*I just came back from the Chuck Roelle bowling tournament held at Seneca Lanes in Fostoria.  I was absolutely amazed with the nearly 200 people that came out to this event...with of 150 of them bowling in two shifts. Racing World, after an invitation from Chuck, some great interviews!  Those interviews consisted of several young drivers who were just getting started in the sport...to a guy who had been a former drag racer.  I asked him why he wanted to race on a round track rather than a straight one...and he simply said that he wanted to race for more than nine seconds! (Which I thought was hilarious!)I talked to Chuck Roelle as to what he thought was the secret of his enormous success...and he said that he simply got the information out on web sites like pitegate, hoseheads, Last Lap and Racing World etc...which told me something!  We have several web sites that now promote and inform fans about the sport of racing as it exists in Northwest Ohio!It was my old friend Scott Barman who came up to me after the event and stated, "Hey Dwight we need to cooperate more (as a co-host of the Last Lap) with Racing World to see how we can better promote our sport"! I readily agree... that all the web sites that made the Chuck Roelle bowling tournament a rousing success... that this could be the formula for future attempts to finance and promote our sport! Now.. I sincerely believe, since I started Racing World over a decade ago, that there is such a better working agreement in many of the Racing Speedways that now sponsor Racing World.  I have seen big change in that "cooperation" department and it has produced huge dividends because it helps keep our better race teams stay in our state to race at our local race tracks rather than heading off to North Dakota or Pennsylvania. Cooperation has been the key to the race tracks coming together to better the sport! So...it is time for the web sites to take that same cue... especially after the success that Chuck experienced at Fostoria and what he credits as the key to his simple promotional approach....just something to think about! 

 

When the Race Teams start heading for Florida...hey... it won't be long until we smell that intoxicating methanol once again! I have just a few random thoughts as we wait for the checked flag to drop at Attica Raceway Park!

 

1. DISCUSSION QUESTION...I am personally concerned how our racing world will be affected if Washington passes legislation enabling the government to tax small business that have an income of $250,000...which is at the very heart of companies that sponsor sprint car racing!  I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter which in turn will be used on Racing World each Saturday from 10 till NOON! Just send me a email an asecondlook@sbcglobal.net and express yourself!  I am keenly interested in what you, the true race fan... thinks!..do it today!

 

2. Racing World will continue to reach out to fans by continuing our Race Nites with Larry Reece/Lisa Hammer which was so well received last summer! It will be featured again this year at Fremont, Findlay, Tiffin, Lima etc.  We simply want to make our race car drivers accessible to the race fan in a "friendly atmosphere" where you can catch a glimpse of what there drivers are all about when they do not have their "game-face" on. Pictures taken by Larry at these events will be posted at this web site and the interviews by Lisa and me will be heard again on Racing World 1330 Am or by going to the computer to Wfin.com if your out of the listening range of the station. Now we need you fans to cooperate with us by inviting your friends to this unique night of "bench racing"...to new people them hooked on racing...these special nights are aimed to benefit all the race tracks in Northwest Ohio!

  

3. Now..One of my "past concerns" is how we prepare race fans for a night of racing. I recently attended a NFL game between the Detroit Lions and my Arizona Cardinals. Now the Lions started their "pregame promos" and hour and half before kick-off time.  Now...Since starting Racing World nearly 15 years ago I have always thought one our roles to the racing scene might be to set up our Wfin Racing World microphones and sound equipment before the race and provide an opportunity for fans to do a little "bench racing" with us! We also would have some special autograph sessions with some special interviews with racing celebrities who might be in the crowd.  Ryan "Bushy" Bush, our Racing World producer, will be there to MC the thing with a member of our Racing World team to do the interviews etc. which which will be completed again before the time trials. I believe new race fans coming to the track that night... need to see that this entire event in couched in an "up-beat" atmosphere! I have always thought that the "racing fever" is more "caught than taught"...I mean by that... they need to "get into the spirit of sprint car racing" before they start learning about racing from  a "racing guru" explaining the various facets of the sport! It is at this time that we need to "set the tone" for the best dirt track racing in the country...Ralph Waldo Emerson stated  "Nothing great has ever been established without... great enthusiasm! These pe-race rallies will be staged before marquee events at Attica, Fremont, Limaland and Eldora. So plan to get to the races a little early...have some great food and do some "bench racing" with us on Wfin's Racing World...it will be a blast..more details later on the Racing World show and right here on this web site! Stay posted...

  

4. Someone said, "Correction does much but... encouragement does much more"! I believe we as fans need to be more animated!! When an announcer, like Brian Liskai, ends an interview...we need more NOISE to let the drivers know we realize all the talent and time they have invested to make these race cars go! We simply need more clapping, more stomping of the feet, more unique noise makers, somebody blasting away on a trumpet again... raising that noise level..showing that we have the spirit to make racing successful as we compete with other forms of entertainment.  We, as a sport, need to learn how to compete again for that precious entertainment dollar that will be somewhat strained this summer with an economy that is less than what we would like it to be!  Come ready to give to the sport... as well as receive!  Yea man...it's fun to come to the ole race track!