I knew Jade was a gasser but yesterdays BC39 performance was badass!! She was full on Sheldon, checkers or wreckers. And hey, Cannonball didn't drive through anyone. Great job by track crew to even get a race in let alone multiple races.
I know the economy is tight right now but I think some adjustments to admission pricing could help some. It sounds counter intuitive but here are my thoughts. I have a family of 5 with a 13, 11 and 9 year old. Next season I will have to pay 150 just to get my family in the gate of a USAC show. There have been a few shows this year where I have had to leave them behind(mainly sprint and midget week). For one, this doesnt help the growth of the sport for future fans. So making 16 or 17 and under half price would be a good start. You cant create new fans if parents cant afford to take them. And the power of kids getting their parents to spend money inside a venue cannot be understated. I spend way more on concessions and merch when I have the young ones with me. If you can make it affordable to get inside you will see the kick back in more attendance and higher sales. So instead of spending just 60 to get me and my oldest in. I'd spend 105 to get the whole family in and you would make that admission back from me on concessions. Im gonna keep going, but is the next generation?
Using dirt track facilities for events other than races is a great idea. My home track Fairbury Speedway uses the grounds for the yearly fair and what has been added recently is a annual concert that brings in thousands of people who ordinary wouldn't go to a race track. It's a great idea that gets money into the track when the racing itself may not be enough.
yes at angola and plymeth here in indiana they have concerts or monstertruck shows, as did they once at avilla when it was open for the kokomo tour of the beachboys, anything to keep from loosing more but if all else they could also host horse racing like many of them did in the early days, just pray they dont limestone them like they did the indy state fair where second oldest track went away dangerous the state fairs are sure but iconic and the oldest form of racing there is period here in the states and only 3 others, only good for parking on and harness racing, somethings got to give though someone has to be making money in racing, if its not the drivers, the car or track owners then who is it, the parts venders and some of the promotors? I ask myself, with it even more expensive then the expensive days in the 1990's the first time I went to races, someone has to be making something from it, are the sponsors even, there are not as many as used to, though some fabricators and machine shops have came into existance and ebb and flow, I got no problem with the working man racer infact I respect it, but no one can afford to loose money all around, and its not like they are building new venues if at all, though I did offer suggestions to the united way when they were asking what people would love in the county here at the fair last week, I said some sort of raceing I mean I know we cant do it all the time and there is a lack of land but there are still several areas I has plenty of space for a temparary track even for a midget race if they can do it inside the colossium in fort wayne they can do it at one of the outlieing museumes or by the old auction park though thats going to become a sports park or christ centered sports accademy, but its not right we have all the car history but no racing venue anywhere even for motorcycles in the county though they have one or 2 monstertruck shows a year and a mud bog and the great american race has a stop here on their way though the nation, but no openwheel or even jalappy or late model racing that should change
My local track (Eagle Raceway) operates a Halloween event called Eagle Hollow, which is a combination of haunted houses, scary attractions, and a haunted bus ride, which uses some of the track. I have never been there but I want to go to see what that is like. That is the only track in my area that operates as such and I don't know why more tracks do this to shore up profits for the year.
Keep in mind that all business come and go. Many businesses go up for sale. Since we like dirt racing, we like to think all is always hunky dory. Business and life don't work that way. Dirt racing is solid today. Not too concerned about a few in transition.
I-30, Devils Bowl and now possibly Braver Dam. Three really good tracks IMO, enjoyed all 3 tracks over the years. Beaver Dams IRA/Badger midget double headers back in the day were awesome events.
Weird I left this comment earlier but youtube just doesn't show them. Tons of tracks take exactly ZERO advantage of social media. No posting when they're racing, what divisions are running nothing. You could probably hire someone for free to at least post when simple information like when you're racing, when you're not racing, GA price, Pit Pass price, what divisions are running etc. It's free advertising and for some reason tracks don't take advantage of it. Some of these tracks Twitter accounts (X) haven't been used in YEARS. Facebook is used more often but even then you won't see it being used well enough.
You didn't report that HTF was selling both of three longhorns to run capital how stupid is that you don't ever hear of capital cars winning 90% longhorns are winning
I have racing buddies that just don't want to go to the track, they prefer the streaming service. That bums me out because I don't see how the local tracks can compete with that.
Somebody is going to spend 3 mil for beaver dam property but not going to be a race track anymore it is happening all over and in the mid- Atlantic states urban sprawl is winning many places
Sometimes I actually get scared that dirt track racing will go away. I know it sounds silly, but I don’t know what I’d do. Thanks for the information today!
There have been, forever, conversations about how to make dirt track racing more mainstream. Seems apparent that there is a catch 22 situation. Tracks seemingly must be located in rural locales, to avoid closure due to the urban sprawl and noise restrictions. These locations also tend to be home of much of the fan demographic. Not many B-mods being worked on in suburban garages Then when tracks become available for purchase, or sale, depending on how you look at it, it takes the right person or group to purchase them and hopefully keep them tracks, or they go by the wayside. If there was a way to have tracks built more urban and accessible, you might see the fan base grow, tip toeing into the mainstream. Sucks, because it's the "rural" small town vibe that makes it what it is. Rising costs of racing and travel for both participants and fans now play an even larger role within the established sport demographic, let alone convincing others to jump on the highway and drive many miles to "see what it's about". You mentioned streaming....It makes it easier for me to keep tabs and follow all the racing I want without the expenses of travel. (Still nothing like live and I go when I can.). But, no doubt with that internal "growth" come consequences. ie: ticket sales and tracks up for sale. IMO
Dinner With Racers ( on the Motor Trend channel ) did a piece in California dirt tracks and maybe another area too. Regardless , the DWR series is great. Loopnet is a searchable commercial real estate site. Having lived / raced in the dying days of a small time 1/2 mile asphalt track, some racers didn't get how lucky they were to have a track close by. Constant complaints about trivial things at an obviously struggling facility that was in operation since the 1960's , low pay outs and such. Racers didn't realize that when sponsors are few and stands empty, entry fees will go up and pay outs low. Coming from a road racing background where weekend entry fees are $ 400 + and zero pay out due to few if and spectators I was happy to pay what the oval track wanted. Road race tracks tend to have some sort of event every week end much earlier and later in the season as they are able to run in the rain. Oval tracks and drag strips are very tied to the weather so they have a much more difficult time of it. Another issue for spectator based race tracks is the encroachment of the high school foot ball season limiting how deep into the year they can run.
Sad to hear about Beaver Dam up for sale.have seen the outlaws there the last 4 years, great facility and great shows. You are correct on tracks needing to diversify in order to be sustainable businesses. Road America is a great example. If you look at their season schedule they have many weekly events besides their big races: track days, off road driving classes in the wooded areas, winter autocross, corporate outings,, even running and biking events. Granted, it's a huge facility (600 acres) but they were in the same situation looking for more revenue streams only a couple decades ago. Creativity and a willingness to try new things will save some tracks, while sticking with old ideas will kill others.
My local track would be good for other events but there's 2 big ponds in the infield for absolutely no reason at all. Nitro Circus came once and it was terrible. Had everything crammed on the frontstretch.
Here in Central Wisconsin we have always had a dirt track in this area. Thsat was until 2022 when the local track closed.We still have a black top track but more tracks in this state have closed.
The biggest expense a track has is insurance & pay out. The majority of tracks can’t even break even on a race nite. As for the live streaming of shows. It should be the same price if not more than the price of admission.
I am not a race track promoter or owner and I understand they know a lot more than I do, with that said I would not be surprised if Atomic speedway goes under very soon. When you clearly care more about the money then the fans or drivers I just can't see how you can continue to stay open for business. Very sad if it does go under because I do think it is one of the best race tracks in Ohio.
Offroad Raceway in Norfolk, Nebraska is on the market for 4 million, and Interstate Speedway in South Dakota is going to be posted for sale soon...price unknown
Not sure I agree about your "it's all the track operators' fault" comment. You obviously have no idea how hard they work. The cost just to open gates is significant, not counting purses. Using the venue for ALL these other events is not as easy as you think. Most are losers. Very few will even come close to covering just operating cost. Most tracks do not have the needed creature comforts to compete. In a desperate attempt in the 2000's, many tracks tried to make it thru backgate shows with 7 divisions of trash nobody wanted to pay to see. Thus eliminating the "Local Hero". And the racefan found something else to do. The streaming deal could have been a positive bonus to the industry if it had been implemented correctly from the start, instead of the severe negative it has become. The drive into astronomical purses brought on by the wars and ego driven fools have made the industry unsustainable. It all trickles down to the local level. Once again, the racefan found something else to do. In another year, you will be able to obtain racetracks for free. A great promoter, whose facility ran 250 races a year, once said the fan has got to know you're running every week or they find something else to do. So, to lay ALL the blame on the track operator is really a bad take on what is really going on in the shorttrack biz.
They're just turning stuff over to get new, and getting rid of equipment they don't use. No reason to keep Longhorn stuff when they're tight with Capital now.
i say tracks need to worry about getting classes cheaper for more people to race and stop worrying what other tracks are doing and keep cars for local racers not touring series not all racers care what lates models n sprints are running when we are running mods n factory stocks jmo
That might put a few more people in the pits and they usually pay their own purse but where's the profit ? These classes don't put butt's in the stands . Any track needs 80 to 100 cars in the pits and 1000 people or more in the stands to make a profit
@@JimmyJolly-d8v i agree man but as a racer my self the answer is not making it more exspensive we all kno noone in stands hurts tracks but so does killing out the local guys to draw in bigger races
@garystout6520 you have to have a good mixture of both . The problem in the south is they want to run 8 or 9 classes a night and in most cases that don't work . People want to get in watch the races and leave before 1,2 or 3 am . I think run 4 or 5 classes every other week and have a LLM race one week and a SLM race the other week but run 2x a month 3 at the most
@@JimmyJolly-d8v all tracks around here run 5 maybe 6 classes but problem is when entry level classes like pure stocks n factory stocks are costing 12 to 15.000 to biuld we got to figure this out low stands count reflects on car counts and quailty of races with fall on tracks to start making a need to cutting cars back to be affordable to run for families but i agree with u on most of it
@garystout6520 street stock cars in the Carolinas cost more than $30000 so I know what you are saying . We run 604 crate LM and Limited Latemodels. Our 604 motor will cost at least $13000 now maybe more we've had ours awhile now but think it has a blown head gasket or cracked head . Our LLM motor cost $28000 new from Eagle we bought it for about $20000 with 3 races on it . We also haven't bought new chassis in years since 2008 . Our Chassis' are 2018/2019 we bought used 1 car we bought a bushwacker we aren't running now is a 2019 with less than 10 races on it is for sale . We have 2 BWRC cars we bought used from Rambo Franklin and Zack Mitchell. The problem with racing cost is that people who have big money behind them want to win so bad that they will spend whatever it takes and cheat up however they can to win and it drives up cost for everyone. We've found out recently that some of our competitors are running methanol fuel that cost what $30/$40 gal and we run legal racing fuel for $17 gal just so they can win $1000 to $1500 . It don't make since but we get a chance we are going to be protesting about 5 cars that always run up front on fuel . Even if we have to pull everybody
I was able to race my sprint car for the first time this last Saturday at cedar lake speedway. Got last place but had a blast.
I knew Jade was a gasser but yesterdays BC39 performance was badass!! She was full on Sheldon, checkers or wreckers. And hey, Cannonball didn't drive through anyone. Great job by track crew to even get a race in let alone multiple races.
Sheldon and Corey Day are great to watch.
She was lights out!
Avedeshisian was on a mission
Hate to see so many tracks keep closing/selling.
I know the economy is tight right now but I think some adjustments to admission pricing could help some. It sounds counter intuitive but here are my thoughts. I have a family of 5 with a 13, 11 and 9 year old. Next season I will have to pay 150 just to get my family in the gate of a USAC show. There have been a few shows this year where I have had to leave them behind(mainly sprint and midget week). For one, this doesnt help the growth of the sport for future fans. So making 16 or 17 and under half price would be a good start. You cant create new fans if parents cant afford to take them. And the power of kids getting their parents to spend money inside a venue cannot be understated. I spend way more on concessions and merch when I have the young ones with me. If you can make it affordable to get inside you will see the kick back in more attendance and higher sales. So instead of spending just 60 to get me and my oldest in. I'd spend 105 to get the whole family in and you would make that admission back from me on concessions. Im gonna keep going, but is the next generation?
Unfortunately a family of 5 is expensive. Whether its going to McDonalds or Walmart or to the races. It's a reality of having a big family.
Very good point about the future of the sport! The cost of the gate is a major issue for many families.
Using dirt track facilities for events other than races is a great idea. My home track Fairbury Speedway uses the grounds for the yearly fair and what has been added recently is a annual concert that brings in thousands of people who ordinary wouldn't go to a race track. It's a great idea that gets money into the track when the racing itself may not be enough.
yes at angola and plymeth here in indiana they have concerts or monstertruck shows, as did they once at avilla when it was open for the kokomo tour of the beachboys, anything to keep from loosing more but if all else they could also host horse racing like many of them did in the early days, just pray they dont limestone them like they did the indy state fair where second oldest track went away dangerous the state fairs are sure but iconic and the oldest form of racing there is period here in the states and only 3 others, only good for parking on and harness racing,
somethings got to give though someone has to be making money in racing, if its not the drivers, the car or track owners then who is it, the parts venders and some of the promotors? I ask myself, with it even more expensive then the expensive days in the 1990's the first time I went to races, someone has to be making something from it, are the sponsors even, there are not as many as used to, though some fabricators and machine shops have came into existance and ebb and flow, I got no problem with the working man racer infact I respect it, but no one can afford to loose money all around, and its not like they are building new venues if at all, though I did offer suggestions to the united way when they were asking what people would love in the county here at the fair last week, I said some sort of raceing I mean I know we cant do it all the time and there is a lack of land but there are still several areas I has plenty of space for a temparary track even for a midget race if they can do it inside the colossium in fort wayne they can do it at one of the outlieing museumes or by the old auction park though thats going to become a sports park or christ centered sports accademy, but its not right we have all the car history but no racing venue anywhere even for motorcycles in the county though they have one or 2 monstertruck shows a year and a mud bog and the great american race has a stop here on their way though the nation, but no openwheel or even jalappy or late model racing that should change
Justin you are always a voice of reason. I appreciate it.
My local track (Eagle Raceway) operates a Halloween event called Eagle Hollow, which is a combination of haunted houses, scary attractions, and a haunted bus ride, which uses some of the track. I have never been there but I want to go to see what that is like. That is the only track in my area that operates as such and I don't know why more tracks do this to shore up profits for the year.
If Lincoln pa ever closed I’d be devastated
Keep in mind that all business come and go. Many businesses go up for sale. Since we like dirt racing, we like to think all is always hunky dory. Business and life don't work that way. Dirt racing is solid today. Not too concerned about a few in transition.
OUTSTANDING CLOSING SPEECH.
When I win the Powerball lottery I'm going to buy or build a dirt track in Texas. It's just a matter of time. I'll keep you posted. 🤪
Hell yea...bring back Cowtown!!!
I-30, Devils Bowl and now possibly Braver Dam. Three really good tracks IMO, enjoyed all 3 tracks over the years.
Beaver Dams IRA/Badger midget double headers back in the day were awesome events.
Devils bowl will race in 2025 no? Maybe I'm confusing with another track.
@@CosmosArchipelagoI heard that rumor also. Probably wishful thinking!!
Weird I left this comment earlier but youtube just doesn't show them. Tons of tracks take exactly ZERO advantage of social media. No posting when they're racing, what divisions are running nothing. You could probably hire someone for free to at least post when simple information like when you're racing, when you're not racing, GA price, Pit Pass price, what divisions are running etc. It's free advertising and for some reason tracks don't take advantage of it. Some of these tracks Twitter accounts (X) haven't been used in YEARS. Facebook is used more often but even then you won't see it being used well enough.
Sad to see BD for sale, amazing local facility. Also another WoO stop, now only stops at Wilmot and Cedar Lake
You didn't report that HTF was selling both of three longhorns to run capital how stupid is that you don't ever hear of capital cars winning 90% longhorns are winning
I have racing buddies that just don't want to go to the track, they prefer the streaming service. That bums me out because I don't see how the local tracks can compete with that.
Somebody is going to spend 3 mil for beaver dam property but not going to be a race track anymore it is happening all over and in the mid- Atlantic states urban sprawl is winning many places
Hard seeing Red Dirt up for sale. Best track in the region...
Me and my family support all the tracks with in 3 hours away
what about new state line speedway in Western NY, any updates?
Sometimes I actually get scared that dirt track racing will go away. I know it sounds silly, but I don’t know what I’d do. Thanks for the information today!
There have been, forever, conversations about how to make dirt track racing more mainstream. Seems apparent that there is a catch 22 situation. Tracks seemingly must be located in rural locales, to avoid closure due to the urban sprawl and noise restrictions. These locations also tend to be home of much of the fan demographic. Not many B-mods being worked on in suburban garages Then when tracks become available for purchase, or sale, depending on how you look at it, it takes the right person or group to purchase them and hopefully keep them tracks, or they go by the wayside. If there was a way to have tracks built more urban and accessible, you might see the fan base grow, tip toeing into the mainstream. Sucks, because it's the "rural" small town vibe that makes it what it is. Rising costs of racing and travel for both participants and fans now play an even larger role within the established sport demographic, let alone convincing others to jump on the highway and drive many miles to "see what it's about". You mentioned streaming....It makes it easier for me to keep tabs and follow all the racing I want without the expenses of travel. (Still nothing like live and I go when I can.). But, no doubt with that internal "growth" come consequences. ie: ticket sales and tracks up for sale. IMO
Interstate sd raceway is also for sale. Little bullring. $500,000. Also for lease option after this weekend.
Dinner With Racers ( on the Motor Trend channel ) did a piece in California dirt tracks and maybe another area too. Regardless , the DWR series is great.
Loopnet is a searchable commercial real estate site.
Having lived / raced in the dying days of a small time 1/2 mile asphalt track, some racers didn't get how lucky they were to have a track close by. Constant complaints about trivial things at an obviously struggling facility that was in operation since the 1960's , low pay outs and such. Racers didn't realize that when sponsors are few and stands empty, entry fees will go up and pay outs low. Coming from a road racing background where weekend entry fees are $ 400 + and zero pay out due to few if and spectators I was happy to pay what the oval track wanted.
Road race tracks tend to have some sort of event every week end much earlier and later in the season as they are able to run in the rain. Oval tracks and drag strips are very tied to the weather so they have a much more difficult time of it. Another issue for spectator based race tracks is the encroachment of the high school foot ball season limiting how deep into the year they can run.
Beaver Dam is probably going to be a Prologis warehouse complex, unfortunately.
Sad to hear about Beaver Dam up for sale.have seen the outlaws there the last 4 years, great facility and great shows. You are correct on tracks needing to diversify in order to be sustainable businesses. Road America is a great example. If you look at their season schedule they have many weekly events besides their big races: track days, off road driving classes in the wooded areas, winter autocross, corporate outings,, even running and biking events. Granted, it's a huge facility (600 acres) but they were in the same situation looking for more revenue streams only a couple decades ago. Creativity and a willingness to try new things will save some tracks, while sticking with old ideas will kill others.
Tracks come and go, always have and always will, I loved ascot park in Gardena, just how it go's.
Being a Multiple Purpose track is great, just remember you are a track 1st, Venue 2nd
My local track would be good for other events but there's 2 big ponds in the infield for absolutely no reason at all. Nitro Circus came once and it was terrible. Had everything crammed on the frontstretch.
Here in Central Wisconsin we have always had a dirt track in this area. Thsat was until 2022 when the local track closed.We still have a black top track but more tracks in this state have closed.
The biggest expense a track has is insurance & pay out. The majority of tracks can’t even break even on a race nite. As for the live streaming of shows. It should be the same price if not more than the price of admission.
Schedule diversification is key but its a little unrealistic to think short tracks are going to be able to book events like Charlotte/SMI.
I am not a race track promoter or owner and I understand they know a lot more than I do, with that said I would not be surprised if Atomic speedway goes under very soon. When you clearly care more about the money then the fans or drivers I just can't see how you can continue to stay open for business. Very sad if it does go under because I do think it is one of the best race tracks in Ohio.
That NHL lockout year was so awesome for concerts. I must have gone to 20 concerts that year.
Great show. You nailed it about racetracks need to step out of the box and use their facilities for more that just racing.
🏁🏁🏁
No different than stick and ball stadiums, here in the northeast, I have been too more concerts at those stadiums than ball games.
Interstate speedway in Jefferson SD just posted they are selling too
Arrowhead Speedway has been doing stuff like that they did a Rodeo this year and a car show
Brad is tough. Congratulations 🎉.
Congratulations Brad. Well done
Offroad Raceway in Norfolk, Nebraska is on the market for 4 million, and Interstate Speedway in South Dakota is going to be posted for sale soon...price unknown
BTW, Offroad comes with the track and all amenities, a campground, and off road track, and a bar all on the grounds. Buyer gets it all
Not sure I agree about your "it's all the track operators' fault" comment. You obviously have no idea how hard they work. The cost just to open gates is significant, not counting purses. Using the venue for ALL these other events is not as easy as you think. Most are losers. Very few will even come close to covering just operating cost. Most tracks do not have the needed creature comforts to compete. In a desperate attempt in the 2000's, many tracks tried to make it thru backgate shows with 7 divisions of trash nobody wanted to pay to see. Thus eliminating the "Local Hero". And the racefan found something else to do. The streaming deal could have been a positive bonus to the industry if it had been implemented correctly from the start, instead of the severe negative it has become. The drive into astronomical purses brought on by the wars and ego driven fools have made the industry unsustainable. It all trickles down to the local level. Once again, the racefan found something else to do. In another year, you will be able to obtain racetracks for free. A great promoter, whose facility ran 250 races a year, once said the fan has got to know you're running every week or they find something else to do. So, to lay ALL the blame on the track operator is really a bad take on what is really going on in the shorttrack biz.
He said *some* promotors do all of the damage themselves, not all. He even said that some promotors do a fantastic job.
Get to ur local tracks ! people only show up for big nights and nickel night and then are sad when they close down ….. 😢
People sitting at home watching on tv instead of driving to the track doesn't help.
What do you think of Hunt the Front selling everything?
They're just turning stuff over to get new, and getting rid of equipment they don't use. No reason to keep Longhorn stuff when they're tight with Capital now.
i say tracks need to worry about getting classes cheaper for more people to race and stop worrying what other tracks are doing and keep cars for local racers not touring series not all racers care what lates models n sprints are running when we are running mods n factory stocks jmo
That might put a few more people in the pits and they usually pay their own purse but where's the profit ? These classes don't put butt's in the stands . Any track needs 80 to 100 cars in the pits and 1000 people or more in the stands to make a profit
@@JimmyJolly-d8v i agree man but as a racer my self the answer is not making it more exspensive we all kno noone in stands hurts tracks but so does killing out the local guys to draw in bigger races
@garystout6520 you have to have a good mixture of both . The problem in the south is they want to run 8 or 9 classes a night and in most cases that don't work . People want to get in watch the races and leave before 1,2 or 3 am . I think run 4 or 5 classes every other week and have a LLM race one week and a SLM race the other week but run 2x a month 3 at the most
@@JimmyJolly-d8v all tracks around here run 5 maybe 6 classes but problem is when entry level classes like pure stocks n factory stocks are costing 12 to 15.000 to biuld we got to figure this out low stands count reflects on car counts and quailty of races with fall on tracks to start making a need to cutting cars back to be affordable to run for families but i agree with u on most of it
@garystout6520 street stock cars in the Carolinas cost more than $30000 so I know what you are saying . We run 604 crate LM and Limited Latemodels. Our 604 motor will cost at least $13000 now maybe more we've had ours awhile now but think it has a blown head gasket or cracked head . Our LLM motor cost $28000 new from Eagle we bought it for about $20000 with 3 races on it . We also haven't bought new chassis in years since 2008 . Our Chassis' are 2018/2019 we bought used 1 car we bought a bushwacker we aren't running now is a 2019 with less than 10 races on it is for sale . We have 2 BWRC cars we bought used from Rambo Franklin and Zack Mitchell. The problem with racing cost is that people who have big money behind them want to win so bad that they will spend whatever it takes and cheat up however they can to win and it drives up cost for everyone. We've found out recently that some of our competitors are running methanol fuel that cost what $30/$40 gal and we run legal racing fuel for $17 gal just so they can win $1000 to $1500 . It don't make since but we get a chance we are going to be protesting about 5 cars that always run up front on fuel . Even if we have to pull everybody