--- In TrackChasers@yahoogroups.com, RTRYFBAR@... wrote:
>
> Hi Tom
>
> I certainly agree with you about the good that Bob Memmer of UMP did for the
sport.? Also, don't forget Keith Knaak of IMCA.? Standardizing the rules and
lowering the costs have been huge positives for short track racing.? Even the
groups like 600 Racing with the Legends and Tobias with the Slingshots in the
northeast have done a lot of good by inventing new race cars with standardized
rules and allowing cars to go from track to track and be legal.
>
> I'm not sure that the more standardized rules are the only reason that dirt
tracks tend to draw more cars than paved tracks.? It seems to me that the weekly
costs of running on dirt are generally lower, especially tires.? Of course there
are many more dirt tracks to choose from, since it's cheaper to build one in the
first place.
>
> Paved tracks seem to be struggling more than dirt tracks everywhere, not just
Indiana.? Our recent trip to Kentucky Raceway only found six and four cars in
the top two classes.? Which Indiana paved tracks were you talking about as
struggling?
>
> I wonder if the overall percentage of short tracks in the US that are paved is
dropping?? I'm sure Allan would know that.
>
> I always enjoy your column when it is in Mid American.? Keep up the good work
there.? It's important that people like myself in AARN, Gordy in RPM, you in Mid
American, Ron Rodda in Hawkeye, etc. keep up the great tradition of the racing
tabloids, and not abandon them.? I've been somewhat disappointed in the new MARC
Times.? They don't seem to keep to their weekly publishing schedule at all, and
my delivery has been totally unpredictable.? I hope they get that straightened
out.
>
> I hope others weigh in on this topic as well.
>
> Gotta run.
>
> Guy Smith
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Thanks for replying Guy! Yes I do write for MAARN Racing News and I send my
column to about 5 websites. Mt. Lawn and Anderson Speedways here in Indiana are
my two "home tracks" and I have seen there car counts slip a bit from last
year's car counts but that may just be because our nation's economy sucks as a
whole! Anderson combined there Friday and Saturday night programs into one on
Saturday Nights. I remember years ago successful tracks like Oakshade Speedway
in Wauseon,Ohio raced two nights a week and had B,C,and D Features sometimes in
Late Models. This is unheard of anymore!

One thing I do like about asphalt tracks is that they do not have to take time
to rework a track back into racing shape after it has gone so dry-slick that it
ends up being a follow the leader one groove racetrack. You are right there are
far more dirt tracks than paved ones. I never thought about tire costs for
asphalt that is a very good point!

I have never been to Iowa or that far west to see "IMCA" sanctioned races but I
know in western Illinois some tracks have adopted IMCA rules to try to
control,and keep prices down and the budget down on racing in stocks and late
models as well as modifieds. I wonder if Indiana and Ohio adpted IMCA and
WISSOTA type rules would we see more or increased car counts.?

Better yet what if all dirt late model tracks decided to drop full blown super
late models in favor of CRATE late models? The weekly super late model shows at
some tracks draw slim car counts to where a few tracks here are combining both
crates and super lates and adding in there current "semi late model or "late
model sportsman class to fill out the fields in that tracks "top premiere
division".

You may or may not know but C.J. Rayburn is starting his own Late model touring
series here in Indiana i think in 2010 in an effort to keep costs down and make
dirt late model and modified racing more affordable added to this a "crate"
modified division may be starting soon? Thanks! Tom Botos Indianapolis,IN