I know that there are many racers out there as well that have fallen into the hands of Jimmy Cohagan.  As well as many of you think that he is a great guy.  Jimmy is very inconsistent with rules when it comes to his favorite drivers, and that is why the track is the way that it is.  The track officials and owners lacks consistency when it comes to consequences for ones actions.  Here is a question for you:  At what other track in the area, do you see a track official building, selling and helping drivers fix there cars not only in the pits on race day but off the track as well?  NONE.  That is one of the things that irritates other drivers to no end.  Yes, you can give pointers and make suggestions, but lets be realistic building, fixing, and selling cars shows favoritism to the finest.  You are hearing in the stands that Jimmy helped me build this car, or Jimmy has such and such a car for sale, and OH I BOUGHT IT FROM JIMMY.  The fans hear this and it just is not right.  As for bringing cars and fans back to the track I am not sure that it will happen for a while or until the lack of disrespect between the drivers stop and the track is more consistent with the rules.  I can remember exactly what is being said when you needed to lay blankets out in the stands in order to save seats and that was just a few years back. 

I also think that some of the car rules are getting a little out of hand.  I know that everyone wants to go fast, but there are some people out there that just do not have the money to sink into motors to be competitive.  When they started changing to rule for trophy stock that is when a lot of the drivers said that they would not be back.  I know of 3 cars personally sitting in garages for that very reason.  They feel that they can not compete with the big dogs so why should they come out at all.  I know that it is about fun, but on the other hand they would like to be competitive and not blown away by the field.  I can remember just a few years ago that in the trophy stock division, now known as Detroit Irons, a car being lapped was almost unheard of. 

As for the Figure 8 "big dogs" you are absolutely correct in saying that those cars are getting harder and harder to find, without paying a fortune for them.  That is why so many tracks have done away with those types of cars and have gone to the 4 and 6 cylinder cars.  They are more readily available. It is the wave of the future in stock car racing.