If Oxford Plains Speedway's decision to close its 2007 season with a 150-lap American-Canadian Tour race was curious, then the track's recent announcement that it will finish up next season with an ACT event on Sept. 13 could prove disastrous.For the first time in recent memory, ACT closed its '07 slate with a race other than the prestigious Milk Bowl, returning to Oxford on Oct. 6 for a 150-lap finale that ACT insider deemed "a favor." Though the Sept. 13 New England Dodge Dealers 150 at Oxford next season won't serve as ACT's finale (the Milk Bowl 2 weeks later will), it's a move by Oxford Plains that begs the question.
Why?
This time around there won't be the threat of cold weather, or the Fryeburg Fair just down the road apiece. Instead, that mid-September date comes smack dab in the middle of the Sylvania 300 weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the first race in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
You're not asking New England fans to choose which event to attend by holding them head-to-head, because for most there is no choice — and annual attendance of more than 100,000 speaks volumes to that end. Tickets to 1 of only 2 area appearances for NASCAR's top series are purchased long in advance, and the travel plans are made well ahead of time, too. With uncertainty surrounding Speedway Motorsports Inc.'s purchase of the New Hampshire track in the future, the September race could be the final one of its kind.
Tracks much further away from Loudon, N.H., than Oxford close their gates for entire weekends for fear of poor attendance.
The weekend of Sept. 20 is an open weekend on the 2008 ACT schedule as its currently comprised. The 2 Little Guy 100's are to be held on that same day as that ACT race, too -- the same day as the final points program at Wiscasset Raceway.
Nobody in the world of short-track racing should be held prisoner by the NASCAR behemoth, but the much smarter money should have been placed on holding the New England Dodge Dealers 150 the next weekend. It would help racers who want to compete in the Oxford finale, and it would save fans, once again, from being forced to make difficult choices with their racing dollars.
14 comments:
I dont know?... whats the big whoof Travis?... PASS is scheduled at Wiscasset that Saturday (Sept 13th) too...
I just hope that ones an afternoon show and the other an evening show so I can catch both...
I personally don't care whats going on at Louden... Apples and Oranges as far as I'm concerned...
I could go to Louden too if I wanted... but I don't ever go...I'll watch it on TV Sunday maybe?... less hassel.. no traffic!
Hey Travis,
It was a fairly simple decision really. I was actually surprised with how well our October event went. Everything went great. However, I hate running in October. The chance for bad weather is always present and people are absolutely fried from a full season of racing.
So why not race later? Beech Ridge rents their facility the next weekend and I do not want to mess that up for them. The next weekend is the Milk Bowl. The next weekend another track in Maine is running a Little Guys type event. As always, I try and be a good neighbor so I do not want to run on the same day another short track is running a similar event.
What tenbomber says is true, while many short track fans are Cup fans, many are not. We have ran against NHIS a number of times the past few years and it has not hurt us. I would rather run against them than in October. It is more likely to be a success.
I like it better when you fight with Mike Twist then when you try and pick on me! The day before Thanksgiving too! Just kidding.
Have a great Thanksgiving. If you want to hear more of my brilliance, tune into WJAB from 6 am to 10 am on Friday. I will be pontificating on all sports, not just racing.
Best, Bill Ryan
Well, WMMP always has run either the PASS or ACT the Saturday before Loudon and done very well. Real race fans know that the real action for the weekend will be at Oxford or Wisscassett. Oxford isn't that far from Loudon so I would expect that quite a few fans will make the drive over on Saturday night like they always have for WMMP.
John
Almost nothing is more boring than a cup race at NHIS.
According to Wiscasset's schedule, there is no PASS race at the facility that day. It's the final points day for their weekly divisions. PASS is there the first weekend of October.
And, good Lord, Bill, don't bring up Twisty's name! Somehow it will be perceived as a slight by me against 51 Sports, and I'll be inundated with hate mail from the 3 people left out there who consider them a credible news outlet...
Cup racing and short track racing are, indeed, apples and oranges. I'm not saying it's the same -- but anytime more than 100,000 people from the same region are heading somewhere, it's got to hurt attendance elsewhere. It's just got to.
TB
Like I said, there are literally no other weekends in the fall. I want to be a good neighbor. After you get to mid-September, events have very little chance to succeed from a financial perspective.
We shall see. I will tell you about it because you will be big timing it over in Loudon!
I personally know many families who have given up their Loudon tickets during the past two years.
Reasons cited include the track's $125 camping fee, the high prices and two or three-day mininum stays at local motels and general disinterest in NASCAR.
So scheduling a major short-track race against NASCAR isn't as risky as it would have been 10 years ago.
Regarding the WMMP race on Nextel Cup weekend, that usually works well because the track is about an hour's drive from Loudon. If the weather is good, the place is usually packed.
PASS is racing on September 13th at Wt. Mountain....which will certainly be a evening race...
(I had the wrong venue listed in my post... it wasn't Wiscasset... sorry about that error)
But my my point remains the same.... "It's no big deal"....
WMMP has been running one tour or the other up against the Cuppers for many a year now and they always pack the place.....I doubt seriously that Oxford will be affected that much...
Actually... you couldn't pay me to go to Louden... I dont like that traffic over there and the high priced atmosphere, standing in line forever for anything.. I dont care too much for the two weekend a year NASCAR fans who will pay the big bucks, buy their fancy team jackets and hats, and then make like they know everything there is to know about racing, while standing up nearly the entire race in front of you, spilling beer everywhere and ignorantly making themselves a general nuisance...thats just not my cup of tea and it wouldn't bother me at all if that all just went away.....
I'm with John... the real short track racing that weekend takes place somewhere other than NHIS...
THATS WHY TRAVIS IS A WRITER AND NOT A PROMOTER, HE DOESNT KNOW JACK ABOUT RACING,STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW YOU BEST AND THATS NOTHING, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME "THE SHOWSTOPPA"
The only reason attendance might be off is because that might be the final Fall Nextel Cup race held at NHMS. I also agree that this will be a telling event because I think that if short tracks have a good quality product then people will come regardless of what is on TV or taking place 100 miles away. Now as far as "The Stoolstoppa" that knucklehead should stick to what he knows which everybody is still trying to figure out what that might be.
You do a lot of trash talking. Did you go to All Star Speedway this year? Did you see what the Showstoppa did to the place?
Go to the Showstoppa's house and you'll know what I'm talking about. Respect the man.
You trash talk speed 51 but speed 51 is so much better than you They went to All Star. he knows what the Showstoppa did. He knows what time it is.
The Showstoppa Rules Don't you forget
WELL SAID, THE SHOWSTOPPA IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST MODERN DAY ICON IN SHORT TRACK PROMOTING, THE SHOWS WE PUT ON SPEAK FOR THEM SELVES SO RECOGNIZE WHO IS CHANGING THE FACE OF RACING, TRAVIS BARRETT TOOK A POST FROM A WEB BOARD AND HAD THE NERVE TO BASH "THE MAN",THEN HIDE BEHIND HIS BLOG HE SHOULD REALLY WATCH WHO HE TALKS ABOUT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLES WORDS SPEAK LOUDER THAN OTHERS. DO I NEED TO SAY ANYMORE?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME "THE SHOWSTOPPA"
Wow.
I'm wondering where I'm "hiding." Also wondering where, in this particular post, I ever referred to anyting "All-Star Speedway"-related.
If you don't like the musings, don't read them. It's simple, really. But, um, thanks for the hits!
TB
Personally, I've NEVER even heard of "The Showstoppa"....so I'm guessing whatever he has said in the past hasn't affected my decisions or changed my mind in any way (that I know of..LOL!!!)
btw, I love NASCAR, but would NEVER drive to Loudon (I, too, hate traffic and NASNOBS)short-track racing is where my heart (and arse!) is every weekend - any given weekend! Can't wait til spring!!!!
Happy Building!
PEACE!
OPS OAS series competitor/OCS serious fan
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