Portsmouth DTWC Updates

[Clayton_Wetter]

Two days shows seem to almost always go bad on the second day. It takes turning the dirt over deep after friday nights races and getting plenty of moisture back into it, not a chicken scratching approach of reworking the track and just putting water on top of it for the second days races.

Somewhere around 112 Modifieds, on top of the large late model count, takes a big toll on the track surface.

[zyoung25]

If any of you guys listened to the DoD video cast last week with Short, he said he didn't figure the 100k would bring in more cars, but figured it would bring in more fans. Me as a fan would like to see the money throughout the field and get more cars, compared to just a few as he mentioned in that interview.

When you get that many cars running around the bottom, it's gonna take rubber after awhile, it doesn't matter what track it is. Pierce was turning faster laps around the top than Bloomquist was one point, no one else was up there though, which just made it worse with the bottom cars just kicking crumbs to the top. It wasn't a very good race IMO, but it won't be the last bad one I see, so oh well, I had fun hanging with friends again.....on to the next one.

[Highside Hustler25]

Two days shows seem to almost always go bad on the second day. It takes turning the dirt over deep after friday nights races and getting plenty of moisture back into it, not a chicken scratching approach of reworking the track and just putting water on top of it for the second days races.

Somewhere around 112 Modifieds, on top of the large late model count, takes a big toll on the track surface.

ding ding ding........We have a winner folks !

[71PRPFan]

I love PRP and thought the first 30-40 laps were good but you could see it coming at the end of the Jim Dunn. It wasn't extremely late they had time to go over the track some more. And as much money and sponsorship PRP has they need to get one of them ripper things Eldora has and get to work with it. Gamps would lend them a tractor I'm sure

[GEAR_HEAD]

All PRP had to do was water the top groove before the feature to get some bite back into it for 100 laps and the track would have been fine. It's another case of a track not have a track prep crew that knows what to do in certain situations. Everybody could see the inside taking rubber during the NQ race, however the track crew was clueless about how to fix it so they did nothing at all. Knoxville, Eldora, Florence, and Pittsburgh can all provide racey surfaces for 3 days and they know how to make adjustments throught the nights, why can't PRP do the same?

[71PRPFan]

I agree gear head I don't know why the water truck never came out. It usually comes out all through out the night.

[rickybrown1952]

I can drink to that t3r3e3

you are right I'm not a big bloomquist fan but his record speaks for itself along with moyer of course scott bloomquist is in the group of.the best of the best

Whether you're a Scott fan or hater, at the end of the day, the man deserves respect for his on track accomplishments. There has been no one as successful as Bloomquist (save maybe Moyer) since Scott started driving nationally. Did Davenport just finish the most successful single season ever? Yep. Despite that, Scott has been at the top of the heap through different chassis, different suspension setups, different tire rules, different series, different bodies, etc.. While his demeanor isn't exactly pleasing, he's the best of the best, and has been for about 25 years. Moyer is right there, but it's hard to elevate anyone above Bloomquist.

[whatsadirttrack]

There def could have been some kind of more track prep I still think prp does a good job. I believe like you say they have not got it figured out for a 3 day show to make it racey. I think the racing configuration needs to be changed for better racing so not so many laps during the main event. But if they just threw some water on it, it would have made no difference what so ever the track was all ready sealed over it would have been back to where it was in a matter of minutes.

[GEAR_HEAD]

But if they just threw some water on it, it would have made no difference what so ever the track was all ready sealed over it would have been back to where it was in a matter of minutes.

That is absolutely not true. The high side was not taking rubber yet so the water would have still kept bite in it, at least for most of the race. You'd obviously never attended Florence when it used to turn black from top to bottom and they would get bite back in the top side. As long as it's not rubbered up water can still be effective.

[zyoung25]

Watering the top would've made it come in later, it works at Florence yes, prp doesn't work like florence does. If anything water the bottom make the guys use the top for awhile. I'm not a track specialist, and don't claim to be, just think it would've worked better this way.

[whatsadirttrack]

I cant attest for other tracks as far as watering it down on a sealed track. Of course there was no rubber on the top no one was up there. Still with just water only the way the track was it would have made an effect for a a handful of laps at best. If you seen them watering pre race when they kept watering it would dust over very quickly without no cars.

[Bubstr]

Yes, the last half of the race was a HO HUMER. Bad track prep or just too many laps? I hear people wanting more car count and in the next breath, they want less laps on the track. They want more water on the track, but not so much it ruts and breaks cars. There are tracks that have figured this out and will prosper and the rest will get smart or wither on the vine. There is nothing like a train race, to turn off fans and there is nothing like a rutted car breaker to turn off racers.

The racers have stepped up their game. The fans step up to the ticket window with more cash. It's time the tracks do the stepping up.

[SnakeX3]

Considering how much racing they did over the weekend they really only fell about 50 laps short of having done a good job. Granted, those were the 50 most important laps, but it wasn't like the racing was crap the entire weekend. I wasn't at the race, but if I had been I don't think I would have been ticked off.

Like zyoung25 said, Short knew the 100k purse wouldn't bring more cars. He made the purse top heavy to put more fannies in the seats. From everything I heard, he achieved his goal. Do I think it's ridiculous that the non-qualifier paid more then a 9th place finish in the big show? Yep. You gotta figure Bobby Pierce and Jackie Boggs couldn't be too happy about earning less than the guy they beat in the B-Main, but it is what it is.

Does anyone know if the heat races paid anything?

[dirtisforracin]

Racing was pretty good through out the weekend. Yea it locked down about half way through feature. It happens. Liked the passing points, great racing Friday in heats. Carl said he wanted more fans attending with increase in purse. He got what he wanted. PRP was packed. Camping was twice what it was in previous years. Tired hearing about purse. No one complains about Dream. Regional drivers and WOO drivers were in attendance. Both of which made the show. NO complaints from me.

[onlyfacts]

Yes, the last half of the race was a HO HUMER. Bad track prep or just too many laps? I hear people wanting more car count and in the next breath, they want less laps on the track. They want more water on the track, but not so much it ruts and breaks cars. There are tracks that have figured this out and will prosper and the rest will get smart or wither on the vine. There is nothing like a train race, to turn off fans and there is nothing like a rutted car breaker to turn off racers.The racers have stepped up their game. The fans step up to the ticket window with more cash. It's time the tracks do the stepping up.

The racers I talked to after the race all said a rough track would have been better than that. I bet if you could ask all the racers in that A they would all agree that a little track prep would have been better. A little choppy or tacky bottom with a cushion would have been ideal.. As much equipment the Colemans have it looks like they could get a tiller and take 30-40 mins and till the top and bottom so they could have a race. When you are hosting an event of this size you should have the equipment it takes to insure the fans and the racers get their Monies worth. As far as the first 50 laps they were just a little better than ho hum. The heat races were the only show at portsmouth, the A and the 3 B's were not much racing.