With the news that Rick Grosso is stepping away from running New Egypt (source AARN 2/27/24), and also after reading through the post below about Bridgeport no longer on Flo, (going to Dirt Track Digest for 2024), I started thinking about the challenges (again ) facing anyone trying to run a weekly show (April to September) and whether there is any place in the country that anyone is running a successful (fans in the stands/solid car counts/meaningful heats) weekly show on a consistent basis.

I went to all 3 NJ tracks last year for "regular" Saturday night shows and while the crowds varied, I don't know if I would consider any of them really consistently good crowds.  Maybe a first responders night or something like that at Wall, but honestly, I don't know if there are passes/discounts to support the event, and if so, not sure how many of those folks come back for another show within a reasonable amount of time.  There was a buzz early in the year at New Egypt, so I think the attendence was strong then, but when I went back later in the year I was disappointed that the crowd had dropped off quite a bit.

I also watched different tracks on Flo and felt somewhat embarrased (not sure why ) when the camera would get a shot of the stands once in a while and in many cases, the tracks looked a lot more empty than full.

There's a ton of reasons why it is very difficult (if not impossible) to run a weekly show, and if you guys want to kick it around, and point to all the reasons, I'm ok with it....  But I'm kind of tired of all of the reasons why - not that I don't know about them... not that I disagree with them, but mainly because I can't come up with a solution to most of them... and don't think I'm accomplishing anything by continuing to churn up the same reasons that we've all been batting around for the past 5 years or so. 

Like others, I'm now at the point where I question if it is even possible anymore... anywhere.... to run a successful weekly show.... And believe me, that's coming from someone who in the past 20 years or so, has probably put more thought into the subject than most, maybe even more than many of those directly involved with running a weekly show.  (Just ask anyone that's ever sat next to me at the races... or carpooled to or from the races......  Even I'm tired of listening to me. )

So, the question is, is there any tracks in this country still running a highly successful weekly show (based on # of spectator fans and solid car counts)? 

If so, where, and why?

Kutztown, great track, good crowds and done early due to curfew.

Bowman Gray immediately comes to mind. Most every show has large crowds. Car counts are good, not great, better in the lower divisions. These photos were from a 100 lapper in 2018, spotting for Danny Bohn.

The atmosphere is pretty calm considering the crowd.  The antics you see on TV are much more limited then you think.  Watching them the last few years on Flo, they do have some down nights, a down night being like 7,000 people.(17,000 capacity)  Most tracks don't get that in 10 events.

It was very worth the trip, it's almost perfectly run. There is nothing you can say is bad. They pay a lot of attention to details and it really shows.

In Ohio ... Fremont Speedway, Limaland, Oakshade, Attica consistant car count and crowds.

I'm in line with B-G being a weekly success.

Bowman Gray, Big Diamond come to mind, and Grandview for the most part

I would say Flemington and Reading Reading ran twice a week  car count and spectors count were excelent

Went by Hickory speedway and the place was packed . Parking lot was full and they were parking down Rt 70.

Crowley's Ridge Raceway, Located between Jonesboro, Arkansas pop 60,000 and Paragould, Arkansas pop 30,000.  A throwback to the sixties.  Very basic place.  Stands are concrete, you need to bring lawn chairs.  Inexpensive GREAT food!  Tiny, high banked multi grooved 1/4.  They run a few late model and sprint specials a year but the weekly shows draw mostly low dollar cars.  The field of cars is good and the stands are always packed.  The racing is always great.  I'm not sure what the key is but it's been successful since the early eighties.