Home » Blogs » Terry Bivins Blog

Extremely high fuel prices, fans and racers need help

 Racing season is almost here and may be time to rethink  a couple of things about the racing format at Lakeside as well as other tracks.

  Looking at Lakeside's payout, there is no money for heat races or B features.  We run 8 lap heats and if in the B ten laps there. Tires are around a $100 each, racing fuel is $10 a gallon, alcohol is about half but the cars burn almost twice as much so no big saving there. Diesel fuel is over $4 a gallon and pump gas well over $3. I'm concerned about car count , also fan count. We can not put on a great show with just a few cars and tracks can't survive without a good fan attendance.

  I am also aware that the fuel costs are costing promoters more to get tracks prepared, and raising gate prices to offset this may not be a good thing.

  But would it hurt too much to pay 3 spots in the heat races to the guys that do not make the A main, would it hurt too much to pay 4 places to the guys in the B that do not make the A main. It doesn't have to be much, [example heats $50, $40,$30 for non a a main  qualifiers  [B $100, $75, $50 for non A main qualifiers]  This would give some fuel expense money back to the racer that can not make the a main every week.  I have raced a lot in my life and did not win a lot of the time, but it was always nice to pick up a little money after a night of racing. I believe this would help the car count if a  racer knew they  had a chance to win a little money without having to make the A every week. Heat race, B main fuel and tire wear could be close to $100 a week, let alone the $30 for tow fuel close to the track to well over a $100 for guys that pull a long ways. I realize we are not going to make much if any racing, but now that fuel has gone through the roof, maybe it is time for a change in the purse payouts without causing promoters to lose their butts every week. Surely there is room to help out the guys that help make the show but do not have the finances to have the best of equipment to get to the A every week. The $30 tow money is better than nothing, but after a $20 pit pass it does not leave much for fuel costs. I'm not trying to start any crap with this, it is just my opinion. 

  This one change might help the fan count, fans are going to be hard pressed to come to the races with the high cost of living expenses that seem like they go up every week, food, clothes, fuel to name a few. When a fan pays their money to see their favorite driver race, they want to see him race. So why not change the flat tire rule so if on a yellow or red flag a driver can come to the nice new pad in the infield of the track and change a tire and fall in at the rear of the field.  So what if it is not the right stagger, any tire that is close would be much better for the fan and racer than having to go to the pits and be done for that race. I'm sure there are enough good used tires from all of the cars that a few spares would not be hard to get donated to the infield area for any driver to put on and use if he had a flat. Two 3 inch offset wheels and tires and 2 bead-lock wheels and tires would be enough for most all races. I had some flat tires in the GN races and my fans came down complaining that why could I not put on a tire and continue racing. I'm sure most all of the racers have heard the same. If fans knew their favorite driver could change a tire under yellow or red flag conditions if will make their night at the races much more fun and they will be more likely to spend the money to come back the next week. Times have changed and I think the tracks need to make changes to help keep this sport I and a whole lot of other folks love,alive and well.

   Thanks

Terry Bivins

Reader Comments

Comments are owned by the posters. Racinboys.com are not responsible for their contents.

Mar 19, 2008 12:27:49 AM by cmsfan

Great post Terry, I like you also feel more needs to be done for the racers. I read where some track was giving a pit pass for the following week for guys that didnt make the A maybe at least the top 5. Tracks gotto be feeling the crunch too maybe add a buck to a adult ticket and split it with the racers for gas, The fans will be there i know at cms we can eat and buy our ticket at the track cheaper then anything else you can do, racin is still the best value for your entertainment dollars!!

Mar 19, 2008 12:30:21 AM by cmsfan

Great post Terry, I like you also feel more needs to be done for the racers. I read where some track was giving a pit pass for the following week for guys that didnt make the A maybe at least the top 5 from the B. Tracks gotto be feeling the crunch too maybe add a buck to a adult ticket and split it with the racers for gas, The fans will be there i know at CMS we can eat and buy our ticket's at the track cheaper then anything else you can do, racin is still the best value for your entertainment dollars!!

Mar 19, 2008 10:35:26 AM by Cattrell99c

Good post, glad to see someone's worried about the impact it's going to have. I have to agree with you that the tracks are going to feel the hurt this year. Shoot, all I'm around is a Hobby Stock, and the cost of fuel just going to the track is insane! can't even fathom trying to run Alchohol. It's going to start taking the fun out of it for some drivers, as all they see when they get on the track is dollar signs buring quickly and barely a return. Gotta Pay to Play (really, really dislike that saying.)

Mar 20, 2008 09:16:02 PM by cws9

It is going to be a tough year on all. Racers, Tracks, and Fans alike are all going to feel the crunch. There are only so many dollars to go around. Up at Knoxville they are encouraging fans to help out racers along the way with fuel sponserships. Doesn't have to be much.....10 or 20 bucks to their favorite driver or whomever they choose to help and the track announces their name over the loud speaker. As a driver, every little bit helps. As a fan, I plan to take a boy scout troop to the races this year one night when I am driving. Won't amount to much but that is my contribution to the track I am gonna be racing at most. Hopefully, the economy gets turned around fairly quickly or racing is going to suffer I'm afraid.

Mar 20, 2008 09:16:08 PM by cws9

It is going to be a tough year on all. Racers, Tracks, and Fans alike are all going to feel the crunch. There are only so many dollars to go around. Up at Knoxville they are encouraging fans to help out racers along the way with fuel sponserships. Doesn't have to be much.....10 or 20 bucks to their favorite driver or whomever they choose to help and the track announces their name over the loud speaker. As a driver, every little bit helps. As a fan, I plan to take a boy scout troop to the races this year one night when I am driving. Won't amount to much but that is my contribution to the track I am gonna be racing at most. Hopefully, the economy gets turned around fairly quickly or racing is going to suffer I'm afraid.

Mar 26, 2008 01:38:07 PM by racinnut

Your right on the money Terry. Tracks ,Racers and fans are in a bind for $$ this year for sure. Promoters need to pay farther down to keep the avg. racer in business. You know Terry, maby guys like you can offer to put a race fans name on the side of your car for something like $20 per Fri. night at Lakeside. I know it's not much but I'm in for you for $200 or so. Anybody else??

Mar 26, 2008 01:58:02 PM by racinnut

Oops I guess considering how many races are run at Lakeside I'm in for at least $10 a week for you. Get a few more of us pre paid Bivins fans together before opening day and the fuel costs won't be quite so painful. This just might work for other drivers also.

Apr 10, 2008 08:49:37 AM by Shackpacker

Thanks racinnut, been so busy getting car ready have not been here in a while. Super nice of you to offer to help with fuel costs. I live so far away from track it would take 11 fans at $10 a week just to pay fuel costs to get to track and back home. Wonder if JD would let me run a little billboard on top of my car with the names on it. [yeah right] But it is a good idea , any way to help racers out is a good idea. Thanks again Terry