Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Harvick VS. Busch / Montoya VS. Newman

I've been pondering whether or not the "have at it boys" is a good thing for NASCAR or not.  I guess I can take it or leave it but I'm not the average fan.  Does the average fan want to see NASCAR turn into the WWE?  I don't know but maybe NASCAR does, look at how many people watch the WWE!  Look at how many people slow way down on the freeway to see if someone is laying on the roadside with their guts hanging out.  I guess this is truly what our society wants to see.

The fans have been wanting to see the REAL emotions of their favorite drivers.  When you ask fans what they come to see, the average fan says the wrecks.  Did Kyle Busch cross the line by using his car to push another car with no driver into the pit wall, ultimately putting others safety at risk?  I say yes and he should have been suspended one race.  The pushing, shoving, and yelling at each other, I'm good with it, most the time they don't take their helmets off anyway!  NASCAR is desperate to increase their ratings and sell more tickets.  Most every track has been down on attendance and ratings have been down until late.

It's drama that sells and NASCAR knows it!

Monday, May 9, 2011

No Wait, Done by Ten

So how did my day go at the new Rocky Mountain Raceway?  We'll let me tell you!  Some things were more of the same but then there were things that made such a difference.  My arrival to the track was at 12:15pm, expecting to wait in line until 1:00pm to get my credentials and through the back gate.  Much to my surprise there was no line, I'm mean NO line!  As a matter of fact there were more then two windows open and Will Call had its own booth.  The first person I met was a lovely lady who was very friendly, I didn't know her from Adam and I didn't get the feeling she knew me.  My son was with me, he is now old enough to get in the pit area, he was treated very well!

The other surprise was the number of race cars/trucks.  I can't remember seeing so many Pro Trucks, who ever is in charge of the truck series should be commended.  The Modifieds were loaded with cars and put on a great race as always, well at least for 40 laps, the remaining 10 laps some of the drivers fell asleep at the wheel.  The Midgets were good but I expected more out of some of the veteran drivers.  A lot of rough driving in the Midget class, hate to see someone get seriously hurt someday.  The Rocky Mountain Challenge Series put on a good race but I was a little disappointed with the Idaho guys not traveling and supporting the Salt Lake race.  I know there were some good cars ready to race in Idaho that could have showed.  The car count for the late models were at 14 and should have been more like 18 or 20.

 Biggest surprise of the night was being done before 10:00pm!  I noticed a push to get cars on the track and ready to go.  Heck the mini cups were on the track and ready during the opening ceremonies.  I know things are a work in progress at RMR but Mike Eames and staff are on the right track and should be commended for a job well done on opening night.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Raking The Back Gate

My recent visit to Magic Valley Speedway on April 23rd was a shocker.  In fact I've just recovered enough to write about it.  I traveled with a friend, Eric Rhead who was competing in the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series.  I told the gal at the pit shack that I wanted a pit pass and she told me it would be $40.00 dollars.  My first thought was maybe she thought I was paying for someone else.  Then she said it is $40.00 for non-member (NASCAR).  You see you have to purchase a NASCAR crew license at a NASCAR sanctioned track and that cost is upwards of $75.00 dollars.  You see the series only races there three times, so if I did buy a license then it would cost me $55.00 per pit pass. 

Its funny how guys like track owner Eddie McKeen seem to forget how much racing costs and that they were on the other side of the fence complaining about the cost of pit passes.  Shame on you, you've fallen into the trap of "I don't have a good show so I have to pay for my track somehow so lets RAKE the back gate" mentality.