Should The Tour Go To Shorter Races ?

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

Should The Tour Go To Shorter Races ?

HOTROD TINA · Crew Member

its a real good idea for the whalen modifieds tour race sholud be shorter because i can't stand to watch them race 150 and 200 laps at all because i get real bore.
hotrod tina

Date: Fri Jan 9 22:19:16 2009

Definitely!!! Shorter races creates more intense and competitive action. Make the races just long enough to tempt teams to pit for "stickers" creating a HEROS' charge to the front, while there is already heavy action at the front becauseof the limited length of the races.
The 80 lap Sizzlers' were great!!! I agree with the other postings. Remember the 50 lap Mod Madness with Bugsy and Sacks, awesome racing!!!
Maybe someone could light a fire under DR. Dick B. or Bones to push for it in their mag.
Short track fans want "edge of your seat action", not marathons!

bowatcher · Car Owner

I love the idea of these shorter races. I can remember in the mid 80's walking around some of these pit areas with so much pre race excitement in the air. I would love too have the fans view this in the pits for a real pit party. The excitement of open tire rules would be endless. My point is When a dam car costs so much why should a simple set of tires dictate whats gonna happen that race day! Let a racer be a racer leave him alone when it comes too his tires and the selections he makes. The races of the mid 80's are still talked about today because it was fun to witness all the stratagies the race teams made.For the people that differ from my opinions just remember Slower cars that need tires could get those tiresand make them faster!!!!

Date: Sat Jan 10 13:11:27 2009

Shorter races would be AWESOME. Just look back at the 1981 Sizzler with Bob Polverari barely nipping The Rapid Roman at the line. Richie gambled on a mid race stop for stickers and charged through the field only to come up a few feet short! How about some lap leader money as well, like the special Tuesday night "Trans Am 50" at Stafford back in '83 when Bugsy in the Mystic Missile beat Jamie Tomaino in the closing laps. I can still here Mike Joy and Greg Sacks calling the race!

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

I remeber that race quite well Annon. Just reading these posts is giving those "goose-bumps" I used to feel watching races back then.

I hope more people share their own memories.

bowatcher · Car Owner

How about Sacks in the 44 unlapping himself pastleader Charlie J and then CJ's motor expired handing it too Flyin Brian Ross for the win. Or the mob scene around Sacks on a reg friday show after his big Daytona score driving the 21 car. or when Tim Richmond came too Stafford to show them how to put a sk car in victory lane ah yes the memories are in high gear .

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

WOW!!!

I almost forgot some of those memories.

I do not remember the exact year, but I do recall Reggie Ruggiero at Oswego making pitstops for tires duting every caution and blasting his way back to the front in an Open Show.

Kepp them coming, this is more exciting than some races I have seen lately.

Date: Sat Jan 10 19:30:51 2009

How's this: Definetly shorten the race length. Double the money for getting the pole and then always invert the top ten. Fill the field with the balance of time trial speeds or run a couple of heat races. Fans like heat races but car owners and crews would be happier without the added laps and risk of trouble (another subject for debate). Then pay lap leader money to entice drivers to charge to the front while having an open tire rule for anyone who might want to bolt on a set of stickers for a late race run to the checkers! For the icing on the cake ALWAYS play the theme from "Shaft" at the start of every Mod Tour Race! How's that for "goose-bumps"!!!

Date: Sat Jan 10 20:30:41 2009

Hows this wild idea for lining up a (50-100 lap max) features. 1.Line up positions 2 thru11 with the top 10 time trialers inverted 2.Pole goes to the winner of the B main qualifying race 2nd place B main lines up 12th, 3rd-13th...ect.
I agree, fans love heat races - everyone will be watching these. What a prize for winning the B-the POLE!!!! All kinds of action for dang sure!
This is a must!... double-file restarts the whole race.
Great subject Mr. Moderator - I hope your site spurs some interest.

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

WOW!!! I am really liking all these ideas and hoping that someone in position to make things happen is paying attention to what the fans want. I also must thank the Annon for his kind words, very appreciated.

As for the heat races I 100% agree, and I love that B-main idea. BUT I think Time Trials should be a thing of the past for the Tour. Instead they should line up heats with a handicaping system like most NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks use. I feel this would give the "underfunded" teams a little more equality.

I definitely agree with everything I have read, and hope to read more. Thank you to all that have voiced their opinions so far.

-WMT-

Date: Sat Jan 10 23:08:05 2009

Anonymous wrote:

Hows this wild idea for lining up a (50-100 lap max) features. 1.Line up positions 2 thru11 with the top 10 time trialers inverted 2.Pole goes to the winner of the B main qualifying race 2nd place B main lines up 12th, 3rd-13th...ect.
I agree, fans love heat races - everyone will be watching these. What a prize for winning the B-the POLE!!!! All kinds of action for dang sure!
This is a must!... double-file restarts the whole race.
Great subject Mr. Moderator - I hope your site spurs some interest.

Winner of the B-Main to the pole and 2nd B finisher lines up 12th is an absolutely SWEET idea. Man thats good!!! Keep time trials but do them in groups with the transponders. I know some of these Anon's have present or past relations with the tour by some of the thoughts!
Imagine Jimmy Spencer starting deep in a B Main and charging to the front. Damn thats a great idea! Some of these ideas will bring in fans, but promoters must be gentle on the families at the gates.

Date: Sun Jan 11 15:01:04 2009

Great idea- but maybe the top 10 should redraw so nobody sand- bags to try to get that 2nd spot.

bowatcher · Car Owner

I also like the old non- qualifiers race where the top couple advance to the feature. Time trials I feel are also a waste of time. I say run the normal 2 warmups with the transponders doing there jobs by keeping lap times after warmups we all will know who is on the pole. A big chunk of time can be saved by this.As far as the open tire situation I feel nascar should ease up on my racers. Letting them have there own say by this nascar wouldn't need so many officials to breathe down our throats. Yes it was great playing the guessing games of the tire wars. who why what the tarps over the back of everyones car kept everyone on there toes!!!!

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

The tire wars and blanket tricks definitely were an added bonus.

afohlin · Car Owner

I don't think the tour needs shorter races. 100 laps at New Hampshire is just enough, I wouldn't wanna go and see just 50. Thompson's 75 lapper seemed a little short for me. The 150 lapper's are a little bit long for my liking. I'd change a lot of things before I looked at race length.

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

Well yes I would have to agree about New Hampshire. BUT 200 laps at Stafford is a little much in my opinion.I do miss the 300, but that was a whole different ballgame. I think pretty much 100 laps anywhere is a good race. Most races are run until the tire stop. I know when I worked on the Tour that was how EVERY team played their race strategy, pit as close as you can to halfway.

rlizon17 · Crew Member

I know that the 100 lap races on the R.o.C. tour keep me entertained. It usually plays out like this. Lap 35 opens up the pit window for many. They pit and start to charge through the field. The guys who had yet to pit start dropping like flies and everyone meets somewhere in the middle. Those who make it through the traffic clean are in good position. Something happens on lap 70 and the flies come get their tires and blaze back through the field like an old Saturday night 30 lap shootout. Maybe it is just me, but I think 100 laps opens up the perfect range of pit strategy and hard driving.

afohlin · Car Owner

100 laps are great, but NASCAR wouldn't copy the TVMRS even though its a good idea

Date: Mon Jan 12 23:04:22 2009

I think your missing the main point. The quality of the product on the track should be the main goal of NASCAR. Does quanity equal quality, I say No. Would you trade a 1 carat diamond for a ton of coal? Does more laps equal more prestige, I say no. the TVMRS is a more economical choice for Mod teams on limited budgets. Thats not what I see was the point of some replies. I feel the amount of laps should be based on the size of track and how "racey" it is. If there is constant charging in a race, it makes for a better PRODUCT on the track. The World of Outlaws shows are only 30 laps long. Because of the limited length of their A main does that reduce the prestige of their series?

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

Thank you Annon, that was the next point I myself planned to post. The World of Outlaws, the ISMA Supermodifieds, even our local NEMA Midgets all run races much shorter than the Tour BUT they are usually quite worth the money to see.

And to make the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standout, how about each race being 101 laps. The official slogan could be "We go the extra distance". I think that could make for a great marketing campain.

Just my opinion.

Date: Tue Jan 13 13:27:32 2009

   Hey Mr. moderator, let's take this subject and run with it!
   Why not have- Design your Perfect Mod Tour format and or Design the perfect Mod Tour event for a specific Track Topic.
   ` Viewers could use some of these catagories and more to "build" their event
   1.Qualifying Procedures
   2. Heats, B-C mains or not
   3. Starting Positions for feature
   4. Race procedures for instance double file restarts?
   5. Pitting and Tire Rules
   6. Distance
   7. Points or lap - qualifying points
   Whatever anybody wants... These are just some starting points.
Be a PROMOTER  - Now fill the House!
   Remember in the end... your ideas will establish the MOD TOUR as America's Premier Short Track series... a fan must attend event.
Hey- its winter Blog on!

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

Allright "Annon", as the say ask and ye shall recieve.

Date: Tue Jan 13 18:29:06 2009

Good topic! I will have to think it over before I post my ideas.

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

That topic has it owns area.

spdracer19 · Pick-um contest administrator

Speaking of restarts, did any of you see what they did at the Funkmaster Flex late model race at the bowl back in '03 for the restarts? I have seen this out in the midwest before.

One the lap before going green again they put two cones out. One in four and one by the start/finish line and you had to pick a lane (inside or outside between the two cones. In other words if the first 3 drivers perfered the bottom they stayed low and the fourth place driver could pull up all the way to outside pole if he thought he could make it work. At at track like the bowl where the bottom is perfered it made the restarts interesting with the mix up of the field and if you can run up top you could come up through faster. It made the racing much more interesting and as a driver you also had to decide whether you really wanted to pull up outside of a certain driver for the restart and only had a second to make the choice.

It was wild listening to the radio chatter but it helped us get back to the front faster and made for better up front racing through out the race.

-- Edited by spdracer19 at 20:46, 2009-01-15

WhelenModifiedTour · WMT Moderator

I may be mistaken, but I am pretty sure that the Empire State Sprint Series uses a very similar rule. I have been to a couple of their events at Utica-Rome and Albany Saratoga, and noticed cones.

If anyone has better information than mine, PLEASE feel free to post it.