Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Baer
What we have been trying to do is illustrate the number of dollars we bring in and the minimal amount of track time we use. However one of the tracks is focused on scheduling Friday night and Saturday races which works well for the local racers but since most of our racers have to tow more than one hundred miles to get there and most of our guys are working stiffs Friday nights are not too popular. The track maintains that their car counts when they open on Sunday are significantly down from Friday night or Saturday.
The other track is primarily focused on supporting the NASCAR track across the street and it’s rumored that except for their national event weekend they wouldn’t even be open and that without intervention of the NHRA that they wouldn’t even have bracket program.
Perhaps the revenues generated from normal weekly operations are considered insignificant when compared to the revenues generated by the NASCAR track. While I’m not sure this is true, it appears to be so.
Fortunately we don’t have to share with the road or circle track racers but it’s understandable that if the track management makes more money that way, it is their focus.
We have a long (more than 25 years) and positive history with three of the tracks within 100 miles of Chicago and we continue to seek out other tracks that can see the positive finical aspects of doing business with us.  |
Bill, I am not sure exactly which track is the first one you are talking about, but I know exactly which one the second track is. Which tracks didn't want to do 2 day races last year? Cordova (which makes no sense to me), RT 66 and Indy? Cordova is close enough for me that I would consider going to a one day race there, however if it were a two day race I don't think there would be a question in my mind about going. RT is also very close to me and I would probably come up for a one day race. I won't drive all the way to Indy for one day though.
I feel your pain, years ago when I helped with the North Central Super Gas Association we had some difficulties dealing with tracks. I don't know the particulars of what they make on a normal bracket weekend, but it must not be good if they are so reluctant to be open. I think that if some of these tracks did some marketing they might actually get a few spectators. (i.e. Norwalk) It seems like they just think they will open the gates and people will come running.