Barry Marlow has been a fixture in the sprint car pit area around Michigan and Ohio for the past several seasons. In addition to his role selling fuel to race teams through Environmental Waste & Recovery Service, Inc. For 2016 Marlow is taking on a larger roll creating a new sprint car series. T.J. spoke to Marlow last week about the new series for this Q&A session.
TJ: What is the series called?
Barry Marlow: Great Lakes Super Sprints (GLSS).
TJ: What made you want to put this series together?
Barry Marlow: I am a sprint car fan. I am passionate about keeping the sport healthy and growing. There seemed to be a lack of passion and co-operation. You can never make everyone happy, but you can treat people with respect and listen to their concerns. I felt I could do that and build an atmosphere that teams want to come with us to race. Get to go to new tracks and run with a great bunch of drivers. I wanted to have a series that was competitive and that younger drivers and experienced drivers alike could run together and enjoy their own passions! I have listened and talked to 94 drivers, crew chiefs and owners about what is important to them. I have to make the final decision of what we’re doing…but that’s pretty easy with this much information. I have reached out to track owners and other series and expressed my desire to work with everyone as we move forward. I have received an overwhelming amount of support and know that we are on track for building something great!
TJ: What rule package will the series utilize?
Barry Marlow: We will be following ASCS rules with the use of ASCS heads. However, for 2016, we will allow non-ASCS 23 degree heads with the use of an ASCS restrictor gasket.
TJ: What geographical range will the series operate in? Is the series affiliated with any other 360 sprint car entities?
Barry Marlow: We will be traveling West of I-71 in Ohio, North of I-70 and East of I-65.
TJ: Is the series affiliated with another sanctioning body as we region?
Barry Marlow: We talked with NSL, USAC and ASCS and they were very helpful. However, in the end it appears to be better for our members at this point that we start out independent for our inaugural season.
TJ: What purse/point fund will the series carry?
Barry Marlow: Our purse will be $1,750 to win and $300 to start the A-Main. I am working on the point fund. I am just starting to talk to sponsors. My plan is to pay $10,000 to win and payout to at least 15 places with a total point fund of $52,000.
TJ: How many races are you looking to book for the 2016 season?
Barry Marlow: We are looking at running 15 tracks and having 20 races for points. My goal is to try to double up shows with tracks within 50-75 miles of each other, running Friday/Saturday and Saturday/Sunday shows. There is a high likelihood that we could add 4-6 races that will be special events or in cooperation with a national series.
TJ: Who will be officiating the series?
Barry Marlow: There a few on a list that I have started, however I have been busy getting the foundation laid and will be actively seeking qualified people to help in this area.
TJ: Which format will be utilized for race procedure?
Barry Marlow: The only thing that has been decided at this point is that we will be group qualifying. We will draw simply to place everyone in their qualifying group. There has been discussion about passing points, etc. but nothing formalized. One thing for sure is someone will get credit for winning their heat no matter their qualifying time. Someone that happens to qualify bad, but comes back and wins their heat will take their place in the feature based on their heat win…not go back to their qualifying time.
TJ: What time frame do you hope to have a schedule released?
Barry Marlow: Most tracks won’t get serious about their schedules until early November. I am busy now looking at major 360 shows and plugging them in so I’m ready to fill in our shows when the tracks are ready to firm our dates up. I should have a pretty firm schedule ready by PRI.
TJ: At this point where can people find more information?
Barry Marlow: There is a Facebook page called Great Lakes Super Sprints and we have started a webpage that is under construction but will be added to as we go. www.greatlakessupersprints.com, www.glssprints.com, and www.glss.rocks