Why?

[Racer4Life]

Why did MMS decide to change up the running order Saturday night, was it for the best interest of the racers and fans so they would get to see the open wheels and the beloved late model wreck fest? The track really showed their priority list and the locals were definitely at the bottom of it. I understand there was the 11 o'clock curfew and it was going to be hard to get in all of the races but had time not allowed for the completion of all divisions (even after knocking 2 laps off the races to make it ONLY 10 laps) was the track planning on running 1 or 2 classes Sunday? What everybody kept saying was, "Now that the track can run on Sunday, a rain shortened event can be run the following day." But what doesn't make sense is to expect fans and drivers of the local divisons to come back and obviously not the late models, even though over 15 cars had traveled over 2 hours and some even longer. With the exception of staying the night down there, for the teams that would have had to traveled back sunday, it would have been a total of 8 hours driving down. Maybe the local divisions don't have over 30 cars entering each division, and wreck every 5 laps, but we do come to race just the same as everyone else and without us the track would not be able to put up those $5,000 purses and the fans are surely not going to come out to just see the late models, whether the track sees it that way or not. I love the track and love racing on it and I want to continue coming back but with some of the things that have been going on down there I hardly see it worth my time or money. The local divisions (including sportsman and trucks) have been jerked around all year because of the late models and it's absolutely rediculous. If we are going to be walked on because of them then don't even schedule us with them, let them have their own night all to themselves and yall can give them a 500 lap race. Just don't throw as much oil dry down next time, or atleast make an effort to clean it up a bit, saw a bunch of good cars get trashed because of that trap yall set for them in turn 2. It felt like I was at a Sayre demo derby/renegade race for a min, except with $20,000+ cars of course. I believe I have spoken for more than just myself and hopeful this will not fall upon deaf ears, thanks and hope to see more respect given to the locals in the future.

[JPSTEPHENS]

Racer4Life I wasn't there Saturday night, how did the race order go so that people can better understand your complaints? Did the Pro Late Models go out first? I'm just curious. I really believe it's good to let people know when you're not happy, so they can make changes. I don't drive 2 hours just to see the Late Models run as I enjoy watching the other divisions race as well.

Do keep in mind the track in just in their second year and hiccups will happen. I would suggest calling the track and speaking with the owners so they can know some of the drivers may be unhappy. I know they really want to draw as many cars as they can in each division. Maybe by them knowing your complaints, they will be able to rectify the problem.

[Racer4Life]

The first race was supposed to be the Mini-Mods and then followed by Buzz. After the rain delay and time became an issue the track moved the Open Wheels up to race first followed by the Late Models. By the second half of the Late Model race it started to look iffy as to whether or not the Buzz and Mini-Mods were going to be able to race and were told by an official that their race would be ran "If time allowed." Just seems low that their race was cut to 10 laps and nearly weren't able to run after their races were supposed to be the first two. To many people it just seemed that the track ran the divisions they considered most important first so they would atleast have those races in before another rain shower came or before curfew fell.

[cuz]

Couldn't have said it better myself Racer4Life! It's not like this is the first time it has happened. If you don't have a late model (or cook for the concession stand) they don't really seem to care to much about you. I don't think it's right that i pay 45$ and only get to race 8 laps. Kinda like stealing. Especially when cars can come from other tracks and run whatever they want. I guess all they care about is gettin my gate money to pay for their "show me the crash races". I think alot of the local racers have had enough. Might be why their car count is steadily shrinking

[BigV8]

I'M just a short track race fan but I have to drive 55 miles to see a race. I was split on whether to make the drive because rain was all around. I finally drove down- sat in the parking lot from 7PM to 8:15 waiting it out to see if they'de run. Finally spent my 15.00 and entered. I am glad they ran the late models early because that is my interest- I would love to have seen the other classes but I'm a Super Late Model fan first, a Pro Late model second, and Street Stockers third.Because it took nearly 1.5 hours to run 100 laps, I left immediately after the Pro Late Model race, it was already 10:30 and I knew they'de probably waste 15-20 minutes to interview the top three, then try to get the next division on the track. I was at home at 11:45 PM and only saw one race.

Now in defense of you let me just say that the track staff has fallen back into its old ways. Last year I was impressed. I went to a 125 lapper and was out of there at 10:15PM-that to me was a miracle.Now they are again just simply slow in keeping a show going, they drag it out, drag IT OUT SOME MORE, THEY take 7-8-9 caution laps to get a race restarted.They'll give the two to go sign, but take two more. I really like Montgomery Motor Speedway and I like the improvements from Huffman, to Manfull, to the Knox brothers. It is a very good facility but this track has always been deficient in marketing, public realations, and internet presence and updating, and networking with drivers across the country.

Just maybe the Show me the Money series should only run with one other division. Then the next race weekend could be all the other divisions. The attention span for the majority of the casual race fans is about 2.5 hours.

[BamaChief]

I can just tell you we try our best to get off the track and get the cars to line up like they are supposed to. This race weekend was the most stressful weekend I have had at the track. We knew we were under the gun as we started 1 1/2 -2 hrs late due to rain. Sometimes its just a pain in the tail getting cars to line up......

We finished the races at 10:58 and I can tell you no one wanted to cut laps on any races. The only way to get races in was to cut laps or TRY and get everyone back Sunday.

We work our tails off on race weekend and do everything possible to make everyones experience at the track an enjoyable one.

Forrest
MMS Fire/Rescue

[chadriley 5]

will the no racing past 11:00 pm ban ever be lifted?

[RAY RAY 64]

Out of all that I have read, no where have I seen one thing about a purse being cut. If laps were cut to get a show in, then kudo's to them. When you have cars at the track and see you trying to work with a window of opportunity because of weather in the area and you cut laps and not the pay, then is there really a complaint? You guys got to race and yes the laps were cut, but didn't the show get run. And as I understand, the late models laps were cut from 125 to 100. Sounds like to me every division ran less laps than what was posted. Just be glad you have a track to complain about.

[BamaChief]

As I understand it full purses were paid. I do not think the 11 PM time will be lifted. I think ts a good thing to get out before midnight.

[mach1]

It would be good for the curfew to get lifted, just in cases like Saturday night. However, normally, you should be through by 10:30, 11:00 at the latest so people get their entertainment and still get home at an reasonable hour. Of course, if you have a dirt track, 3:00 AM is still good!!