Second Las Vegas Cup race

And Speedbowl,thanks for thinking about me...Maybe you can give me a"helping hand " to get me to sleep.
 
You do realize these changes are for 2018, right? Your Sept. tickets will be good.
Ummmmm...yeah...I know that.Been doing this quite a long time.
Evidently, I was not clear enough. 2017 Sept. 28 years of going to Loudon.Pretty sure I have the regimen down by now.
And now I have to set my sights elsewhere. Any Martinsville experts out there.?
 
Bottom line...In my opinion, there are fewer NASCAR fans excited and talking about this move to Vegas than there would be if NASCAR said they would be giving Iowa a race!
The people happiest about this move are SMI principles and the Vegas C of C. Next are those fans fortunate enough to be gaining a weekend. I don't know if there are many others who view this as the best possible relocation, even within the circle of SMI tracks.
 
Ummmmm...yeah...I know that.Been doing this quite a long time.
Evidently, I was not clear enough. 2017 Sept. 28 years of going to Loudon.Pretty sure I have the regimen down by now.
And now I have to set my sights elsewhere. Any Martinsville experts out there.?
I think there are plenty of us on here that are Martinsville ticket holders. I'm sure we could answer any questions that you might have.
 
Ummmmm...yeah...I know that.Been doing this quite a long time.
Evidently, I was not clear enough. 2017 Sept. 28 years of going to Loudon.Pretty sure I have the regimen down by now.
And now I have to set my sights elsewhere. Any Martinsville experts out there.?

Hopefully they pack the place for the last fall race at NHMS!

IMO, Loudon getting one weekend is a good fit. With some good marketing, the July race could become quite an event, imo. It already has the Modified all-star race, the K&N race, the big modified race, Xfinity series, and the Cup series. Lot's of racing that people don't know about.

And if we have to settle for a stand-alone race can we make it 400 miles? That'd be 378 laps. The 300 lap race typically ends in less than 3 hours anyways...
 
SMI, remember? Do you expect anything 'creative' from them besides track swaps?

You'd think Bruton or ISC would try to expand internationally or to new markets, but nope. Vegas might do well with two races, but I expect an attendance drop in a few years.
 
You'd think Bruton or ISC would try to expand internationally or to new markets, but nope. Vegas might do well with two races, but I expect an attendance drop in a few years.
What would be the expense to ship loaded haulers internationally?
 
What would be the expense to ship loaded haulers internationally?
Not very much at all, if the international destinations are Canada and/or Mexico. It is an entirely separate discussion from SMI allocating races between Loudon and Las Vegas, but Nascar management is missing out on a huge opportunity by continuing to ignore Canada and Mexico.
 
I understand the loss behind traveling abroad anywhere. I think Canada would at least be a no brainer to run at Mosport or Montreal in Cup.

I'd like to see a race in Europe but most seem to think a big time sponsor and European sponsors and fan support wouldn't be enough to justify a trip for 36 chartered cars to race.
 
You'd think Bruton or ISC would try to expand internationally or to new markets, but nope. Vegas might do well with two races, but I expect an attendance drop in a few years.
Not sure about internationally but expanding the market in the US would be a welcome sight.
 
We're assuming they don't rearrange the schedule too, at least for the Chase.

I lived in Vegas when I as in high school in the mid-70s. Sept. is better than August on average, but individual days over 100 were common. It's a great town to visit then, but only if you stay in the AC'ed casinos. :rolleyes:

The hottest races I ever have been a part of were Sunday afternoons at Darlington for the original Southern 500. I do my best to stay properly hydrated but I took extra measures prior to heading down to SC on Labor Day.
 
Now look two columns to the right, where it says 'Record: 106'.

Now click the 'Monthly' tab and see the Max Temperature for Sept. 16 was 104. On that same page, scroll down to the Monthly detail data that shows it was at or over 98 for eight days in the first two weeks. Note that on the 18th and 19th, it climbed back up to 99 and 100 again.

"But it's a dry heat!" :rolleyes:

The last time someone told me "it is a dry heat" I told them to go stick their head in an oven. It probably sounds absolutely crazy to some people but I would rather be at Lambeau field in January with below zero temps as opposed to being in what I consider to be extreme heat as the cold invigorates me and heat drains me.
 
You mean like "the good old days" that so many around here recall as great racing?

In the good old days aero was not the issue it is today and with the cars being far less reliable the leader could be on a lap of his own and have his engine grenade at anytime. I can tell you that a car checking out in clean air today is not even in the same zip code as how things were in the old days regardless of how much the revisionists would like to spin things.
 
It will be interesting to see Loudon can survive with just one Cup date in the summer. SMI will need to get creative IMO.

The track is not well supported attendance or viewership wise and who knows as maybe its second date will be given to Kentucky.
 
Everyone complained like crazy about NH but now everyone is mad. More proof that NASCAR fans have no effing idea what they want other than to complain.

I understand if SMI wants another date in Vegas because it will increase the bottom line as that is what business is about and Nascar is a business. However I have never advocated moving a date from Loudon to a cookie cutter but I would approve if it meant adding a third date to Martinsville.
 
Low down force doesn't seem to be working. They tried to even up the competition but it went the other way ( at least at altanta ) Warm weather is just a few weeks away and so is my fishing pole. Sunday funday's will be spent on the water with no DVR running at home. Nascars attempt to make it more interesting has me going in the opposite direction as well. i still like racing ( AMA Supercross, NHRA and the local 1/2 mile track )
 
No wonder Sylvania dropped their sponsorship. No use selling light bulbs to a track that won't have night races. Bruton screwed us. Already bought tix for September as usual. 28 years of being a "loyal" fan. And no reach around......
Martinsville in 2018...

Bruton screwed us when he closed Wilkesboro and gave a second date to Loudon. In this case dealing with Bruton was like having an affair with a married gal and then end up marrying her and then being surprised she is doing the same thing to you she did with the hubby before you.
 
Good and bad news. I've always felt Loudon was one of the worst NASCAR tracks (the Whelen races there are amazing though) on the schedule and I am glad to see a date get taken away from it. However, what irks me is that Kentucky was taken off the Xfinity schedule in place of Vegas. Why not just move the 2nd Cup Loudon race to Vegas and make Vegas the season finale as a standalone event? I'm taking a business approach here and think that the aforementioned scenario is what would draw fans in (tv and live). NASCAR. Vegas. Championship. It just makes sense...even though it's not ideal for an old school fan such as myself.
 
I don't think the fall Kentucky Xfinity race draws well. I think the July triple header is enough for Kentucky. I'm glad to see New Hampshire lose it's second date as I just don't like that track. Really wish Vegas was the championship race as well though.
 
Not sure about internationally but expanding the market in the US would be a welcome sight.

Yeah have no interest in international races. I'd say Canada will get a race if they ever get that track Jeff Gordon is helping design up there. Plenty of tracks in the US I like to see NASCAR race on though like Pikes Peak, Portland International, Road America, Memphis, Gatway, or even Milwaukee.
 
It sucks to lose one of the most unique and challenging tracks, but the racing really is terrible.
 
I'm taking a business approach here and think that the aforementioned scenario is what would draw fans in (tv and live). NASCAR. Vegas. Championship. It just makes sense...even though it's not ideal for an old school fan such as myself.

I think Vegas as the finale would be a disaster for TV. Because of the current contract, you'd have to start the race at like 11am local time. If you want a primetime finish, you pretty much guarantee the race will be on cable. And Saturday night races are a proven disaster for TV ratings -- they just don't draw which is why NASCAR's moving more and more races back to Sunday afternoons.

They should keep the finale in Homestead.
 
I think Vegas as the finale would be a disaster for TV. Because of the current contract, you'd have to start the race at like 11am local time. If you want a primetime finish, you pretty much guarantee the race will be on cable. And Saturday night races are a proven disaster for TV ratings -- they just don't draw which is why NASCAR's moving more and more races back to Sunday afternoons.

They should keep the finale in Homestead.
You are assuming the race would be run on a weekend. I was thinking a weekday slot during primetime would work extremely well, especially for the casual audience. Monday night (if a deal can be worked out with the NFL to not broadcast a game) or Tuesday would be HUGE
 
I understand NH fans being upset. I actually enjoyed the racing there. As someone who lives less than an hour away from MIS I would have been furious had they lost a date while Jeff Gordon was still driving. Now I don't care if they lose a date. I'd rather Iowa have one Cup date than my local track have 2.
 
What would be the expense to ship loaded haulers internationally?
Plenty of other race series go international every year. F1, Indycar, WEC, WTCC, Australia's Supercars, Super GT, etc...
Even NASCAR made the 2 trips to Japan before. Wouldn't be a difficult thing for them to do at all.
I'm sure they would get a great crowd in Europe or Australia, at least the first few times. After a while and the hype has died down, who knows..
If NASCAR's offseason was longer, would be pretty cool to see them do a race overseas in December or January...
But since the off season is nearly non-existent, an international race seems like it would be pretty tough on teams...
 
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