Crowd at I-55 and more

S

short-edout96

Adam Short
I have to say that is the smallest crowd in the Grandstands that I have seen at I-55 that I have seen in a very long, this special drew less of a crowd than a normal night, I felt like I was at benton on a friday night. I think marler is wishing they had a autograph session... also it was really ridiculous when you pay $35 dollars of ones own money to get into the pits to be told you cant work on a persons car that you help with regularly, I know I have not missed one race there this year paying $25-$35 to get in of my own money not to watch the races but to work on cars it is freaking ridiculous for them to keep the drivers taped off from the non yellow band people, I was not there to see the drivers I honestly could of cared less I was there for the racing and to work on the, I dont know how many other people felt this way though I know I was really close to telling them I wanted my money back, I was pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
All the car owner had to do was tell Schrader he needed a few more yellow bands. I personally saw this happen.

I would like to know where all the regular late model drivers were last night???
 
I was thinking about making the haul over there for this show and after reading the results am glad I did not. (Lisa, I know you're glad I didn't come too, no rain! ~LOL~)

I was a little shocked over the car count. In year's past this has been an event even people over my way have looked forward to going to. Perhaps the powers that be will have a re-look. It is for such a great cause and it's a shame there weren't more people there. I know a lot of it revolves around the "special" drivers' availability but perhaps earlier or later in the year when it is cooler and there's not much else going on is a better option?

I've noticed at the tracks over our way that every year in late July/early August attendance sinks down; probably due to being around the timefram of som of the bigger shows, equipment being a little worn down and heat?

I would like to say how awesome to see Will the Thrill Vaught take the win in the lates!
 
Sorry for the people who did not come last night. The weather was nice and the race was really good.
And we watched people all night long going from nascar driver to nascar driver getting all of their autographs.
And all those people got to spend time talking to the drivers instead of rushing through a line with impatient people behind them.
Plus this year with them all lined up in the inner pits everyone got to see them and take plenty of pictures.
We all had a very nice night and nice weather to go with it so no complaints with any of our group.
Nice job Ray, Sue and I-55 staff. And a big thanks to Kenny and all the nascar drivers for giving all of us alittle of your time.
 
If you didnt have a pit pass were you able to get a autograph or did the drivers just stay in the pit area.
 
SAM bring it on you are worth the risk of rain no more than I get to see you now.....

And for the record were I sit at it was pretty darn full. Fuller than a regular Saturday night. I mean I could be wrong but I am there every week. I thought there was a way better turn out than to be expected. At least the "Nascar Jock Sniffers" were not there. I took that phrase from the DOG from many years ago.... !!!!

Not sure where the problem is but when I down in the pits for hot laps the fence was down any I saw alot of guys with regular arm bands working on the Nascar guys cars. I think they kept the masses back when the drivers arrived so the owners of the cars and the drivers had a chance to get the drivers fitted for belts and measured and rig the gas and brake peddles to fit the drivers. Once things settled down it was like a regular night of racing...
Not everyone can be cousins of the cousin that has a cousin that is the driver.. LOL!!!!! Here is a good one... I was standing by the pit entrance and one guy came in and said he was with the car owner of the car that STEVE PARKS was racing tonight... I about spit my soda all over the place... Get my point ... They have to control a situation that can get out of control.. Real fast at that. But I remember being in that area when the Latemodles and Sportman cars were running their hot laps and heats. The whole area was open to anyone with an Orange Band- Yellow Band- And Orange and Checked Band. Not sure where the issue was. :eek:
 
If They Would Have Been Able To Bring In The Bigger Nascar Names I'm Sure That Would Have Helped. The Mod Racing Was Great, But Some Of The Guys Just Don't Have The Drawing Power Of Others. No Offense To I55, They Can Only Get Who They Can Get. As Far As The Late Models Go, I Was Shocked There Wasn't More. It Was Basically A Local Racer Show For Them. I Can't Believe More Didn't Come For Double Their Normal Pay.
 
Originaly when I got there it was all taped off and only yellow bands could get in, they had security guards at each trailer, but I think when the races got started they realized it was gonna be hell keepin track of yellow bands and gave up, I venture back up that way the beginning of the features and it was open to all, prolly was for a while and did not know it... guess thats how ya learn

dirtgirl said:
SAM bring it on you are worth the risk of rain no more than I get to see you now.....

And for the record were I sit at it was pretty darn full. Fuller than a regular Saturday night. I mean I could be wrong but I am there every week. I thought there was a way better turn out than to be expected. At least the "Nascar Jock Sniffers" were not there. I took that phrase from the DOG from many years ago.... !!!!

Not sure where the problem is but when I down in the pits for hot laps the fence was down any I saw alot of guys with regular arm bands working on the Nascar guys cars. I think they kept the masses back when the drivers arrived so the owners of the cars and the drivers had a chance to get the drivers fitted for belts and measured and rig the gas and brake peddles to fit the drivers. Once things settled down it was like a regular night of racing...
Not everyone can be cousins of the cousin that has a cousin that is the driver.. LOL!!!!! Here is a good one... I was standing by the pit entrance and one guy came in and said he was with the car owner of the car that STEVE PARKS was racing tonight... I about spit my soda all over the place... Get my point ... They have to control a situation that can get out of control.. Real fast at that. But I remember being in that area when the Latemodles and Sportman cars were running their hot laps and heats. The whole area was open to anyone with an Orange Band- Yellow Band- And Orange and Checked Band. Not sure where the issue was. :eek:
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I thought to myself all night last night that the crowd seemed very small in comparison to the weekly show, and it sure was tiny compared to the normal nascar night crowd. I was covering the night for the newspaper and when I got there was originally told that I couldnt enter the area to photograph what I needed cause my armband wasnt yellow. I talked to Ray and he said they changed that and that it wasnt an issue. They had to do something to give the crews and drivers some room to get things worked out to make the cars comfortable for the drivers and I certainly understand it.


If I had to guess, since the whole idea is to raise money for charity, that next year there will be an organized autograph session of some sort to get the crowd back. Lets be honest if the people are coming through the gates then you arent going to achieve your objective of raising money.



Lugnut
 
even with the smaller crowed the helmet raffle brought in over $800...i personally want to thank lisa(dirtgirl) and haley for helping..there was no way we could have collected as much as we did with out your help,,,thanks,,lenny,teresa and hollie garson
 
i agree with pit.......they need more big names to draw more people. i completely understand Carl Edwards not being able to attend because of his finger, but Harvick and Bowyer calling and saying their plane had to land early was bogus i think
 
PITDRIFTER said:
If They Would Have Been Able To Bring In The Bigger Nascar Names I'm Sure That Would Have Helped. The Mod Racing Was Great, But Some Of The Guys Just Don't Have The Drawing Power Of Others. No Offense To I55, They Can Only Get Who They Can Get. As Far As The Late Models Go, I Was Shocked There Wasn't More. It Was Basically A Local Racer Show For Them. I Can't Believe More Didn't Come For Double Their Normal Pay.
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i think the reason the prelude is more effective is that stewart is greater friends with the bigger names, being a younger driver, but schrader, knows many busch truck, and people that fans dont know, but it was overall a good show, i talked it brendan gaughan for like 1 and a half hours, hes hilarious, great show schrader
 
FIREBALL said:
even with the smaller crowed the helmet raffle brought in over $800...i personally want to thank lisa(dirtgirl) and haley for helping..there was no way we could have collected as much as we did with out your help,,,thanks,,lenny,teresa and hollie garson
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Lenny,
Hailey and I would like to Thank you guys for all the work you put into this. It was a pleasure to work with Hollie your daughter. What a delightful young lady you and Teresa have on your hands you should be very proud of her. We had fun with it and Hailey is ready to help in your next project. :) Thanks for everything you do for the racing community.
And I look forward to assisting you in the near future.... :)
Lisa and Hailey
 
small crowd

Do you think they really saved money (or made more money) by not having the sprint car show?

No offence to the Sportsmen, I'm glad to see them get the oppertunity to run with the big boys.
 
The idea of getting autographs is what draws the people to this show. With no autographs advertised, that was the biggest drawback to the attendance.

However, as it turnout, there was plenty of access after the race and the NASCAR drivers stayed around and you could get plenty of autographs and talk to the drivers.
 
Without a doubt they made more money by having sportsman(43) compared to them probably only drawing 25 sprints, and they would have paid sprints 2000 to win compared to paying the sportsman 800 to win... more cars more people that come as far as crew members... more tickets sold

57Dad said:
Do you think they really saved money (or made more money) by not having the sprint car show?

No offence to the Sportsmen, I'm glad to see them get the oppertunity to run with the big boys.
Click to expand...
 
You know it's really sad if people didn't come just because of an autograph session. Because that didn't hurt the track or the nascar drivers, it hurt the charity that the money made would go to.
We came to support the charities that were to get the help and as a big added bonus got to watch the nascar guys get to blow off steam and have a good time.
I was just glad that as busy of a schedule as all those drivers have that they still take the time to even show up to these events.
Please don't tell me that we have all gotten so selfish that we forget that these guys are people too and need as much if not more of a break than any of us ever could.
Be thankful that these guys are willing to give up the little free time they have to come to our little part of the world. And put on an awesome show as a plus.
And correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Schrader one of the first nascar guys to get these guys to come and put on a race like this.
Schrader has no problem with being in touch with the more popular drivers as he has showed that with all the drivers who he has got to the track over the years. Maybe just maybe he doesn't like asking the same driver to come year after year.
Don't get me wrong but Dale Jr. is who some were thinking of I'm sure but for heavensake the guy has been there almost every year give him a break.
All I'm trying to say is can't we just be happy with the way a track decides to run the event for that year and still go and support Schrader, the track and the charity for that night.
For heavensake if I only went to places that only did things the way I wanted it I guess I'd be setting at home a whole lot.
They did a good thing and people slapped them in the face with you didn't do it my way so I stayed home. Well that still didn't hurt the good time that all of us who went had, so I guess the ones who ended up missing a good night were the ones who lost out in the end by staying home.
 
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