Mod - Car Counts - Central Illinois

[wadegarrett]

I dont think anyone can say everything about UMP is bad but to think they are a good sanctioning body I just don't see it but, hey I can't see very well at my age. I think tracks could do better without UMP in my opinion. If they are afraid of a SN date they should have their own big race with the same purse and you don't have to pay the sanction fee to have it. It's a win win for the track. it is time for UMP to to go that's for sure. If I ran a track today I would go independent and see what happens. With the way so many are pissed at UMP I bet it would work. Get the guys together to come up with a set of rules enforce the rules and I would bet you could get 20 to 25 cars every week.

ump is not entirely horrible, but in this situation they are not making the right call or really any call at all other that to stay with the current setup. This means nothing will improve people will only leave racing or switch classes which is not so good. Seen this many times some get out and dont come back and some switch classes. ump is hell bent to stay with the same overpriced tire and that alone is not good. With the current tire options and the over priced engine options to compete its a never ending circle of higher costs and lower car counts. This is why a new sanction with new ideas could and would help. usra is a good option better tire cheaper cost and still can use the same ump engines that most have now. imca is not an option as there would be too many engine concerns. To stay with ump is not a good idea, they are already screwing up the bmods by forcing everyone into crates and still pushing everyone in the class to use the same overpriced tires. if you dont believe it and you want more proof go talk to ANYONE that used to run a mod in the south where ump is no longer around and neither are the amods.

[DirtDirtCrazy]

I started this thread out of concern for the Open Wheel Mod Division. There is a lot of good feedback here. Thanks to all who have spoken up. I see a lot of info about Tires and Sanctioning bodies. But let's face it, racing is expensive no matter what sanctioning body you are involved with. I really think that change is always slower than it should be to make things better. However, in the meantime, what do we do to keep this division going? Here is an idea that I feel strongly about and am beginning to see more of:

TRACK PROMOTERS MUST WORK TOGETHER! For instance, if you are a Track that is in close to Fairbury, why would you try to run a show on the weekend of the PRAIRIE DIRT CLASSIC? If you look at Farmer City's schedule you will see that they have chosen to take that weekend off and even have the PDC on their schedule as the reason. Also you will see that some tracks are working together to promote a joint point fund.

Another option: If I was a track promoter and I knew that one of my competitors was running a Mod Special on a certain weekend, I would schedule a Street Stock, or Pro Crate Special that same night and not have Mods that weekend. That way you are not competing for Mod car count and yet might be able to attract a good count for the special you are running.

Another option: Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt only runs every other weekend. However, they usually have some kind of special at each show. As far as I can tell they have been successful with this format for many years and normally get good car counts at there shows.

The bottom line is Promoters and Promotion. It can be done with a little more communication amongst Promoters, Drivers, and even Fans.

[kidrock]

modifeds yes late models no look at the results in lates you may see named that you thought drove mods isn't tthat what you want for racers to move up to the higher class and season is still early has kkk even had a race yet

Not quite sure what you're getting at here other then guys moving up. Yes there no reason guys can't move up unless the cost is so much they can't afford it.

[wadegarrett]

Not all can or will move up, as stated on here before racers will either move up or down or get out unless changes are made to preserve the class. Ump is not willing to make the right kind of changes

[kidrock]

that is where many of your mod drivers are gustin, stormy scott scottie weber cody conner mike spataloa gilpin kent robinson to name just a few

Yes I understand that part and that's been going on since racing started. Guys move up but, you need guys from the lower classes to move to the mod class and yes there are a few but, not as many as is needed. I guess we will have to sit back and see where we stand in a couple of years if no one wants to make some changes. Like I said I'm not going to give all the blame to UMP but, they take some responsibility in this. They can't be happy to see what use to be 25 to 30 mods down to 15 to 18 mods and in some cases 10 to 12.

[indyboywilliam]

yes i understand that part and that's been going on since racing started. Guys move up but, you need guys from the lower classes to move to the mod class and yes there are a few but, not as many as is needed. I guess we will have to sit back and see where we stand in a couple of years if no one wants to make some changes. Like i said i'm not going to give all the blame to ump but, they take some responsibility in this. They can't be happy to see what use to be 25 to 30 mods down to 15 to 18 mods and in some cases 10 to 12.

very well said..........something needs to change.......... And if ump dont make it happen track owners need to get together and take matters into there own hands and do it

[kidrock]

very well said..........something needs to change.......... And if ump dont make it happen track owners need to get together and take matters into there own hands and do it

Where's the like button!!!!

[Pops15]

I've been around racing 52 years. As I see it the sport has two major problems.

1. Not enough fans in the stands.
2. Not enough cars in the pits.

It will be impossible to fix the attendance problem without fixing the car count problem.
Racing costs too much. SLM cost too much, mods cost too much, SS cost too much. In all the time I've been around racing I haven't heard a single racer say they quit because it didn't cost enough.

If weekly racing is going to survive, the cost to compete has to be less. Anyone that thinks otherwise is living in a dream world.

Can UMP fix the car count problem? Of course they could.....but they won't. Promoters know that. Some have talked publicly about leaving UMP, and others have privately. It's only a matter of time until a few leave UMP. Once they do, others will join them. Nearly all of the IL promoters talk to each other. Some of them even meet during the off season. It's not just a matter of survival for the modified class, it's a matter of survival for the tracks. In my opinion it's not a matter of IF the tracks leave, but a matter of WHEN they leave UMP.

UMP started with 14 tracks in 1984. It was tough to find more than three tracks with the same LM rules back then. When the promoters that are dissatisfied with UMP leave, and they will leave UMP, they'll have an advantage that UMP didn't have in 84. They've already got uniform rules for the mods. They'll just need to make a few changes. Tires for sure. They could (and likely would) still be Hoosiers. The restrictor plate idea is interesting. A shock rule would benefit the class but will likely run into opposition from some of the racers.

[sirleafalot]

very well said..........something needs to change.......... And if ump dont make it happen track owners need to get together and take matters into there own hands and do it

agree, track owners are in this as well and own part of the concern. they need to step and tell ump and others of the issue certainly on tires where they have options.

[kidrock]

I've been around racing 52 years. As I see it the sport has two major problems.

1. Not enough fans in the stands.
2. Not enough cars in the pits.

It will be impossible to fix the attendance problem without fixing the car count problem.
Racing costs too much. SLM cost too much, mods cost too much, SS cost too much. In all the time I've been around racing I haven't heard a single racer say they quit because it didn't cost enough.

If weekly racing is going to survive, the cost to compete has to be less. Anyone that thinks otherwise is living in a dream world.

Can UMP fix the car count problem? Of course they could.....but they won't. Promoters know that. Some have talked publicly about leaving UMP, and others have privately. It's only a matter of time until a few leave UMP. Once they do, others will join them. Nearly all of the IL promoters talk to each other. Some of them even meet during the off season. It's not just a matter of survival for the modified class, it's a matter of survival for the tracks. In my opinion it's not a matter of IF the tracks leave, but a matter of WHEN they leave UMP.

UMP started with 14 tracks in 1984. It was tough to find more than three tracks with the same LM rules back then. When the promoters that are dissatisfied with UMP leave, and they will leave UMP, they'll have an advantage that UMP didn't have in 84. They've already got uniform rules for the mods. They'll just need to make a few changes. Tires for sure. They could (and likely would) still be Hoosiers. The restrictor plate idea is interesting. A shock rule would benefit the class but will likely run into opposition from some of the racers.

Yes there have been a few that have talked about leaving UMP and I believe you might see it next year. And yes your right for the most part the rules are in place and just a little tweaking of the rules is all that's needed.
Very well said Pops.

[DirtDirtCrazy]

So here is the deal; I started this thread to basically discuss the welfare of Central Illinois Dirt Tracks and particularly the Modified Division. Many have replied to the thread and I thank you all for that.

Based on the responses, a good deal of what it will take to deal with the Car Count issue will require a strong cooperation between UMP, Track Promoters, and of course MODIFIED DRIVERS and their teams. I am hopeful that these three parties can work closely in the near future to make A-Mod Racing healthy again.

But there is a fourth element that cannot be ignored. FANS!!!! Give them a good racing product and they will come!

[hygty]

that is the main factor without fans the tracks will have a hard time surviving . doesn't help when you NASCAR on sat night or friday night

[kidrock]

that is the main factor without fans the tracks will have a hard time surviving . doesn't help when you NASCAR on sat night or friday night

According to guys on here NASCAR is sucks and nobody watches it anymore do, no way can a NASCAR race hurt dirt track attendance.

[hygty]

well some fans like it but they probably like getting in the head with a brick lol

[wadegarrett]

According to guys on here NASCAR is sucks and nobody watches it anymore do, no way can a NASCAR race hurt dirt track attendance.

all the excuses dont change the fact that ump/hoosier are charging 35 bucks a tire more than any other sanction. This is not helping the class. the a40s mess just shows that Hoosier and UMP did not do enough testing and were hoping the racers would live with it, tried to blame it on siping etc. not to mention this nonsense of only allowing Ds at some tracks. usra and imca have ONE tire.