race doesn't move the needle that much.

The north south suffers the worst of any of them from this, and maybe the hillbilly also if you still consider it a "crown jewel." The n/s always falls on the weeked after the long Midwestern stretch for the outlaws. I can remember many years when Darrell was one of the top guys on the outlaw side, and Darrell would skip the n/s because of this. His shop is literally a 3min from the Florence race track.

Folks on here were completely dumbfounded he didn't go. Its pretty obvious why he didn't go in those times IMO.

[Snake X3]

The north south suffers the worst of any of them from this, and maybe the hillbilly also if you still consider it a "crown jewel." The n/s always falls on the weeked after the long Midwestern stretch for the outlaws. I can remember many years when Darrell was one of the top guys on the outlaw side, and Darrell would skip the n/s because of this. His shop is literally a 3min from the Florence race track.

Folks on here were completely dumbfounded he didn't go. Its pretty obvious why he didn't go in those times IMO.

I used to consider the Hillbilly a crown jewel, but not anymore. My vote doesn't count though. I'm not a driver or team owner. If the North/South can only pull 51 cars for 75k, I think that speaks volumes too.

[Henry Every]

Is there one that fits your list?

Probably not anymore, its part of why I don't go or help anyone anymore after 30+ years. After the fallout from 2015 my interest faded, but those are "MY" criteria for a "TRUE" Crown Jewel.

[MRM]

I used to consider the Hillbilly a crown jewel, but not anymore. My vote doesn't count though. I'm not a driver or team owner. If the North/South can only pull 51 cars for 75k, I think that speaks volumes too.

The North/South comes after a long stretch of races in late June through early August where WoO teams use that as an off weekend. I have wondered if that race was a week or two later on the schedule if it would do better.

[TowerView]

I used to consider the Hillbilly a crown jewel, but not anymore. My vote doesn't count though. I'm not a driver or team owner. If the North/South can only pull 51 cars for 75k, I think that speaks volumes too.

Did you not see the crowd for the North South? I believe it was a record

[MRM]

Did you not see the crowd for the North South? I believe it was a record

Too many fans on here are more worried about car counts than butts in the seats.