Recently, more and more dirt racing fans are voicing their opinion about what the tracks are doing wrong. Unfortunately, many of the opinions are negative and most of the tracks appear to be ignoring the fans. Instead of bashing the tracks, the fans need the opportunity to express their issues and suggestions to the track personally. With so many different complaints expressed by the fans on any given night, we decided to break down some of the most popular problems with dirt tracks today.
THE RULES
4 wide racing at Bridgeport Speedway
Dirt tracks need to work together to create one standard rulebook that allows cars from all over to run there without any problems. People constantly are talking about the low car counts in the pits every weekend, and one way to get drivers to the track is a flexible rulebook. When one track rains out, drivers should be able to pack up and go race at another track with the tires that they have in the trailer. It was a big deal when Big Diamond and New Egypt announced that the DIRTcar Series was making a return to both tracks in 2014, so what is stopping all the tracks from working together to make a rulebook that coincides with DIRT and NASCAR rules? It may be easier said than done, but DIRTcar events will attract fans and make the speedways more money.
The tracks need to forget about tire deals and let the drivers run whatever tire they want on any given night. Hoosier or American Racer? Who cares, let them run both. A team should be able to run whatever tire combination they want, whether it is hard, soft or both. While on the topic of tires, tracks need to stop giving drivers who bring out the caution with a flat tire courtesy laps. When the caution comes out, regroup the field, and drop the green flag. Stop giving them an extra lap and dragging out the show. The favoritism really shines bright here, and it’s not fair to the other drivers and the fans.
Keep the tech inspection simple and fair to all drivers every week. Tracks should tech the top five every week in every division. Some tracks let too many people get away with illegal equipment because they are scared it will harm the car count. Drivers should be required to go right to the designated tech area immediately after the race, where everyone can witness the process. Disqualifying someone for breaking the rules will only increase the track’s credibility as a consistent and fair facility.
If the tracks want to remain independent and keep the current rules, then they need to hold more open tire and engine races. Bridgeport used to run open competition 358s on Fridays, and while the turnout wasn’t great, the racing action was always pretty good. More open competition races would attract drivers and make for very interesting racing. The bottom line is, the tracks need to be more flexible on who can race what on certain nights.
TIME IS EVERYTHING
Today, dirt racing fans want to see great racing action and get home at a reasonable time. Friday night tracks need to start at a time when people can catch the racing action after they get off work. Saturday night tracks can afford to start earlier to ensure that people get home before midnight. Tracks need to limit the amount of divisions running each night, to make sure the event doesn’t go all night.
Modifieds Staging behind the stands at Bridgeport
While the fans came to see racing, they didn’t come to see the water trucks and tractors running a 45-lap feature during intermission. Yes, track prep is important, but speedway officials should have a plan before and during the racing action to keep the track surface favorable. Dumping water all over a dusty and rock hard track is not going to help anything. Crews need to pay attention to how the track responds to different weather conditions and figure out a method that keeps the track surface consistent every week. A lot of the tracks have the necessary equipment, but do not use it to their advantage.
WHERE DO YOU RACE? OH, NEVER HEARD OF IT.
Being from Pennsylvania, people not as familiar with dirt racing think that Grandview is the only speedway around. The tracks are absolutely terrible at advertising and using new technology to their advantage. A recent survey revealed that around 72% of online adults are using social networks today. Advertising on a site such as Facebook, is relatively cheap and would reach a very large and specific audience. If they don’t want to advertise, then at least maintain a Facebook and Twitter page that is updated daily. Bridgeport used to have an article in the Delco Times, a local PA newspaper, which reached an audience outside of South Jersey. Now, dirt track advertisements in this area are extremely rare and the potential audience is not being reached.
The seats are not filling up because the tracks and the fans are not doing their part when it comes to spreading the word about the sport. Track promoters need to drop off flyers and schedules at different body shops, auto companies, part distributors and other related businesses. Fans need to try and get friends and family members to the track. Who knows, maybe that one friend will enjoy it and start becoming a regular.
DO IT FOR THE KIDS
Growing up, I spent my Saturday nights at Bridgeport Speedway watching my family’s race team. I would look forward to Power Ball, when the big block modified drivers parked on the front stretch, got out of their cars and threw a numbered tennis ball into the stands. I’ll never forget catching Ricky Elliot’s tennis ball and watching him win the big block feature. I got to take a picture with him in victory lane and couldn’t stop bragging to everyone about winning $50. While the older fans probably didn’t enjoy the kids running everywhere, the kids loved every second of it. It gave them the opportunity to watch the racing action closely and cheer on a certain driver.
When I used to bring my friends to the track (who were not nearly as into racing as I was), they were always looking for something to do. We would play basketball behind the stands with other kids and have football catches. The tracks today need to have plenty of stuff to keep the kids occupied and wanting to come back. Have games and giveaways before, during and after the races for the kids. There is a good chance that when the kids grow up, a few of them will become regular fans. A kid friendly facility will encourage families to bring their children out to the races for the night.
GIVE THE FANS WHAT THEY WANT
Fan Appreciation Night at Bridgeport Speedway
Listening to fan feedback is something that all dirt tracks should be doing on a consistent basis. When fans walk in the gates, have someone handing out surveys or questionnaires that give the fans to opportunity to voice their concerns and suggestions. Tracks need to hold polls on Facebook and their websites that will help them get an idea of how to run a show that satisfies the drivers and fans. Keeping fans in the bleachers will make the track more money that they can use towards maintaining a reputable facility. Asking the fans a few simple questions can go a long way. It let’s the fans know that they appreciate them and care about different opinions, while providing the tracks with ideas and recommendations.
If most of the fans came to see the big block modifieds, then their feature race better be starting at an appropriate time. Keeping the fans in the stands all night is not making the track any money. If anything, it’s losing them money because most of the fans do not want to stay out all night and won’t come back.
WE WANT BIG EVENTS
When speedways hold big events such as memorial races or DIRT races, the stands are almost always packed. I know it is easier said than done, but the tracks need to consider combining the popular divisions and series into one big weekend or nightly event. If the 410 Sprint Cars and modifieds were running at New Egypt on the same night, it would almost be a guarantee sell-out. As a kid, my friends would only pay attention to the races when the big blocks were running their feature. When my friends were introduced to the URC Sprint Cars, they only wanted to come back to the track when they were making an appearance. The point is, people want to see the big events, and the tracks are not holding enough of them throughout the season.
Delaware Valley Dirt Racing 
THE RULES, the biggest problem with racing today, I AGREE 100%, in the 50’s and 60’s you could tow almost anywhere and race, because your car was a Sportsman, or a Modified, the first track owner that gets back to basics on car rules will earn big car counts. Track tire rules have almost made traveling to different tracks a thing of the past. Who can afford a round of tires to invade another track once or twice a year, lets get real. CRATE motors, they SUCK, who wants to hear cars breaking up all night bouncing off of a 6200 RPM limiter, Let the sportsman guys build any motor they want, a CLAIMER rule would keep guys from building $10,000.00 motors. Give the sportsman class a $3500.00 claimer rule and let them have at it. As a track owner I would want to spend as little time as possible doing technical inspections on motors, a claimer would do it for them.
That makes a lot of sense guy. You got these tracks running pure streets with a holley two barrel that cost more than the car should.
Not only that, as a “Street Stock” racer with two tracks within a 25 mile radius have rules packages that are way different from each other. Would love to see tracks work with each other more in this Dept. considering both car counts are low and one track is a Friday night track and the other is a Saturday night track.
Don’t leave out track preparation having watched duel in the desert las Vegas they called last race on Friday because of dust.I will state this overall is one of the nicest facilities around except the racing surface;no clay to much sand and rocks
Track prep os my biggest gripe as a fan. I watch the racers walk the track…adjust their cars…and then they water down a dry slick surface, which makes it a worse surface and throws the car adjustments out the window. Track prep starts the night the races end and continues all week, not just the night of racing.
Ever see the program Undercover Boss? A good track owner would spend the night in his stands without letting anyone know who we was. Then maybe, as he sat there watching match races knowing there was weather in the area, and hearing the fans when the show they paid to see got rained out he would get it. I’ve had track owners tell me at Motorsports that they make special rules to tie the racers to their track. Ask any racer that built a cars for a track class that is no longer running 1 how they got rid of the car and 2 would they ever do it again. There is too much competition for my hobby money to have to put up with the tracks BS.
Safety. I, for one, do not understand how I could by a 900 horsepower late model, or 750 horsepower modified and show up and race and no one would even ask me if I have driven anything before. As long I as I pay my membership money, then I am a race car driver. I have seen so many crashes (and been involved in 2) that were because something hd no experience and was driving over their head. I had the entire rear of my modified ripped off this year while I was sitting still waiting to exit the track. Brand new, 77 year old man who had never been in a modified at all and had not driven anything in 25 years. He claimed he had no idea the race was over and that he did not even see me and the other cars waiting to exit the track. He was wide open and lost it. I couldve been killed. There needs to be a licensing proceudre to ensure safety. One other time, I had a racer come across the infield after spinning out, came right across in front of me out of control. That was a nice crash because I had no place to go.
In drag racing, they have a licensing procedure to ensure the ability of the drivers before endangering others.
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