bigbrick
10-10-2007, 12:15 PM
I have been preparing this post for over a week, deciding how to best say some of my thoughts on the 1st Annual Brickyard Super Street Nationals – so here goes.
First, allow me to say, I expect to see some of the best racing of the season at Clary’s Speedway this weekend and a full house – both sides, and I am very excited! This is turning out to be bigger than I ever expected!
We do not have any affiliation with the track ownership, promotion or any race team. Nor have we or will we make any money on this race. Nash Brick is just a small company located down the road from Clary’s Speedway and we began a formal sponsor relationship with this track this year to show support for a sport we love and to give back some to a community that has supported us for over 105 years. We have had a great time so far, thanks for allowing us to be a part of it!
There has been an offer from the track promoters on the table for the entire season - You bring the money and we will have any race you want. Also, there was an effort to have a “big” race for each of the weekly divisions as long as sponsorship was available. Nash Brick has participated in each of the “big” races that have been put on this year. I decided that I didn’t want the next race to be big, I wanted to see a HUGE race. Therefore, I instructed my staff to see what they could put together and present to the track.
That was the birth of the “Brickyard Super Street Nationals”
After gaining track approval of the concept, my staff worked together with track staff and the staff of Lee Brick Company (one of our competitors that loves racing also) to raise sponsorship money to pay a purse of over $11,000.
The purpose of having this race is to bring together, in a competitive setting and providing a reward for those teams that have supported their local tracks during the 2007 season. Hence, the reason for the “home track/ points” rule.
As huge race fans, members of my staff will attend races in about 6 states this year. We have taken some of what we consider the “best” from other tracks or series rules and tried to incorporate them into this race. For some of you these rules will seem foreign and some you may not even agree with, but, we have tried to make this race a fair as possible for all competitors and as competitive as possible for the fans enjoyment.
Since track rules vary so much and I wanted this to be a “National Championship” race, we had to decide how to handle the track rules problem. My staff has reviewed over 100 sets of rules and the only feasible way to make this race work was to allow cars to run their “home track” rules and use weight as the correcting factor. Even then, we found it necessary to make some “will and “will not” rules. But, we did the best that we could with what we had to work with.
I completely understand not every car on the track this weekend will be exactly even on the competition scale. However, until all tracks run under the same rules, we did the best that we could. While, the money is a VERY important part of this race, more importantly this is for the “National Championship” and in so being, it is critical that as many competitors as possible be permitted to participate. There are no bragging rights in being the “National Champion” of a 10 car field! There are bragging rights in outrunning a field of 50 (or however many show up) cars.
Next brings up cheating. I know pushing the envelope and racing go hand and hand. That is why we will pre-race inspect all cars. As chairman of the Competition Committee, I will disqualify any team caught cheating and that team will not receive any funds! Our staff of tech inspectors will not be on a witch hunt, but you will be checked closely. Again, what bragging rights would you have, knowing you had to cheat to become the “National Champion” - - what does that make you? The “Cheating Champion”? Think about it before you make that change or adjustment….
Having said the above paragraphs, we will try to get every team that shows up in a race. If we find that a team in uncompetitive (high or low) and using weight corrections can not get them in the National race, we will offer them the opportunity to run with the bomber or sportsman class. We have made every effort to avoid this problem by preapproving rules – but, we understand that some teams may show up without having gone thru the review process. That’s fine, and we can handle it!
We have made every effort to keep everyone informed of any rule or procedure change that we have had to make. There may be situations arise that we will have to address before Saturday - - we will make every effort to keep you informed of those required changes. Understand that we are NOT doing a bait and switch here, just trying to keep everything as fair and competitive as possible.
Lastly, my staff and I have too much time and money invested in this event to not have the opportunity to enjoy it! If someone has a legitimate concern and would like to discuss it in a rational manner, we will listen and make a final decision. However, we will not participate in a whining session! We understand we can not make everyone happy, but we have been as fair and impartial as possible. Again, the offer has been on the table all year and you could have went out and raised the money and run it the way you wanted - - no complaining.
It is my hope that everyone has a great weekend at Clary’s Speedway and I know someone is going to leave there happy- $3,500 happy! I’m ready to go to the track now!
Don - AKA BigBrick
President Nash Brick Co
First, allow me to say, I expect to see some of the best racing of the season at Clary’s Speedway this weekend and a full house – both sides, and I am very excited! This is turning out to be bigger than I ever expected!
We do not have any affiliation with the track ownership, promotion or any race team. Nor have we or will we make any money on this race. Nash Brick is just a small company located down the road from Clary’s Speedway and we began a formal sponsor relationship with this track this year to show support for a sport we love and to give back some to a community that has supported us for over 105 years. We have had a great time so far, thanks for allowing us to be a part of it!
There has been an offer from the track promoters on the table for the entire season - You bring the money and we will have any race you want. Also, there was an effort to have a “big” race for each of the weekly divisions as long as sponsorship was available. Nash Brick has participated in each of the “big” races that have been put on this year. I decided that I didn’t want the next race to be big, I wanted to see a HUGE race. Therefore, I instructed my staff to see what they could put together and present to the track.
That was the birth of the “Brickyard Super Street Nationals”
After gaining track approval of the concept, my staff worked together with track staff and the staff of Lee Brick Company (one of our competitors that loves racing also) to raise sponsorship money to pay a purse of over $11,000.
The purpose of having this race is to bring together, in a competitive setting and providing a reward for those teams that have supported their local tracks during the 2007 season. Hence, the reason for the “home track/ points” rule.
As huge race fans, members of my staff will attend races in about 6 states this year. We have taken some of what we consider the “best” from other tracks or series rules and tried to incorporate them into this race. For some of you these rules will seem foreign and some you may not even agree with, but, we have tried to make this race a fair as possible for all competitors and as competitive as possible for the fans enjoyment.
Since track rules vary so much and I wanted this to be a “National Championship” race, we had to decide how to handle the track rules problem. My staff has reviewed over 100 sets of rules and the only feasible way to make this race work was to allow cars to run their “home track” rules and use weight as the correcting factor. Even then, we found it necessary to make some “will and “will not” rules. But, we did the best that we could with what we had to work with.
I completely understand not every car on the track this weekend will be exactly even on the competition scale. However, until all tracks run under the same rules, we did the best that we could. While, the money is a VERY important part of this race, more importantly this is for the “National Championship” and in so being, it is critical that as many competitors as possible be permitted to participate. There are no bragging rights in being the “National Champion” of a 10 car field! There are bragging rights in outrunning a field of 50 (or however many show up) cars.
Next brings up cheating. I know pushing the envelope and racing go hand and hand. That is why we will pre-race inspect all cars. As chairman of the Competition Committee, I will disqualify any team caught cheating and that team will not receive any funds! Our staff of tech inspectors will not be on a witch hunt, but you will be checked closely. Again, what bragging rights would you have, knowing you had to cheat to become the “National Champion” - - what does that make you? The “Cheating Champion”? Think about it before you make that change or adjustment….
Having said the above paragraphs, we will try to get every team that shows up in a race. If we find that a team in uncompetitive (high or low) and using weight corrections can not get them in the National race, we will offer them the opportunity to run with the bomber or sportsman class. We have made every effort to avoid this problem by preapproving rules – but, we understand that some teams may show up without having gone thru the review process. That’s fine, and we can handle it!
We have made every effort to keep everyone informed of any rule or procedure change that we have had to make. There may be situations arise that we will have to address before Saturday - - we will make every effort to keep you informed of those required changes. Understand that we are NOT doing a bait and switch here, just trying to keep everything as fair and competitive as possible.
Lastly, my staff and I have too much time and money invested in this event to not have the opportunity to enjoy it! If someone has a legitimate concern and would like to discuss it in a rational manner, we will listen and make a final decision. However, we will not participate in a whining session! We understand we can not make everyone happy, but we have been as fair and impartial as possible. Again, the offer has been on the table all year and you could have went out and raised the money and run it the way you wanted - - no complaining.
It is my hope that everyone has a great weekend at Clary’s Speedway and I know someone is going to leave there happy- $3,500 happy! I’m ready to go to the track now!
Don - AKA BigBrick
President Nash Brick Co