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Indiana Sprint Week a Hoosier Hit; Brickyard 400: Not So Much…

HAMMOND, IN: We’ve all noticed lots of empty seats at recent NASCAR events; especially last Sunday at the Brickyard 400. Happily, this was definitely NOT the case during July’s amazing Indiana Sprint Week.

In recent seasons, as the economic downturn, coupled with a slowly growing lack of interest in NASCAR, began to effect attendance, it was hoped by many that race fans might begin returning to America’s short tracks to get their racing fix.

Guess what? It’s happening…

The recent “lack of enthusiasm” for NASCAR is obviously the result of many factors. High ticket and travel costs aside, disenchanted fans have complained about the constant rule “tweaks”: the “Lucky Dog”, “The Chase”, the “Car of Tomorrow”…the list goes on. As far as building a fan base goes, NASCAR is beginning to realize that…if you confuse ’em, you lose ’em.

Oh, well. It appears that their loss is our gain…

In the weeks leading up to the Brickyard 400, USAC conducted it’s annual Indiana Sprint Week; a series of non-winged sprint car races staged at seven traditional dirt “bull-rings” throughout the Hoosier state. We managed to attend four of the seven events in a small motorhome which, as it turned out, was the only way to go…

After being deeply concerned about the general health of auto racing in 2010, we soon came to realize that the spirit and enthusiasm for motorsports is alive and well…at least on the Indiana sprint car trail during the middle of July.

Kokomo. Terre Haute. Brownstown. Bloomington. Wow…these places were packed! A traveling community of RV’ers migrated from track to track; arriving early and staying late. It was sort of like joining a cult for a few days. Tailgating has never been so dirty…or so enjoyable! Everyone was on the same page: eat…sleep…race…and enjoy a beverage or two. These folks believe that sprint cars on dirt represent the purest form of motorsport left on the planet. No “lucky dogs” here; just stand on the gas for 30 laps and see who’s hooked up.

We’ve attended Indiana Sprint Week events in past years, but the 2010 crowds were completely off the charts. Countless fans we talked with claimed that “big” motorsport events (i.e. NASCAR) have lost it’s appeal, and spending their time and limited disposable cash at the dirt tracks represented a better value for them.

I couldn’t agree more. I’ll be back. And…so will they.

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