SPEED SPORT: Susan Wade hits the spot

[Chili]

ZMax is called the Bellagio of drag strips for a reason. Some parts of the grandstands have bucket seats like you find in most stadiums. The main grandstands were built like stadiums as well. There is a lower and middle concourse. There are also bathrooms and concessions on both concourses.

 

[mick]

....... I would like to address the fall race held in 2025 .......

please do. there's something odd when you have one of the newest and nicest facilities, loses a race in lieu
of an older facility only 80 miles away.

 

[GumbyWVU]

please do. there's something odd when you have one of the newest and nicest facilities, loses a race in lieu
of an older facility only 80 miles away.

2025 was the first time a 4wide was in the fall slot. I'm not sure why they decided to do that. We went. I was shocked at how poorly attended it was compared to the spring 4wides we've attended have been. Nobody had to park across the street from the track. They did have the shuttles still and it is pretty nice. Bristol had them so maybe that's something at Bruton Smith tracks??

I'm not sure how the previous two-wide fall events were attended though, but I think they were better attended. Agree, does seem odd. I've never been to the Rock but I wonder how they will compare to vendor space, parking, etc. Seems like read on here once that the Rock is a fairly small facility. I'd like to go but doing so would likely mean a second night in a hotel, so we probably won't go.

What were your thoughts Sam?

 

[ATC TWR]

2025 was the first time a 4wide was in the fall slot. I'm not sure why they decided to do that. We went. I was shocked at how poorly attended it was compared to the spring 4wides we've attended have been. Nobody had to park across the street from the track. They did have the shuttles still and it is pretty nice. Bristol had them so maybe that's something at Bruton Smith tracks??

I'm not sure how the previous two-wide fall events were attended though, but I think they were better attended. Agree, does seem odd. I've never been to the Rock but I wonder how they will compare to vendor space, parking, etc. Seems like read on here once that the Rock is a fairly small facility. I'd like to go but doing so would likely mean a second night in a hotel, so we probably won't go.

What were your thoughts Sam?

Hello Eric. You hit the nail on the head. The 4 wide race in the fall was the issue. Although I personally enjoy 4 wides in the spring and the traditional 2 wide racing in the fall. The guys I attend always attend the fall race with were very disappointed and frankly pissed off about the 4 wide fall deal. According to most people I talk too along with comments I read, 4 wide racing is unpopular.
I am going to put on my tin foil conspiracy theory hat now. LOL. As we all know, a resurgent IHRA has been making a lot of moves acquiring drag strips. My theory is that NHRA wanted to slow the bleeding. Both NHRA and IHRA had eyes on Rockingham dragway. Offering Rockingham dragway a national event would seal the deal for them to go NHRA. But with two events already in N.C. a third would probably result in poor spectator attendance at one of the three. So NHRA switched the 2025 Zmax fall race to 4 wide betting that attendance would be poor thus having an excuse to give the fall race to Rockingham dragway. Had the fall 2025 zmax race been well attended then NHRA would have a hard time trying to justify taking it from Zmax and giving it to Rockingham. NHRA still wants the 4 wide spectacle so this move lets them kill two birds with one stone. Ok I am now taking off my tin foil conspiracy hat. LOL.

 

[GumbyWVU]

Hello Eric. You hit the nail on the head. The 4 wide race in the fall was the issue. Although I personally enjoy 4 wides in the spring and the traditional 2 wide racing in the fall. The guys I attend always attend the fall race with were very disappointed and frankly pissed off about the 4 wide fall deal. According to most people I talk too along with comments I read, 4 wide racing is unpopular.
I am going to put on my tin foil conspiracy theory hat now. LOL. As we all know, a resurgent IHRA has been making a lot of moves acquiring drag strips. My theory is that NHRA wanted to slow the bleeding. Both NHRA and IHRA had eyes on Rockingham dragway. Offering Rockingham dragway a national event would seal the deal for them to go NHRA. But with two events already in N.C. a third would probably result in poor spectator attendance at one of the three. So NHRA switched the 2025 Zmax fall race to 4 wide betting that attendance would be poor thus having an excuse to give the fall race to Rockingham dragway. Had the fall 2025 zmax race been well attended then NHRA would have a hard time trying to justify taking it from Zmax and giving it to Rockingham. NHRA still wants the 4 wide spectacle so this move lets them kill two birds with one stone. Ok I am now taking off my tin foil conspiracy hat. LOL.

Interesting theory. We went on Sunday last fall and the weather was about as good as you could want, but the attendance was surprising to us.

NC is a racing hot bed and I wouldn't say that a 3rd event wouldn't be sustainable, as Rock I believe has a small attendance capacity. But to chip in to your theory, it could be that NHRA knew that an Atlanta race was coming back and the Potomac event would satisfy the Richmond fans, and thus they couldn't draw from those two previously "vacant" areas, both of which are easy drives to Charlotte/Rock.

I'm glad though they are bringing an event to the Rock, even though I'll likely not make it.

 

[mick]

from four wide to no wide. smh.
i like tin foil conspiracy hats.

 

[GumbyWVU]

from four wide to no wide. smh.
i like tin foil conspiracy hats.

The truth is out there, Agent Mulder!

 

[Mike]

Drag racing has to many winners on Sunday...........

 

[mick]

Drag racing has to many winners on Sunday...........

i've thought this before too. are you suggesting some winners on saturday? could even be PS and/or PSB?
i don't know how you'd do it, but i've sometimes thought there should only be one nitro winner per event.
run FC's only at certain events? and then TF'rs only at others? or just have one single nitro class?

 

[GumbyWVU]

i've thought this before too. are you suggesting some winners on saturday? could even be PS and/or PSB?
i don't know how you'd do it, but i've sometimes thought there should only be one nitro winner per event.
run FC's only at certain events? and then TF'rs only at others? or just have one single nitro class?

Would need to find a good balance. Maybe Sportsman Saturday, the Pros on Sunday (inc the Alcohol and Pro Mod classes?)

Might have to consider how many qualifying runs too.

Still yet, it might have to vary more as it seems like each race has a different number of categories running. Gotta find that right balance as to not alienate more fans.

 

[SoCal Racer]

David,

Not argung just discussing. I think you are in the minority. People want to see people compete. The competetion is secondary. No matter the sport.

As far back as you want to go. Book a couple of Funny Cars for a match race and you will get a crowd. Book Snake and Mongoose and you will get a much bigger crowd.

People have watched golf for years. More people watched when Tiger was playing.

There is a bigger crowd at the stadium on the days Shohei Ohtani is playing.

Sprint Car promoters would pay big for Kyle Larson to run a race because he sells more tickets.

The line at the back of Maddi Gordon's hauler isn't there to see the car.

It's always been about people.

Alan

I don't fundamentally disagree, but are you telling me that eons ago people came to see Ben Hur race chariots rather than just the racing itself? I'd be the one guy in the audience scrutinizing the differences between chariots and the horse-power they were using.

(BTW, is this what they mean by 4-Wide?)

I think my interest being more in the cars than the drivers stems from being a [little guy] racer myself. You know how racers are... our egos say, "I can beat that <guy/gal> given equivalent equipment" even if we know that's not necessarily true. And as such I'm far more interested in the technology of the cars and how - or if - it confers an advantage for winning (or ease of maintenance, or longevity of parts). As a mechanical engineer I evaluate the entire world in that context - what works, how it works, why it works, etc.

Still, there are drivers I respect and are my favorites - although that's not why I go. Which brings up a bit of a sore spot in that there is very little innovation anymore. In the early '70s when I started going to the Big Show you saw something new at every event to gain a performance advantage, and ETs/ speeds reflected that. Now it's mostly crew chief voodoo, and that things have become so highly optimized that performance gains are in very small increments.

I do have to mention that Roland Leong elevated the "drivers are secondary" theory to an artform: I have a race car; I'll find a driver.

 

[Litefoot]

I don't fundamentally disagree, but are you telling me that eons ago people came to see Ben Hur race chariots rather than just the racing itself? I'd be the one guy in the audience scrutinizing the differences between chariots and the horse-power they were using.

View attachment 17275

(BTW, is this what they mean by 4-Wide?)

I think my interest being more in the cars than the drivers stems from being a [little guy] racer myself. You know how racers are... our egos say, "I can beat that <guy/gal> given equivalent equipment" even if we know that's not necessarily true. And as such I'm far more interested in the technology of the cars and how or if it confers an advantage for winning (or ease of maintenance, or longevity of parts). Plus I'm a mechanical engineer and frame the entire world in that context - what works, how it works, why it works, etc.

Still, there are drivers I respect and are my favorites - although that's not why I go. Which brings up a bit of a sore spot in that there is very little innovation anymore. In the early '70s when I started going to the Big Show every event you saw something new about the cars to gain a performance advantage, and ETs/ speeds reflected that. Now it's mostly crew chief voodoo and that things have become so highly optimized that performance gains are in very small increments.

I do have to mention that Roland Leong elevated the "drivers are secondary" theory to an artform: I have a race car; I'll find a driver.

Very good points, my brother would rather build and tune our car than drive it, my self I look at both equally the same for my fan experience as well as the way they are built to look ( paint, body style ) if we all liked the same look we would be driving model T’s that would be black, electronically fuel injected with antilock brakes, variety and different interest points keep this interesting, I believe drivers are always going to big part too

 

[mike]

Sprint Car promoters would pay big for Kyle Larson to run a race because he sells more tickets.

Sprint car promoters are not paying Kyle to show up and race-he shows up because he wants to. It also helps that he co-owns the series he competes in.

Over the past two years, he has flown to Perth (the most isolated city in the world), raced for three nights, then jumped back on a plane and headed straight to Oklahoma to strap himself into another race car. Kyle is simply a badass who loves racing, and the money for winning races obviously helps.

Michael

 

[none]

Michael,

Promoters for years have paid big names show up (or tow) money because they know it sells tickets.
I know that he co-owns Hight Limit, but but he also gets "Incentives" from other promoters to run extra events.

Alan