I actually think we're seeing the end of a shift in LM racing that started years ago. The reality, I fear, is that the climate is just not there anymore to entice teams to travel to large events. LM has become, in this area, a weekly level division and nothing more. I doubt there's many Late Models being built or bought now with the idea of travelling track to track.

There's novels to be written on the why's, and the fixes for this, but the bottom line is that any track hosting a big LM event has to basically give OTHER track owners a reason to make allowances that would make it easier for their talent to travel....something beyond "well it'd just be really nice to have a 30 car field like in the old days"

But so far I can't think of any, beyond doing some sort of home and home series with another track...sort of like what we tried with Flammy a couple years back. (awesome idea, and pretty decent series...but no money behind it. None that was going to the drivers anyway.)

What I think would be a definite shot in the arm for larger LM shows around here would be another Ontario travelling series, sort of like ALSTAR was. It would need a big league sponsor, an old school promoter, and a solid core of 'franchise" drivers...but it could be done. (It never fails to astound me that both SLM and Sportsman Cup both have good solid travelling series that get decent car turnouts...and regular LM's got nothing.)

Anyway, I know in the end of the Wilcox/Scherba era they were looking at hooking up with a US based travelling series, and possibly making the Labor Day race a stop on that series schedule, but nothing ever came of it.

Agree with Mike the tire thing is stupid.

Disagree that prize money is the issue. It might be for a few guys...but not the majority.

Maybe the answer is to try a straight up "run what ya brung" tire rule for the Labor Day race, say with a 10 inch max.

If tracks are going to be serious about trying to entice other drivers, they need to fix this. Problem is they don't really want to get serious about it. And neither do the tire sponsors.

(and don't quote me because I'm not sure - but don't be surprised if past management at Delly signed into something that current management can't get out of at the moment.)

A little off topic perhaps, but relating to money; there was a $400 bonus on Friday night's 75 lapper for the "top registered LM from a visiting track", plus a minimum payout of $250.

There wasn't a single driver there from another track . . .

great posts guys.  I to have wondered (and have expressed to track management), why in the world would they ever schedule this race on a Saturday afternoon start time or on a Saturday at all?  This will kill any hopes of any visitors coming from other tracks.  But on that note,  I also think that drivers / car owners don't travel like they used to.  For whatever reason, they are not like the teams of years ago.  I'm sure it involves costs, purses, travelling, family times ,etc that all come into play. Drivers years ago would race 2 or 3 times a week. I don't think drivers now want to do that, maybe spending more time with the family.  I know many a driver from years ago, that the family, house, etc came second after racing. I don't believe that happens now and that's good. It doesn't help us fans though. lol. 
I don't think that the travelling series is the answer.  The OSCAAR super late models have a great group of drivers and cars. Interesting, though, it seems the same guys win all the time. I walked out on their show a Delaware last year before it was finished, because it was a terrible show. It doesn't work all the time!  The Sportsman Series is okay. The car counts are not solid though as mentioned. How many cars were at Varney this year for their show and Delaware had a decent showing of 21 cars, but 4 of those cars were Delaware super stock regulars.

It's not only tracks up here that are having trouble. I just read that the Toledo Super Late model Gold Cup series started only 14 cars for their 100 lapper this past Friday night. I believe they pay $2500 to win for their 100 lappers. If any one can remember back, Toledo was "THE" place for their super late model shows.
I wish I knew the answer to all this, because I'm worried some more tracks may not be around in the coming years.
Back to original topic!  I agree with Jay 100%. I really think  the current planning and schedule for the GC200 is heading for a disaster as far as car count and also possible spectators.  Lets not forget the last Saturday GC200 show a couple years ago!!!!

I really think the current Management at Delaware has made some great strides in bringing rules in line and trying to make the track operate on "break even" level, which had to be done to keep it going.
I think they are great business men, I just hope they have the great passion for racing that is needed.

I can't speak for any current Flamboro Late Model teams, but I think the fact that Flamboro currently has 5 late model specials on the schedule (all which pay better than Delaware specials) is going to deter teams from having any desire to travel. Once you try to run a full Flamboro weekly schedule, which is about 12 races, then tack on those high paying specials, that's a pretty full season. And you're running at a track where you know the setup and have a better shot at winning.

Back five or six years ago when we had a Flamboro Late Model, we said every season that we were going to come to Delaware for Canada Day or the Labor Day 200, but the season wears on you, and you get closer to those dates, and it becomes a lot easier to come up with reasons to not go...like extra cost for an inventory of 8 inch tires, or needing to get everyone off work early if its a friday, or the simple fact that the odds of having a legitimate shot to win or run top five against the locals is slim to nil.

Now we have two Flamboro Thunder Cars, and the same logic applies to the Super Stock invitationals at Delaware...and the payout isn't real great either. We could use our own tires, but you're going to burn up a set over 70 laps, which is over 500 bucks in cost.

I do think that a home-to-home series like Sunset and Sauble tried this year could be good...if there was decent money behind it. Shut one track down for the weekend for their regular LM and TC/SS and bring in something else while the home-to-home runs the other facility. If you put show up points and some extra cash on the line, I think you would see at least 20 cars in each class.