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Thursday, January 29, 2015

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE SPRINT CAR RACING?

Interesting topic was brought up this week by Danny Dietrich on twitter in regards to what our local drivers are being paid to win weekly here in Central PA.
Now I tend to agree with him that ALL our local sprint car divisions deserve to be paid more to win. But the question is how do the tracks get this extra money? No matter how much money we think the tracks are making, they are not making half as much. I really doubt Williams Grove or Lincoln Speedway management is sitting in their offices while the cars race around the track looking like this... 

Even with all the fans and race teams paying to see or to race in the event, race tracks have bills just like the rest of us. They have a gas bill, food bill, heat bills, water bills, septic bills, garbage, electric bills, and the major one Insurance. Think what the race tracks pay just to turn those big ass lights they have at the track every week. The race tracks also have full time employes who get insurance  and other benefits every week. They get those weather the track races that week or not. All year long. Add all of that in and it's not as easy and cheap to run a track as some people think.

With that said some weeks the race tracks might loose a little, some weeks they might make a little, and some weeks they might just break even, and then you have that 2 or 3 races that the tracks make a killing. But it all evens out at the end of the season, so I ask you all again, where are the tracks getting the extra $$$?

How bout sponsorship? I'm sure that helps the tracks who have them. Williams Grove Speedway has Lawrence Chevrolet to sponsor the 410 point fund but how much of the point fund do they pay? The Grove has a posted point fund of $43,550 for 2015. I doubt their sponsor is paying all of that so the track has to make that through out the season as well. You can try and find more sponsors to help pay the extra money to so the drivers can make $5,000 to win every week. That's $1,500 more a week just for the winner. Can the tracks get away with just paying the winner more money, or will they have to pad the purse all they way back through the field? Just trying to find someone to pay an extra $1,500 a week, for lets say 20 races, that's someone on the hook for $30,000 a year. I don't see drivers being happy if they just pay the winner more so now lets add more to that figure. I have no idea what a normal weekly purse is every week, but with $5,000 to win you need to pay $2,500 for 2nd, $2,000 for 3rd, $1,750 for 4th, and $1,500 for 5th. Just the top 5 is an extra $12,750 a week in purse. Now add the rest of the field and your looking at close to $17,000 a week. Times that by 20 races and you will need $340,000 in purse for 1 season for 1 track. So I'm gonna ask you all again....Where do the tracks get the extra $$$$$?

How bout this option? Increase the admission for the fans to get in, and you make the race teams pay more to get into the pits. Hell make the race teams pay so much just to run their weekly. It would take 680 people at $25 a head to pay a $17,000 weekly purse. Now is that possible to have that many people in the pits every week? MAYBE, but I doubt it. But lets say you get 28 cars in the pits with 5 crew members + the driver tha'ts only 168 people through the back gate. Now I know some race teams bring more some bring less but work with me here. Lets add in the extra people like photographers and pit lizards that walk around the pits weekly. Guess what you still not even close to that magic number of 680. Now I was told more to win will bring more cars so lets say that's true and 40 cars start to show up weekly at Williams Grove. Guess what? That's still 440 people shy of breaking even for the night. 280 short to be exact. Where will that money be gotten from? THE FANS!!!

Should the race tracks really raise the admission price on family's to go to the races? Lets say you want to charge $20 to get in every week. It would only take 22 fans to get you the rest of the purse for the week, that means everything else is profit. Tha'ts great for the race tracks. Sounds like a winning formula right? Now I don't know about all of you but I watch enough Fox News to know our economy is still not doing well. So is it a great idea to raise the admission price and make families pay even more to get in every week? Just using my family as the example it would cost me $50 to take my family to see a race one night a week. If your a race fan like myself I try and go to 2 shows a week, that's $100 I have to shell out just to walk in the gates. Where am I supposed to find that kind of money EVERY week? I'm like most hard working race fans, I work a 40 hr a week job just to pay my bills and I'm damn lucky to be able to get to as many races as I do...43 last season BTW. We try and skip most of the higher paying shows because it cost so much for all of us to go. For those without children, your not getting away with just taking kids to the race track, at least I'm not that lucky because it all adds up real quick. Now instead of families going to the races for $50 a pop they can swing up the road a bit from Williams Grove and head to Haars Drive In. For $20 all 4 of us can see 2 movies. Think about that for am minute. For the price I would have to pay to see a race myself, I can take my whole family to the movies. What makes more sense? I don't know about you, but that's a hell of a deal. Take other things like Netflix which is $10 a month, a baseball game, or any of about a dozen or so things that a family can do that's cheaper the $50 to get in.

But ok there are enough race fans out there that are willing to pay that every week to take their families to a race. How many of them are willing to do it twice a week? Remember so far we've really only talked about Williams Grove Speedway on Friday nights. They are the only ballgame in town on Friday's. You go to a track on Saturdays and now the field is cut in half depending on which track, Lincoln or Port Royal Speedway the drivers prefer. Less back gate $= the need for more fans to make up that difference. As a fan where are you going to choose to spend $50 a week? At a track that gets all the cars, or the track that only gets half of them? Your gonna be paying the same to get in no matter what so...... EXACTLY!!!!

Do we see where I'm going with all of this? I think we all will agree all divisions should be paid better in Central PA, but how are they going to do it? That's not so easy to figure out. We cant ask families to pay $50 or more a night for entertainment when there are other, cheaper forms out there. The more it cost the less will show up. But hey I don't own a race track, or a sprint car team. I'm just a fan in the stand who has a big mouth and likes to use it.

1 last thing I would like to add. If fans really want to see drivers get more money then get creative. I started the 358 point series just to give a little bit back to the teams because I thought they deserved more then they where getting. Fans in Central PA have done some really cool things to get extra money to our race teams. Mike Root started the original Beer Hill Gang, Ron Judd started the National Open Chili Cook off as a way to help raise money for our drivers. The Butcher was just a fan who started sponsoring a few drivers because he thought they could use the extra money. All it takes is a little creativity and a few friends. Hell have 5 friends chip in $20 and once a month walk into the pits and pick a driver and offer to buy them a new RR tire. Trust me not a single race team would say no. They would appreciate it greatly.

With that I say THANK YOU once again for checking out my ramblings. Please let me know how you all feel about this subject. You can leave a comment in the comment section (just leave your real name chicken), you can tweet me @BillMcIntyreIII or you can hit me up by email at boogermac420@inbox.com. Just think folks the Ice Breaker 30 is only a few weeks away. Better start digging out those warm clothes soon, I have a feeling were going to need them.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Back to the Future

Hello and welcome to 2015 race fans. This week I want to touch on a subject and shed some light on something that I think needs to be looked at. But first I want to ask everyone a question. OK ready? What do these drivers all have in common?




Well I'm still waiting? Yep you are correct, they where all voted National Sprint car Hall of Fame 410 Rookies of the Year. Know what else 4 out of 5 of these drivers have in common? They are all Central PA 358 Point Series presented by Capitol Renegade CHAMPIONS.

Pat Cannon the 2008 National 410 ROY, 2009 and 2011 Central PA 358 Point Series Champion.
Brad McClelland 2010 National 410 ROY, 2014 Central PA 358 Point Series Champion.
Logan Schuchart 2012 National 410 ROY, 2011 Central PA 358 Point Series Champion.
AND LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST....
Austin Hogue the 2014 National 410 ROY, 2013 Central PA 358 Point Series Champion.

Add in Adam Wilt who was voted the 2009 National ROY and you have not only 4 358 Point Series Champions voted National ROY in the 410 division, but also 5 different 358 drivers who where voted to that prestigious award.

Now excuse me if you all knew this, because you must be a die hard race fan, because I have yet to hear anyone anywhere mention this fact or feat. Wonder why that is? How can a division produce 5 National ROY drivers in 7 years and not get any press about it? Even more dumbfounding to me is 2 of these drivers won the 358 Point Series Championship 1 year, and the very next year won the ROY award, yet no mention of that is ever made.

Yeah I know what your saying, Bill just stop now, we all know you do the 358 point series and your looking to make a mountain out a mole hill, and yeah to a point your correct. But let me ask you all another question. If any of these drivers where 360 champions don't you think that would make headlines the next year when they won the National ROY?   Why is it they don't say anything about being a 358 champion? Are 358's really that bad? Does 2 C.I. and a "Funny looking" wing really matter that much?

I understand that 358 sprint cars only run in Central PA which makes them an oddball in a country full of 360's and 410 sprint cars. But shouldn't they count non the less? I mean for those reading this that are not from Central PA, but follow the 410 division lets take a look at all the 410 drivers who got their start in and won in a 358 sprint car...

Pat Cannon
Chad Layton
 Brad McClelland
Blane Heimbach
Billy Dietrich
 Kevin Nouse
Cory Haas
T.J. Stutts 
Doug Esh  
Mike Bittinger 
Austin Hogue
Eric Stambaugh
Logan Schuchart
  Glenndon Forsythe
Tim Wagaman
 Danny Dietrich
 Alan Krimes
 Aaron Ott
Kyle Moody
 John Westbrook

Is that enough names for you to get the point?

What the hell  is my point you ask?

Why is it with all of this talent racing the 410 division in Central PA, why doesn't anyone talk about the 358 division? Winged Nation which is the leader when it comes to  National racing talk shows wont give the division the time of day, and when they have a driver on the show that ran the 358's or for that matter is the defending or past Champion of the 358 series they don't ask anything about it.Why? Why is it our local podcast host who writes for a local news paper wont give any of the drivers an interview unless they do something in a 410?

But hey I'm not here to go on another rant about the media bias towards the 358 division, go back and look at the title of this article.....Go ahead Ill wait AGAIN....

Yep its BACK TO THE FUTURE. Why did I call it that you ask? Its really simple, if you want to look at who the future of our sport is, especially in the 410 division for the next 10 or 15 years in Central PA, you should look no farther then the 358 division. Just as they should have been watching closely for the past 10 or more years as guys like Layton and Heimbach who both where ripping up Selinsgrove Speedway, are now both 410 Champions at Port Royal Speedway. Or some guy named Esh who won the National Open at Williams Grove and also collected the Track Championship at Lincoln Speedway. What about the 2014 Lincoln Speedway track champion? Yep Alan Krimes got his start in the same division. Dont even get me started on some kid named Danny Dietrich who is a 2 time World of Outlaws winner and track champion at Lincoln Speedway.

 This year saw Kyle Moody win the Speedweek race at Lincoln Speedway,and some in the racing media had no clue who he was,  Tim Wagaman a duel track Champion in 358's get his first win at Lincoln. Plus  guys like Robbie Kendell who picked up his 1st career 410 feature win this year, and Ryan Wilson who has been real close to getting his 1st career 410 win.

Now lets jump ahead shall we? Wanna know a secret? Wanna know who the racing media should be paying attention to right now, and should be lining up to talk to?

Chase Dietz

Who is he? Oh he's just some high school kid who went from 358 ROY to 358 Track Champion at Lincoln Speedway. Whats so special about that? Know who the last kid was to do that? Some kid named Logan Schuchart who is now running full time with the World of Outlaws.

Lets add Matt Campbell a 5 time winner in the 358 division to that list....
how bout...
Issac Sneeringer, a 7 time feature winner
Chandler Leiby , Doug Hammaker and Dwight Leppo three youngsters who picked up two wins in the division.How bout the 2014 Central PA 358 Point Series ROY Wyatt Hinkle who at just 14 years old won his 1st career feature win.

Those drivers right there are the future of 410 racing for years to come in Central PA, but you would be hard pressed to know that, since nobody outside of the fans who watch them and their family's even know they race. I think it's time for members of the racing media to start paying attention to the 358 division, that way when they start winning in a 410, they aren't so surprised and asking people" Who the hell is he and where did he come from". Remember folks to see the future all you need to do is look at the past, and almost all the great drivers right now all started in the 358 division.

Well that's it for this week. As always please feel free to let me know what your feelings are on this or any other topics I have written about, as I love to hear from all of you. Do you all agree with me, or am I just beating a dead horse with a funny leg? Leave a comment here in the comment section, but dont be a chicken and sign your real name to it. You can hit me up on twitter as my handle is @BillMcIntyreIII or you can send me an email, my address is boogermac420@yahoo.com.

Until then have a great weekend, and lets all hope for no snow the next few weeks so we can all see some racing action soo.

Thursday, January 01, 2015

Exclusive interview with the 2014 Williams Grove 358 track champion Kevin Nouse

Hello and welcome to my exclusive interview with the reigning and defending 2 time Williams Grove Speedway 358 track champion Kevin Nouse.I had the pleasure of talking to Kevin last week and over the course of 3 hrs we discussed his 2 incredible seasons behind the wheel of the R & R Motorsports 4r owned by Roger McKeehan, his micro sprint days, his super sportsman victories, his love for not only Port Royal Speedway and 410 racing, but how his priorities are changing with his son moving into the racing world, and how that made the decision to scale back his racing efforts in 2015 to help concentrate on his efforts, which in turn lead to his new ride for the season. So sit back and enjoy the sometimes outspoken, but always honest and refreshing interview with Mr. 100 Kevin Nouse.






CPARS - Tell the fans about the 2014 season & all the success you had. Was it a dream season?

Kevin Nouse - In 2014, we ran 27 races. We finished with 10 wins, 24 top 4 finishes, 3 DNFs and the Wiliiams Grove track championship again. It was a dream season for sure. I don't want this to be taken the wrong way, but it was what I was expecting. I told Catherine Hogue on opening night at Lincoln Speedway that I wanted to finish in the top 5 every night, and besides our DNFs, we did that.

CPARS - Did you expect to be so strong right out the gate?

Kevin Nouse - I did expect to be strong immediately because of how we ended 2013. We did alot of R&D in 2013 and hit on something that felt really good in the final few races of that season. I knew that if I could have that feel in the car on a consistent basis, we were going to be very strong.

CPARS - You joined the 4r team in 2013 did you think when you joined the team that you would be the most dominant team like you where?

Kevin Nouse - No. I knew that we could be a contender but never thought that we would be considered the dominant car.

CPARS - What was the secret to all the success?

Kevin- Honestly, the secret was the pit crew. My mechanic Tracy and my crew guys Jeff, Josh and Trent were the key. They do an amazing job every week with the car and we all work together very well. No drama, no tension, no fighting, no egos... just 100% focus on getting the job done. The 4R cars and engines are nothing special and very average. There are several cars that had better equipment than we did. But there was no one that had the crew that I did, which is why I brought them with me to my new team.

CPARS - With such an incredible 2 years what lead to you leaving the 4r team?





Kevin - Numerous things lead to my decision to leave. I guess the main reason was that my crew was all leaving and I knew it wouldn't be the same deal without them. They were all burnt out because it wasn't a fun deal to be a part of anymore. Nobody on my crew, nor I, felt appreciated for what we were doing for the owners of the car. It's not nice to say, but you can only take advantage of people for so long before they get tired of it and are ready to walk away.

CPARS - For those that haven't heard the news who will you be driving for in 2015 and what type of schedule will you be running?

Kevin - I will be driving for Jake Raudabaugh Motorsports in 2015. We plan to contend for another Wiliiams Grove Speedway 358 track championship. I will also be driving a Super Sportsman for him on a part time basis. As far as scheduling goes, we're planning to schedule around 20 races for the 358 and 10 races for the Sportsman.

CPARS - Bringing the crew along to the new team do you think you will start right back up and find victory lane right away or is there going to be a period of adjustment to go through with a new car owner?

Kevin - I'm sure that there will be an adjustment period with a new team, but bringing my pit crew along will definitely shorten that time frame. It will be my goal to win right out of the box, but that's probably not realistic. One thing for sure, everyone at JRM is more motivated than ever to win races and are working very hard to be prepared for 2015.

CPARS - The new driver of the 4r team was announced recently and Lincoln Speedway 358 track Champion Chase Dietz was hired. How much of a rivalry will there be between the two of you after the 2 championship seasons you has in that car?

Kevin
First, let me say that I really like Chase and think he has a ton of talent and a bright future in this sport if he keeps his head screwed on straight.   But some of the comments I've heard and read have a fire lit under my ass.  In 2 years driving the 4R car, we ran 49 races...  14 of those races were wins, 40 were top 5's and 44 were top 10's.  Those results were not easy to achieve by any means, and I think he will find that out.  So to answer your question, yes, there will be a rivalry and it's going to be a strong one.  I wish nothing but the best for him, but I guarantee we're not going to just pull over and wave him by next season.

CPARS - You mentioned your going to be running a super sportsman again this season. Whats it like going from a sprint car to a SS? For those that might not know what are the differences between the 2 divisions?

Kevin - There are several differences between the two cars. The Sportsman doesn't have power steering like a sprint car. The Sportsman has to weigh 300 pounds more than the 358 does. The Sportsman has a carburetor and the 358 is fuel injected. The Sportsman wings are the same square footage as a 358 wing but they aren't allowed any side panel offset. That makes a big difference in how well the car turns into the corner. Overall, the Sportsman feels like a heavier car with less acceleration and traction than the 358 car. They are a handful to drive, but they are also very fun.

CPARS- Was last season the first you ever drove them?

Kevin - No. I raced a full season in the Super Sportsman division in 2002 at Silver Springs and on the Sportsman Tour. I actually won 2 races as a rookie, was named Rookie of the Year, and finished 2nd in the Sportsman Tour points that season. So I do have a little bit of experience in them, although it was a long time ago.

CPARS - You've raced EVERYTHING under the sun that has a wing on, micro sprints, sportsman, 358s and 410 sprints, do you have a preference to a certain division?

Kevin - My favorite car to drive is a 410 Sprint Car because they are just amazing pieces of machinery. The torque and horsepower is incredible and they are just so much fun to drive. But I also enjoy the 358 cars very much. The lack of downforce caused by the smaller wings mixed with their decent amount of horsepower make them a very fun car to drive when the track gets slick.

CPARS - What lead you to the 358 division after having success in the 410 division a few years ago?

Kevin -  I had been in and out of the 358 division since 2003 and always enjoyed driving those cars. There was just always opportunities there when a 410 ride wasn't available. And in recent years, I've actually turned down a few 410 rides to stay in the 358 division. Priorities change with time, and having fun at the races is important to me. It's hard to have fun in the 410s because of all of the pressure you're under. But I can still have alot of fun in the 358 cars so that's what I choose to do.

CPARS - What was your favorite track to race at and why?

Kevin - My favorite track is probably Port Royal, even though I haven't been able to race there in several years. I always went good there in every car I've ever driven. As far as the tracks that I run now, Williams Grove is my favorite. It's not easy to drive when it gets slick and that plays into my advantage some nights.

CPARS - This season you celebrated your 100th career feature win. Im not gonna ask you which race was your favorite to win...YET, I want to know which races where your favorite to win in each division you've ever raced.

Kevin - That's actually not that tough of a question to answer. In 270 Micros, it is the Kevin Gobrecht Memorial National Open at Trailways. It was the 1st memorial race for him because he had just lost his life 1 month earlier. It was a VERY emotional day as they did a tribute to him and his family was there. It was also my 1st ever win at Trailways. My favorite 600cc Micro win was winning the Tulsa Shootout in 2000 and getting a Golden Driller Trophy. My favorite 410 win was my 1st career win at Williams Grove in 2007. Oddly enough, I don't have a favorite 358 or Sportsman win.

CPARS - You've cut back your schedule to help get your son's racing career started, how much longer do you see yourself racing before you finally retire to help your son completely?

Kevin - I'm not sure really. I guess if he enjoys driving a race car and I'm able to afford it for him, it will slowly happen over time. I don't have a time frame set yet. When it's time, I'm sure I will know. But I'm in no rush.

CPARS - How much more stressful is watching your son race then it is racing yourself?

Kevin-  It's weird. It's not what I would call stressful, but there is a level of concern that I've never felt before. I can tell you that I went over his car again and again before he raced just to be sure everything was right and safe for him. That's my biggest fear probably... him getting hurt. Especially if there was something that I could have done to prevent it. I honestly don't care how he runs at this point. As long as he's safe and having fun. That's what this is supposed to be all about, right? It's amazing how many people forget that over the years.

CPARS- Lets talk a little bit about your real job. Your the owner of Nouse Sign& graphics as well as the official dealer of K1 race gear. How is that going?

Kevin- Lets talk a little bit about your real job. Your the owner of Nouse Sign& graphics as well as the official dealer of K1 race gear. How is that going?

CPARS - You have stepped up this year to help the 358 division and have sponsored a 4 race series between Williams Grove and Lincoln Spreedway. How did that come about and tell the fans a little bit about it.

Kevin - I care alot about the 358 division and want to see it rebound. I approached Williams Grove last season about maybe sponsoring a race or two at the end of the season, but nothing was able to be put together. So when this series was put together, they offered the title sponsorship opportunity to me and I took it. I am proud to be the title sponsor and I enjoy helping the 358's out. We are working on making this a BIG series for the division. and hopefully will announce many new things about it soon.

Lightning Round....

Favorite sport other then racing?
Kevin - NFL Football

Favorite team?
Kevin - Pittsburgh Steelers

Favorite music?
Kevin - At work, country. On raceday, Hard rock

Favorite band?
Kevin - Country - Eric Church Rock - Tool, Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch.

Favorite tv show?
Kevin - A Football Life on NFL Network.

Favorite movie?
Kevin - Oceans 11

CPARS - If you could have a conversation with 2 people, 1 alive and 1 dead who would they be and what would you talk about?
Kevin - Not sure about someone that's alive, but I would love to have a conversation with my Grandma & Grandpa Howard again. They both died several years ago and I miss them both tremendously. I'd love for them to meet my children and get to spend some time with them.

Final question. ...Seeing how your a huge steelers fan like myself, make a prediction on how far they will go this season?

Kevin - I hope I'm wrong, but if they make the playoffs I think they will lose in the 1st round because they don't play consistently. But I hope I'm wrong. LOL