Caraway Speedway 4/20/2013

[SpeedPagan]

First off let me say that I'm sure that the Modified drivers are very good, and I know that racing takes a certain amount of skills and talent, I'm not questioning that. However, I have now watched three Modified races (Bowman Gray, Charlotte & Caraway), and honestly Modifieds cannot put on a good show. Even at a track where every other class managed to put on an enjoyable show, the Modifieds failed in this regard.

Now I'm not asking for wrecks, and I'm not asking for bumping and grinding as I know how hard the teams work on these cars. However, I didn't even see that much passing or fighting for positions. It was basically 75 laps of follow the leader...again. Yes, it was a 150 lap race, and yes I did leave at the halfway point. Mainly because I knew what to expect in the second half. I mark this up to either the cars or drivers being too evenly matched, or this is just what open wheel racing looks like.

However the other races, Mini-Stock, Limited Late Models, Legends and Stock Late Models all put on very good shows, with Limited Late Models and Legends putting on the best shows. You saw drivers fighting for positions, you saw bumping and occasional paint trading. You saw the usual passion and dedication that you'd come to expect from a local short track racing.

So while Modifieds have lost me as a fan, Caraway Speedway and the classes that they have every Saturday Night have gained a new fan.

 

[toledo47]

Well, I think you should have stuck it out, its only 150 laps at a short track, the race was probably no more than 90 minutes long. On nascarlocalracing.com the article mentioned a last lap pass, i can't comment on the rest of the race, but I think since you paid the price of admission it would have been a good idea to stay the remaining 45 mintes. In general, races are often better at the end. Drivers save their stuff early, etc...

However, I personally agree that modified races pretty much suck. Dirt or asphalt, touring or local. All of the races I have seen were just crap. Seen them at many tracks, including 3 Whelen modified tour races. They either wreck constantly or nothing happens, just follow the leader, BORING. I never go to see them as the primary class racing, they always are just an opening act for a better series for me.

 

[SpeedPagan]

Yea, I wish I'd stuck around for the UCARS and Hornet class, those are usually interesting.

 

[buckaroo]

Last night was opening night at Bowman Gray and the mods ran a 200 lap feature race. The house was packed and we saw a great show with all the races. Yes, the mods will race single file for a good majority of the race if it is a longer race, but with cone double file restart, things happen that are exciting. BGS for the most part uses a dual race system in which the first race, mods 25 laps, sportsman 20 laps, line up by qualifying speed. The winner then draws a inverted line up number from 6 to 16 (?) for the second race. No double file restarts and as you can imagine, the faster cars work hard to get back up front in the second race. It's fast paced, quick and exciting.