With the present economy, sponsors dropping out of the sport, etc., I was really surprised. This weekend was by far the largest crowd I've ever witnessed at the Texas Motorplex. Saturday was completely sold out on the Pit Side seats, and the Pits were overflowing. Sunday's telecast showed jam packed grand stands throughout the day. This coming right off of a sold out Charlotte event.


Perhaps it's the new Countdown format?

It doesnt have jack to do with the crapdown. Though I will agree with you that it was packed. We got there at 9 on Sat and had to park in the back of the parking lot almost. Crazy.

Maybe it was just me, but I thought the crowds were bigger back in the 90's! If Billy Meyer was smart he'd make the Non Pit-side General Admission, the crowds are dismal over there.

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Shift for Brains!!!!

Would you agree that "WE", the people who post on these Drag Racing BB's, are not the "STANDARD" drag racing fan, and thus our opinion about why people attend the races might not be "Fair and Balanced"?

I have talked with random people in the stands as to why they came to races ( you know, the same people we make fun of who don't know "ANYTHING" about our sport ). Most of them just love cars, they love the noise, the power of Nitro Cars, their kids like fast cars, and it's also an excuse to Drink beer out on a sunny day...They know the names, JOHN FORCE, KENNY BERNSTEIN, THE SNAKE, and a few others.

I think the way in which NHRA promotes the races locally, (which could be a bit bigger IMHO) especially during the "COUNTDOWN" makes it attractive for the "CASUAL FAN" to attend the race because of the "PLAYOFF" promotion of the last 6 races. If you attend both of the Vegas races, (which I do every year) you can NOTICABLY see the difference in attendance between the April Race, and the October race. Last year, it was very obvious that there were more "casual fans" out at the track. Maybe it's the weather in october vs. April, (which I think is about the same). But to say it has "NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COUNTDOWN" may be true for the Hardcore fans, but for those in the stands that snake said, "COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE IF WE DID NOT TELL THEM"....i'm not too sure about that.

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Timmah! 5636 S/C
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I went to most of the races there in the 90's and never had them tell me that all of their Pit Side seats were sold out, and never I have seen traffic for over a mile on 287! Even when we tried to park at $15.00, the attendant said it was almost filled up.

I only listened to the audiocast for about an hour as background entertainment while studying... But did I hear someone say you had to pay for a pit-pass? I wasn't actually paying attention but I heard someone correcting themselves about saying something was free and it wasn't... I sure hope it wasn't that people weren't allowed in the pits...

CJ Curtsinger

I think the Motorplex is probably the only track where EVERY ticket is NOT a pit pass because they offer a reduced priced "spectator" ticket. Those fans have to pay extra to go in to the pits. Most of the empty spots on the spectator side are probably made up of people that paid to go into the pits and then stand along the fence. No fence police at the Motorplex

Also - Joe is right... there should be some GA seating there.

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Greg
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Say it ain't so Joe!

The last three events I have gone to have had great turnouts and they were not national events. There was a good crowd at the Fall Classic at Woodburn, at the Governor's Cup at Sac and the attendance at Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick set a new attendance record for the local ampatheater. Soooo, I think it's fair to say the economy has not affected the entertainment dollar.... YET.

I know I've never paid $46.00 for a south side (not pit side) with pit pass before, on FRIDAY!!!!, I used my AAA membership and got $11.00 off, still 35 bucks for Friday is pricey. I had fun though, I was looking for some Maters but didn't see anyone.

Took my three year old up on Friday and we had a blast. It wasn't crowded at all, which is nice if you have a little one with you.

Lance you may know this better than me, but I recall the Spectator side at the Plex used to be all Gen. Admission. It wasn't until around 10 years ago that Meyer jacked us! From 91-95 I'd buy my reserved seat yet would sit on the Specatator side until 2 Pm cause the Sun was at your back!

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Shift for Brains!!!!

You're exactly right Joe. I didn't go last year, but 2 years ago we sat there too because of the sun. Plus it was nice to be able to sit at the starting line for one round, then move to the end for the next round.

Motorplex has always been more expensive than Baytown, I guess with the successful crowd this year it will be over $70 a ticket next year for a Pit Side on Sunday.