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!!