I’ve had a lot of questions about my opinion on Sprints on Dirt, the new Great Lakes Super Sprints series, and Michigan Sprint Car Racing overall. The announcement of Barry Marlow’s series has not really changed my opinions at all.
My opinion on GLSS is the same as it is for the new SOD rule changes. Ultimately it’s going to have to pass the eye test. I’ve been around long enough, heard enough grandiose plans, and had people tell me what is going to work. Ultimately I like judging things by witnessing them. Consider me the smiley emoji sitting back and eating popcorn, just waiting for things to happen. I don’t get too excited over things on paper, but seeing them take place is where my opinion to formulates.
For sprint car fans that feel this could split the cars up, I don’t think it will be as bad as some perceive. GLSS and SOD are essentially trying to accomplish two different things. Their missions are different enough in scope that I do not feel you will see them stomping on each other as much as people may perceive. SOD has 30 plus years of brand equity in the bank with promoters. Talking to several track operators they plan on booking SOD again in 2016 for the same dates or more than they had the previous years. I’ve also spoken to promoters, some of the same, that are excited about the GLSS option. I don’t foresee both groups racing geographically close to each other on the same night.
What I can tell you is if some of the things I have discussed with various track operators come to fruition we are going to have an awesome season featuring not only with the above series mentioned both other tracks and series, some of which we haven’t seen for a very long time or ever in Michigan, we in for a very interesting year of sprint car racing int he Great Lakes region net year. For fans that might be concerned at this point don’t get too worked up and let things play out. There will be plenty of sprint car racing to witness and/or compete in next season.
Personally I’m excited to see how both turn out. They are different enough I’m curious what both programs look like around June/July of this year. Until then just sit back and enjoy the popcorn.