Nascar on Dirt: an opinion

klemmabyna

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/five-reasons-nascar-needs-return-dirt-174300573--nascar.html

Five Reasons NASCAR Needs to Return to Dirt
By Paula Thompson | Yahoo! Contributor Network – 5 hours ago.. .
COMMENTARY | Fans of NASCAR's Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series are still awaiting word on the official 2013 schedules for each series, but one rumor that has been floating around that has been addressed to some extent is the possibility of a Truck Series race on a dirt track, namely Tony Stewart's track, Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Track owner Stewart has addressed the idea with the media, saying that he has been in talks with NASCAR but that is as far as it's gone right now. The idea of NASCAR on dirt isn't a new one, and it's an idea whose time has come. Here are five reasons why NASCAR needs to get down and dirty at Eldora - or any other dirt track that can fit thousands of fans who are ready for a change.

History - NASCAR hasn't had a regular season national series dirt track event since 1970, the last time the Grand National Series ran at Raleigh's North Carolina Fairgrounds, but NASCAR's history is steeped in dirt tracks. In 1949, all seven oval track races in the "Strictly Stock" division were run on dirt. In 1955, 40 of the season's 45 races were contested on dirt tracks. From 1949 to 1970, there were 489 Cup Series races run on dirt - and 72 of them were won by a driver with the last name of Petty (40 by Lee and 32 by Richard).

Bring back the old fans - attendance at NASCAR Cup Series events has gone down annually at most tracks on the schedule, and tracks have made adjustments in seating (lowering capacity numbers) in accordance to these figures. Where are the fans? Some track owners, like Speedway Motorsports Incorporated's Bruton Smith (owner of eight NASCAR tracks), thinks fans are getting bored with the competition on the track - too many fuel mileage races, too many long green-flag runs and not even drivers with a "mean streak."

Bring in new fans - bringing a dirt track to the schedule - whether it's Eldora Speedway or the Dirt Tracks at Charlotte Motor Speedway or Las Vegas Motor Speedway - will introduce more NASCAR fans to the excitement of dirt racing, and introduce more dirt track fans to the thrill of NASCAR.

Time to bring Trucks to the forefront - as a long-time NASCAR fan, dating back to the mid-1980s, I have watched NASCAR change over the last 25-plus years - and not always for the better; I agree with Smith on many things - especially that fuel mileage races are boring. As a fan, I lost interest when Jimmie Johnson dominated the Cup Series year after year, and lost interest in the Nationwide Series when it was dominated by Cup Series drivers. These things led me to become a Truck Series fan, and I would love to see the series move to the forefront by doing something different. The Truck Series is actually the perfect national series to try this experiment with, as it is still something of a "novelty" - it is not the standard "race car" that fans were accustomed to prior to the series' 1995 debut, and draws fewer fans than the Sprint Cup Series does weekly.

Dirt track racing is exciting - in addition to being a long-time NASCAR fan, I'm a long-time dirt track racing fan - I've attended local dirt modified races for about 20 years, and World of Outlaws Sprint Car races at nearby Rolling Wheels Raceway Park for the last two. These were the most exciting races I saw this year, and drew thousands of fans even on a cold New York night (the October Outlaws race at Rolling Wheels was run in approximately 40-degree weather - with a packed grandstand).

It's time for a change in NASCAR - and the future is in its historic past.
Paula is a long-time auto racing fan who also covers the sport at Examiner.com and Skirts & Scuffs.
 
I'll be more than pleased to see them get the trucks on dirt. Do that first and then worry about the rest. It will be the hottest ticket in NASCAR should they choose to do it. It will also probably be the most viewed NASCAR telecast of the season. I don't see it being a losing proposition at all.
 
It will be the hottest ticket in NASCAR should they choose to do it. It will also probably be the most viewed NASCAR telecast of the season.
The only downside I can see is that I don't think there's a dirt track in the country with seating capacity to meet the demand. If the Trucks ran on dirt at Charlotte, I'd definitely be there. And can you see Tony hosting such an event at Eldora without trying to make the show himself?

Say, didn't Bruton cover Bristol with dirt 10 or 12 years ago for a WoO weekend? I'd love to see a WoO / Trucks weekend, just to see if anybody double-dipped.
 
Probably a better idea than a reality. I would rather see some more asphalt short tracks put back on the schedule. Beside Nascars greatest need is to bring back the hottie trophy queens, high heels are better on the asphalt..

Game, Set and Snatch.
 
Probably a better idea than a reality. I would rather see some more asphalt short tracks put back on the schedule. Beside Nascars greatest need is to bring back the hottie trophy queens, high heels are better on the asphalt..

Game, Set and Snatch.

Yeah , as much as I think that it would be fun , I think that a couple of drivers would dominate and the rest would struggle . Like on the road courses back in the day , it wouldn't be real competitive .
 
I don't think teams would want the expense of building a dirt only car.
I'm not really sure how much expense matters to most of these teams. If they have it, they'll spend it one way or another and that would simply be another direction.
 
If it became a long term yearly deal, I am thinking the teams with the most money would build special trucks for the dirt.
Even if the rules were well crafted to prevent those cases, that would bother me more than bringing in dirt ringers.

My ideas of returning to the grassroots would have lots of asphalt short track truck and NWS events, at least half the schedule. That would encourage more fresh faces to randomly show up. A driver that is regional short track giant or an owner of similar stature could get a single short track car, and take a stab at the big time to showcase their talent several times a year.
The odds are long, and their still down on pit stops, but at least the possibility would exist.

This was the old Busch or NWS deal in the 80s. This is the grassroots that should have never been abandoned. If you lived in a small market with a good half mile or 3/8s short track, you had a chance to see some of the best in the world roll into your town. That's the loss or current disconnect.

Nascar wants to mega size their shows (or to milk the money, Wal mart it into a one size fits all, deal with it game etc). This has produced a less interested generation. Marketing isn't the problem, and the economy isn't the biggest problem. Just put the best damn product there is out there, and put it on the shelves were it can be reached, because the suite market is a small crowd.

Put 30 plus NWS cars on an asphalt half mile, and just let the insanity work its magic. That's the stuff that put the racing in my blood, and made me a happy racing freak. That's what the kids need to see today. They need to be close enough to let the smell of the gas, and rubber soak in, and close enough to feel the drivers. The high fa fluting suites don't feel it, smell it and believe it, they don't have the fever there to far away, and that's the disconnect.
 
Put 30 plus NWS cars on an asphalt half mile, and just let the insanity work its magic. That's the stuff that put the racing in my blood, and made me a happy racing freak. That's what the kids need to see today. They need to be close enough to let the smell of the gas, and rubber soak in, and close enough to feel the drivers. The high fa fluting suites don't feel it, smell it and believe it, they don't have the fever there to far away, and that's the disconnect.

Dang Greg, I like the way you think. I have three great short tracks within an hour of me and Berlin. Winchester, Toledo and Salem within three hours of me. I love watching the CRA cars and the super mods run. I even enjoy the CRA trucks.

If NASCAR races anything on dirt, I will be there.
 
greg: excellent post.

now if only there was a rule prohibiting the cup/busch/trucks from racing at the same track on the same weekend.
 
If it became a long term yearly deal, I am thinking the teams with the most money would build special trucks for the dirt.
Even if the rules were well crafted to prevent those cases, that would bother me more than bringing in dirt ringers.

My ideas of returning to the grassroots would have lots of asphalt short track truck and NWS events, at least half the schedule. That would encourage more fresh faces to randomly show up. A driver that is regional short track giant or an owner of similar stature could get a single short track car, and take a stab at the big time to showcase their talent several times a year.
The odds are long, and their still down on pit stops, but at least the possibility would exist.

This was the old Busch or NWS deal in the 80s. This is the grassroots that should have never been abandoned. If you lived in a small market with a good half mile or 3/8s short track, you had a chance to see some of the best in the world roll into your town. That's the loss or current disconnect.

Nascar wants to mega size their shows (or to milk the money, Wal mart it into a one size fits all, deal with it game etc). This has produced a less interested generation. Marketing isn't the problem, and the economy isn't the biggest problem. Just put the best damn product there is out there, and put it on the shelves were it can be reached, because the suite market is a small crowd.

Put 30 plus NWS cars on an asphalt half mile, and just let the insanity work its magic. That's the stuff that put the racing in my blood, and made me a happy racing freak. That's what the kids need to see today. They need to be close enough to let the smell of the gas, and rubber soak in, and close enough to feel the drivers. The high fa fluting suites don't feel it, smell it and believe it, they don't have the fever there to far away, and that's the disconnect.

Some of the best drivers you'll ever see are running 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 mile tracks all around the country on a weekly/local level. Super Late Models, Sprint Cars, Supermodifieds, etc. I agree Greg, these people that sit in a suite at a race track will never get it. Most of the tracks NASCAR caters to are strictly for money, not for the show. I don't think anybody has a local 1.5 mile track weekly show. They have short tracks, dirt and asphalt that produce good racing. NASCAR needs to run more short tracks and bring that true racing feeling back. They're going to have to look at the product and realize it's not just the economy.
 
You guys are talking about a completely different type of racing . Because I only watch Nascar , does that make me less of a fan? I can't get into watching F1 ,Indy cars , Off Road Baja Trucks , quarter midgets or winged sprint cars . I basically am a Nascar fan , that's all I care to be. If you guys like watch sprint cars on dirt tracks , more power to you. I'm quite happy with Nascar just the way it is.:)
 
You guys are talking about a completely different type of racing . Because I only watch Nascar , does that make me less of a fan? I can't get into watching F1 ,Indy cars , Off Road Baja Trucks , quarter midgets or winged sprint cars . I basically am a Nascar fan , that's all I care to be. If you guys like watch sprint cars on dirt tracks , more power to you. I'm quite happy with Nascar just the way it is.:)


I love Nascar but it doesn't mean they can't improve. In addition Nascar has changed things itself, and what I want is a return to the racing that generated more passion.
But the greatest proof of the need is the interest decline. TV viewership results is almost recession proof, and the cookie cutter tracks contribution should be self evident.
 
I love Nascar but it doesn't mean they can't improve. In addition Nascar has changed things itself, and what I want is a return to the racing that generated more passion.
But the greatest proof of the need is the interest decline. TV viewership results is almost recession proof, and the cookie cutter tracks contribution should be self evident.
My interst hasn't declined and by making wholesale changes to please 'phantom fans ', Nascar is running the risk of losing fans like me . I have been saying for years that the new "fans" that Nascar has been attracting are fans of just one driver ,not of Nascar racing . For instance ,the Jeff Gordon fans are drifting away because he isn't dominating any more . As will the Danica fans and the Pastrana fans . In any event ,Nascar's efforts to keep these folks may do more harm than good.
 
Are there any Dirt Tracks that would even hold up for more than 100 laps? I love dirt racing but I think Nascar fans would be more like the "Wine and Chese Boys " that Sterling Marlin used to talk about. Do love to watch the Prelude though.
 
Are there any Dirt Tracks that would even hold up for more than 100 laps? I love dirt racing but I think Nascar fans would be more like the "Wine and Chese Boys " that Sterling Marlin used to talk about. Do love to watch the Prelude though.

Thats the problem, 30-36 3400lb trucks on 9" tires would destroy a dirt track pretty quickly.
 
I don't follow the series but doesn't ARCA race on dirt? I think that they are the same weight specs as a Cup car.

Would they run such a round in heats format & an "A" main final situation and have track grades??
 
Would they run such a round in heats format & an "A" main final situation and have track grades??
I don't have a clue about that. I'm only an occasional dirt fan and I don't follow the ARCA series to know how they do it.
 
You guys are talking about a completely different type of racing . Because I only watch Nascar , does that make me less of a fan? I can't get into watching F1 ,Indy cars , Off Road Baja Trucks , quarter midgets or winged sprint cars . I basically am a Nascar fan , that's all I care to be. If you guys like watch sprint cars on dirt tracks , more power to you. I'm quite happy with Nascar just the way it is.:)

ted: it certainly doesn't make you less of a fan. but here is my opinion:

not sure how long you have been following nascar. my assumption (you know- makes an a$$ of u and me) is you are one of the "new" fans that began watching nascar within the last fifteen years when gordon helped grow the sport and the friendly rivalry with earnhardt spawned great interest in those who previously thought "cars going around in circles" was boring.

unfortunately you are one of the few out of this group that continues to be true nascar fans.

my thought is that the most of us old timers continue to love the racing, but the majority of the crowd that created record growth in the sport have moved on to something new.

and i could be wrong, but... my belief is that sustained interest is generated by exposing fans to racing at the local level, where they can develop a personal interest in the people involved, be it family or friends of race teams, track operators, and all the factions involved in the sport.

and i think there are still plenty of short tracks capable of hosting the truck and nationwide series which brings the stars to the potential new fans rather than expecting the new fans to empty their pockets and fill the stands at all the new oversized stadiums.

sorry. got carried away on my soapbox.

as i said, this is just my opinion. and it is certainly skewed by my backgorund of growing up attending my local dirt track, something i continue to do today. i just don't believe the current model is a blueprint for growth of the sport.
 
Actually , my interest goes back to the wide world of sports telecasts . I had seen some local short track races before that , but didn't get interested . One of our local short track guys Junior Hanley moved up to Ontario and started building cars for guys in Arca and Nationwide , I think. Anyway I have been a long time fan , mainly due to the consistency of the sport. Same rules every week , same forty three names, once you learned the names , you could follow the sport pretty easily . The stick and ball sports were out of control , players changed uniforms faster that I could learn to pronounce their names . My only concern with Nascar is that they keep changing the rules to appease some phantom fans who can never be satisfied.
 
and i think there are still plenty of short tracks capable of hosting the truck and nationwide series which brings the stars to the potential new fans rather than expecting the new fans to empty their pockets and fill the stands at all the new oversized stadiums.
I don't think there are many tracks without dates that can afford the now-mandatory SAFER walls. It seems to me that requirement would pretty much limit any N'wide / Truck rescheduling to road courses. I have not objection to that, but I don't think that's what you wanted to see. It also makes me wonder how that proposed Canadian street course is going to handle 3500 pounds hitting one of those temporary concrete barriers at the end of a straightaway.
 
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Actually , my interest goes back to the wide world of sports telecasts . I had seen some local short track races before that , but didn't get interested . One of our local short track guys Junior Hanley moved up to Ontario and started building cars for guys in Arca and Nationwide



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=PQiaYx5yuTM#t=2s

^ If you love old short track heros, this Hanley tribute is worth the 10 minutes, If you like modifieds there are some great images near the end of the video

As for the Hanley images I loved those old Camaro bodies in the late 70s, early 80s. Those cars were as radically offset as any asphalt Late Model I am aware of.... often with no caged door bars on the right side, just a single tube. I am thinking they were at least 60 percent weight to the left side.
The Aero work was a thing a beauty, the nose, artistic roof lines, and the rear spoilers. I am glad I got to see the era, those cars were fast as well as the modifieds.
I am thinking the modifieds were running big blocks during the era, but I am less than certain because they didnt run them as much here in South Carolina.
 
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=PQiaYx5yuTM#t=2s

^ If you love old short track heros, this Hanley tribute is worth the 10 minutes, If you like modifieds there are some great images near the end of the video

As for the Hanley images I loved those old Camaro bodies in the late 70s, early 80s. Those cars were as radically offset as any asphalt Late Model I am aware of.... often with no caged door bars on the right side, just a single tube. I am thinking they were at least 60 percent weight to the left side.
The Aero work was a thing a beauty, the nose, artistic roof lines, and the rear spoilers. I am glad I got to see the era, those cars were fast as well as the modifieds.
I am thinking the modifieds were running big blocks during the era, but I am less than certain because they didnt run them as much here in South Carolina.


Thanks Greg . That guy was a racer.
 
I don't follow the series but doesn't ARCA race on dirt? I think that they are the same weight specs as a Cup car.

This past year ARCA ran its Single traditional Dirt race ( out of 20 races ) a 100 lapper on the 1 mile Illinois State Fairgrounds 23 of 35 cars finished with only 12 on the lead lap and only 4 different leaders. Frank Kimmel won it like he has 7 times before in the past 12 years, I'm sure our current crop of NASCAR "Fans" would have loved it.
 
I'd rather not see the Cup or Nationwide run on dirt but the trucks would be fun to watch.
 
This past year ARCA ran its Single traditional Dirt race ( out of 20 races ) a 100 lapper on the 1 mile Illinois State Fairgrounds 23 of 35 cars finished with only 12 on the lead lap and only 4 different leaders. Frank Kimmel won it like he has 7 times before in the past 12 years, I'm sure our current crop of NASCAR "Fans" would have loved it.
As a kimmel fan, I like the sounds of that! ;)

Seriously though I wouldn't have a problem with it. I'd buy the ticket in a heartbeat if it were as close to me as Eldora is. Regardless of where it would or could be held it would be the hottest ticket in NASCAR. There was talk of the Truck Series heading to Eldora a couple weeks ago of which Tony has shot that down in one of his latest interviews. If that is something that should happen I sure as heck don't see that as a bad thing. It's all good. This is a great sport IMO and I think the dirt possibility can only bring more interest and attention to our sport.
 
It might be Fun or possibly interesting to watch but I sure as hell would'nt want to drive it, prepare the car for it or repair the car afterwards and I sure as hell would'nt want to be the promotor or track operator who was responsible for track conditions!
I raced with the NDRA back in the 70's and early 80's most the races where 100 lappers the cars where 1,000 or more lbs lighter the tires 12-16" wide ( we raced on grooved drag slicks at one point and had lexan sideboards the length of the cars with spoilers 4 foot high and a shovel nose the slow guys had 700hp the fast guys had much more, wicked cars to drive ) They packed, watered, calciumed and soaped up tracks for weeks in advance and every race by halfway we where dodging holes, banging off and across ruts and berms, rattling parts off the car on washboards or IF we where lucky the track would go dry slick or bluegroove then we could run in a single file the last half of the race or get passed and wrecked. The spectators got tired of that pretty quickly and quit coming out.
Dirt track racing is Fun and Exciting with Hi Powered, Light weight, Big tired cars why ruin the fun by putting on a show with heavy, lo powered, skinny tired tanks? The vehicle in the Top three series of NASCAR are designed to go fast and put on a good show racing on paved tracks. I say leave them alone and go to your local short track wether it's dirt or asphalt and watch real racing.
 
^Excellent post or reality check FlFlashes
 
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