Spike
Team Owner
I would put Pikes Peak back on there. And fix up North Wilkesboro and get it back on the Truck, Nationwide, and CW East series.
SMI willing to give up a date for Kentucky
- Thread starter TexasRaceLady
- Start date
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Digger
Guest
Pikes Peak reopened this year, didn't they?
It would cost too much for anyone to fix up North Wilkesboro.
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Digger
Guest
New Jersey Motorsports Park -- about 30 minutes east of Philly and 30 minutes west of Atlantic City. PERFECT race spot in the summertime.
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Eagle1
Guest
That's interesting I thought PPIR went down for the count.
I'm thrilled though, I went to 6 events there, camped there and just loved the track. I was realy sad when they closed it.
I'm thrilled though, I went to 6 events there, camped there and just loved the track. I was realy sad when they closed it.
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Digger
Guest
www.ppir.com
No races or anything yet. I wouldn't be surprised if it pops up on an ASA or ARCA West schedule though.
Spike
Team Owner
Yea, opened back up and spruced back up. Still a high capacity as well(about the same as Kentucky IIRC).
North Wilkesboro would cost alot to renovate, I agree. But I think Smith is desparate to unload it, might give it away for anywhere from $4-8 million, and that would offset the costs to renovate it(new pavement, new grandstand, etc).
As for Iowa Speedway, I really dont mean to sound like a dick. Its just that its a small track(and I have no doubt that they could expand it if need be), but before they get a Sprint Cup race. lets see how a small track in the middle of nowhere can draw for a Truck Series and Nationwide race first.
North Wilkesboro would cost alot to renovate, I agree. But I think Smith is desparate to unload it, might give it away for anywhere from $4-8 million, and that would offset the costs to renovate it(new pavement, new grandstand, etc).
As for Iowa Speedway, I really dont mean to sound like a dick. Its just that its a small track(and I have no doubt that they could expand it if need be), but before they get a Sprint Cup race. lets see how a small track in the middle of nowhere can draw for a Truck Series and Nationwide race first.
Andy, Nope i wont be at a ARCA race at Kentucky Speedway. If in 5 years i have drove to Nashville Superspeedway twice (2004 Nascar Truck and ARCA, 2008 spring Nationwide) and it is just 2 hours away. Then why the hell would i drive 5 for a ACRA race.
Ive stated that id love for KY to have a race, but i more then likey wont go.
Ive stated that id love for KY to have a race, but i more then likey wont go.
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Mopardh9
Guest
Sounds very good i like this!
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Mopardh9
Guest
Huh... I thought they were done too, I lived in Fountain Co. for 2 years and Colorado Springs for 5, this is a great track. Only thing is the traffic, one way in one way out. Went to 3 Busch races, 2 Truck races, and 2 IRL races while I was living out there. Nice track, flat only 10 degrees in the corners, but I thought it provided some great racing.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Don't take offense to this if you are a Kentucky Track fan but isn't this yet another 'cookie cutter' 1.5 mile track? I'd hate to see a unique tracks race taken from them for the sake of adding another track of this type to the circuit.
but at least it's a tri-oval, not a quad oval...
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Looks like Vegas, Chicagoland or Kansas to me. Personally, I like the unique tracks on the circuit.
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Digger
Guest
I like Kentucky. For some reason, it usually produces different winners.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
I don't mean to imply that I don't like the track, just quit making them like that. Come up with something more unique. They don't all have to be made alike. Break the mold and let's do something new. Think outside the tri/quad oval.
I wouldn't mind a new tri-oval ---- with the D going IN toward pit road, rather than out toward the stands. A chicane, only much larger.
hehe...wouldn't that count as a road course since they'd be turning right?
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
I like it! Now that's the kind of thinking that I'm talking about and if someone wants to call it a 'road course' so be it. Less of the same would be better IMO.
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Digger
Guest
Pocono's different but everyone whines and *****es everytime they race there. Everyone *****es about the road courses being boring as well.I don't mean to imply that I don't like the track, just quit making them like that. Come up with something more unique. They don't all have to be made alike. Break the mold and let's do something new. Think outside the tri/quad oval.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Pocono's different but everyone whines and *****es everytime they race there. Everyone *****es about the road courses being boring as well.
For a second I thought that you were trying to speak for the entire NASCAR Nation. Don't include me in your broad spectrum of motorsport fans. I like Pocono. I like both road courses. Heck add Road as a prefix to Atlanta rather than removing Atlanta and I'd be happy. But that's just me
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Eagle1
Guest
Me either, cause I like Pocono and love roadcourses
barelypure
Spectator
- Joined
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Why not run a Flat Rock type track? Figure 8s could get real interesting...
Spike
Team Owner
I dont hate Pocono, I just find most of its races to be incredibly dull and think 1 race a year there would be enough.
buckaroo
Here kitty, kitty, kitty
This thread is going everywhere, but such is the nature of a forum. I've enjoyed reading about the Iowa track and whether they could add more seats, etc. If they can seat over 150,000 at a half mile track, they can certainly add more seats to the Iowa track. But let's not forget what is driving NASCAR these days. It's money, and from whom? Yes, we lowly fans contribute a lot at the track, but every time you sit in the stands, just look behind you and see what you can see. AND, know what it costs to fill those seats. The Yankees new stadium is having a very hard time selling out and one of the problems is that those really good seats cost $2,600 a game. Fill those seats and you will make much more money than filling the bleachers at $12.50 a seat. But what's happened, the bleachers are selling out, but not the others. My point is this, NASCAR naturally wants to be able to sell out those suites, even at the tracks they don't control. Unlike baseball, there isn't a race at the track weekly, or less, and the people who attend the races, come from all over the country. So who owns those suites? Big dollar companies and they don't charge the people who come and sit in those airconditioned, all you can eat and drink comfy chairs. No, they give those seats away to customers, or prospective customers...unless you are lucky like me and know someone who knows someone. But back to my point, because a race at any track isn't just a single day event, in order to please those big money people, you need to have something in the area that will be a nice draw for the corporate sponsors and their customers to enjoy. Why did IMS take away race dates from Darlington? Ever been there? If you are going there for a race on Sunday, and are an avid fan, it's great. But if you aren't a fan but are being courted by a fortune 500 company, is tailgating with 20,000 or so wild and crazy rednecks something that you want to do? How about a nice expensive restaurant? How about some night life?
Now I won't sit here and run down Iowa. I lived there for 22 years and it's a great place to live if you like harsh winters, but even Cedar Rapids isn't close to the Mississippi River. It's a nice far piece to Des Moines or even Davenport and the Quad Cities where I lived. You give that track a date and what you'll get are mostly avid racing fans, and that my friends is not what NASCAR is trying to attract these days.
Okay, off the soap box. If Bruton is willing to give up a date at one of his tracks, I say that it would be one of Atlanta's dates. He's already moving the sport out of his home state, why not a neighbor as well.
But back to my point, because a race at any track isn't just a single day event, in order to please those big money people, you need to have something in the area that will be a nice draw for the corporate sponsors and their customers to enjoy. Why did IMS take away race dates from Darlington? Ever been there? If you are going there for a race on Sunday, and are an avid fan, it's great. But if you aren't a fan but are being courted by a fortune 500 company, is tailgating with 20,000 or so wild and crazy rednecks something that you want to do? How about a nice expensive restaurant? How about some night life? Now I won't sit here and run down Iowa. I lived there for 22 years and it's a great place to live if you like harsh winters, but even Cedar Rapids isn't close to the Mississippi River. It's a nice far piece to Des Moines or even Davenport and the Quad Cities where I lived. You give that track a date and what you'll get are mostly avid racing fans, and that my friends is not what NASCAR is trying to attract these days.
Okay, off the soap box. If Bruton is willing to give up a date at one of his tracks, I say that it would be one of Atlanta's dates. He's already moving the sport out of his home state, why not a neighbor as well.
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Eagle1
Guest
Excellent thought provoking post Buck, and right on the mark.
I know for us, both being retired the last couple years has been financially tight for us. We use to go to CA Speedway for both races, go to a dozen or more trips to Irwindale, spent around $500.00 per year on publications and a couple thousand a year on diecasts, new jackets, T shirts, hats and other NASCAR related merchandise.
Recently we have quit going to CA Speedway, I have cut down all publications to just Circle Track. We do keep Sirius and our DirecTV package to get all the NASCAR coverage. I have only picked up a couple diecasts in a couple years and no other merchandise.
If that is just 2 fans I can only imagine the overall impact on the sport at this time.
I know for us, both being retired the last couple years has been financially tight for us. We use to go to CA Speedway for both races, go to a dozen or more trips to Irwindale, spent around $500.00 per year on publications and a couple thousand a year on diecasts, new jackets, T shirts, hats and other NASCAR related merchandise.
Recently we have quit going to CA Speedway, I have cut down all publications to just Circle Track. We do keep Sirius and our DirecTV package to get all the NASCAR coverage. I have only picked up a couple diecasts in a couple years and no other merchandise.
If that is just 2 fans I can only imagine the overall impact on the sport at this time.
Same here, Eagle. Once upon a time it was 7 or 8 races a year --- minimum $2000 a weekend if I drove to the track, more if I flew. Countless dollars on "stuff", plus food/drink. Season tics to TMS were $2300 yearly --had 4 seats in the VIP --- gave them up when they became more expensive than my property taxes.
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SST55
Guest
From Buck's post and why I think it'll be NHIS:
If you are going there for a race on Sunday, and are an avid fan, it's great. But if you aren't a fan but are being courted by a fortune 500 company, is tailgating with 20,000 or so wild and crazy Yankees something that you want to do?
If you are going there for a race on Sunday, and are an avid fan, it's great. But if you aren't a fan but are being courted by a fortune 500 company, is tailgating with 20,000 or so wild and crazy Yankees something that you want to do?
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Eagle1
Guest
Even though they have sold every race they have ever had?
Before you stick a nail in their coffin, at least wait and see if for the first time they do not sell out.
I know even though they have 93,500 seats if Bob had built more they would have sold them, last I knew there was quite a waiting list.
I think NHIS is a little different than most areas as there isn't another venue in hundreds of miles and NHIS draws fans from all of New England and Canada.
this is true.
Spike
Team Owner
Just to prove I am not on an Iowa Speedway witch hunt...if they can expand and are afforded a Cup race sometime in the future, it is very close to Des Moines and Ames(a college town), as well as just over an hour from Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Cedar Falls(two more college towns)
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Digger
Guest
I only spent $160 on the Rockingham race. That included gas and hotel.
Of course, I had media credentials, and Andy Hillenburg fed us well.
Of course, I had media credentials, and Andy Hillenburg fed us well.
oh hush. Don't even get me started over what you said about NJMP....I only spent $160 on the Rockingham race. That included gas and hotel.
Of course, I had media credentials, and Andy Hillenburg fed us well.
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Digger
Guest
Oh, they also fed us well.
The platform above the infield media center at Rockingham was definently the kicker though.
How was Texas?
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Mopardh9
Guest
How about VIR or Lime Rock for road courses? Or Laguana Seca....now that would be cool, or better yet Road Atlanta.
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Mopardh9
Guest
Hey come on don't you enjoy that traffic jam on Sunday afternoon? I would never go to see a Cup race at NHIS for two reasons: 1. traffic is a nightmare unless you are doing the Bus or limo thing. 2. this is the most important one, the racing isn't that good. The Nationwide, Trucks, and especially the Modifieds are much better racing than the Cup cars. I would like to see this track lose its' Chase date to Vegas, makes sense not only because I love the Vegas track, but because from a monetary standpoint Nascar would stand to make a hell of a lot more money, plus the weather in the fall in Vegas is awesome ( hello night race Vegas) and NHIS is iffy in September.
ending the season with a sunday night race at vegas would win hands down...
a saturday night race would fail hands up.
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Digger
Guest
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Digger
Guest
I like the championship race being in Homestead myself.
VaDirt
Dirt Track Fanatic
Personally, I think they should have the last race be at Darlington and call it the Southern 500. Yeah yeah, I know they brought back that race (it's this weekend), but having it now just makes it another race weekend, nothing special. Make it the championship race, give meaning back to it.
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Digger
Guest
I disagree for two reasons.
1. The general manager at Darlington likes the current date. He told me it's too hot on Labor Day weekend, even for a night race.
2. Homestead is a spectacular venue to close the season. One race, one very distinctly different track. And every other series (Grand-Am, Trucks, Nationwide, IndyCar) ends their seasons at Homestead. They took the championship and moved it from Atlanta to Homestead, and it's thriving where it's at right now.
I wouldn't mind starting the Chase in Darlington. But keep the championship race in Homestead.
Keep the season finale in South Florida.
VaDirt
Dirt Track Fanatic
Darlington is VERY distinctly different. And champ weekend isn't on Labor Day. I'm thinking more along the lines of melding tradition into the fold. By taking a long standing, formerly prestigious race, and make it count for something again, all the better.