Arizonans Love Daytime Dirt; I-80 Likes Friday Nights

From TMC who was actually at the Wild West Shoot-Out in Tucson last weekend:

“Hate to be harsh, but they get a D- for track prep on Sunday.  A shot of water and turning up about 2 inches of dirt won’t cut it and they should have known that.  The wind blew half the moisture out before the track got packed by the mods (after what seemed like 100 laps of “packing”, some guys even pitted to re-fuel before the A started), and everyone there knew that it wouldn’t accomplish anything. Then to do the same thing again before the LM feature was just plain silly.  Either blade off the week’s worth of rubber that was on the track, open the damn thing up and water it or just leave it alone because an hour and a half of jacking around with track prep accomplished absolutely nothing. There was no improvement whatsoever with either track prep attempt on Sunday.  The night shows weren’t bad at all, but Saturday and especially Sunday weren’t up to par and you can bet that it will cost them some cars and fans next year. 

This was not an issue last year, and the weather wasn’t really a problem, so whatever they did differently this year didn’t work and I hope they’re smart enough to realize they have a problem and are willing to address it for next year.  I’d hate to see yet another great race go down the crapper because of bad management.  I get enough of that without having to leaveNebraska…”

Tom-you got to see what was going on while I was watching US Steel infomercials.  You were able to judge the effort, while I could only judge that one was made.  There is no question that you are one of the most knowledgeable fans around, so I have no problem changing my thoughts to what is a clearer picture.

I honestly do not understand the thinking behind scheduling a daytime dirt track race.  Drivers do not come from over 1,000 miles away to drive on a rubbered down one groove track.  I typed in race instead of drive, but realized that wasn’t so.  Sprint car fans call going fast and turning left racing, but late model fans want to see side by side action.  Day racing leaves both drivers and fans upset-except Arizonans, more later.

So again, why schedule day races, including the biggest race of the entire event?  I agree with TMC that if the track doesn’t address this problem before 2013, it is going to lose some drivers and fans.  Before Sunday’s race Matt and I were talking of 2013.  His in-laws own a condo in Mesa, and Matt could go racing in Tucson, while Steph and Henry visit her mom.  After Sunday though we both agreed that if the weekend races remain day races there is no way we want to go.

I really enjoyed the Wednesday and Friday events on www.dirtondirt.com PPV, but if the promoters don’t make all the races night events, I would not purchase the whole package like I did this year.  I would probably just choose a one night package on Friday. I realize it is winter, the WWS is late models and mods, but I don’t subscribe to the theory “whatever promoters give us is OK.”

I do hope the track will make some changes, and get the word out early.  This could be a great event and like TMC said, we don’t have to leave Nebraska to see bad track management.

However, this from one of the www.dirtondirt.com people on site this weekend:

“First, you have to understand (and you can look back through our archives for proof)…that they’ve raced in the day for the Wild West Shootout for a LONG, LONG time…and 990% of the time the racing is great. Even the Saturday-Sunday before our PPV started, there were several near photo-finishes with the heat races. Is day racing typically bad across the country? Yes…but out there, up until this past Saturday-Sunday, it has worked great…they just missed this year. So it’s not a “daytime racing is always terrible” thing…when daytime racing out there has always worked.

Secondly, racing in Arizona (fans wise) is COMPLETELY different than
anywhere in the Midwest…those people all prefer racing earlier, and
getting things done, they don’t like to attend races at night…that’s just the way it is out there…another unique dynamic.

Hope I answered your questions.”

So, from those answers I suspect that the program will not see major changes in 2013.  Will drivers and fans give them a second chance next year?  I wonder about name drivers.  The Moyer family?  Likely.  John Anderson-likely.  Jimmy Mars-probably.  Don O’Neal or Tim McCreadie, I wonder. Will fans give them a second chance?  Well, the locals will.  And maybe fans that have been to past WWS events will too.  I am not sure what to think.   

And an email racing flyer from Ivan Tracy provided more confusion.  Ivan has moved his RV to just north of Phoenix at Canyon Speedway Park.  Starting on Friday the track will host 6 races in 9 days, headlined by ASCS vs. USAC Sprint Cars with a support class of IMCA Modifieds.  Three of the shows are weekend events, and much to my surprise, the weekend shows are scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.  I have wondered about Arizonans before and this adds to my wonderment.

Finally, Joe Kosiski sat with Matt and I and Mike Pierson for about half of a basketball game last night.  I learned more about the thinking of I-80 promoters moving to Friday night racing, and will be commenting when the track schedule is announced.

Thanks for stopping by.

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