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Cressman - "Delaware needs to get on board with NASCAR"

Shadowracer · 2007-09-06T21:29:05Z

Here's the article below. Emphasis is mine on the last few sentences. Delaware Speedway and NASCAR have to start talking because area race fans are missing out on a good thing by not being involved in the inaugural season of the Canadian Tire Series. NASCAR has taken Canadian stock car racing to the next level with its purchase of the old CASCAR Super Series, but the closest this new series gets to Delaware at the moment is here at Cayuga Speedway. CASCAR/NASCAR and Delaware had a falling out after the 2005 season and the track decided to drop the CASCAR races from its schedule. The Victoria Day and Labour Day weekends have not been the same since, all because of a disagreement between the two sides. NASCAR is the big leagues of stock car racing and it's been the shot in the arm the sport has needed in this country. The races are run off the NASCAR Nextel Cup template. Bless Tony Novotny for starting CASCAR in the early 1980s and keeping it alive through some rough years, but he was always the first to admit he did not have the resources to take it to the next level. That's why Novotny began talking to NASCAR. "The fruits of our labour have certainly gone in a very positive direction," he said during last night's Subway 200. "NASCAR has a lot more to offer and everybody benefits. You've got a combination of the Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. coming on board (as car sponsors) and then the Canadian companies." Derek Lynch of Warkworth won last night's race after leaders Jim Lapcevich of Hamilton and Peter Gibbons of Stouffeville wrecked each other coming out of turn four on the last lap. The NASCAR branding has also attracted a young driver like current series points leader Andrew Ranger of Roxton Pond, Que., who finished second last night. The 20-year-old -- with the skills of a 35-year-old veteran -- competed in Champ Car for two years but decided the future is NASCAR. His goal is the Nextel Cup series and some say he has the potential to be the best stock car driver to come out of Canada. Ranger's best finish in Champ Car was second in Monterey, Mexico, in 2005, his second race in that series and it's a shame Delaware fans aren't getting to see this talent. "The future in open wheel is so-so," said Ranger, whose father Robert was a dirt-track competitor. "If you are not in Formula One, it is very, very tough in Champ Car and Indy Car to find sponsorship. But because I am in NASCAR, it's a little bit easier." You can see from the sponsors on his car what the NASCAR branding has done for him -- Wal-Mart and Tide as the major sponsors, with Coke, Kodak, Folgers, Duracell, Old Spice, Pringles and Gillette, names you never saw with CASCAR. Delaware race director Jeff Wilcox recently said the track wants to speak with NASCAR. Canadian Tire Series director Richard Coughlin said last night NASCAR would welcome a discussion. "It's a track with a lot of history and it's a track that a lot of fans enjoy and a lot of our competitors enjoy, so I think it's got to be something we look at," said Coughlin, who knows what Delaware brings to the table as he marketed CASCAR before joining NASCAR. "Having been there and experiencing the events, I know the potential to have a good event there. We'll be starting on the 2008 schedule in the next couple of weeks and at that time we'll . . . evaluate new markets and new tracks we can go to." There you have it. In the next two weeks NASCAR will start making decisions for 2008. Somebody needs to blink. In this case, that's likely going to have to be Delaware -- and it had better blink fast if it wants to be in the show. At the very least, the fans deserve it. Thoughts?

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raceguy

Sep 07, 2007 8:06 am

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Interesting discussion. I have been going to delaware for over 45 years now and I must admit, I thought Sundays show, competitiion wise, was one of the best. I for one, would not go to see the NCTS at Delaware. I just don't like the cars. That doesn't mean they shouldn't have them. I'm sure there are a lot of people would go to see them. I do remember going to those CASCAR Labour Day shows, when they said there was over 10,000 people. I think they might have been a little overstated. Can someone tell me where they would put another 6,000 people in Delaware over last Sundays show? That was also a time when you would get 40 cars for the show, with cars from out west,etc. That does not happen anymore. You have 23-25 NCTS cars. The same guys show up every race, no surprises. I really like the format for the APC 300. You never know who might show up, which I like. But that's my preference. It's truly an "open" race. I agree, it has a bright future and can become one of the great short track events. I personally do not think Delaware "needs" NASCAR, as Jim Cressman states. As we all rememeber, wasn't he the one that told us back in in the spring there possibly could not be a 2007 Delaware season? I'm not sure, if he does more harm then good. Should they have a race there? Probably. On Labour DAy? NO.
i'm sure also NCTS would love the market area. Delaware always drew the best crowds. Maybe they should look at the ARCA Remax Series. They used to run that. Always drew great crowds. For those people to seem to need the "fix" to have pit stops on a short track, that could be the answer.

Anyway, I would like to congratulate Delaware on a great season. Yes, they made some mistakes, but boy, the competition was greater and more spread out then I have ever seen. Could it be ever better? Of course. That's why we have 2008.

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Shadowracer

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Sep 07, 2007 9:57 am

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As we all rememeber, wasn't he the one that told us back in in the spring there possibly could not be a 2007 Delaware season?

Yeah...thats what I was thinking. On one hand I don't want to slag the only guy thats giving us any press in a major paper, but on the other hand, he seems to only drop in once in a while...spout some sometimes clueless stuff, and disappear again.

What're you gonna do?

BTW...Is it just me or do I feel NCTS is trying to put on a little pressure?

I don't think so. If I understand NASCAR well enough, they're not out hunting for any new venues. The idea is that the venues are supposed to seek them out, not the other way around. I might be wrong in all this though. just the fact that Del has been calling but Nascar hasn't been answering pretty much bears this out.

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FromTheStands

Sep 07, 2007 10:46 am

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BTW...Is it just me or do I feel NCTS is trying to put on a little pressure?

I don't think so. If I understand NASCAR well enough, they're not out hunting for any new venues. The idea is that the venues are supposed to seek them out, not the other way around. I might be wrong in all this though.

Another reason the tracks all need to get on the same page.

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racerfan44

Sep 10, 2007 11:13 pm

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Reguarding Mr. Cressmans article it looks like he might have something. Tonight on Racetime Radio Brad Morgan - Barrie Speedway Promoter was on and was asked what his crowd was like and he said the crowd was at 9,000 for the NCTS race Saturday night.He was also asked if the track was pleased with both NCTS races there this year and he said they were very happy.They ( Race Time Radio ) talked to DJ Kennington and he was asked how the track was and he said cars were using both groves all night and the racing was great.Now that there are a few people on here that donot want a NCTS race at Delaware I feel with what I have seen at the last couple of NCTS races( Cayuga & Barrie ) good crowds.& excellant racing I hate to say Delaware get all your eggs in one basket and contact NCTS for application to have a race here ( Delaware ) .As you know there are a few things the track has to do track repairs especially.I no this is a catch 22 do you or don't go and try get a NCTS race.Only the track knows it will be interesting to find out when the 2008 NCTS Schelude comes out.Mobile 1 I know you are not a NCTS fan but I would say that if they get a NCTS you will be there to see the race because a racefan will always attend a race.And by the way you talk you are a true racefan

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Shadowracer

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Sep 10, 2007 11:52 pm

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9000 at Barrie??? OK, its been a couple year since I was there, but I can't see that at all.

Can someone who was there back this up?

I don't think you'll find many here that would object to an NCTS race here. Not even Mobil1 (I don't think) We're primarly saying "sure bring NASCAR, but let the APC 300 evolve the way it is"

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