Sports Nats moves back to Columbus....

[Terry Cain]

Hope NHRA can figure a way to get more seats filled. Spectator participation at this years Sports was disheartening.

[matt82114]

Originally Posted by Terry Cain

Hope NHRA can figure a way to get more seats filled. Spectator participation at this years Sports was disheartening.

I've attended the Jegs Sports Nationals at BG for the past 3 years on Saturday. It's only an hour drive from my home in Hendersonville, TN. Yes the spectator attendance was low each year but not many fans of NHRA truly appreciate class racing.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong: But since the SportsNats came back to BG (3 years ago?) hasn't the racer participation been lower at the SportsNats than the LODRS at the end of August each year as well? Maybe Ohio can get more racer participants?
Didn't Stock technically have 2 cars not qualify due to the 128 car field at the division race?

I know the TD and TS categories have MUCH better participation at the division race than the SportsNats.

And yes, OH is in Jegs back yard so it makes sense to me. I hate that it's moving but it is what it is.


Matt Hanley
Hendersonville, TN

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by matt82114

I've attended the Jegs Sports Nationals at BG for the past 3 years on Saturday. It's only an hour drive from my home in Hendersonville, TN. Yes the spectator attendance was low each year but not many fans of NHRA truly appreciate class racing.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong: But since the SportsNats came back to BG (3 years ago?) hasn't the racer participation been lower at the SportsNats than the LODRS at the end of August each year as well? Maybe Ohio can get more racer participants?
Didn't Stock technically have 2 cars not qualify due to the 128 car field at the division race?

I know the TD and TS categories have MUCH better participation at the division race than the SportsNats.

And yes, OH is in Jegs back yard so it makes sense to me. I hate that it's moving but it is what it is.


Matt Hanley
Hendersonville, TN

Matt, the primary reason for the exceptional attendance at the August LODRS race is that it immediately precedes the Nationals and folks like to dial in their combinations and get a little more seat time just before the Big Go. Some like to see if they have enough to even qualify in similar atmospheric conditions (some of us find it barometric “challenging”). Plus since they start stacking in Indy early in the week you’re just a short drive away from BG. Venture to guess that a poll would reveal 90% of the racers would prefer to run the SPORTSnationals at BG over NT.

[ALMACK]

I raced at the SportsNATIONALS National Open in '13, '14, and 2015.
Beautiful weather all 3 years in a row at Beech Bend on those Memorial Day weekends.

When it became a national event in '16 I believe there was a lot of rain around that time.

I seem to recall 2 out of the last 3 years that rain maybe had an affect on spectator attendance.

[Rod Greene]

Though I have not raced in a while, I have been at both tracks numerous times. Bowling Green by far is the better facility and if Livingston is involved at NT I hope he has learned to treat the racers better. I never liked how I was treated at Woodburn and quit going there.

[Greg Hill]

I’ve never heard anyone say National Trail is their favorite track in the country. Lots of folks I know hold Beech Bend as their favorite track .

[MR DERBY CITY]

I talk to a LOT of racers daily, almost all are from out of town....NEVER has one racer said,.....MJ, I can’t wait to get to COLUMBUS....Unfortunately Beech Bend was victimized by horrible weather forecasts the past two years, if not for that there would have been awesome racer and spectator crowds.....

[Chuck Beach]

I don't think it has anything to do with Dallas or the BG facility, Jeg's sponsors it and they want it in their backyard.

[BRINK]

Originally Posted by Greg Hill

I’ve never heard anyone say National Trail is their favorite track in the country. Lots of folks I know hold Beech Bend as their favorite track .

Hillary loves NT. She always knows what's best for us.

[rocketolds400]

Originally Posted by Rod Greene

Though I have not raced in a while, I have been at both tracks numerous times. Bowling Green by far is the better facility and if Livingston is involved at NT I hope he has learned to treat the racers better. I never liked how I was treated at Woodburn and quit going there.

Well that's discouraging.... I'd say Trails is already weak in the customer services department.


...or maybe I'm just spoiled from racing at Norwalk this year?