20 replies to this topic

[longtimeracefan101]

Western Pennsylvania sprint car series What ever happened to this series I see nothing more about it

[Walt Wimer]

I haven't seen a single thing more since the original release came out several months back.  I had my doubts it would fly back then and sure haven't changed my mind!!

 

GOOD RACING TO ALL

 

Walt

[Benny K]

Announced today that it isn't happening. They are saying tracks would not schedule them despite having 25-30 cars committed to running all the shows. It's one thing to say you are running a series and another to actually do it in my opinion.

Edited by Benny K, 21 February 2019 - 11:37 AM.

[dirtstudent2]

Western Pennsylvania Sprint Car Series

2 hrs · 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019
Contact: Steven Pocock
steven@pa410sprints.com

We would hate to announce that there will not be any sanction event's for the Western Pennsylvania Sprint Car Series during the 2019 season. There were 20 local team's and 3 team's from Central PA which was planning on running with the series full time! The name's that was on our confirm roster there would of been some great racing! It's a shame that all of the hard work we've put into building this series late in the season along with the off season we were set up to be MUST SEE series in the region for the 410 wing sprint cars. The names we had use to run with the All Stars full time. The feedback we were receiving was that we could of had 25-30 team's supporting us at every race event! Which tracks in Western part of Pennsylvania haven't seen that high of car count in awhile. There was a good contingency program for our team's we put together this off season between the PRI along with local businesses.

We reached out to quite a few tracks. The tracks that we were able to talk to mention that they didn't feel like the area needed a local traveling series since there were team's supporting them and didn't want to increase a purse. Steven has revamped the purse structure along with the sanction fee's to the point where it was beyond feasible. We had the cost broken down to show the exact amount of tickets to sell at each price bracket without the pit pass sales. Steven even told handful of track's that he would waive the sanction fee to just get event's scheduled for the 2019 season however they didn't want to schedule any events.

The last subject we tried to throw out to tracks was about doing a 2 tracks one champion style 12-16 race schedule. However couldn't get an answer from the tracks we've reached out to for that.

We are going to keep trying to get this series going. There is a lot of support from the team's and fans. We just need to get the tracks on board with us!

Any questions feel free to message the page or email Steven at steven@pa410sprints.com.

[Sparkler]

I believe Lernerville had a very healthy Sprint car count last year.

[Walt Wimer]

Yes they did!!!!   One of the best car counts for any top class in the entire western PA area!!

 

GOOD RACING!!!

 

Walt

[94.3-RADRACER]

if super late models had one track, there would be 50-60 there. 

[dirtstudent2]

if super late models had one track, there would be 50-60 there. 

 

and if no crates 100

[D1RT]

History has proven time and time again that when tracks and series in this area say X amount of drivers have committed to be there you automatically cut that number in half and consider yourself lucky if the remaining half show up.

[DavyLee2]

Penn Ohio is the xception to that rule dirt
But too bad would love to see more sprint car racing and top drivers like they promise in the area
Would really like to see Danny Holtgraver back out !

Edited by DavyLee2, 22 February 2019 - 02:08 PM.

[D1RT]

Penn Ohio is the xception to that rule dirt
But too bad would love to see more sprint car racing and top drivers like they promise in the area
Would really like to see Danny Holtgraver back out !

Until the sprint car tracks in Western Pa pays the purse and point funds that Central Pa and Ohio pays it will remain status quo around here.
A non WoO or All Star special around here pays less than a weekly show in Central Pa.

[jo73]

Western pa needs to dump one of the big 3 and feed the dollars back into the 2 remaining. Yes central pa pays better. Maybe then western pa can compete.

[DegenerationX]

I'm no promoter, but I think the biggest problem here is this Steven guy that "owns the series" wants the track to pay a sanction fee AND pay the purse for 95% of the drivers they have on a weekly show . . . what exactly are they paying a sanctioning fee for?  If a local series like this is ever going to work, either Sharon or Lernerville or best case scenario both tracks have to buy in and the series has to bring money to the table from new investors and sponsors that don't already support either or both tracks.  The talent is here, but the money is not.  Someone has to bring something new to the table like FAST did in Ohio.  Until that happens, nothing is going to change!

[FanJim24]

Western pa needs to dump one of the big 3 and feed the dollars back into the 2 remaining. Yes central pa pays better. Maybe then western pa can compete.

...or maybe Western PA needs to start paying better. I've said before that I think the last guy to raise the purse at Lernerville was Martin. How long has he been dead? He understood that customers cost money, and he bled money into that track for decades before it paid off in kind. He put the fans and drivers first, (mostly), and it is what made Lernerville what it was. If I am right, things will not get better in W.PA until the tracks are willing to invest money in people to make money from people.That is an exchange of value. We seem to have lost the understanding of that, and everyone wants everything for nothing. 

Edited by FanJim24, 23 February 2019 - 10:21 AM.

[Stock Stroker]

If I’m not mistaken, Tri City tried a program for sprints with a central Pa purse, 4 times throughout the season. If I’m not mistaken Sportsman Speedway was running a regular show against them and got 25 cars and TCS got 12. Doesn’t matter the division, money brings the good cars to it, and everyone else will run from it.
I think this happened around the year 2000.
JMO

[DegenerationX]

WRG raised the purses some, but jo is partially right in that the three headline division is a calling card for Lernerville, but also hurts them as they can't pay any of the big three what they truly deserve.  I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet Lernerville's total weekly purses is equal to or greater than any of the Central PA tracks.  The problem is a huge percentage of that purse is divided up into three divisions instead of all into one like Central PA.

 

Walt Wimer has said time and again, there are too many divisions in Western PA.  You have three headling divisions and a very strong stock division, plus RUSH divisions for each, plus 305s, steel blocks, 4 cylinders, hobby stocks, two types of emods.  The pie (pool of money) is the same size, so the more you slice the pie, the smaller the slices are.  The pie isn't getting any bigger, so if the slices need to be bigger, it needs to be cut into less pieces.

 

Or a guy like Pockock needs to bring in some new money instead of expecting the tracks to pay a sanction fee AND more purse for what they already have.  Sounds like an extremely poor business model to me and exactly what people on the know were concerned about when he announced this series.  All sizzle, no steak!

[Walt Wimer]

Yes, I  have said that several times and I haven't changed my mind!!

 

GOOD RACING TO ALL!!!

 

Walt

[Stock Stroker]

I would agree as well. I wouldn’t go as far to say too many divisions. Not everyone likes late models, sprints or modifies. Tracks competing against each other on the same night need to run different divisions. This is where the RUSH series is important to fill the programs. Racers need an affordable place to learn. They also serve as as an outlet for used parts. This would allow promoters to run a major division without competition from other tracks with the same divisions. This would also allow promoters to pay the major divisions better.
Too many tracks with the same program is the biggest problem. Too many choices for racers and fans.
JMO

[spike]

If I’m not mistaken, Tri City tried a program for sprints with a central Pa purse, 4 times throughout the season. If I’m not mistaken Sportsman Speedway was running a regular show against them and got 25 cars and TCS got 12. Doesn’t matter the division, money brings the good cars to it, and everyone else will run from it.
I think this happened around the year 2000.
JMO

Tri City tried a program for sprints with a central PA PURSE four times around 2000?  That would be the most interesting posting of a historical PURSE in 2019 for sure. Remember the PURSE is the TOTAL amount paid to the twenty or twenty four cars, not just the WINNER'S SHARE.  You could be right. POST THE PURSES, and we can put this to rest.  An All Star PURSE or a World of Outlaws PURSE would be the same here or in central PA so they would be excluded. 

[DavyLee2]

I would agree as well. I wouldnt go as far to say too many divisions. Not everyone likes late models, sprints or modifies. Tracks competing against each other on the same night need to run different divisions. This is where the RUSH series is important to fill the programs. Racers need an affordable place to learn. They also serve as as an outlet for used parts. This would allow promoters to run a major division without competition from other tracks with the same divisions. This would also allow promoters to pay the major divisions better.
Too many tracks with the same program is the biggest problem. Too many choices for racers and fans.
JMO

Rush does not allow used parts

Yes crates have their place in a latemodel because the chassis is double the cost of a complete race ready stock car
But you wont be aloud to show up with a used crate that doesnt have the gold plated certified bolts
I would agree if there were a Mopar or Toyora or Ford Crate to buy as an alternative
And that takes us back to the spec motor
But the money diesnt all land in the hands of a small group if you were to bring back the spec and policed it like a monopoly motor
The multiple divisions reflect the changes in the design of passenger cars
And passenger cars is where the broadest place to build a Racecar and the place to test if you really want to be a Racecar person or go back in the stands
The top 3 divisions are all purpose built Racecars and
One Rocket or 410 sprint car costs more than the whole 4 cylinder division/ young guns / hobby stocks
Rush is headed towards buy everything from us or go away

Edited by DavyLee2, 25 February 2019 - 09:47 AM.