About Time (1 Viewer)

[None]

On DRO. Indianapolis Raceway Park loses two circle track races. The place is a dump and always has been. Calling it the NHRA's premiere facility only means every thing else they own is worse. Cleaning up IRP and and rest they own might improve attendance, both racers and spectators.

 

[T.Smith]

On DRO. Indianapolis Raceway Park loses two circle track races. The place is a dump and always has been. Calling it the NHRA's premiere facility only means every thing else they own is worse. Cleaning up IRP and and rest they own might improve attendance, both racers and spectators.

Sounds like a NASCAR money grab to me.

IRP will always be my favorite drag strip...and John, California could use a few IRPs.

 

[Jer]

IRP is def showing its age,tower old,walkway tower old,maybe time to renovate?? I mean it is the king of all strips,shouldnt it be nice?

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

Sounds like a NASCAR money grab to me.

IRP will always be my favorite drag strip...and John, California could use a few IRPs.

Ditto that!

And John, I don't know that anyone refers to IRP as NHRA's premier facility, just that it hosts NHRA's premier event. Big difference.

The ol' boy needs an overhaul, that's for sure. But to say it "always has been" a dump is assenine.

Sean D

 

[None]

Ditto that!

And John, I don't know that anyone refers to IRP as NHRA's premier facility, just that it hosts NHRA's premier event. Big difference.

The ol' boy needs an overhaul, that's for sure. But to say it "always has been" a dump is assenine.

Sean D

Read DRO. It says "premier facility". O.K. always is a streach, try at least twenty years.

 

[None]

Sounds like a NASCAR money grab to me.

IRP will always be my favorite drag strip...and John, California could use a few IRPs.

California could use a bunch of drag strips, hopefully in better repair than IRP.
Don't live in California, just west of L.A..

 

[MHayes]

Read DRO.....

There's your problem

 

[jackass]

As much as moving the Nationwide race to the big track is a good thing for NASCAR and the series sponsors... from what i am hearing the teams are realy hating not going to the IRP oval... Trucks will still run there but thats it from them...

also heard adding more seat at IRP would not have helped them keep the event.. even though they could fill them....(some of the best racing in that series is/was there...)


i say drop the trucks too... through dirt on the oval for a weekly show and make money to upgrade the strip facilities...


Billy

 

[mike]

The way Indy is, is what makes it special. At least to me anyway. I guess some people like everything flash. After all my favorite track is Pomona, so maybe I shouldn't comment.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

Read DRO. It says "premier facility". O.K. always is a streach, try at least twenty years.

You're right, it was an article by DRO so I should've called them out. For them to say something like that is a little embarassing considering the amount of years they've been around the sport. My apologies.

Having grown up about an hour from there and attending/witnessing so many neat things at the U.S. Nationals over the years, as well as having raced there there so often, I tend to get defensive of it. But admittedly, after seeing all of these super tracks pop up over the years and literally embarassing Indy from an aesthetic standpoint, I just wish the sanctioning body would step up and transform it into the state of the art facility it deserves to be.

Sean D

 

[None]

The way Indy is, is what makes it special. At least to me anyway. I guess some people like everything flash. After all my favorite track is Pomona, so maybe I shouldn't comment.

I also like Pomona, but that is a lease deal. Nothing wrong with old. There is something wrong with disrepair at the NHRA owned tracks. The Smith and Bader tracks are always well maintained.

 

[None]

I just wish the sanctioning body would step up and transform it into the state of the art facility it deserves to be.

Sean D

Right on. NHRA needs to clean up all the tracks they own.

 

[DragFan2]

Right on. NHRA needs to clean up all the tracks they own.

John, I too agree that NHRA owned tracks lag behind Bruton Smith owned tracks for sure, and in the case of Norwalk, the Bader's apparently have done an amazing job keeping up their place. That being said, the NHRA owned Gainesville, FL track that hosts the Gatornationals has definetely been upgraded over the past several years, and I hear that the Commerce, GA track (Atlanta) owned by NHRA has been improved as well, so maybe you need to come to Florida or Georgia to see what NHRA has done to improve a couple of their facilites. The new tower at Gainesville is awesome, and the skyboxes are neat, even though us average Joe's will never get to enjoy them unless we want to go stylin' for a weekend. Still, I've been to Bristol and Charlotte, both tracks owned by Bruton Smith, and you feel like you are in a different world compared to the usual drag strip experience. Of course both tracks are essentially brand new, even though Bristol was re-done over 10 years ago, it is hard to tell. I hear Bruton's track at Las Vegas is also top notch, and the re-model of Sonoma (formerly Sears Point) was very nice, it apparently is kinda weird due to it dual use as a road course and dragstrip. Indy does need some work based on everything I have read, but it is still the "premiere" event to win on your resume for drag racing.

 

[robslob]

Hey, Do you guys actually attend races at I.R.P. ?? At least both lanes are equal, there is enough shutdown, and no bumps in the track from D.A. tunnels under the strip.... Gripe about the weather, or your grilfriend, or something you think you know about !!!!

 

[Dave]

From Jayski.com on last years rumored change.. ". The television revenue from hosting a Nationwide race is worth about $500,000, or about half of what's needed to offset the sanctioning fee." The sanctioning fee they were talking about was for IMS. I don't know if it's the same for all tracks, but thats 250k+ that the NHRA/IRP won't be getting anymore. Let's not forget there IS a downside to this. Yeah everyone says knock the oval down and make it all about drag racing, but that oval track brought it alot of $$ that won't be there anymore. No $$ means no improvement.

 

[Toejam]

Sounds like a NASCAR money grab to me.

IRP will always be my favorite drag strip...and John, California could use a few IRPs.

Good point....While Chicago and Vegas are my personal favorite tracks, Indy is my Favorite race bar none!

 

[Toejam]

Ditto that!

And John, I don't know that anyone refers to IRP as NHRA's premier facility, just that it hosts NHRA's premier event. Big difference.

The ol' boy needs an overhaul, that's for sure. But to say it "always has been" a dump is assenine.

Sean D

I will be the first to admit IRP is in much need of some Upgrades, Bathrooms for one they are a Pit! Especially since Bruton Smith has SOO upped the standard for NHRA Drag racing! That being said the U.S. Natl's is still Drag Racings premier event, look at the Car counts????

 

[RacerRose]

Do they still run a regular weekly Sprint Car or USAC Midget program at IRP?

 

[vegasnitro]

From Jayski.com on last years rumored change.. ". The television revenue from hosting a Nationwide race is worth about $500,000, or about half of what's needed to offset the sanctioning fee." The sanctioning fee they were talking about was for IMS. I don't know if it's the same for all tracks, but thats 250k+ that the NHRA/IRP won't be getting anymore. Let's not forget there IS a downside to this. Yeah everyone says knock the oval down and make it all about drag racing, but that oval track brought it alot of $$ that won't be there anymore. No $$ means no improvement.

DING DING DING Here is the most prescient point in this thread.

Say all you want about the drag strip BUT the MOST profitable event IRP hosted was the Trucks/Nationwide doubleheader and it will be a hit to the coffers of the track and NHRA which will make the much-needed drag strip improvements less likely.

 

[Bill]

Hey guys, we need to put this in perspective. Every time somebody builds a new track (the latest being Tierp, Sweden), the bar gets raised.

Lest not forget we have a lot of teams on the side lines right now due to a poor economy with a lot of good people out of work. Those are the folks who pay the freight so to speak and it's been this way for four years. It hits all of the sports meaning the stands aren't filled and less revenue. No revenue means no capital expenditures for new toilets, grandstands, etc.

You can thank the fund managers in NYC for the current economic situation that's put our favorite sport in a holding pattern whom I might add are still enoying the good life and have more control over your daily life than you can possibly imagine.

It's a great track with a rich history and I'm sure they'll get around to upgrades but I would be surprised if it doesn't happen until the economy really improves.