Any UPDATES FROM KNOXVILLE TONIGHT

[fryefan]

Funny how everyone says Lucas Lucas Lucas. WOO 2nd and 5th and 6th and 7th to MLRA/Mars. Racing was good but will never go back with out a support class. There so Glad to anounse NO D MAIN, OK 3 races for $40. B Main was done at 8pm and the A Main done at 10pm. GOOD FOR YOU PEOPLE, have a good time. This show will never grow at a track that thinks there (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) doesn't stink. 63 cars night 1 and 58 cars night 2 and 3 races on night 3. Go to Wheatland MO. and pay $75 instead of $100 for 3 days and half the purse BUT 80 CARS, TWICE THE VECILITIES, and A-Mod (50 of them). BOOOOOOOOO !

Just stay home. You will not be missed one bit. I pity the people that have to be around you on a daily basis, as you are extremely negative about pretty much everything.

[fryefan]

Tuty you fell right into the trap....

Two days ago when you complained about the ProPower toter. I said you would b!tch about the car counts and you did just that.

Who gives a crap if it's 80 or 60 or 10 when the racing has been like it was the last 3 days.

It didn't matter if there was a D main tonight.... You would've complained about that. What difference does it make whether it's 3 or 4 races.

You are an absolutely joke.... Even better yet pathetic.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. You hit the nail on the head Husker.

[fryefan]

Ok, you really can't be happy with 58-63 cars are you? If you were at the races Friday night the anouncer said AND THERES NO D MAIN TONIGHT 10 times ( he was happy). Yes The racing was very good and I'm glad someone new won, congrats 777. There definitely was no more fans this year, hardly any venders. I completely understand if the racing is good you can walk away saying oh this is great but there are other things to make better. My opinion which I'm intitaled to is Knoxville thinks they can just open the doors take your money the cars will come. This was the lowest car count ever I think wasn't it? I just feel as if Wheatland, I-80, Cedar lake work there butts off for there show and it shows. Late Model racing in its self has its own problems, 10-12 cars running every race in Lucas and Woo. You guys can add more drivers to this but no Birky, no Blankenship it sucks. People, don't fix something that's not broke, well it is broke and changes need to be made to make things better.

You are delusional. There were CLEARLY more people at this year's event than any other year.

[klemmabyna]

I usually try to consider the validity of other's opinions concerning the tracks and races I attend. and some 4m members have earned my respect for their opinions. and many others are quickly discounted because I just can't understand what they expect, or why they go, since all they do is complain.

my opinion: if you are a race fan that loves watching great side by side racing on a track this is prepared to allow the fast guys get to the finish they deserve, Knoxville is the place.

if you don't like something, keep your money in your pocket. if you have complaints, take it to track management. if you just want attention for your whining, post on 4m. trolls should be ignored.

Knoxville: 12 consecutive years with a weekend full of some of the best racing of every year.

I used to be jealous of fans that lived near great "crown jewels" while enjoying some of the best regional racing (WDRL, hell tour, CBC, MLRA, etc...). but knoxville and I-80 are putting on some of the best of the best racing anyone gets to see in my neighborhood..

[onlyfacts]

I usually try to consider the validity of other's opinions concerning the tracks and races I attend. and some 4m members have earned my respect for their opinions. and many others are quickly discounted because I just can't understand what they expect, or why they go, since all they do is complain.my opinion: if you are a race fan that loves watching great side by side racing on a track this is prepared to allow the fast guys get to the finish they deserve, Knoxville is the place. if you don't like something, keep your money in your pocket. if you have complaints, take it to track management. if you just want attention for your whining, post on 4m. trolls should be ignored.Knoxville: 12 consecutive years with a weekend full of some of the best racing of every year. I used to be jealous of fans that lived near great "crown jewels" while enjoying some of the best regional racing (WDRL, hell tour, CBC, MLRA, etc...). but knoxville and I-80 are putting on some of the best of the best racing anyone gets to see in my neighborhood..

I agree 100% Knoxville is the race of the year for me. The best track prep, best run show and the best format that puts the cars in the race that can put on a show year after year. Promoters across the country should go to Knoxville and take notes. My biggest compliment to Knoxville is how they manage to get the track so right each year. I think the 100 lapper is so good because the track is not worn out by heat races on Saturday. Eldora would be a much better race if they done away with heat races on Saturday which usually causes a lot of destruction. When the cars roll out for the main at Knoxville they look awesome unlike tracks that run heats on the same day most of the time the teams barly have time to fix damage from heats and B mains to get car ready for main at tracks that run heats on same day as main. The 24 cars lockin at Knoxville are way more prepared to race and don't look like they have been through a war.I think that is why the races are much better along with the track not worn out. 14 hour drive for me and I am looking forward to next year already. Congratulations to Jared Landers and thank you Knoxville Raceway. If you were not fortunate enough to make the trip the TV tape delay production coming up will be the next best thing to being there.

[cgrace]

I love no support classes. Greeeat wee k end thank you knoxville Only thing that would help me an app w realtime pointss so I know who is is where during

[kazual]

I attended the first Knoxville events way back when, about froze to death at one. It was painful to look at the stands and think how in the world could they justify it? They openly said they expected to loose money the first few years but were looking to build it over a period of time. Most promoters would not have that ability to let it grow or the foresight to have an actual plan. Most promotion groups long term plan is next weekend. Knoxville is a very special place ran by people that have long term plans to benefit fans, race teams, and themselves. Short track racing could use many more like them.

[deez lug nuts]

How can any of you say much good about the format?

Just 3 races on Saturday is weak!!!!

[plunks7]

I love no support classes. Greeeat wee k end thank you knoxville Only thing that would help me an app w realtime pointss so I know who is is where during

There is! My friends were looking at it as the races were finished. Walked out each night knowing line-ups and who the top 24 were locked in. And where they would start. I just don't have a clue on how to work them D A M N phones. I put it up to my eye and got nothing. LOL

[ptown]

How can any of you say much good about the format?

Just 3 races on Saturday is weak!!!!

I'd like to see more of a Eldora format with heats semis and the feature.

[onlyfacts]

I'd like to see more of a Eldora format with heats semis and the feature.

Not.... The format a Knoxville puts the best cars in the main... Not a bunch of cars that got in because of an invert system of elimination. I can do with out the heats on raceday because it saves the track, saves the cars and it lets me enjoy the event and leave at a reasonable hour to head back home... Quality is better than quantity anytime. Now if the track is trying to sell hot dogs and beer that's a different story.

[vande07]

waited to reply until today.

Only got to attend Thursday and Saturday this year (home football game and daughter was marching at halftime, family over racing).

Thursday, racing was great and I would venture to say best Thursday crowd ever for this event (I helped park cars for the Boy Scouts this year with my son, most cars they have ever parked on Thursday and Friday, sold out of spots on Saturday 2 hours before racetime for first time ever (usually still have spots right up until 7:00)).

So, in my opinion, I would say the crowds were up.

Saturday, racing during the B-main and the Feature were excellent IMO. 4 or 5 lead changes among 4 different drivers? Richards came from outside the top 10 to the lead only to lose it with 8 to go (and still had a chance to win at the end). Great racing through the pack as well with many moving up 10+ positions. What's not to like about that?

Walking out of the grandstands before 11:00 PM both nights I attended (allowed me to get to work on Friday at 6:00 AM before parking cars at noon until 4 on Saturday) meant people could enjoy other things that they may not get to at other events (the pits on Saturday night after the races were as full as I've ever seen them following this event, Dingus looked jam packed as it always does).

Quality of cars was outstanding, was there anyone in the main that was a huge surprise or with bad equipment? I don't remember one if there was.

Was I somewhat disappointed in the car count? not really. Only 30 cars make the feature on Saturday. Not sure what good it does to have 50+ cars not make the finale. Those that skipped the event to race elsewhere were doing so based on business. You go where you think you can make $$$ (or not lose as much).

My hope would be that somewhere in the next 10 years or so they could do a split field for qualifying nights, but that's a tough sell to the competitors from what I've gathered. I could see this event growing to 4 days like the Sprint Nationals with a purse to rival it if competitors and team owners realize that pre-entry is actually going to help grow the purse (Everything is connected).

Pre-Entries means the track can advertise a driver will be there which in-turn entices fans of that driver to attend, which in-turn means more fans in the stands, which means more Revenue for the track, which means purses can be raised, which means more drivers want to attend, which loops back to pre-entries the following season and the events grows and grows and grows). It's a big circle that eventually fans of a certain driver will attend even long after the driver retires and all of a sudden you have 20,000+ at a race with purses to match.

My thoughts on 2016. Moving the date up I'm not 100% sure about, but I'd guess John McCoy did his due diligence with teams to see what they thought prior to committing to that date.

As far as management changes at the track goes. From what I've seen, the track hasn't skipped a beat since Brian's departure (and in some ways it's better) and the Fairboard isn't searching for a race promotor, they are in search of a Marketing Director (sponsorship seller). Gary Schumacher will continue to run the office as he has the past several years and John McCoy will continue as race director (as he has since Capitani's retirement 6 years ago).

[deez lug nuts]

Like to know how many people will never go back there on Saturday after only getting to watch hot laps and 3 races for their race attending effort.

[vande07]

Like to know how many people will never go back there on Saturday after only getting to watch hot laps and 3 races for their race attending effort.

good question, but I spoke to many on Thursday and Friday this year while parking cars that only ever attended Saturday in the past and decided to come early for the Prelims. The ones I saw on Saturday said they'd be back for all 3 days from here on out as they always loved Saturday before, but the prelim nights were better than they expected (they were so used to TT and heats only on prelim nights at other big races, they didn't realize what they got for their $$$).

Since year #1, Saturday night has been C, B, and A Main and hotlaps (maybe one or two years with enough cars for a D main as well). Seems like attendance is going up every year, so it must not be a huge issue to most of the fans.

[huskerdirt]

waited to reply until today.

Only got to attend Thursday and Saturday this year (home football game and daughter was marching at halftime, family over racing).

Thursday, racing was great and I would venture to say best Thursday crowd ever for this event (I helped park cars for the Boy Scouts this year with my son, most cars they have ever parked on Thursday and Friday, sold out of spots on Saturday 2 hours before racetime for first time ever (usually still have spots right up until 7:00)).

So, in my opinion, I would say the crowds were up.

Saturday, racing during the B-main and the Feature were excellent IMO. 4 or 5 lead changes among 4 different drivers? Richards came from outside the top 10 to the lead only to lose it with 8 to go (and still had a chance to win at the end). Great racing through the pack as well with many moving up 10+ positions. What's not to like about that?

Walking out of the grandstands before 11:00 PM both nights I attended (allowed me to get to work on Friday at 6:00 AM before parking cars at noon until 4 on Saturday) meant people could enjoy other things that they may not get to at other events (the pits on Saturday night after the races were as full as I've ever seen them following this event, Dingus looked jam packed as it always does).

Quality of cars was outstanding, was there anyone in the main that was a huge surprise or with bad equipment? I don't remember one if there was.

Was I somewhat disappointed in the car count? not really. Only 30 cars make the feature on Saturday. Not sure what good it does to have 50+ cars not make the finale. Those that skipped the event to race elsewhere were doing so based on business. You go where you think you can make $$$ (or not lose as much).

My hope would be that somewhere in the next 10 years or so they could do a split field for qualifying nights, but that's a tough sell to the competitors from what I've gathered. I could see this event growing to 4 days like the Sprint Nationals with a purse to rival it if competitors and team owners realize that pre-entry is actually going to help grow the purse (Everything is connected).

Pre-Entries means the track can advertise a driver will be there which in-turn entices fans of that driver to attend, which in-turn means more fans in the stands, which means more Revenue for the track, which means purses can be raised, which means more drivers want to attend, which loops back to pre-entries the following season and the events grows and grows and grows). It's a big circle that eventually fans of a certain driver will attend even long after the driver retires and all of a sudden you have 20,000+ at a race with purses to match.

My thoughts on 2016. Moving the date up I'm not 100% sure about, but I'd guess John McCoy did his due diligence with teams to see what they thought prior to committing to that date.

As far as management changes at the track goes. From what I've seen, the track hasn't skipped a beat since Brian's departure (and in some ways it's better) and the Fairboard isn't searching for a race promotor, they are in search of a Marketing Director (sponsorship seller). Gary Schumacher will continue to run the office as he has the past several years and John McCoy will continue as race director (as he has since Capitani's retirement 6 years ago).

Excellent post.

Yes the car count was down. Nobody on here said it was gonna break any records. Things just didn't line up right. There were 5 guys on the pre entry list that didn't come. Another couple that didn't come because of motor issues. And another that trashed his car the night before that obviously couldn't make it. It very easily could've been over 70.

If people are complaining about 3 races on Saturday. Then they should be complaining about if there were 4. No matter how many cars show up. At most there will be 4 races on Saturday. Last year I don't recall anybody complaining about 4 races.

It was nice getting done early on Saturday. I've been going back when they had modifieds as a support class. Those were some late nights. IMO, I'm not there to see
modifieds. It was nice to stroll through the pits after eventually making my way to the truck and being out of town by 11 for my 3 hour commute home.

The number one complaint from drivers and fans is how late the program goes.... Especially on the last night of a multi day event.