Driver Introductions

This has been a popular topic as of late on 4m.net. Driver introductions are a part of our sport, obviously. Some are more elaborate than others. Some people think that they are just a time waster and delay the show. I will disagree with that statement FULLY. Driver introductions are a great way for fans, especially new fans. It let's them SEE what the drivers look like. It lets people, especially little kids, catch a glimpse of their heroes before they climb behind the wheel to go to work. It gives the fans a chance to voice their opinions about the drivers they like and dislike. It is always interesting to hear the drivers who win a lot and those with a certain image be introduced. It is always vocal, that's for sure. It is also good for sponsors on each driver's car as they get mentioned during introductions. The ONLY times I believe that introductions should be skipped are if you are running late and need to get the show done, or if there is inclement weather close that threatens the show. When the time comes, don't be afraid to voice your opinions!!

Settling Scores

We have all seen this before at our track. A driver roughs up another driver, maybe even taking him out. They get sent to the back and don't comply. 2 drivers may make contact with one another and both spin out. They have a disagreement to where they should be. They won't let one another in. It's understandable. They may confront one another on the track or in the pits. That is fine as long as it's person to person. I would rather the 2 parties talk about it later on when things calm down and the drivers aren't fueled by adrenaline and emotion. I honestly think that is the BEST way to handle things. What really irks me and is chickenshit in my book, is when drivers use their cars as battering rams and weapons to settle their score with a driver they feel wronged them. Look, I'm not saying you shouldn't settle you score. Just don't do it to where someone else can get torn up or hurt even. It's stupid. It also makes you look like an ass. If you want to settle your score, do it man to man, possibly hand to hand. I'd much rather see 2 drivers pound the living hell out of one another before seeing one use their race car as a 3,400 lb weapon. Do what you have to do to settle your score. After that, let it go and move on to the next race.

Rivalries in Racing

In any form of racing, from your local short track, dirt or pavement, up to the biggest tiers of racing like NASCAR and F1, there are rivalries among drivers. Some of these rivalries are friendly ones. One that I got to see in action last Saturday night was one between Shannon Babb and Billy Moyer, 2 outstanding late model drivers. They have raced one another a lot. They know how they will race one another. They always race hard and clean. They enjoy besting one another. That is what I LOVE to see in a rivalry. Good, hard, clean racing and afterwards they can laugh and joke about things and be friends. Another rivalry like that was the one between David Pearson and Richard Petty. They finished 1 and 2 63 times in their career. They almost always raced one another cleanly, and never had much of a bad word to say about the other. Another good, clean rivalry. Other rivalries have a lot more dislike and sometimes out and out hatred fueling them. One such example is that between Denny Hamlin and Brad Kesolowski. Brad has roughed up many drivers, Denny included. Denny didn't take it sitting down, and has dumped Brad in previous races. They don't really care for one another at this point in time. Another rivalry like this was between Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt, on track at least. They frequently had run ins between the two of them, and have had their off track altercations as well. They were good friends off the track however. This rivalry was between two driven, hard nosed competitors who hated losing. Another good example of a bitter rivalry was between Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher. Both were driven to win. Both hated losing, and both were among the very best. They had hellatious battles between the two. They got along ok outside of the track, but on it they hated one another. One of the most memorable here was between Dennis Erb Jr. and Steve Sheppard Jr., who has also been known as Super Shepp after jumping up on Erb's car in Highland, Illinois after an on track altercation between the two. He even won the SPEED Channel award called Temper, Temper because of it.
Rivalries in general are a good thing for racing. It adds another element of excitement to the sport. If it means seeing a better race overall, I say go at it boys and girls!!

100 lap features

We as dirt track fans have been to at least one 100 lap race in our time. Whether it be a dirt late model race, modified race, USAC midget or Silver Crown race, 100 lap races just have a different feel about them. You know they are long. So do the drivers. Both parties know that a lot can happen between the start and the finish of the race. 100 lap features will show who the most patient and skilled drivers are. Drivers have to be smooth and patient. They have to conserve their tires and even fuel sometimes to make sure they make it to the finish of the race. Usually with 25 to go these races pick up in intensity immensely. The drivers and fans both feel it. The end of the race is approaching quickly. Drivers who have been saving their stuff begin to make a move. You see if the leader has burnt his tires up or if the setup has faded, or if he can pick it up another notch. Sometimes these races can be runaways. I have seen a few of those in my day in different types of races, from late model to USAC Silver Crown. The leader was never challenged and just cruised in the race. I have seen photo finishes at the end of 100 laps as well. The Inaugural Illini 100 WoO Late Model Series race at Farmer City Raceway is a prime example of this. Billy Moyer got a run off of the high side in turn 4 and beat Shannon Babb back to the line by less than 8 inches. It was a thrilling finish to a long race. Everyone there, fans of those drivers or not, were just buzzing. It was an incredible finish. Usually they are somewhere in between. Not a runaway, but not a photo finish either. They always are unpredictable. That is why I love 100 lap races.

Rain Out Procedures

We race fans have all experienced it. We have been at the races, and part of the show has been complete, and then it rains. Sometimes it is during or right after qualifying. Sometimes it's during the heat races. Sometimes it is during semi-features. The worst is when it does it at feature time. We all know that different tracks have different policies for handling rain outs. The most common that I know of is the 6 race rule. This rule states that if 6 races including qualifying have been completed, your rain check will be no good for readmission at another time. If less than 6 races have been completed, that ticket will be good whenever the show is made up and make good and sure you don't lose that ticket stub. Sometimes it isn't as clear. I have been to a few races where more than 6 were completed, and we were allowed to use our stubs towards the rain date or credit towards another show. This is a nice gesture, especially if you can't make it back on the rescheduled date. If your stub is less than the price of the show, you pay the difference, which is a fair exchange. For the most part I have been fortunate when it comes to rain outs. The promoters have worked hard to make sure they keep the fans happy. They have done a good job and they deserve their recognition for it. I know there are horror stories as well, and if anyone has any, feel free to let them rain in the comments section. Let's hope we don't have to deal with these procedures for a long while this season!!

Multiple Duty Drivers

There are drivers who drive in 2, sometimes 3 classes in a night or weekend. This is true from the local dirt track up to NASCAR. It is something that not everyone can do. To be successful in both requires not just a good driver and equipment but luck, patience, and endurance as well. I can think of a few drivers who pull double duty. Randy Korte of Highland, Illinois will frequently drive a UMP Late Model and UMP Modified, and occasionally driving a UMP Pro Crate Late Model as well when he does triple duty. Dave Crawley Jr. of Decatur, Illinois runs a UMP Modified and UMP Sportsman weekly. Ronnie Johnson of Tennessee frequently runs a Super Late Model, Crate Late Model, and a Sportsman car. Even big drivers will do it. Kyle Busch will frequently run a NASCAR Camping World Truck, Nationwide Series Car, and his regular Sprint Cup Ride. Carl Edwards runs a Nationwide Series Car and a Sprint Cup Car. Kevin Harvick will frequently run a Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series car in addition to his regular duty in his Sprint Cup ride. Every driver mentioned has won in each division, some on the same night or weekend. It takes talent, good equipment, good crews supporting them, and of course luck. When you get a chance to see someone do it, watch it and enjoy it.

Tailgating. It's not just for football.

When most people think of tailgating, they think of football. We tailgate at the race track as well. People will get to the track sometimes a couple of days in advance and just cook out, have friends over, and have a good time. Maybe even a game of poker, baggo (cornhole as it is also known), or whatever else you can think of. Tailgates are also a great way to meet new people. I myself took part in one thanks to some good friends I know at the track. The food was good but the time spent with fellow fans and friends was even better. Drivers and fans alike will tailgate at the track. You never know who might show up depending on who and your friends know. Some of your best memories at the track aren't even of the races sometimes. Sometimes they are of good times with good friends.

Reserved Seating at The Racetrack

Reserved seating at the race track is an interesting subject to talk about among race fans. Some love the idea. Some hate it. Myself personally, I like it WHEN it is done properly. I will talk about what it means to do it properly, and talk about my past experiences when it was right. I will also talk about my not so great experiences with it when it isn't done properly and in an organized fashion.

Organized and well prepared reserved seating at a race track can be an absolute blessing for a race fan. It is nice to know you have a guaranteed seat. If you want to get up and walk around, want to get some food, need to use the restroom, or anything else, you know when you come back you will still have your seat. You can also know that if you happen to get to the track late for whatever reason, you are still guaranteed a seat regardless. When done properly, the seats will be marked clearly and well in advance of the event. A good example of this is how tickets are sold for the Illinois State Fair races. The sections are clearly marked (even though they are for multiple reasons outside of just racing). The promoter uses these sections and seating arrangements and sells tickets. It is efficient and organized, and always goes off smoothly.

Reserved seating that is done at the last minute, rushed, and not as prepared as it should be can be a nightmare for race fans. I JUST experienced this myself at Farmer City this evening. It was posted online that at 8 AM that all seats not marked were general admission. That is all well and fine, but they didn't put up signs and start marking until 11 AM. You do the math. There was some tension amongst fellow fans, but with some patience we all settled things in a calm and civilized way. There was some confusion among people who had reserved tickets and those who didn't as to seating. If seats had been marked well in advance, this problem wouldn't have occurred.

Reserved seating, in my eyes, is a good thing. However, to be successful, it HAS to be planned out and marked well ahead of time. Things can't be done at the last minute. It saves track workers as well as fans a lot of hassle if it is efficiently and effectively done.

Racer Nicknames

In the racing world in general, drivers earn nicknames. These nicknames can be picked up for a variety of reasons. One might be based on where the driver is from. Others might be based on their personality. Yet others may be based upon a person's driving style. These nicknames can be found from your local race track up to NASCAR, Formula 1, and so on.
One set of nicknames are based upon where drivers are from. There are many examples I can state that support this. Dirt late model driver Shannon Babb is known as The Moweaqua Missle, since he is from Moweaqua, Illinois. Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa is known as The Muscatine Madman. Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tennessee is known as The Newport Nightmare. These are just dirt late model drivers who have earned their nicknames based on where they are from. Tony Stewart, 2 time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, has a nickname based on where he is from. He is known as The Rushville Rocket since he is from there.
Other drivers earn their nicknames based on their personality. NASCAR driver Carl Edwards is known as Cousin Carl. This is because his cousin, Ken Schrader, gave it based on his calm demeanor. Kevin Harvick is known as Happy. This is kind of an oxymoron. It is kind of based on Happy Gilmore, a character played by Adam Sandler who was a loose cannon golfer. Harvick was early in his career as well, but he has mellowed out some since. Dale Earnhardt was known early on as Ironhead because he was dead set in his ways and no one would get him to change that. Later on he became The Intimidator because of his driving style and image as well.
Other drivers have earned nicknames based on their driving styles. Jason Feger is known as The Highside Hustler. This is because he loves to run his car right up next to the wall on the high side of the race track. Sprint car driver Danny Lasoski is known as Catfish because he likes to run the bottom of the race track. That is where catfish like to be in a lake or river as well. A lot of drivers get the nickname Mr. Excitement. Billy Moyer has earned the nickame Mr. Smooth because of his smooth driving style. He is always in control and rarely erratic. Jimmy Mars is known as The Iceman because of his cool demeanor behind the wheel. He is smooth as well. Tim McCreadie is known as Topside Timmy because of his liking to run the high side of the race track as well. Sammy Swindell, a famous sprint car driver, earned the name Slammin' Sammy because of his willingness to slam the car up on the cushion.
These are just a few of the numerous examples of nicknames that drivers can and do have. Some drivers can have multiple nicknames as well. They are fun for announcers. They are fun for us as fans. Heck the drivers have fun with them for the most part too.

Announcers

One thing you will find out very quickly at a race track, is if the announcer is any good or not. The opinion can be quite subjective at times. I actually think, here in Central Illinois, we are actually blessed with some great announcers at our local race tracks. I have heard some bad ones as well, but I don't want to go on sounding like a negative person.
A good announcer has various qualities. One of the most important is that he knows and can pronounce the names of drivers correctly. Nothing can drive a fan crazier in the stands than hearing an announcer massacre the name of a driver. They also know the sponsors that are on the sides of each driver's car. This shows that the announcer has done his homework and actually pays close attention to details. Another good thing is they have a good delivery. They can call the action as it happens, and don't scream into the microphone. Good announcers also know driver nicknames as well These are all traits of a good announcer.
A bad announcer have their qualities as well. Bad announcers butcher the names of drivers, if they even know who is in what car. I have rarely seen this thankfully. They also don't know nicknames, or don't get them right. Bad announcers also have terrible delivery. They either are too quiet, or too loud on the microphone, and sometimes try to make things more exciting than they are. There is nothing more annoying than announcer trying to hype up a race that is obviously a snoozer throughout the field. Good ones will do this, but don't get carried away like bad ones do.
I know announcing isn't an easy thing. It is something that does require a little natural talent, some practice, and a lot of observation. If your track has a good announcer, let the promoter know it. Thank him/her as well as your announcer. If you have a bad one, let the promoter know it as well, in a kind and polite way. That may be what it takes to get a new announcer.

Race Track Food

There are a lot of things that can be said about race track food. It all depends on the race track, and how good the food is. Most race tracks on average have ok food. It isn't your first choice, but it isn't terrible either. Some tracks do have better food than others. I myself can attest to that fact.
Certain race tracks are/were known for their food. Macon Speedway was known for a long time for their jumbo pork tenderloin sandwiches. Eldora Speedway is known for the pizza burger and the cheddarwurst. Martinsville Speedway is known for it's hot dogs. East Bay Raceway Park is known for its strawberry cheesecake. I can go on an on, but the mere thought of all of this is making me quite hungry. My suggestion on race track food is this. Ask other fans what they think about it, if it's any good, and so on, and don't be afraid to try it yourself. If there is a line at the stand, either service is slow, the food is really good, or a combination of the two. ENJOY!!

Racing and Friendship

Racing is more than a sport we watch for excitement. In a lot of cases, it is a time where we get together with fellow fans whom we have met at the track and became friends with. I have met many wonderful fans at the racetrack, who I became good friends with. They mean a lot to me. Just like all of my friends do. The same goes with drivers who I have met. I know and am friends with numerous drivers as well. We fans will help another out in many ways. If one has car trouble, we are willing to help. We save each other seats in some cases. We are willing to make the beer or concession stand run for our friends so everyone doesn't have to miss out on the racing going on. We get together, enjoy the races, as well as the company of friends as well. It just makes the experience that much more fun. So when you are at the track and don't know your neighbor, don't be afraid to say hello. You might just make a new friend.

Sponsorship in racing

Sponsorship is one of the key things that makes the racing world go round. Whether it be tracks, series, or drivers, sponsors are key in helping fund any of these. Tracks use sponsorships in many ways to help keep things profitable on their part. They can range from money sponsoring a division that is racing to food companies cutting promoters breaks on pricing in return for getting their name out there to the fans. They also help to pay point funds to the drivers at the end of the year. Driver sponsorship dollars go a very long way, especially at the local level, all the way up to the touring series, to helping keep the operation afloat. They aren't strictly just names on the car, this is $$ that buys things such as tires, motors, spare parts, and so on. Touring series use $$ nowadays to pay points funds, purchase television time so the series can get noticed in the national market, and to pay the daily expenses associated with running a series.
At the national and global level, sponsorship doesn't change much in principal. The idea is still the same. The $$ goes to support drivers, series, and tracks to help pay the bills. The big difference is the amount of money sponsors pay out. In NASCAR for example, an average sponsorship per year for a large corporation can range from $20-45 million. In Formula 1, a sponsorship can be $150 million or more. These companies don't pay this out just to help people out. This is a form of global advertising to them. They hope and expect to see returns on their investments.
We as fans come into the equation in this way. We have a driver we like. To support him, we buy products from their sponsors. We know those sponsors are helping keep our driver on the track. This is why sponsors use racing to advertise. They realize we are willing to buy products if they support our favorite drivers. For them, as well as the driver, it is a win-win situation.

Track Preparation at the Dirt Track

In dirt track racing, track preparation is probably the single most important thing in the eyes of a driver outside of making sure the purse money is paid. Track prep can make the difference in a track that is racy, multi-grooved, wet, and smooth, and one that is rough, dry, and one grooved. Tracks can end up in a combination of those listed above. Last night was an example of mixed track conditions at Macon. It rained a lot, so it was plenty wet. It kept getting quite choppy in spots, so it was rough. Drivers had more than one place to run, so it was at least partially multiple grooved. The promoter, Bob Sargent, did everything he possibly could to make the race track smooth. It kept tearing out in turns 1 and 3, and made for quite a rough racetrack for the drivers. I heard that from a couple of them I know, and even one of the feature winners said that in his interview. This promoter is known for having good race tracks, and working to fix ones that aren't. Rain, plus new dirt helped contribute to what happened there. He literally did everything he could, grading multiple times and using a harrow behind a tractor to try and tear it up so it would pack, then come back up smooth. It just wouldn't come back up smooth. It was smooth for practice on the Wednesday before, so I don't expect this to be a recurring thing. Every track can have an off night. This wasn't as bad as another track in Ohio, Eldora Speedway, known to many as the Big E. The track literally got so bad, they canceled the show after hot laps, due to track conditions. It was very dusty and rutted, and it was deemed unsafe to race on by track and USAC series officials. Eldora is going to be dusty regardless due to the sandy clay that is native to that area of the country. The degree to how dusty it is varies. Track preparation is something that it is easy to see if the effort has been put in by a promoter. A good track promoter will be out working on the track throughout the week, as well as on race day. When you get to the track early in the morning for a big show and the promoter is out on the grader or out watering, doing some form of track prep, odds are the fans and racers will be rewarded with a quality racing surface that night. When you get there at 1, and the promoter doesn't go out until 2:30 to even start on track prep, odds are it could be smooth, but it may be quite dry and possibly even dusty. Just remember, if the track isn't perfect, and the promoter gives it their best effort to fix it, that is all we as fans can ask. If the track is in great shape, thank the promoter for a good track that night if you see them. HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!

Time management at the race track

I know I am not alone here. It is annoying to see a show drag on way longer than it should. Whether it be because races aren't lined up, caution flag periods that take entirely too long, to delays due to preventable problems, and even intermissions that are drug out. There is no excuse to drag a show on past 11:00 PM. One Friday night I went to Paducah International Raceway in Paducah, Kentucky with some friends of mine to the first NASCAR Night they had. It was a new track to me and was run by people I knew so I went. The entire program, featuring 4 classes, was done by 10:15 PM. I was back home in Decatur, Illinois by 3:45. There were race cars coming back from my local Friday night track, Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois. They FINISHED at 3:00 AM that time. There is absolutely no excuse for that. There are some tracks you plan ahead knowing it will be a long night. It is sad, but a fact of life in the racing world. It is things like this that keep families, especially with kids, away from the track. It also keeps die hards away as well. Time management is something all promoters should work on perfecting. Will things out of your control happen sometimes? Of course. It is understandable. It is stupid, preventable and controllable things that drag on a show that really irks me. I appreciate a well ran show, as I hope and think that many other fans do as well.

Just like baseball, opening night is fast approaching for many tracks in Central Illinois

It is officially Spring. It is time to start smelling the wonderful smell of race fuel in the air, hear the wonderful sound of racing engines at full song, and start slingin' some dirt. We will have our questions answered as to who is running in what class or classes this year. We will get to see all of the new paint schemes and vinyl wrap jobs on the cars. Some tracks farther south, like Belle-Clair Speedway and I-55 Raceway which is in Pevely, Missouri. Other tracks that open this week include Lincoln Speedway, Peoria Speedway and Macon Speedway. Lincoln will run Friday and Saturday nights. Peoria and Macon will both run Saturday night. As of now it looks like I will go to Lincoln and Macon this weekend. It is that time of year for fans here in Central Illinois. Winter has been here way too long and Spring is finally here. LET'S GO RACING!!

Local Racing Still A Great Bargin

We all know how much the price of movie tickets have increased. It's now about $7.50 to watch a 2 hour movie. Tickets to large sporting events can be $35 up for bad seats. NASCAR, it depends on the track. Most cheap seats don't have a good view. When it comes to your local dirt or asphalt track, there isn't a better bargain. My local Saturday night dirt track, Macon Speedway in Macon, Illinois, still charges $10 general admission on a regular show. It has been that price since I started going at age 5. There are many other tracks that still charge this price to this day as well. I know Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois is another. There are many examples nationwide, but for the sake of time, I can't list them all. Other tracks are a bit higher. Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois is going to charge $12 general admission this year. Shepp's Speedway in Alexander, Illinois as well as Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Illinois both charge $12 general admission. At most local tracks, hot laps start at 6:30. Most shows are done anywhere from 10 to 11 PM on a regular night if run efficiently. Let's say a movie is $7.50 and runs 2 hours. $7.50/2hr=$3.75 per hour. At a local track that runs from 6:30-10:30 PM, 4 hours, $10/4=$2.50 per hour. This shows that a regular show at the race track is a better bargain than the new Hollywood blockbuster that will be out on DVD in less than a year. Also, you can stand up and shout and root for your heroes at the track, whereas in a movie theater may kick you out for it. This shows why local racing is STILL a great bargain. That my friends is no April Fool's Day joke either. Support your local track!!