Missing from Hagerstown tonight???

[prodirtcar32]

Good point about the same amount of cars at Port Royal for $2,000. The drivers have been making it clear to the promoters for the last couple of years that they will race for less. It is a shame for the sport but I think you will see no big shows within next couple of years in that area. The promoters do not have to put up decent purses cause they are supported with the lower purses just as well. Why spend the extra money?

[jog49]

Nowadays, I think drivers go where the odds of cashing the bigger check is paramount.

[NormP]

Why would you race for $2000 to win when you get $1000 just to take the green at Hagerstown? Everyone around here always talks about how more starting money would draw more cars, but that doesn't appear to be the case in this particular situation.

[huskerdirt]

Good point about the same amount of cars at Port Royal for $2,000. The drivers have been making it clear to the promoters for the last couple of years that they will race for less. It is a shame for the sport but I think you will see no big shows within next couple of years in that area. The promoters do not have to put up decent purses cause they are supported with the lower purses just as well. Why spend the extra money?

This has been a trend for awhile now. It's really not that surprising.... atleast in my parts.

When MLRA comes to I-80. Chances are you are gonna attract a 40-50 car field. Guys would come from 4,5, and 6 hours away to race for $3000. Now when the Silver Dollar Nationals comes around. Some of those same guys won't travel to that race. Likewise some locals guys would rather be in the stands than racing that weekend. It has nothing to do with conspiracy theories or tire rules or event payout/format. It has more to do with thinking they can hang with Lucas boys or not.

Lucas has one day show in May at I-80. I'll be absolutely floored if over 30 cars show up. A month later a MARS/MLRA co sanction event could hit 50 cars at the same track. Wheatland drew 47 cars for there spring race. And for the Diamond Nationals in July, they might draw less than 40.

[06Tireman]

NormP.. Because those drivers knew they had a better chance of making that $2000 than the $1000 just to take the green.. Plus this deal with Port/Selinsgrove is a great thing for the late models in central PA... You cant miss a race.. Port Royal also treats every race as a points race.. And honestly.. The only driver that runs up there other than Yoder that would have went to Hagerstown is Lupfer and hes trying to win his 3rd championship at Port Royal..

[W2Racing09]

Good point about the same amount of cars at Port Royal for $2,000. The drivers have been making it clear to the promoters for the last couple of years that they will race for less. It is a shame for the sport but I think you will see no big shows within next couple of years in that area. The promoters do not have to put up decent purses cause they are supported with the lower purses just as well. Why spend the extra money?

I can see this point if you are looking at it strictly from a back gate perspective. Take a look at the crowd that was there last Saturday to watch the race and compare it to a show at Hagerstown featuring the local guys for a $2k to win event. The crowd isn't even in the same ballpark - not to mention with half as many people they also pay half the price to get in. I'm sure this race was a grand slam when it came to depositing the money in the bank account. Honestly Port has some great drivers but you could take the guys that were DNQ at Hagerstown and most would have been top 10-15 cars at Port Royal so quality level was significantly higher at Htown.

[NormP]

NormP.. Because those drivers knew they had a better chance of making that $2000 than the $1000 just to take the green.. Plus this deal with Port/Selinsgrove is a great thing for the late models in central PA... You cant miss a race.. Port Royal also treats every race as a points race.. And honestly.. The only driver that runs up there other than Yoder that would have went to Hagerstown is Lupfer and hes trying to win his 3rd championship at Port Royal..

Got it. Not familiar with the scene in that part of the country so I was curious about that.

[dirtMAN007]

Hagerstown will continue to suffer until its demise until things change !!!!

[bonz45]

Don't know much about their weekly stuff, but they sure weren't suffering last Sat. night....

[W2Racing09]

Hagerstown will continue to suffer until its demise until things change !!!!

Continue? You mean a grandstand that is filled almost to capacity and huge car counts (Over 75 cars for just three divisions) constitutes a track that is on its way? If that is the case then 95% of tracks in the country have been "in demise" for decades.

Thanks,
Jeff.

[dirtMAN007]

I can see this point if you are looking at it strictly from a back gate perspective. Take a look at the crowd that was there last Saturday to watch the race and compare it to a show at Hagerstown featuring the local guys for a $2k to win event. The crowd isn't even in the same ballpark - not to mention with half as many people they also pay half the price to get in. I'm sure this race was a grand slam when it came to depositing the money in the bank account. Honestly Port has some great drivers but you could take the guys that were DNQ at Hagerstown and most would have been top 10-15 cars at Port Royal so quality level was significantly higher at Htown.

Better read your own post again".................. " the crowd for a regular show isn't even in the same ballpark" as the Lucas show ........... You said it I didn't have to !!!!!!

[W2Racing09]

Better read your own post again".................. " the crowd for a regular show isn't even in the same ballpark" as the Lucas show ........... You said it I didn't have to !!!!!!

What?

Of course the crowd for a Lucas show isn't in the same ballpark... That is just simple supply and demand. There are very few Lucas races in this area so when they are here you have to go. A weekly show takes place every week so if you cant go this week you can go next, etc.

Look at some of the tracks around here, many of them would kill to have a crowd like Hagerstown on a Saturday night. I know in the North East where I grew up there were tracks that don't get Hagerstown's crowd if you add up three nights of racing. Hagerstown is certainly not "in demise" if it were that bad Ernie would have stopped leasing the track when he had the chance last year.

Thanks,
Jeff.

[dirtMAN007]

What?

Of course the crowd for a Lucas show isn't in the same ballpark... That is just simple supply and demand. There are very few Lucas races in this area so when they are here you have to go. A weekly show takes place every week so if you cant go this week you can go next, etc.

Look at some of the tracks around here, many of them would kill to have a crowd like Hagerstown on a Saturday night. I know in the North East where I grew up there were tracks that don't get Hagerstown's crowd if you add up three nights of racing. Hagerstown is certainly not "in demise" if it were that bad Ernie would have stopped leasing the track when he had the chance last year.

Thanks,
Jeff.

do you not understand that ernie is a big part of the problem ?

[W2Racing09]

do you not understand that ernie is a big part of the problem ?

I guess I don't understand that. I work with him and his team quite a bit in dealing with my series (The Mid Atlantic Modifieds) and have had no issues. He seems very fair to everyone and I've certainly never seen him show favoritism in my races or any others. I would say he isn't part of the problem, since the track would likely be sitting idle rather than hosting the biggest touring series in the country last Saturday night if not for him.

Thanks,
Jeff.

[dirtMAN007]

you can turn a blind eye to the favoritism if you wish but I certainly am not alone on this topic !!!!!