NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS SOUTH-EXTRA
By Lou Modestino(For 9/17-9/19/11)
Thompson Speedway in Connecticut is one of many New England short tracks that are really struggling in this tough economy. Last Thursday night, the 5/8 mile track, the biggest short track in New England, hosted the Valenti Modified Racing Series. It was that tour’s first appearance at Thompson for 2011. Considering the caliber of racing and the ticket price of $20, it was well worth it. Thompson Speedway, among others, has been suffering with short racecar counts due to the recession. Particularly in the Sunoco Modifieds, Super Late Models and the Late Model divisions. The Valenti Modified Racing Series managed to bring in 26 entries boosting the pit count of racecars to 124 which made a good night due to the racecar count. No doubt strong attendance in the pit area helped track owner Don Hoenig at the very least meet his expenses and probably even make a profit. While some would consider that the crowd was off, we estimated that the track was about 40 percent full. Not a bad turnout these days on a Thursday night in the middle of a the deepest recession since the Great Depression of 1929.
On an economy of scale, the VMRS for New England oval race tracks is much more cost effective and that’s why that club has about 20 races on its schedule most racing seasons. In fact, we heard that the VMRS could get more race dates if they needed them. Considering that the VMRS is considered by some as the second tier Modified series in New England, the $20 admission fee is fair. The VMRS has been over shadowed by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour since it’s inception a few years back. Nevertheless, more New England tracks book the VMRS rather than the WMT because the overhead is less. We also point out that a lot of the VMRS teams couldn’t afford to race in the WMT making the former a good alternative for competitors.
The WMT is scheduled to make an appearance at Thompson Speedway on Thursday night, June 30, at 6 p.m. Due to the purse structure, sanction fees and NASCAR officials, the ticket price jumps to $40 and the pit fee is $50. The WMT tour will probably bring in 34 entries which is good in this economic environment. The NASCAR WMT has a total of 16 races on the 2011 schedule. A total of 13 of them are in New England including one on the Lime Rock Park road course in Connecticut. Three others include one on Long Island at Riverhead, another one in Bristol, TN, and a date in Ontario, Canada.
We caught a glimpse of Don Hoenig on Thursday night sitting in the grandstands during the 75-lap MRS feature. He had to be checking out the caliber of competition. No doubt he had a lot on his mind like how to keep his track in the black and out of the red ink. We also know that Don has been calling around to other tracks and touring officials trying to get a handle on what’s going on regarding car counts, attendance, advertising and promotional programs in order to get more fans to come to his races. No doubt he’s even given thoughts to adding more VMRS and possibly less NASCAR WMT events. He’s done it in the past.
We have also seen some of his staff at other New England tracks eyeballing the car counts and fans in the grandstands. Any decisions that Don Hoenig makes will be result of crunching numbers plus noting the weather conditions which has a major impact on entries and fans. In the event that the WMT doesn’t draw the amount of fans and entries Thompson Speedway needs to make a profit, the future of the track will be determined. Other short track venues in New England have dropped several the NASCAR WMT events over the past years because of the profitability aspect. Many though have booked the VMRS, especially if their fans who attend those tracks are partial to Tour Type Modifieds.
The low car counts are a double-edged sword. When times were good with lots of Sk Modified, Super Late Model/Pro Stock and Late Model entries, those events were filled with a lot of crash outs, drivers repaying other competitors for past indiscretions and the like. The result was “stinking up the show” with delays, fights, arguments between competitors and officials. Now with short fields in those three divisions the racing is fast and furious, giving the fans value and good entertainment for their hard earned cash outlay for tickets.
In an ironic twist, nine-time NASCAR Champion Mike Stefanik of RI ended up winning the 75 VMRS feature at Thompson on Thursday night. He’s won two VMRS career events and has been competitive in many others with strong finishes. “I love this series!”, said Stefanik in his victory lane interview following the win. All considered, it’s going to be an interesting season at the Thompson Speedway.