Local track goes Nascar

Bobw

Bobw

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For the second time. Seekonk went nascar around 2001 and left around 2005. Major bones of contention were increased costs for teams. Car registrations, pit passes, nascar licenses, Ticket prices for the fans in the stands too.
http://seekonkspeedway.com/archives/7659

We'll see how it goes
 
This is something I've always wondered, if there any real benefit in short tracks going NASCAR?
 
just curious... did they run under a different sanction after leaving nascar?

I know my hometown track has stayed nascar with the most often suggested reasons being the points fund and the insurance.
 
For years it was ARC, Anthony's Race Cars/ Anthony's Race Club? So named after D. Anthony Venidetti (sp) the guy who built the track.
From what I saw collecting from Nascars insurance is like getting blood from a stone.
At the time there were several classes running that didn't fit Nascars profile yet they had to pay the nascar fees for registration, pit passes and licenses. Lots of PO'd people. That along with the economy the car count dropped.
This may have something to do with Waterford, if it closes or not. Just speculation on my part because Waterford is a much better racing venue, IMHO.
I'm going to keep a open mind and see if it works,,this time.
 
Best wishes for Seekonk... hope they don't get disillusioned and leave NASCAR again.

"This is something I've always wondered, if there any real benefit in short tracks going NASCAR?"
I'm not sure. Supposedly the track benefits from the NASCAR name and PR machine. But NASCAR has pretty much ignored its short tracks for at least the past ten years.

An example: Caraway Speedway. When I moved to this area in 1988, Caraway was thriving. But the owner wanted a NASCAR sanction, and finally got one after NASCAR changed its "protected area" policy (before, Bowman-Gray Stadium in WInston-Salem was too close to Caraway). After getting his NASCAR sanction, Caraway's owner spent a lot of money improving the facility: paved most of the pits, fixed up the track, built some additional grandstands and concession stands, paved more of the areas that fans used, fixed his septic problems, and created a larger more formal fan entrance. The track is pretty nice. But his car count has dropped to about one quarter of what it was, and his grandstands are almost empty. I knew several racers who quit going to Caraway after it became NASCAR sanctioned because their cars became obsolete (didn't fit NASCAR short track class rules) and because now they had to pony up for an expensive NASCAR license. This all happened at Caraway sometime in the mid-1990s, and Caraway hasn't recovered since.
 
gone said:
Best wishes for Seekonk... hope they don't get disillusioned and leave NASCAR again.

"This is something I've always wondered, if there any real benefit in short tracks going NASCAR?"
I'm not sure. Supposedly the track benefits from the NASCAR name and PR machine. But NASCAR has pretty much ignored its short tracks for at least the past ten years.

An example: Caraway Speedway. When I moved to this area in 1988, Caraway was thriving. But the owner wanted a NASCAR sanction, and finally got one after NASCAR changed its "protected area" policy (before, Bowman-Gray Stadium in WInston-Salem was too close to Caraway). After getting his NASCAR sanction, Caraway's owner spent a lot of money improving the facility: paved most of the pits, fixed up the track, built some additional grandstands and concession stands, paved more of the areas that fans used, fixed his septic problems, and created a larger more formal fan entrance. The track is pretty nice. But his car count has dropped to about one quarter of what it was, and his grandstands are almost empty. I knew several racers who quit going to Caraway after it became NASCAR sanctioned because their cars became obsolete (didn't fit NASCAR short track class rules) and because now they had to pony up for an expensive NASCAR license. This all happened at Caraway sometime in the mid-1990s, and Caraway hasn't recovered since.
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Yea, I've been to Caraway a couple of times, honestly it just seem like your typical local short track. A bit run down from it's heyday, local guys racing there every Saturday night and once in awhile they'd get a touring series to race there, didn't really seem that different than any other short track I've been to.
 
SpeedPagan said:
Yea, I've been to Caraway a couple of times, honestly it just seem like your typical local short track. A bit run down from it's heyday, local guys racing there every Saturday night and once in awhile they'd get a touring series to race there, didn't really seem that different than any other short track I've been to.
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Not sure what you're used to, as far as local track crowds and car counts, but Caraway is a ghost town compared to what it was. Maybe things have picked up for it recently - it's been a couple of years since I was there last. But from talking to friends who have been there, unless it's a Whelen Modifieds race or a special points deal for the Late Models, it's really hurting.
 
There are several benefits. For one, people recognize the NASCAR logo. They're more likely to notice a sign, when they drive past the track, if it says NASCAR. It's also a selling point to businesses who might be interested in advertising as well as to media if the track makes any attempts at PR. And, NASCAR.com's Home Tracks page gives plenty of attention to their tracks.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
There are several benefits. For one, people recognize the NASCAR logo. They're more likely to notice a sign, when they drive past the track, if it says NASCAR. It's also a selling point to businesses who might be interested in advertising as well as to media if the track makes any attempts at PR. And, NASCAR.com's Home Tracks page gives plenty of attention to their tracks.
Click to expand...

Didn't seem to help Caraway.
 
Waterford is reopening for 2015...supposedly...nothing ever works out right for them. Seekonk is a decent track. No modified division though. Up here that means your track is irrelevant. I have no idea why they're doing this. If NASCAR sanctioning didn't work for the track when racing was popular in the 2000s, why would it work now when car counts are at half of what they were back then?

They claim nothing will increase in price... that's complete BS and everyone knows it. SOMETHING has to increase in price to pay NASCAR.
 
Friend tells me the Whelan Mods will run here. Just once or on a regular basis isn't known.
Seekonk was built after WWII and built for midget racing. A 1/4 mile track. Then came the ''jalopies'' in the 50 and then faster and faster cars as the yearsprogressed.
With it's first foray into nascar it somehow became a 1/3 mile track...Supposedly nascar measures a track around it's outside perimeter, the long way around, and not in the racing groove or inside perimeter.
It's a one groove track, 20 LM or Pro Stocks racing results in a caution every 2-3-4 laps. I can be at Seekonk in 20-25 minutes tops. A hour to get to Waterford, couple of hours to get to Stafford or Thompson. I'd rather go to any of those 3 than Seekonk any day.
The management of Seekonk is one big incestual party. From the wife of the original owner/builder down to the great great grandkids they all have a job at the track. And all their wives/husbands too. Front office to garbage pickup.
 
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