Plantin Taters
by Jane Smith
Being that I have been on both sides of the track now, both asphalt and dirt, and working in racing for many years, people often wonder what is the difference between dirt racing and asphalt racing.
If you look at weekly results, most dirt tracks pull far more cars than asphalt tracks. Why??
That answer itself is worth a million in gold. Yes, dirt tracks pay more purse wise than most asphalt tracks. An asphalt Super Late Model makes normally $750.00 to win a 25 – 30 lap race. A Late Model dirt car wins $1000 for a 25 lap race. They both have to buy racing fuel and tires and they both pay the same to get into the pits, normaly $25.00, but why does dirt pay more.
Most tracks get their purses from the back gate and front gate and concession stands. If they don’t pull enough cars thru the back gate and fans in the stands at the front gate, then they must turn to their concession stand money. But some tracks don’t own their concessions and lease them out getting usually only a 30% cut of the night’s profit. So, what do you do when all three combined don’t have enough money to pay the purse?? Pray, I guess.
Dirt track racing seems to have far more open trailers than asphalt. In asphalt, everyone wants the enclosed trailer which are not cheap for sure. But from what I have seen in dirt, racers rather put money into their cars than what hauls their car to the track. They don’t seem to concentrate on how they look coming in the track, more how they look on the track.
Let’s face it, dirt cars are never going to be clean like asphalt cars. They are meant to get dirty and sometimes I think the more dirt they have on them, the faster they go. Asphalt cars are much prettier and seldom get dirty.
Most asphalt tracks have banned coolers in the stands which in my opinion, has hurt more than helped. No, beer is not allowed in the coolers but a family that is on a small budget and has enough money to go to a race should be allowed to bring in drinks for the night and a sandwitch or two. If they want beer, they buy it at the track and if they have kids, they usually buy one treat for them so the concession stand really isn’t losing money but helping make happier fans.
There was many a night for my family where we had enough money to get in to the races but not enough to feed our family at the race. We brought a cooler with drinks, bread, mustard, maynaisse, sandwitch meat for the night and chips. However, we always bought the kids peanuts or an elephant ear but could not afford to feed them track food on our budget.
But now that has stopped at alot of tracks because someone said we are losing money by letting fans bring in food and drinks. Wrong – you are not losing money, however, when you stop that, you are losing fans. You are losing those fans who save weekly to go to a race but who can’t afford to eat at a race. The everyday Joe and Jane.
Fans want a show when they go racing. They want to see heat races and feature races and get out at a decent time. They want the show to move quickly unless of course there is a red flag which does take time. They want to see a decent car count, not five or six cars in a division. And most of all, they want to be appreciated because afterall, it is their hard earned money you are taking for the night. They like to be recognized over the loud speaker and told, “thank you for coming out tonight and joining us for racing.”
Racing is a show and it has to be entertaining and it must make the fan feel like that was the best $10 or $15 I have spent on something for myself for the week. They should never go home with regrets of spending that money and disappointed in the show. You have to make them want to come back whether it is weekly or once a month. Tracks need fans more than fans need tracks.
Racers want one thing whether it is asphalt or dirt, they want someone to race in front of. And yes, they do look at the stands and see if there are any fans in them or not. They want competition in their race, not four or five cars. They want fairness in tech and most of all, they want to be appreciated and made to feel that they are wanted at the track. They appreciate a smiling face and “how are you this week” at the backgate. Not someone in a bad mood who really does not want to be there at all.
And the same goes for fans. They want someone at that front gate that makes them smile, that makes them feel welcome. And yes, they will tip at the concession stand as long as they are treated with respect and friendliness. A smile goes a long way today.
The average everyday Joe is tired of NASCAR which has only become a money game. The teams with the most money, win. The teams without alot of money, well, they seem to run in the back. And that seems to hold true in alot of asphalt racing. The ones with money seem to always be on top but the everyday Joe might win every now and then but it is usually the money that does.
Yes, there are money teams in dirt racing also but it is not always the money who wins. It seems to be more open to all the racers and anyone of them can win and do. Of course there are the Grady Christians and Tony Laportas who seldom get beat but you can bet that someone in that field will definitely give them a run for the money.
Alot of people say dirt is for plantin taters but dirt is the place to be in 2009 if you want to see a good car count, fans in the stands, and alot of friendly people. And yes, you may get dirty but I can’t think of a better kind of dirty.
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