Latest / Top Row Racing Media Monday Night Rewind / Episode 21 | Monday Night Rewind | World of Outlaw Sprint Cars return to Hartford!

Transcript

Episode 21 | Monday Night Rewind | World of Outlaw Sprint Cars return to Hartford! · Top Row Racing Media Monday Night Rewind

1:00
All right, happy Monday. It's much better weather in
1:04
Southwest Michigan, Northwest Indiana this week after extreme
1:07
heat last week. And meteorologist Matt Rutkins
1:10
already giving us a heads up about next week having a heat
1:13
Dome. So if you're into the Super hot
1:15
weather, next week will be your jam.
1:18
But this week looks nice in in the 80s with some humidity, but
1:22
much bearable. You know, much more bearable for
1:24
a majority of Midwesterners who do not like feeling like Miami,
1:27
FL especially if if we don't like the sweats.
1:32
But anyways, again, you're watching the Monday Night Rewind
1:35
presented by the National Compact Touring Series, although
1:38
it did not let us go live on that page tonight.
1:40
So I'll try that once we get going.
1:42
Federated Auto Parts, ELH detailing and of course Top Row
1:45
Racing Media. Tonight we are talking World of
1:48
Outlaws. So again, we have Leah back and
1:50
then we also have Tony from SLS Promotions to communications
1:53
manager for the organization is with us tonight.
1:57
So we'll be talking World of Outlaws as they return to
1:59
Michigan for the first time since 2019 coming up in just a
2:03
few days. And then again, Leah as a
2:06
reminder, because of the Thursday Outlaw show, there will
2:09
be no Thursday night throttle this week.
2:10
So the throttle will return next week.
2:14
Right back on Top Row Racing Media as we preview the upcoming
2:17
weekend of events and then don't forget to if you're looking for
2:22
oh, that's not saved on our store forgot to change that
2:24
graphic up top, but full programs 2022 to current.
2:27
So again, if you're looking for any of those are old Hartford
2:30
videos. Everything is on our website.
2:32
If you go to www.topperracingmedia.com/full
2:36
program links, I'll show the I'll show the website just after
2:40
our interview here with everybody that you can find all
2:44
those. So if you're looking for stock
2:45
cars or you're looking for something like a night of
2:47
destruction, even all the way back to Hartford in 2022, our
2:51
first season, you could definitely find all that there.
2:53
And it links right to the YouTube.
2:55
So tonight it's a solo me. Buju was at Chicagoland
3:00
yesterday after racing Saturday at South Bend and or attempting
3:04
to race. His car gave him a little bit of
3:06
fit, but he still enjoyed the night on July 4th.
3:09
But he got home late last night and then had to go to work this
3:12
morning, so he just felt super not not ready to be on screen
3:16
tonight. So he has the week off again,
3:19
but I know he'll be at Hartford on Thursday for the World of
3:23
Outlaw show. So I know he's excited to get up
3:25
to Hartford. I know everyone in Southwest
3:27
Michigan especially and in the surrounding area has been
3:29
looking forward to the World of Outlaw show.
3:31
So how awesome that they were able to reschedule it.
3:35
Let us know where you or me, whomever you know, let us know
3:38
where you were over the weekend. Again, I was at, I was supposed
3:41
to be at Kalamazoo on Friday, but then that show got rained
3:44
out. And you know, again, prayers to
3:46
everyone who's up there cuz I know Kalamazoo just got
3:49
absolutely annihilated by the storms that rolled in damage all
3:53
over. I know the track was without
3:54
power. And then obviously Hartford
3:56
attempted to give it a shot and then all of a sudden Mother
3:59
Nature said hold my clouds and sent a nice wind gust through
4:03
Hartford, knocked down trees and everything.
4:04
So they had ultimately no choice and they waited until last
4:07
minute. So, you know, I feel bad for
4:09
Leah. And then because they were going
4:10
to give it a go and I know they were that's what they were a
4:13
little bit worried about was the weather.
4:14
Then sure enough, that big shelf cloud came overlake Michigan and
4:18
said hello to everybody. So I ended up at New Parish for
4:22
the night of destruction. But it was kind of a night of
4:24
destruction. My I replacing my recording
4:27
camera because the rain, I mean, the raindrops are so huge.
4:30
That is pressing buttons on my phone.
4:32
That's how big the drops were. So, but the night destruction
4:35
got most of it in before ultimately lightning, just too
4:38
much lightning in the area with Round 2 coming through and so
4:40
they had to pull the plug on that.
4:42
So there's about 3 races they didn't finish at New Paris.
4:45
But you know, Chris and Tracy, they were able to get most of
4:47
that program in program in and it was a huge crowd as always
4:51
for the July 4th and they did get the fireworks in.
4:53
So I know people were excited for that and then at Galesburg,
4:57
I was at I was there on Saturday for the freedom.
4:59
So if you missed that, both late model drivers walked away OK.
5:03
They ended up in the trees. So not not super fun for them on
5:06
the first lap to to go tree hunting basically.
5:09
But both drivers are able to walk out OK.
5:12
The cars took on some damage. Obviously when you end up in the
5:15
trees on the back stretch, that's going to leave a mark.
5:17
And so again, it but it's pretty incredible racing.
5:20
So excited for this week. Again, things start off in
5:24
Southwest Michigan on Thursday. So without further ado, let's
5:28
talk about World of Outlaws. And that's this entire show.
5:31
So you know, share this out because again, we have Tony from
5:34
SLS promotions who works with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car
5:37
Series, NASA energy drink, World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series.
5:40
So he'll be on with Leah and then obviously Leah with
5:44
Hartford. So share it out, tag your
5:46
friends, give it a like that just helps it get a little bit
5:49
further. And we all know that Leah too
5:52
runs an incredible social media game.
5:54
And if anyone can get views and and messaging out there, it's
5:58
going to be Leah. So again, let's go ahead and
6:00
let's welcome the World of Outlaws and Hartford Speedway.
6:05
So again, hello Tony and hello Leah.
6:07
How are you guys doing tonight? Good.
6:10
How are you? Good, Tony.
6:12
Hey, Lewis. Good.
6:13
Thanks for having me. Oh yeah, I'm, I'm so excited
6:16
because I know, you know, cancellations first and foremost
6:19
are never easy. And it was postponement too,
6:22
right? Those are never easy.
6:23
I know, right, With the traveling group, it's sometimes
6:27
tough to find a makeup date, especially when tracks have all
6:30
these other events and all these other things going on.
6:32
So, so I know a lot of people are super excited that the World
6:35
of Outlaws were able to reschedule that, especially SLS
6:39
promotion. So, so I know our audience knows
6:42
quite a bit about Leah. She's been on the show multiple
6:44
times between Thursdays and Mondays.
6:46
But you're a new face to a lot of people.
6:48
So if you want to give a little bit about not only your
6:51
background in racing and then what's SLS promotions, you know,
6:56
that way people, our fans watching can kind of know like
6:59
what you guys do with a traveling group like the World
7:03
of Outlaws. Yeah, so I've been around racing
7:05
quite a while. I started actually in non wing
7:08
Sprint car racing in Indiana where I'm from back and probably
7:14
about 2002 three era. And then I actually worked for
7:19
the World of Outlaws from 2006 through 2010 and then actually
7:24
came up to Michigan, to the Detroit area and worked in the
7:26
automotive industry for marketing agency for I think
7:30
about four or five years. Then I actually came back down
7:34
to Indiana and worked with SLS Promotions for I think it was
7:38
four or five seasons back when they used to do about 2224 races
7:42
a year, which I can't even fathom doing that many races
7:45
anymore. And once they kind of cut back
7:47
on the schedule, I had to go get a real job again.
7:50
So I actually, I work in the healthcare industry, actually in
7:53
marketing and just kind of help with the racing stuff in my
7:56
spare time. And SLS does I think 11 races it
8:00
is this year. And so SLS Promotions, it
8:03
actually began with three guys, and each of their first names
8:05
was an S&L and an S. It was Scott who's still there,
8:09
Larry, who unfortunately passed away a few years ago.
8:11
And we actually have his memorial race this weekend at
8:14
Wilmont, Wisconsin. And then the third guy was
8:16
Steve, and he's no longer with the group.
8:18
So it's really just an S now. But the name, obviously people
8:21
knew. So the name kind of stuck.
8:22
But yeah, I think the first races those guys did was back in
8:25
like, and I want to say maybe 2000 and like 434, the first
8:31
World of Outlaws events they did and kind of started doing races
8:33
around the Wisconsin, Illinois area and then started branching
8:37
out and doing them in Minnesota and North Dakota.
8:38
There's quite a few races in North Dakota because Larry, one
8:41
of the founders, he is from North Dakota.
8:43
So he, he brought the World of Outlaws to North Dakota.
8:46
And obviously with Donnie Schott being from North Dakota, that
8:48
was always a big draw up there. So kind of expanded there and,
8:52
and it got really big. I mean, like I said, there was
8:54
like 24 races a year for quite a few years.
8:57
And then just kind of as life progressed, people got a little
9:01
bit older, things kind of changed.
9:02
They cut back on the schedule a little bit.
9:04
So now it's about 10-11 races a year, which still is quite a few
9:07
races, especially, you know, when you're kind of doing it in
9:09
your spare time. So it's, it definitely keeps me
9:12
busy. And I mean, I love racing.
9:14
Obviously it's my way to kind of stay involved in the sport, even
9:17
though I'm not around a 24/7, you know, I'm, I'm around it
9:20
when I can be And, and, and obviously, yeah, we're looking
9:22
forward to getting back to Hartford then since 2019.
9:25
So that's quite a few years. So it's, you know, great track,
9:28
Lee and Tim, they do a great job there.
9:30
So we're we're excited. We're just praying Mother Nature
9:32
cooperates this time around. Yeah, and that's where, you
9:36
know, Hartford and rain sometimes, I mean it almost it's
9:40
kind of like a Dan housing for them.
9:42
You know, sometimes it's nice, sometimes it's evil, right?
9:44
You know, you just you never know, right.
9:46
And and obviously, you know, last Friday, they just got
9:50
pummeled, you know, pretty late in the game.
9:52
And and then for your show, right, that, you know, that got
9:56
postponed because of the rain too.
9:57
So I know everyone's crossing fingers and, and just, you know,
10:01
probably watching the weather forecast because a race like
10:03
this, especially for Hartford, brings people from all over the
10:06
place. And so, you know, what does it
10:09
take to get a race, especially if you think this is the only
10:12
one in Michigan? What does it take for like SLS
10:14
promotions working with World of Outlaws to bring a race to
10:18
Michigan, especially when we're talking that it's been since
10:20
2019. I mean a really long time in
10:23
terms of like other States and tracks are hit up all the time,
10:27
right? So what does it take for what
10:29
you can share? Maybe there's some things you
10:30
can't share about the process, but for what you can share about
10:33
the process, what does it take? Cuz I'm fans are always saying
10:36
we want World of Outlaws, we want World of Outlaws.
10:38
Well, there's more than just saying we want World of Outlaws.
10:41
Yeah, and obviously a lot of it comes down to the schedule
10:44
itself and the travel. You know, the Outlaws, they race
10:47
about 80 * a year roughly. So I mean, it's got to fit into
10:50
their schedule. You can't, you can't go 500
10:52
miles the wrong direction or something.
10:54
Say that's one of the things that's really tough is just
10:57
getting it to fit in the schedule and sometimes
11:00
unfortunately doesn't fit in the schedule.
11:01
This year it worked out where it did and, and especially having
11:04
the the make up race, thankfully that worked in the schedule.
11:07
The guys are coming off and off weekend this year and this
11:10
weekend and coming to Wisconsin, you know, around Kenosha right
11:14
by the Illinois border the next weekend.
11:15
So that works pretty good going down around the lake, you know,
11:18
to get over there. So that's a lot of it.
11:19
It's just the logistics of it. You know, the Outlaws, they
11:22
could honestly probably race 125 * a year and have plenty of
11:25
places to go. But it's just the travel.
11:28
The team's got to give them a little bit of a break.
11:30
You know, the drivers always say, oh, we'd race every night
11:32
of the week if we could. But the crew members, those are
11:34
the guys that honestly need a break.
11:36
They're they're getting the cars from track to track, going to
11:39
car wash at 2:00 in the morning, doing the work in the heat of
11:41
the day, you know, when it's 100° outside.
11:43
So you got to kind of make it so everybody, you know, it makes
11:47
sense for everybody. And then obviously business
11:49
wise, it has to make sense as well.
11:50
You know, you have to go to places where they want, where
11:52
they have good Sprint car bases and Sprint car fans.
11:56
And you know, obviously Michigan, it's been amazing
11:58
state over the years. There's been a little bit of a
12:00
lull here the last, you know, handful of years.
12:02
So hopefully, you know, going back to Michigan out kind of
12:04
kind of start a new tradition of going back every year.
12:08
Well, and I know for Leah, right, I mean, you guys work
12:12
with another Sprint organization from time to time, but you know,
12:15
what does it mean for you and Tim at Hartford to have a series
12:18
like the World of Outlaws once it come to your track?
12:25
I feel like it's a huge compliment that they picked our
12:29
track to come to out of all the tracks in Michigan, so we're
12:32
super excited to have them and Tony and Scott are always a
12:37
pleasure to work with the course.
12:39
But yeah, it's a pretty big deal and we thought that they wanted
12:42
to come to Hartford, so we're excited.
12:46
All right, Just to give you kind of a heads up, Leah, you're kind
12:48
of in and out. I don't know, Tony, are you
12:50
seeing the same image that I am where Leah's kind of like
12:52
freezing up a little bit or is she good on your side?
12:55
No, I, I see her. She's blinking her eyes.
12:57
She's alive. Oh, it's.
12:59
A meat problem. That's what I'm hearing it's a
13:01
meat OK, what I'm hearing so meat problems those are OK I,
13:06
you know, I accept those but that's right just I'm like, what
13:09
am I getting the same feedback as everyone else?
13:11
And so because sometimes it is on my end where I'm like, OK,
13:13
did I press a button wrong or something?
13:15
Or sometimes it's this layout where all of a sudden it'll
13:17
throw it off for whatever reason, Like literally, we were
13:19
just fine a second ago. But but again, I know, you know,
13:24
for Leah, you know, if you want to give a little bit and then
13:26
we'll come back to Tony if you want to give a little bit about,
13:30
you know, again, the, you know, World of Outlaws at Hartford.
13:33
You know, what is going to be a little bit different this time
13:36
for fans when they show up to the gates or in terms of tickets
13:40
and layout, what's a little difference for them to expect?
13:45
And then we'll hop back over to Tony where he can then give more
13:48
of the drivers who are coming, the pit side, you know, that
13:51
kind of experience. So why don't we start with the
13:52
grandstand side of things? OK.
13:56
The top half of the grandstands minus the very top row, the very
14:03
top row, those seats are the lawn chair seats and those have
14:06
been purchased pre season for the entire season.
14:10
So row one starts underneath that very top row and that top
14:14
half for all the reserve seats. And those are numbered seats.
14:18
Those are all the reserve seats. And then underneath that the
14:22
lower half of the grandstands, those are all reserve seating
14:26
where they can, anybody can sit. Those are first come, first
14:28
serve. So I highly recommend getting
14:32
your reserve seats and getting those online at SLS Promotions
14:38
prior to Thursday at noon, right, Tony?
14:41
Yeah, I mean, you could still buy.
14:42
It's the pit combo that ends at at Thursday at noon.
14:45
And yeah, actually the online do end at Thursday noon, then you
14:47
come right to the track. But yeah, if you want the pit
14:49
combo, especially get that before noon on race day.
14:52
But regular reserves, yeah, you can still get those on race day
14:54
at the track anytime, probably after about 11:00 AM.
14:57
OK, I would I would highly recommend that setting up in the
15:01
top reserved half of the stands. The gates do open at 4:00.
15:07
The general admission gates open at 4:00, which usually it's 5
15:10
for us, but it's 4:00 and then the pits open at 2:00.
15:13
Usually that's later for us as well, but the pit gates open at
15:17
2:00. We usually always allow race
15:21
friends to bring a cooler, but this time we do not allow
15:26
coolers at the track. We will be selling alcohol.
15:32
Many people don't know if they can bring it or can't bring it.
15:34
So this time we are selling it there.
15:36
Therefore we cannot allow people to bring it in.
15:40
We have on the West End we will be having Miller Lite Draft and
15:46
Smirnoff Ice. Those are only $6 each.
15:49
We try to keep it very affordable for everybody.
15:52
And then on the East End, we're having canned beer, Bud and Bud
15:55
Light, Michelob Ultra and Bush Light and the Smirnoff's Ice,
16:00
and those are all $6 as well on the East End.
16:03
So the only thing we're allowing people to bring in is our
16:07
Hartford Speedway refillable tumblers.
16:10
If you guys have purchased those ahead of time, you can bring
16:13
those in empty. Just so we know there's nothing
16:16
in there, no alcohol, and you can get the dollar refills.
16:20
Since you purchased those, you can purchase those there too and
16:23
just get the dollar refills all night.
16:25
We never allow outside food. So no outside food, no coolers.
16:32
I'm trying to think what else? All of our concessions are cash
16:35
only. The T-shirt booth.
16:37
We do take credit cards, but the concessions are always cash
16:40
only. But of course, since the World
16:42
of Outlaws are selling the tickets, you can use credit
16:45
cards at the ticket booths on Thursday.
16:49
We usually can't but you can use credit cards but the rest is
16:51
cash only. And for those who maybe want,
16:55
oh, sorry, I cut you off, sorry, go.
16:58
Ahead, I was just, I was just going to say we are still
17:00
keeping the smoking section on the lower half, which is general
17:05
admission, the lower half straight up from the grandstands
17:09
that is, I'm sorry, the family section, no smoking and no
17:13
alcohol in the family section, just that lower half of the
17:17
family section. Well, that's right.
17:20
It's going to stay for the cooler aspect.
17:21
I know obviously you know that that's a soft spot for a lot of
17:25
race fans when they hear the words no cooler.
17:28
But this is a Michigan law issue, right?
17:30
This is a permit issue. This isn't a, you know, Tim and
17:34
Leah woke up one day and said, how can we make them mad today,
17:37
right? That this is, you know, this is
17:39
Michigan law and you guys can get in quite the like quite a
17:43
bit of trouble if you allow alcohol in while selling it.
17:46
So so that's where hopefully, hopefully race fans can
17:49
understand that. Hey, and this is like a one time
17:52
out of how many race nights, right?
17:53
Like it's a one time thing for a very special show that hasn't
17:57
been here since 2019. Let's not let's not cause any
18:00
issues. And well, what do you mean I
18:02
can't bring my own beer? Well, we're selling it here and
18:05
buy a Michigan law. I mean, a WASP had this issue a
18:08
few weeks ago when they were doing different things and
18:11
people just annihilated a track owner who spent like millions of
18:15
dollars in upgrades and everything.
18:17
It's like you're losing. You're upset over a cooler,
18:19
right? Like it's a law issue.
18:21
So that's it. Just wanted to help clarify for
18:24
you on that. That way I'll take the heat for
18:26
it that this is Michigan law and Hartford has to follow the law
18:30
or Hartford won't be open. So, you know, so let's not do
18:35
that to Tim and Leah. Obviously they put in a lot of
18:37
work to this. So it's a one time deal, but
18:39
you'll get to sell alcohol or buy alcohol there and quite
18:41
frankly a lot cheaper than what you get at a Detroit Lion game,
18:44
Michigan, Michigan game or Michigan State game or wherever
18:47
they college sells alcohol like a lot cheaper, you know, for
18:51
that. So, so that's a grandstand side.
18:53
And so, Tony, if you wanna wrap around from that ticket spot
18:58
where you can again kind of talk about the ticket upgrade, cuz I
19:00
think that was what, a $10 upgrade for anyone who wanted to
19:04
do that towards the pit pass. But then kind of take us on to
19:07
the pit side of things on what fans can expect or what they
19:10
should be aware of and then even what drivers that they can look
19:13
forward to. So we're kind of working our way
19:15
around the facility here. Yeah.
19:17
So kind of kind of starting with the pit.
19:18
So we have what's called the pit combo ticket where that's where
19:22
up until noon on the race. So you can buy that.
19:23
That's a pit pass and a reserved seat.
19:25
So it's it's basically $3 more than a reserved seat.
19:30
So you basically get a pit pass for 3 bucks, which is a great
19:33
deal. You can go to the pits, you know
19:34
before the races, during the races, come back and know you
19:36
have your seat in the grandstands.
19:38
If you get a regular pit pass, you can still go to the
19:40
grandstands, but you go to the general admission.
19:41
So obviously you go sit in the general admission, you go to the
19:44
bathroom and come back. Your seat might be gone.
19:45
So you know. Getting getting that pit combo's
19:48
a good thing because that way, you know, you have that reserved
19:50
seat, you have that same seat all night.
19:51
But, but on race day itself, yes, starting at noon on race
19:54
day, you can get a regular pit pass and then you can go to the
19:59
general mission with that. But you know, once the pits,
20:01
they open at 2:00, a lot of people like come in early, kind
20:03
of walk around the pits and, you know, checking out the cars, the
20:06
crews working on them. You know, they're, they, they
20:09
should have a lot of their work done because they obviously were
20:11
off this past weekend. So they, they, they won't be out
20:13
there thrashing. So it'll actually be a lot more
20:15
personable than sometimes when they're racing, you know, two or
20:18
three nights in a row. Some of the crew guys get kind
20:20
of cranky out there when they're out there working in the heat.
20:22
But everybody should be in a great mood because they had a
20:24
weekend off. They're all recharged ready to
20:25
go. So you come say hi, take
20:27
pictures of the cars you know, see them up close.
20:29
Close and and you mentioned the drivers, yeah, going to be a
20:31
good field of drivers. They there's 15 guys following
20:34
the tour full time, which that's quite a few a lot of years.
20:37
It's like 10-12 guys, but there's 15 guys.
20:39
And then obviously some of the local guys will come.
20:41
Some guys from Ohio will probably come up.
20:43
So it should, I don't know, I'm bad at guessing car counts, but
20:46
I'd say it should hopefully be about 2628 cars somewhere in
20:49
that area, which is good amount of cars.
20:51
You know, you have 3-4 heat races, your your dash, your B
20:54
main, your feature. So it'll be a good field of
20:56
cars. And and yeah, right now, I mean,
20:59
it's it's a pretty good point to raise David Gravel.
21:01
He started the year off really strong.
21:02
He's he's won quite a few races, but Buddy Cofoyd, he's right on
21:06
his tail. He's actually won more than
21:08
gravel so far this year. And and so gravel has an 86
21:11
point lead over Buddy Cofoyd and Carson Macedo.
21:15
They're both actually tied for second in the standings.
21:17
So those guys are having a good season.
21:19
And David Gravel, he's won I think the last two times at
21:22
Hartford. So he's he's the only active
21:23
driver who's won there. So somebody it's kind of
21:25
surprising, a guy like Donnie Schatz, who's been racing for
21:27
like 31 years, he's never won at Hartford before.
21:30
He's ran most of the outlaws races there, but he's never won
21:33
there. So that's you know, that means
21:35
he a neat one to see him check that off his list because
21:37
there's not too many tracks the outlaws go to the Donnie Schatz
21:40
hasn't won at. So I mean you have some of the
21:43
younger guys, like I said, like a Carson Macedo buddy Cole Ford.
21:46
You got your veteran guy like Donnie Schatz, Sheldon Haunt and
21:49
Shield. Obviously everybody knows the
21:50
haunt and shield name is dad Jack Holland, SHIELD Hall of
21:52
Famer. Sheldon's having a pretty good
21:54
season. He's he's up to I believe 4th in
21:56
points down. He's got a 2, three wins.
21:58
He he's had a couple big wins here the last few weeks.
22:01
So he's he's a guy who's he's always exciting.
22:04
I mean he puts it at the top of the track.
22:06
He's he you know, he's going to give it everything he has every
22:08
lap out there. So he'll put on a show.
22:12
Some of the other full time guys, Logan Schuhard, he drives
22:15
the 1S car. He's up there in the top five in
22:17
points right now. Bill Baylog, He's originally
22:20
from North North Pole, AK. He's called the North Pole
22:23
nightmare. He lives in Wisconsin now, but
22:25
he's he's been coming on here as a lady, a little bit of tough
22:28
start to the season, but he's he's been picking up momentum.
22:31
Spencer Basin, He's in a new car this year.
22:33
He actually drives the car that Sheldon Honshield used to drive.
22:37
He's he's been having a pretty good run of it.
22:40
A few rookies. Casey Jeserdic, he's from down
22:43
in Ohio, so some of the Michigan people might know him.
22:46
I'm also rookie Emerson Axon. He won the Chili Bowl this year.
22:49
He's from Indiana. He's from Franklin IN another
22:52
one of the young guys on the tour.
22:54
I'm trying to think of anybody I've missed here.
22:56
Connor Morell, he's in his second year on the tour.
22:58
He's from Florida, which is that's pretty unique.
23:00
You know, not too many guys from Florida are racing on a national
23:03
Sprint Car Series. So it's neat to see him out
23:05
there. And I know I'm probably missing
23:07
one or two of them. But you know, it's, it's a
23:09
strong field of cars and you know, it's a lot of it comes
23:13
down to where do you time trial each night You get 2 laps of
23:15
time trials and that's it. It's tough with how close the
23:18
field is. You can be a couple tenths of a
23:20
second off and, and start the heat race in 3rd or 4th instead
23:23
of on the pole and then you don't make it in the dash if you
23:26
don't finish first or second in that heat race.
23:28
So it's, it's tough right now. I mean, every position is is,
23:32
you know, they fight tooth and nail for it.
23:34
So it's, it's just really competitive right now.
23:36
I mean, a lot of people, I say, oh man, the heyday of the World
23:39
of Outlaws, you know, is back in the 80s and early 90s with Steve
23:42
Kinzer, Sammy Swindell and those guys.
23:44
But I think honestly, the field's probably deeper than
23:47
it's ever been. Every night you probably have a
23:49
dozen guys that can win. Whereas in those old days you
23:52
pretty much had about three guys because because they had so much
23:54
better equipment than everybody else.
23:56
Now everybody can go buy the same thing everybody else has.
23:58
So it equalizes things and it puts it back in the driver, in
24:01
the crew's hands. So it's I, I think this is
24:05
honestly, to me, it's one of the golden ages of Sprint car
24:07
racing. I mean, just with how tough the
24:09
competition is right now and you know, how many different guys
24:12
can win on any given night. Well, that's where I know a lot
24:15
of times, you know, fans will wonder, you know, what's the
24:19
format? And you gave a bit of the format
24:21
there, you know, with heat races, if there's, you know, B
24:23
feature possibly or consolation and then right into the A.
24:26
So, so out of the qualifying and everything and then obviously
24:29
heat races, how many for sure lock into that A feature and
24:32
then how many generally speaking, you know, might
24:35
transfer from AAB feature B consolation into the A?
24:39
Yeah. So it depends how many heats
24:41
are. If there's three heats, the top
24:42
six will transfer to the main event.
24:44
If there's four heats the top, the top five will transfer.
24:48
So either four or five depending on or actually 4 or 6 I guess
24:51
depending on. If I got got to do math in my
24:53
head, here the. Wheels are spinning here, but at
24:56
night math is OK. But basically the the top five
25:02
or so make it into the feature, then the dash is the first
25:06
Monday after a long weekend. But but yeah, then the the top 2
25:11
finishers in each of those heat races, they make the dash and
25:13
then that's sets either the first 3 or 4 rows of the main
25:16
event, again, depending on if there was 3 or 4 heat races.
25:19
So usually starting in those top few rows is very important.
25:22
The guys who come from the back this year, there's been a couple
25:24
people that won from, you know, 10th to 11th, 12th.
25:26
So it definitely can be done. I mean, obviously it gives you a
25:28
big advantage if you start in those first couple rows.
25:31
It it can be won from further back.
25:33
And then the B main last chance race, it's usually the top.
25:36
I believe it's the top four no matter how many heats they No,
25:39
actually, if it is, yeah, if it's a bigger B main, it would
25:41
be the top six. If there was a three heat
25:43
program. If it's a four heat program, it
25:45
would be the top four. And then the feature starts 24
25:48
cars. So, and, and usually, sometimes
25:50
there can be a provisional or two from the series itself.
25:53
I think so a lot of the guys have been out of provisionals
25:56
actually. The fields have been so tough
25:57
this year, they've had to use a lot of them.
25:59
But they do get, they get them replenished.
26:00
You get 2 to begin the year and then you get 2 more.
26:02
I think it's, it's, it's around this time of year, maybe the
26:04
second week in July or something like that.
26:06
So it, it could be, you know, anywhere from 24 to about 26
26:10
cars in the future, but probably 24.
26:12
And I think it should be probably 30 laps.
26:14
It's a track the size of Hartford.
26:17
I think they'll probably go 30 laps.
26:20
I mean, again, that just sounds like a lot of action expected
26:23
that the the especially going to treacherous turn 3.
26:27
You know, that's, that's you mentioned some names that you
26:29
know, they've, they've probably raced on the half mile at one
26:32
point, you know, and now they come to a 3/8 mile with that
26:35
instead of the wicked half mile. So treacherous turn three that
26:38
they have to deal with this time.
26:39
But but again, I mean, that's 24 to 26 Sprint cars depending on
26:43
the format and layout. What more can you ask for in
26:46
Southwest Michigan on a Thursday night, right?
26:49
So, you know, especially with World of Outlaws and such a
26:52
historic trip. And so do you know Tony, off the
26:55
top of your head? And maybe you don't, and that's
26:56
OK if you don't like, you know how many might be making their
26:59
first ever trip to Hartford who've who've never been there,
27:03
never taken laps there, and are going to quickly learn it.
27:07
Yeah, I'd say there's got to be at least probably half the guys
27:10
because it's, if it's been since 2019, I mean, the ones who I
27:13
know have been there, obviously Donnie Shots, David Gravel,
27:16
Carson Macedo, I think he probably ran with the All Stars
27:19
there in the past. Sheldon Hahn, Shields run there.
27:22
So that's 4-5. Yeah, it might be more than half
27:25
the guys, honestly, because there's a lot of young guys out
27:27
there. And if it's been since 19, it's
27:29
it's going to be a good majority of them.
27:31
So that might give a little bit of advantage to some of the
27:33
veterans guys. But like you said, you know,
27:34
when the track got shortened, that threw a curve, those guys
27:38
had notes from the big track and now they kind of had to adjust
27:40
the small track. And at most if they've run it 2
27:44
times, you know, I think it was 2017 the time before, so 17 and
27:48
19. So 2 times for guys like Donnie
27:50
Shots, David Gravel who've run there and some of these other
27:52
guys one time or no time. So yeah, it's it's definitely a
27:55
great equalizer. And things have changed, you
27:57
know, since 2019. The tires were changed a little.
27:59
The wings don't change a whole lot, but the engines, I mean,
28:02
just just just stuff that changes.
28:04
So, yeah, those, the hot laps at the beginning of the night are
28:06
pretty darn important. And they like literally get 3
28:09
laps to get up to speed, which people always, they always
28:11
think, oh man, you get to go out there and practice, you know,
28:13
you got plenty of time to get it sorted out and get up to speed.
28:16
And I always say, no, it's, it's not like NASCAR or IndyCar.
28:19
You don't get an hour or two of practice.
28:20
You like literally get 3 laps. It's called hot laps.
28:23
And that's, I mean, you better be able to figure that track out
28:28
because then you got to come out for time trials, which is, and
28:30
sometimes the most important thing of the night because
28:33
that's going to set where you start in that heat race.
28:35
So yeah, it's that that's something I I really think is
28:39
special about Sprint cars and track races in general, just how
28:42
quick they adapt to tracks, you know, because, you know, these
28:45
guys go to 50 different tracks a year and various sizes and
28:48
banking. And to be able to just come out
28:50
there and get two or three laps and, and get your car dialed in
28:52
and set up. And that's a testament to the
28:54
crews as well, especially the crew chiefs.
28:56
You know, they have good notes on on all these tracks and, and
28:59
are able to compare them to other places to work on their
29:01
setup. So it's it, it's not just a
29:03
driver, you know, it's a crew too.
29:05
And it it takes the whole, it takes the whole team, that's for
29:07
sure. Oh, and that, I mean, and we've
29:10
had this conversation on this show before because you know,
29:13
most of my videography that I do is at asphalt tracks.
29:16
Although like I said, I did start at Hartford in 2022.
29:18
Dirt grew up going to Santa Fe. But that's one thing we've
29:21
talked about is that asphalt has practice after practice after
29:24
practice, and you can get 10/20/30 laps and practice
29:27
sometimes where you know, dirt, it's like you're on and you're
29:30
off and that's it. You know, you better hope your
29:33
car's ready to go. And so again, that's sometimes
29:36
why people do enjoy, I think dirt racing sometimes even more
29:40
is that, Hey, we're not sitting here watching cars go in circles
29:43
during practice for like 40 laps.
29:45
You know, like they're on, they're off and they, they're
29:47
working and they're adjusting and that it's, it's not an all
29:50
day marathon. And that's at least that's what
29:54
a lot of fans say is that sometimes asphalt, you know,
29:57
like, can we shorten that a little bit?
29:58
So, so again, you know, they, they're on and off this or this
30:02
Thursday night. And so when you Tony, when you
30:05
think about, you know, the drivers who are coming to
30:08
talent, who's coming, you know, for fans who maybe don't get a
30:12
chance to watch a roll of Outlaws, you know, on Dirt
30:14
vision all the time or don't get a chance to go to a track and
30:17
see them. What makes the World of Outlaws,
30:20
other than the history and the name behind it and obviously the
30:22
legacy? What makes a traveling group
30:24
like this so unique and different maybe to others that
30:27
are around not only maybe in the Sprint car market, but just in
30:31
general? Like what it what's allowed SLS
30:34
promotions and then of course, World of Outlaws to have
30:37
longevity? Yeah, I mean, a lot of it's just
30:40
like you said, the name, I mean the brand people know the World
30:43
of Outlaws has been around since 1978.
30:45
So that's, I think 48 years. It'll be 50 years and two years
30:48
from now. And that's pretty amazing.
30:50
The series has been around that long.
30:52
I mean, it just how much has evolved over the years, but just
30:55
being able to bring the talent to the track.
30:57
I mean, you know, in the old days it was the Sammy Swindells
30:59
and Steve Kinzer and Doug Wolfgangs and those guys and
31:02
kind of transition to, you know, Donnie Schatz and Mark Kinzer
31:05
kind of the next era. And now we have David Gravel and
31:07
Carson Macedo and those guys. So kind of kind of progresses,
31:10
you know, across the generations and there's so many guys that
31:13
have run so long. I mean, that's like mentioned in
31:14
Donnie Schatz, he's been out there over 30 years.
31:16
I mean, that's pretty amazing. There's not too many people, you
31:19
know, that in any kind of sports that are out there for 30 years,
31:22
continually doing or really any job for that matter.
31:25
You know, it's it's just the longevity of it and the history
31:29
of it. Just it's so deep, you know, and
31:32
that's, it has such a rich history and it's I, I'm, I love
31:37
the history of any kind of racing.
31:38
I mean, I have a boxes in the garage of old newspaper racing
31:41
papers and magazines. I love reading that stuff.
31:44
I mean, it just the history of racing fascinates me.
31:46
And I think that's, you know, you have your hardcore fans
31:49
who've been around going to the races forever who remember all
31:51
those guys. Oh, oh, oh, we might have lost
32:00
Tony briefly. Oh, I wonder if he got a
32:04
notification sometimes, like if he's on a phone or whatever,
32:06
sometimes a notification will come in and kind of do those
32:11
kind of things. So hopefully he'll hopefully he
32:13
can get connected back. But sometimes we have that like,
32:16
although it looks like he's on a laptop, but you know, we'll, we
32:20
have those issues sometimes with connections.
32:22
Like last week we had a guest, Leah, who they kept getting
32:25
notifications. And so it kind of frees him up.
32:27
And so I was wondering because he started his screen started to
32:30
slow down there for a little bit of like.
32:32
Kind of. Uh oh, but and like, is it me
32:36
again? But I have 3 bars, you know,
32:37
outside. I just had to be outside today.
32:39
It was too nice to sit inside. But but other than that while we
32:44
wait for Tony to come back. Oh yeah, he just came back.
32:47
Can I send it to me real quick 'cause he's watching?
32:49
You. Oh yeah, absolutely.
32:51
While we get to. Me.
32:54
Sorry, Tony, did you get, are you on like a phone?
32:57
Did you get a notification or oh, can you hear us?
33:05
Yeah, then my Internet kind of cut out.
33:09
I can hear you. I don't know if you can hear me.
33:11
We can hear. You.
33:12
Yep. Yep, so welcome back.
33:15
That's sometimes if someone's on like a phone or whatever we've
33:18
had where they get a notification and then the, the,
33:21
the room will kick them out, you know, so I'm like, we worked
33:26
through it. We like I said, this is a shoot
33:28
first aim, second show. So there, nothing gets derailed.
33:31
I'm like, you know, I was a special Ed teacher for many
33:33
years. Nothing gets derailed in my
33:35
life. It's like, you know, there's
33:36
stress in all these things, but you just kind of move with the
33:39
punches and you go with the flow.
33:40
Cause there's nothing really in life that's just so pressing
33:44
where it's like it, it should just ruin your day.
33:46
So we, I try to have the approach with the show, like,
33:48
oh, hey, we lost our guest for a little bit.
33:50
They'll come back. You know, we can, we can hold
33:52
the port down for a little bit. But I know this is the first
33:55
show, Leah, that Timmy hasn't been on in a while.
33:59
So definitely hello to Timmy. I know, I know, he enjoyed that
34:02
Thursday when he gets. I'm trying to, I'm trying to be
34:04
professional tonight since Tom was the leader, so.
34:10
But the audience loves Timmy though.
34:12
I mean, I always get compliments, you know, of like
34:15
how awesome is it to include Timmy and how to have Timmy on?
34:19
And. You know, I figure at the end of
34:21
the day, you know, like this is this is families, you know, the
34:25
the sport is family And and when you have someone like Timmy on
34:28
there who just brings the light to, you know, to the world for a
34:31
lot of people. So so I'm sure he would have
34:35
been just fine. But I do understand what you're
34:37
saying. Like I understand that
34:38
perspective from others who may not, but but Tony, I know you're
34:44
kind of mid sentence. You started to slow up a little
34:47
bit where I'm like, Oh, it's going to cut him out.
34:49
But we're kind of talk about longevity because obviously
34:52
there's competition in the Sprint car world, right, whether
34:55
it's wing, non wing, you know, there's drivers kind of racing
34:59
both sides and there's drivers who are just picking one side.
35:02
And so that's why just based on seeing fan conversations and,
35:07
and on Facebook pages and other spots, that's why I wondered,
35:10
like, you know, what makes the World of Outlaws so different
35:13
and so unique that has allowed for them to have that longevity?
35:17
So I know you're kind of getting into the history there and
35:19
rounding around before your Internet said OK.
35:24
Yeah, I mean, obviously the history, who does have a lot of
35:27
it and just just the cars themselves.
35:29
I mean, you know, there's not many cars that have 950
35:32
horsepower, only weigh about 1400 lbs, you know, and that's
35:35
and the unique look of that are having the wing.
35:37
You know, you mentioned the non wing, obviously non wing Sprint
35:39
cars. They put on a heck of a show
35:40
too. And the wing stuff.
35:41
I mean, you know, people a lot of times that's kind of how they
35:44
identify the car because they see that big wing on the top,
35:46
you know, pushing it down. And it's an easy way to kind of
35:50
describe what a Sprint car is too.
35:51
So I think just got a little bit of everything, but just the raw
35:55
speed and the power of them. You know, they're loud.
35:59
I mean, when you're sitting in the stand.
36:03
Oh, he's called the race fuel and and the tire.
36:09
So it's just a little bit of everything.
36:13
I mean, it's just unique form of race.
36:16
You see me, I love all. Once you kind of get into it,
36:25
you know, once you get people attracted to see a Sprint car,
36:27
they usually want to come back and see it again.
36:30
Oh yeah, I and obviously with Hartford, I mean, you guys have
36:33
such a history with Sprint car racing, not only World of
36:36
Outlaws, but like I said, there are other organizations who have
36:38
made their trips to Hartford too.
36:40
And so, Leah, you know, what is it that you think makes
36:43
Hartford, you know, stand out as a track for Sprint car racing?
36:47
Like, you know, you as a fan, you've been a driver before too.
36:51
You've gotten in a car, but and you've even worked the track,
36:53
you know, you've gotten in the equipment.
36:54
But for you, when you're sitting there and you're taking that all
36:57
in, you know what, what do you think makes Hartford so unique
37:00
for Sprint car racing compared to maybe, you know, obviously
37:03
not against other tracks, but maybe compared to a different
37:05
track where you're like, man, I just I sit back and I think that
37:09
our Sprint cars just do an awesome job on our track because
37:12
of. I think probably because the,
37:16
the track is so wide, I think the drivers like that and I
37:21
think the fans do too to watch them on there because it is.
37:25
I mean, it's not the half mile anymore, but it's still a pretty
37:28
big track and pretty wide. And for sure at our track, the
37:35
the, our fans love Sprint cars. That's their preferred race car
37:41
to watch at our track. Well, I know like in the, when
37:45
it was Hartford Speedway Park back in the day and, and
37:48
obviously other times too. I mean, that's what you know,
37:50
weekly racing included play models and Sprint cars and so
37:55
and then modified charts. A lot of people, you know, they
37:58
they probably think of those old end days, right, Those days not
38:02
too long ago, I mean, 20 years ago, give or take, when it was
38:05
Hartford Speedway Park at that time, right?
38:06
And so, you know, and even before that, but it but you guys
38:10
have done a really incredible job of like, yeah, we can't we
38:13
can't pay them every week to be here.
38:15
And and there's just not probably a huge area of Sparson,
38:19
right? Sprint cars aren't just sitting
38:20
in garages like maybe a late model or something, but but
38:24
you're able to work with series and organizations to bring them
38:27
in to still give that, you know, taste of Sprint car racing
38:30
there. So again, for a World of Outlaw
38:32
organization to say, hey, you know, we're coming to Michigan
38:35
and we want to come to Hartford, again, that's just that's a big
38:38
endorsement because obviously with this schedule like theirs,
38:41
they don't just go anywhere. Right now it's a pretty big deal
38:44
and like I said, we're blessed that they chose to come see us
38:48
so. So I do want to remind everyone
38:51
while we're, we're kind of almost where our 2nd guest
38:53
usually would come in. So I just do want to do the, the
38:56
cheap plug reminders of obviously you're watching the
38:58
Monday Night Rewind presented by Federated Auto Parts, LHD
39:01
tailing and then national compact touring series.
39:04
We're not live on the national compact page.
39:06
It won't let it go live for some reason.
39:09
That's OK because we're still on top row and we're also on the
39:11
top row YouTube channel. So help us share this out.
39:15
You know, give it a like again, we're talking world about loss,
39:18
NASA, energy drinks, Sprint cars that will be coming.
39:21
And we're with the communications manager, Tony
39:24
without sell us promotions and Leah obviously over at Hartford.
39:27
So again, now to get into the last part of our conversation
39:30
here. So we've talked about the, you
39:33
know, when fans come, how they can upgrade a ticket up till
39:37
noon on Friday for an affordable price like $3 difference.
39:43
Then we've talked about what the grandstand looks like, reserved
39:46
seating versus general seating, pit pass drivers that are
39:49
coming. So Leah, if you want to give a
39:52
little bit before we head back over to Tony, if you want to
39:54
give a little bit because the support class for the night are
39:57
the Super Troopers. So what can fans, especially
39:59
those who may not come to Hartford often, who may see
40:03
this, what's what's the Super trooper?
40:06
And then about on average, how many does Hartford get, you
40:09
know, per race night? The Super Troopers are is the
40:14
factory Ford class, the Crown Vics.
40:17
We call them Super Troopers because we're fun.
40:20
So that's why we call them Super Troopers.
40:23
We usually get about 20 plus every week.
40:28
Super fun class, a lot of great drivers.
40:32
They're just there to have fun. So that's who's racing.
40:37
Then they always put on a good show.
40:38
That's who's racing with the World of Outlaws.
40:41
And will they have heat races too and then features?
40:43
Or is it a little bit different because of the World Outlaws and
40:46
the track time that they'll take?
40:48
They will have heat races too and features the same.
40:51
Yep, the same as always. Yep, and.
40:53
Again, I mean, you just have an incredible group of if if no one
40:57
and and and 40 this year has grown their class too with super
41:00
trooper or not super troopers. They compact your Fords, but I
41:03
know they've they've kind of taken a big step this year from
41:06
where they were in years past. And Bill Russell's on for a
41:09
little bit, but but Hartford kind of set that trend and set
41:12
that bar high for number of cars that you guys are getting.
41:16
And obviously, I mean, you have the Zelmer group who does an
41:19
incredible job and they bring a bunch, a bunch of cars.
41:23
Quite a few of them are parked over here in Cleveland Ave. and
41:25
across from Al Stockman Stadium in Stevensville.
41:28
The obviously at Lakeshore Body Shop, which they're huge
41:31
supporters of and and do a lot of with.
41:33
So what are some names that for? Again, for friends you may not
41:37
know Hartford. And you were going to ask me, I
41:40
should have had my list. Well, so here's how I cheat.
41:43
I go to my race pass and I look, you know, I look at the list
41:47
that way and the points and everything.
41:49
So I sometimes that's how I cheat.
41:50
But obviously Zellmer's there's like. 400, Let's see if we can
41:53
do better this time. George Zelmer.
41:57
Skylar Zelmer. Maddie Zelmer.
42:01
Bobby Mckeg. Mike Ely, Josh Beaching, Steve
42:11
up in here. Who's on the flyer again this
42:13
week? Skylar Brady.
42:21
Oh, Christina Mckeg. Can't forget her.
42:28
I know I'm missing people. Mitch Smith.
42:36
It's OK. I had a lot of them, right?
42:39
I had a lot of them. Oh.
42:40
No, Well, I like I said, there's just Zelmer, Zelmer, Zelmer,
42:44
Zelmer do that about. Oh, Dan.
42:46
Dan Williams. Hello, Dan Williams, our season
42:49
champ last year. Can't forget.
42:51
Dan, I know he's always asking, when are you coming to Hartford
42:55
next? When are you coming to Hartford
42:56
next? Well, this Thursday it gets.
42:57
There you go. Yes.
42:58
For that. Can I can I say something about
43:02
the seating I forgot to add? Some.
43:03
Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean.
43:05
It's that on each side of the grandstands we have picnic
43:10
tables and handicap seating, and those are first come, first
43:15
serve. So get there, grab them.
43:21
Yeah, I forgot to. I forgot to touch on that.
43:24
Oh, no. And that's where, again, for
43:25
those who haven't been to Hartford, you know, bathrooms
43:27
are on each side. It's a mirror image.
43:29
So if you look at the sky boxes and the press box that's in the
43:32
middle of the track, and then on each wing you have the east wing
43:36
and The West Wing. Leah of course, takes presidency
43:41
over in The West Wing, but but you know, East Wing, West Wing,
43:44
you have bathrooms, mirror bathrooms on each side.
43:49
All your concessions and everything are in that press
43:51
box, sky box area underneath the covered part of the grandstand.
43:56
You know, you have the nut man, you have the kid corner, you
43:59
have your your self-serve concession stand, you have the
44:03
souvenir booth, and I feel like I'm missing one more booth in
44:08
there. Oh we, we are having the outside
44:10
food booth this time too. Oh yeah, the 2 outside.
44:13
Grill everything sells the same food and then we do have we will
44:17
have we will have the beer sales on each end too.
44:20
And then we do have the golf carts to take people up.
44:25
Two amazing kiddos driving the golf carts for me if you need
44:28
help getting up the hill so. And that's complimentary, right?
44:32
You know, and obviously I don't know if your drivers get tips or
44:35
anything, but obviously they take people up they.
44:37
Do appreciate, they do appreciate the tips, but it's
44:39
yeah. But it's complimentary, right?
44:41
You show up if you need assistance because it is uphill,
44:44
you're a big fan of the hill. You can also on each side, you
44:47
can kind of walk around the grass area and come to the front
44:50
of the stands and walk up the not bleachers, but the concrete
44:54
palace, as I like to call it. You can, you can walk up the
44:56
concrete, you know grandstands that way too.
44:58
So if you don't want to go all the way up the hill, you can't
45:00
come around the bottom. The concession stand, pit stand,
45:04
concession stand is down below. And that's where if you have a
45:07
pit pass, you can get to the pits that way.
45:09
If not, you can still stand there and see the staging area
45:11
and you can see all the cars, the staging area right along
45:14
there. There's a teen corner.
45:16
So if the teens need to go and 6-7 a whole bunch of things,
45:19
they can go over there and do that.
45:21
Obviously the playground not made for teenagers.
45:23
The playground is made for kids. That's there.
45:25
But there's plenty of grass area for football throwing and all
45:28
that. Except this is where I want to
45:30
bring in Tony again. Tony, do you know if there will
45:33
be the World of Outlaw merchandise trail there and
45:36
where? And I'm guessing if that's going
45:38
to be parked anywhere, it's probably going to be parked in
45:40
that grass area where football usually takes place.
45:42
But I could also be wrong. So do you, do you know Tony, the
45:46
logistics of that like what might be?
45:47
Yeah, I mean, I know they'll be there, Leo.
45:48
You might know the logistics better be like I I don't
45:51
remember last time where they were.
45:53
I think it was a grassy area, right?
45:54
I I believe that they are setting up inside like the
45:58
playground area, that whole area.
46:00
Yeah, yeah. So for those who usually might
46:02
play football or something, they're just be mindful and do
46:06
you do you know Leah or Tony, either one of you if because
46:09
sometimes at some tracks the the teams bring their own merch
46:13
trailers to set up. So do you know if teams are
46:15
bringing merch trailers or is it just?
46:17
Well, yeah, most of the drivers have their own.
46:19
Yep. OK.
46:20
And that'll probably be in that same area too.
46:22
So I think it's all, yes, all in that hole.
46:24
It'll be packed with, yes, their merchandise trailers in the
46:29
area. So football may have to move to
46:31
the other end of the track then, is what I am, you know, And
46:35
there's grass area on that side, too.
46:36
That's where you've had monster truck rides and all that.
46:38
There's plenty of, yeah, plenty of area.
46:40
So if kids need to get their wiggles out or whatever, just be
46:43
mindful that there will be fans shopping and doing different
46:45
things. Now there was a question and let
46:50
me check the chat 'cause someone else might have had a question.
46:52
But well, the giveaway winner, I'm going to leave that up to
46:56
you, Leah. You're probably going to do
46:57
that. What Wednesday?
46:58
Or that Wednesday evening, yes. Evening.
47:02
But for oh, I just lost my thought.
47:05
Oh, any driver meet and greets or anything like that that I did
47:10
see that was a comment somewhere.
47:11
I forget when it was, but you know, Tony or Leah, do you know
47:15
if there will be like any drivers who might come out and
47:17
do meet and greets or walk the stands or meet with, you know,
47:21
have a meeting spot? How does that usually work other
47:24
than maybe the pit area? If there's if there's people in
47:27
pit area? Yeah, I mean some of the
47:29
drivers, they'll come like earlier in the day like 3-4
47:31
o'clock and be around their souvenir trailers and usually
47:34
all the drivers meetings. I think it like. 5/15.
47:39
Oh, my cat's going to hear that. They're they're.
47:41
Going. To get scared, we're running
47:44
here. But yeah, a lot of times the,
47:48
the, the drivers, they'll be at their souvenir trailers and, and
47:51
they'll meet the fans over there and then, yeah, obviously at
47:54
once the races are done, everybody's welcome in the pits
47:56
after the races. And that's usually where a lot
47:58
of people get their autographs and photos then.
48:01
Yep, I know when I was there in 2019, I mean a lot of the
48:04
drivers were very accommodating for people, you know, as they
48:07
came up and I shouldn't say people fans, you know, but I
48:10
just peoples like the first one that comes to my head sometimes.
48:12
But I know they're very accommodating and that's where,
48:15
you know, you got to walk around and see a lot.
48:18
They didn't and they didn't leave for a while.
48:20
I mean, there was quite a few trailers that stayed, I think up
48:23
to an hour, an hour and a half after.
48:24
So I mean, I know Hartford drivers have a history of
48:28
sticking around and, and hanging out too, but but I know the
48:32
World of Outlaws that night, at least that I was, I was actually
48:34
shocked of how many stuck around because I, I was so used up to
48:38
that point of drivers just kind of leaving right after races.
48:41
You know, at the, on a normal short track night, everyone kind
48:44
of heads for the exit gates as quickly as they can, But you
48:47
know, World of Outlaws were hanging there.
48:48
So that's why there since that was a question so that someone
48:51
had asked, I thought, well, I better keep that in the back of
48:53
my head to bring that up just in case, you know, there's any kind
48:56
of formal meet and greet or if it's like, hey, you know, you
48:58
might see them at a merch trailer or whatever.
49:00
So, so, you know, obviously fans will wonder those kind of things
49:04
like what's the layout when they get there?
49:06
Who what gear can they buy? Obviously, if they want Hartford
49:09
gear, that'll be at the Hartford souvenir standby for World of
49:12
Outlaws. I know they all they have
49:14
usually an incredible booth set up.
49:16
And then obviously it sounds like teams will too.
49:19
So, so we've talked about the track layout in terms of
49:24
bathrooms on each side, concessions, all that cash only
49:26
facility, you can get cash back at the souvenir stand and wasn't
49:31
that like if you spend $20.00 or $25?
49:34
$25, yeah. $25.00 so you can get cash back as long as you spend
49:37
at least $25 at the souvenir stand.
49:40
Then we talked about upgraded pit passes up till noon on race
49:43
day that you can take advantage. Of that you can also Lewis, just
49:46
to mention on race day you can upgrade any kind of ticket to
49:49
pit bats is just on race day afternoon.
49:52
It is it is $10 when you come to the pit gate to do it.
49:54
So that's why I encourage people to before noon, before noon buy
49:57
that pit combo. That's your best way to save
49:59
money. But if you missed that deadline
50:01
and have to upgrade a pit a ticket on on race day you can.
50:04
But yeah, it'll be 10 bucks on race day at the gate.
50:07
All right, so, so $10 at the gate on race day.
50:10
All right, so again, take advantage of the tickets online,
50:13
you know, because that's that's how you just know for sure that
50:16
you have a ticket, especially for those reserved seats because
50:19
that in fact, do you, what website can they buy them at?
50:22
Can they buy them at World of Outlaws or through SLS
50:25
promotions? What's the easiest way for
50:26
everyone? To yeah, I mean, if you go to
50:27
World of Outlaw's schedule page, it links right to it.
50:29
So that's probably the easiest way to go to woosprint.com, the
50:31
schedule page. Obviously, Hartford will be the
50:33
first event that pops right up and I think it's the upper right
50:36
where the schedule is and you'll see it and just, yeah, just
50:37
click on that and it'll take you right to the ticket site.
50:40
All right, And just so people 'cause sometimes it's a show me,
50:43
so I'm going to share the screen really quick while we're doing
50:46
that, let me click share there. So again, this can, can
50:49
everybody see it because I'm on a different tab now.
50:52
Yeah. Oh yeah, it's there.
50:53
All right. So again, this is World of
50:56
Outlaws. So this is their main page.
50:58
If you Scroll down, they have a Wednesday show it looks like for
51:01
the late models, but the first front car shows right here.
51:04
You can buy tickets, event info and then of course Dirt Vision
51:07
covers the World of Outlaws now. So if you went in and buy
51:11
tickets, you know Thursday then you have everything right in
51:15
here. So again, the big note coolers
51:20
are not allowed. So as we did see someone in the
51:22
comments already who was saying so I can't bring my cooler
51:24
empty. No coolers whatsoever allowed.
51:28
So again, everything's right here that you can go through and
51:31
then it even has the the map. So as you're picking your ticket
51:34
spots, you can see again bathrooms and concession outside
51:38
concessions here, bathrooms here, concessions here and then
51:41
the main concessions right in this area down here and then kid
51:45
zone is right over here. Souvenir booth is in the middle.
51:47
So if you're looking flag stand is like if you're coming out of
51:52
3/4, that's feels more like 3-4 right there, then like boom,
51:56
coming right out of the right to the finish line there.
52:00
So more so EDEF would put you right near that flag stand
52:05
coming out of three and four. So so again, something to
52:09
definitely take advantage of and and do so other than that, let
52:12
me go ahead and stop sharing. But again, you can get tickets
52:15
online then you know what? Then you know you have your
52:17
ticket, you know your spot, you can show up.
52:19
You don't have to worry about your seat being taken unless you
52:22
go general mission as you mentioned earlier, Tony.
52:24
So before I forget anything, is there anything else Tony or Leah
52:28
good for the group that I may have missed or something that
52:31
would be good to know for Thursday?
52:35
Yeah, just remind everybody, you know your tickets from the
52:38
originally scheduled race are good for this one.
52:40
So just bring those with if they're at will call you just
52:42
come to will call the tickets from that race will be there.
52:44
Just bring your ID, you'll pick them up and boom, you get right
52:46
in. So it's, you know, every,
52:47
everything's the same as it would have been for the original
52:49
race. Will.
52:50
Call, is that the it's at the White West End ticket booth,
52:54
correct? Oh, no, that's a, that's a good
52:57
question. I, I think it last time it was
53:01
the bigger ticket booth we had. We had the little satellite one.
53:04
I, I don't know my directions at the track.
53:05
We had the little satellite one last time where we're still
53:07
mostly general mission tickets, but I think it was that main
53:09
entrance where we had the will call.
53:11
There's a table outside. A couple of gentlemen sat at the
53:14
table. Sorry.
53:17
He's selling tickets for you, Leah.
53:19
He's like buy the tickets, but so by the pit.
53:26
So you're thinking by the pit area the like where people buy
53:29
pit passes would be we'll call is that for?
53:32
Well, ship it if, if everything's how it was last
53:34
time, it was like right across from there.
53:36
Yeah, 'cause it was kind of you go to that thing to buy your
53:38
pits. But then like to the try to turn
53:40
my chair here. I think it was like to the when
53:43
you're walking up like that would be to your left and it
53:44
would just be straight ahead. I think is where the main ticket
53:47
booth is. If, if my directions are right,
53:49
wherever the main ticket booth is, there'll be a big banner
53:53
that'll say, we'll call. Just look for that and.
53:55
That's where you. Pick up your We'll call Can't
53:56
miss it read Follow the signs. Yep.
53:59
So again, this is the pit entrance here, so I don't know
54:05
if you see my mouse when I'm doing this or not, but the pit
54:08
entrance is right where the compass is, so when you come in,
54:13
the pits will be right there. So the pit big barn, I mean, you
54:17
can't miss. It's right there.
54:17
Then that ticket booth is, you know, in that spot.
54:20
So so I'm guessing that's probably where you're thinking,
54:23
but obviously there'll be signs pointing the way for will call.
54:26
So if you have will call, just be mindful when you get there
54:29
and and probably come early would be my guess too,
54:32
especially if you want to take advantage of all the
54:34
opportunities and things over at Hartford.
54:36
So so again, that's good too 'cause I know some people had
54:41
like crashers adventures who's on here already has his tickets.
54:44
He got them super early, but that I almost forgot that part
54:47
is that if your tickets are still good from the rain out for
54:50
this time. So definitely bring them trying
54:53
to think if there's anything else that we might have missed,
54:56
but I think Leah. Just FYI too because people ask
54:59
this, we we have water. Waters are $2.00 a bottle.
55:05
We have fountain pop, that's 350 for a big, big, huge pop.
55:10
Like I said, if you buy this which is $35 or you have this,
55:14
bring it empty if you already have it, Dollar refills all
55:18
night long. Drink as many of these all
55:19
season long as you want. We have Gatorade, so Gatorade,
55:24
water fountain pops, that's the non alcoholic stuff.
55:27
And then the alcohol we have for $6 each.
55:29
So there's the quantity of food and drinks for everybody.
55:35
Very reasonably priced. Just bring your cash for all
55:37
that stuff. All right, Tony, anything else
55:42
from the SLS promotion side or all about last side, that one
55:46
more reminder anything while we yeah, I know we.
55:49
We covered a lot of ground. Thank you.
55:50
I appreciate you helping spread the word.
55:52
And yeah, we're looking forward to Thursday night.
55:54
Thank you, Tony for joining us. You did a great.
55:57
You know, again, thank you so much for taking time out of your
55:59
Monday to join. And that's where, you know,
56:02
that's our goal is right, to sell, you know, not only sell
56:05
more tickets, but obviously, you know, it's kind of one of those
56:08
selfishly, right? If we pack the stands, you know,
56:11
this is a conversation coming out of Chicagoland, right?
56:13
Like if you pack the stands and you show like, hey, come here,
56:17
we will sell this place. You know, we will support you
56:20
that it might, you know, persuade like a World of Outlaws
56:23
to not wait another, you know, 7-8 years to come back, right?
56:27
They might go, hey, you know, that place packed out.
56:31
We need to make sure we go back to Hartford next time, right?
56:34
So, you know, and that's I know it takes money, right?
56:37
It takes all these things you said logistics.
56:38
There's a lot to it, but you know, fans pack it in and sell
56:42
it out, you know, makes it a little bit harder and be
56:44
passionate while you're there, right?
56:45
It makes it a little bit harder to ignore and say, oh, we can
56:49
definitely miss that track. We don't have to go back for a
56:50
couple years. So, and it has been so long that
56:54
I have a feeling there's going to be a big crowd for this
56:57
coming from all over. So and it's the only trip to
57:00
Michigan. So again, you know, if you have
57:02
nothing to do on a Thursday, I know a lot of people are like,
57:05
why a Thursday? Why a Thursday?
57:07
Again, it's a logistics thing, right?
57:08
It's just, it's when it works on the schedule and it could have
57:10
totally been just cancelled, right?
57:12
So let's let's support it, you know, and it it'll be a nice
57:16
kick off to the weekend. So again, Tony, thank you so
57:19
much for joining tonight and coming on to talk not only about
57:22
your background, SLS promotions, but then obviously a big focus
57:26
on World of Outlaws and all the drivers that we can expect to
57:29
see. So for anyone joining late, you
57:31
can always go back once we're done live.
57:33
You can go back and watch it and, and see the whole show from
57:36
the start. And then Leah, obviously doing
57:37
the Hartford side of things, the more logistics on that side on
57:40
the ground upfront, talk about not only your super troopers who
57:44
we could expect to see there, but then the lay of the land for
57:47
those who may not know what Hartford looks like.
57:50
You haven't been in Hartford a long time and may, you know, may
57:53
forget. So.
57:54
So again, take advantage of the tickets online.
57:56
Again, that's at the World of Outlaws.
57:58
You can go and buy them there. You can upgrade your ticket to
58:01
get a pit pass if you so wished. Definitely take advantage of
58:04
that. I did that in 2019 and don't
58:06
regret it. And then if you're looking for
58:09
merch, merch will be there. I'm guessing most will take
58:12
cards or anything at their merch trailer since they operate a
58:14
little different. And for this show, you can pay
58:17
with credit card at the gate correctly.
58:19
You're cracked for that if they want to buy so so things a
58:23
little different for this show. But again, definitely take
58:25
advantage of it And remember no coolers the first, second, third
58:30
and 5th time you ask, still no coolers. 6th time, it might just
58:36
get annoying at that point and you might not get any answer,
58:39
but you know, it's just no coolers means no coolers.
58:43
The only thing that will be cooler is seeing Sprint car
58:46
racing on a Thursday night at the Hartford Speedway.
58:50
That will be the cool thing happening.
58:52
Yes, yes. But.
58:54
Thank you again for having me on and us on and thank you for
58:58
promoting us and look forward to seeing you Thursday.
59:02
Oh, no, absolutely, definitely need to.
59:05
Oh, is road construction done That will cause issues?
59:08
Do you know if there's any issue at the Hartford exit for
59:11
anybody? I do not think so.
59:14
I think like, yeah, they fixed the tracks.
59:17
Like I think I think everything is good from every OK, yeah, I
59:23
think all the I think everything's done.
59:25
Maybe Marion Ave. But you can get, you can go
59:27
around by like the high school and come over the tracks.
59:29
So yeah, that's that's the way I go now.
59:32
I used to come in like a old way where I went I turned into town
59:35
and went down over the tracks and kind of went that way there.
59:38
But now I just go straight by the high school and down and
59:40
it's I actually think it's faster to go that way.
59:44
Then it is Chris Harry who does track crew and other things.
59:48
He said the train tracks are done.
59:49
So I wouldn't, oh, I don't get there off.
59:52
I wouldn't have known the construction, but that's
59:53
probably a good thing to know, right.
59:54
So and then I know for I-94 purposes, it stops at
59:58
Watervliet. So once you get past Lane
1:00:00
Automotive, if you're coming from my direction.
1:00:03
You know, for fans coming from Chicago area, Indiana and
1:00:06
everything that road construction once you get
1:00:08
through Stevensville, Benton Harbor in Coloma is done right
1:00:12
at Watervliet exit so that everything's good after there.
1:00:15
And then coming from the north side of I-94 and everything I
1:00:19
mean westbound there's there's nothing after Kalamazoo area,
1:00:25
Battle Creek area. So, well, that might change by
1:00:28
the you know, the cones show up all the time, but.
1:00:32
Sorry. Oh, you're.
1:00:33
Good. Other than that, again thank you
1:00:34
Tony so much. Thank you Leah.
1:00:37
Again, looking forward to this Thursday night with World
1:00:39
Outlaws returning. So again, have a great rest of
1:00:43
your night and Tony is very nice meeting you over the virtual
1:00:46
air. Will we see you on Thursday?
1:00:50
Yep, I'll be there. All right, so I look for I'll
1:00:52
find you in person, meet you in person.
1:00:54
So again, thank you so much for coming on tonight.
1:00:56
Look forward to seeing you. Thank you guys.
1:00:59
Thank you. Thank you.
1:01:00
So again, we have Yep. Bye.
1:01:03
So we've been talking on the Monday Night Rewind with Tony
1:01:06
from SLS Promotions and with Leah from Hartford Speedway.
1:01:11
So again, if you can help share this out, give it a like
1:01:15
especially with World Outlaws. It is historic coming.
1:01:17
I do want to do one more reminder before I get off the
1:01:20
air again. Thursday night throttle.
1:01:22
We do not have a show this week. So if you because it will be at
1:01:26
World Outlaws. So again, no Thursday night,
1:01:28
throttle this Thursday. And then I do want to do 1 quick
1:01:32
reminder because a lot of people ask me, I know YouTube is crazy
1:01:35
to get around, but full programs 2022 to current.
1:01:39
If you go to my website, I'm going to show the screen really
1:01:42
quick and then I'm logging off for the show short show tonight.
1:01:46
So again, if you go to the top row racing media page, let me
1:01:50
make sure that it's going to share this screen here.
1:01:56
If you you know, if you're on the main page.
1:01:58
So I'll go main page. This is what you come to.
1:02:00
This is the core website up top here.
1:02:03
If you go to full programs, all of these are updated even to
1:02:09
this past weekend. You have the full 2025 season,
1:02:12
the full 2024 season. So it is divided by years, 2023
1:02:18
all the way down. Like I said, if you want to
1:02:20
watch Hartford races from 2022, these are full programs.
1:02:23
So it's start to finish the entire night.
1:02:25
The individual like I used to do before Flagger Boy 2023 can
1:02:29
still be found. But if you want to sit there,
1:02:32
turn on the on YouTube and watch a full program start to finish.
1:02:36
It'll automatically take you to the video if you click on the
1:02:39
thumbnail. So again, trying to make it
1:02:40
super easy to find. And then if you're looking for
1:02:44
onboards, I did not do that for onboards, But if you do click
1:02:47
the video thing here, I don't know if it's going to show that
1:02:49
or not on the screen. Oh, it's not showing that.
1:02:53
But if you click that onboard at the top here, that will take you
1:02:58
to the onboard camera list where you can find, of course, you can
1:03:00
also in YouTube type a driver's name and it'll bring up a
1:03:05
driver's name. So other than that, I, I look
1:03:09
forward to hopefully seeing a lot of you on Thursday at
1:03:11
Hartford. Obviously Friday I'll be back at
1:03:14
Kalamazoo, Saturday I'll be over at New Paris and then Sunday
1:03:17
I'll be at M40 Speedway as they have their day of reckoning.
1:03:20
So it's a four day weekend for me.
1:03:21
So definitely allow me time to work through these programs.
1:03:26
I definitely appreciate SLS promotions giving me permission
1:03:29
to be there Thursday and do what I do.
1:03:32
So I definitely appreciate them for that and I'm looking forward
1:03:35
to it. So my new camera, if you didn't
1:03:38
hear, I had to replace it because they got heavily damaged
1:03:41
at New Paris with all the rain and everything.
1:03:44
So it's just it's kind of kind of cooked.
1:03:47
So that was an expense I wasn't expecting to have right now, but
1:03:50
I did get it replaced because it's too busy to not have it.
1:03:53
So change some funding around to do that.
1:03:57
But it gets to get broken in. There's no there's no vacation
1:04:03
time for it. It'll be coming out of the
1:04:04
package tomorrow and get ready to go on Thursday.
1:04:06
So again, I don't have booze you tonight.
1:04:08
So I'm going to do both lines for us.
1:04:10
It's almost time to turn left and go fast because we will see
1:04:13
you guys at the races. Have a great Monday and a great
1:04:16
rest.