track closures

[WisWildManFan]

Peoria, Tri City, Spoon canceling a race due to low car count. How are tracks going to survive without weekly racing?

[chathamracefan]

Tri City hasn't actually raced yet this year. Kevin & Tammy had a great track for a long time. It seemed the last few years their heart just wasn't in it any more. Glad they finally pulled the trigger & put it on the market.

One bit of good news, Belleville IL is going to reopen in early August with a brand new track.

Weekly racing is a tough nut to crack these days. Tracks can't afford to pay the purse to run supers weekly. And fans don't come in the front gate unless supers or sprints are on the card. The lack of sensible rules enforcement at the top levels (Lucas, WoO/Dirtcar) has rendered the weekly super late model scene pretty much non existent outside a precious few places.

[riddle28]

flo tells me racing is in great shape every time i watch a lucas race

[Morgs153]

"The lack of sensible rules enforcement at the top levels (Lucas, WoO/Dirtcar) has rendered the weekly super late model scene pretty much non existent outside a precious few places."

What that guy said.

[3 wide]

Peoria, Tri City, Spoon canceling a race due to low car count. How are tracks going to survive without weekly racing?

I live in a dead zone closed race tracks winchester mountain view atomic crossville sparta I have 2 race tracks within an hour of my house they run 9 to 12 classes every week everything else is 3 hours or more away I ve gone to races all my life not any more

[MRM]

flo tells me racing is in great shape every time i watch a lucas race

There are always good crowds at most races they go to. That's all they see. Maybe they should go to other races, not in Illinois and Iowa, and see where things are dwindling.

[chathamracefan]

There are always good crowds at most races they go to. That's all they see. Maybe they should go to other races, not in Illinois and Iowa, and see where things are dwindling.

Don't disagree but even in IL some of the tracks are hanging on by a thread. As mentioned Peoria is closing, Tri City is for sale & hasn't run this year. Spoon cancelled due to low car count one night.

The tracks in central IL I'd confidently say are healthy are Fairbury, Jacksonville & Highland. I think Brownstown does well but that is sort of getting into southern IL. Farmer City is probably ok as they get huge crowds for the WoO weekend & summer nationals. I don't think they get much for cars or fans on the weekly shows though. And I think Macon is really struggling. Haven't been there this year yet but just looking at car counts leads one to guess things aren't going real well.

[reid boys]

Peoria is the one that surprise me. They really didn't have terrible car counts and I feel like they have good attendance. I have been to few weekly shows last year, none this year. I feel like the owner is done with the racing things.

The thing that concerns me is that the mods and street stock numbers seem to be getting lower as well.

I just saw an social media post about Grundy county speedway on the ashphalt side. They were all complaining about the local car counts as well. Im afraid this is a industry wide problem.

[MRM]

Peoria is the one that surprise me. They really didn't have terrible car counts and I feel like they have good attendance. I have been to few weekly shows last year, none this year. I feel like the owner is done with the racing things.

The thing that concerns me is that the mods and street stock numbers seem to be getting lower as well.

I just saw an social media post about Grundy county speedway on the ashphalt side. They were all complaining about the local car counts as well. Im afraid this is a industry wide problem.

It is. Between the prices of anything related to racing going higher and higher, the weekend guy that used to make enough money to race can't afford to do so now. Even some guys (drivers and owners) with a lot of money are getting out because they don't want to play the arms race with $60k motors, $4k+ on shocks, higher and higher tire prices, and $30k for a bare frame.

[weatherman85]

Peoria is the one that surprise me. They really didn't have terrible car counts and I feel like they have good attendance. I have been to few weekly shows last year, none this year. I feel like the owner is done with the racing things.

The thing that concerns me is that the mods and street stock numbers seem to be getting lower as well.

I just saw an social media post about Grundy county speedway on the ashphalt side. They were all complaining about the local car counts as well. Im afraid this is a industry wide problem.

You have guys buying/building "Street stock" cars for $30k - $40k now so not shocked those numbers are going down as well. From the nose on back they just about look like late models now.

[chathamracefan]

You have guys buying/building "Street stock" cars for $30k - $40k now so not shocked those numbers are going down as well. From the nose on back they just about look like late models now.

This is basically the problem with all classes. Modifieds started somewhere in late 80's & were the "economy class". Engine claim rule & everything. Now the mods are as much as some late models. And 15 or so years ago they started the "B Mod" class. Basically just repeating the cycle over & over.

Same thing has happened in sportsman, street stocks, etc, etc over the years. A class starts as an "economy" class. Then the spending gets out of control & tech falls by the wayside. Before you know it you need another economy class for the former economy class.

Heck look at late models. We have supers, pro late models (crates), 602, 604 and various other classes of them in different parts of the country.

[One Man Gang]

I live in a dead zone closed race tracks winchester mountain view atomic crossville sparta I have 2 race tracks within an hour of my house they run 9 to 12 classes every week everything else is 3 hours or more away I ve gone to races all my life not any more

Dang it just seen that about Golden Mountain closing that leaves what 4 tracks west of Nashville ? Camden, Clayhill, Duck River and Thunderhill then all the rest is in the eastern time zone ? I had actually forgot about Tenn National closing up.

[EvelB7]

Many reasons why we are seeing the decline, tech is just one of them.

People have way more options today, and truthfully we use to live in a 'car culture'- not really that way today. Sitting in the heat for hours on end for the price of a ticket is just not as appealing an option as it once was. What have we done to help this? Why we added more classes and made the event even longer. No real change in involvement for the fans (in fact, less- to late at the end of the night to cross over into the pits and get a pick with your favorite driver).

From the racer side, the payout has not kept up with inflation. The entertainment value for the fans has declined so that means we really can't charge more and we are going to have less fans. Less fans mean less money to pay out (and let's not forget the upkeep of the track has also gone up quite a bit). Classes are added to try and enhance the back gate revenue; longer race nights and less fans.

The racers themselves seem to have forgotten the reason we are there- to entertain. Qualify 8 classes and race- wonder why we don't see much action.... Last weekend I watched a whole class of limited late model drivers have an absolute meltdown because the promotor was going to run heat races on 'fan appreciation' night. Walked away from the meeting when they said 'it only pays $2,500 and no where do they run heat races for that').

In the end, our wants and needs evolve or change. We are born, hopefully live a full life and whither away. I am afraid we have seen the best part of auto racings 'full life' and are now just the care takers. Hopefully someone can bring some fresh air in and make the needed changes.

[0cents]

You have guys buying/building "Street stock" cars for $30k - $40k now so not shocked those numbers are going down as well. From the nose on back they just about look like late models now.

Agreed, there are not many classes where a common person can afford to get their feet wet in the sport anymore. For a while there were the front wheel drive 4 cylinders that were cheap to get into and try out, next thing you know now they have even gotten out of hand.

[BTExpress]

Many reasons why we are seeing the decline, tech is just one of them.

People have way more options today, and truthfully we use to live in a 'car culture'- not really that way today. Sitting in the heat for hours on end for the price of a ticket is just not as appealing an option as it once was. What have we done to help this? Why we added more classes and made the event even longer. No real change in involvement for the fans (in fact, less- to late at the end of the night to cross over into the pits and get a pick with your favorite driver).

From the racer side, the payout has not kept up with inflation. The entertainment value for the fans has declined so that means we really can't charge more and we are going to have less fans. Less fans mean less money to pay out (and let's not forget the upkeep of the track has also gone up quite a bit). Classes are added to try and enhance the back gate revenue; longer race nights and less fans.

The racers themselves seem to have forgotten the reason we are there- to entertain. Qualify 8 classes and race- wonder why we don't see much action.... Last weekend I watched a whole class of limited late model drivers have an absolute meltdown because the promotor was going to run heat races on 'fan appreciation' night. Walked away from the meeting when they said 'it only pays $2,500 and no where do they run heat races for that').

In the end, our wants and needs evolve or change. We are born, hopefully live a full life and whither away. I am afraid we have seen the best part of auto racings 'full life' and are now just the care takers. Hopefully someone can bring some fresh air in and make the needed changes.

Evel. THE POST OF THE MONTH. An excellent summary of the current state of dirt track racing. This can apply to any part of the county. I have been going to the races for 40 years. I used to not care how long a show lasted. Now that I am in my 60's I do not attend a race if it has more than three classes. I am willing to pay a few more dollars just so I do not have to spend an eternity at the track. Times have changed. NO MORE THAN THREE HOURS start to finish is what most fans want to see now a days.