|
Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| A
View From The PAS by Scott Daloisio |
|
|
|
Danny Kazarian Interview (PERRIS, CA, APRIL 10, 2000) The talk has been going on for a couple of
months. The 5th Annual
Temecula Valley Pipe and Supply/Budweiser Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway
was going to pay a whopping purse. In
fact, it is the largest winners payoff in the history of non wing sprint car
racing at $25,000.00. The total
purse is more than $60,000.00. Combine
that with the fact that it is the next to last round of the Non Wing World
Championship and you have one of the year’s most important non wing or winged
sprint car races. DALOISIO: The first Oval Nationals was just four years ago.
At $25,000.00 to win this year, it becomes the largest winner’s purse
in Non Wing Sprint Car history. Was
it always the plan to one-day stage the richest paying Non Winged race? KAZARIAN: Our goal with the Oval Nationals was to bring a prestigious
event to non wing sprint car racing similar to the Knoxville Nationals.
We wanted to bring back the inter body sanctioning body competition we
used to see years ago. There used
to be a “North vs South” kind of attitude here in California and we are now
trying to generate a National kind of attitude with the Oval Nationals.
DALOISIO:
Why is this years winner’s share $25,000.00?
Is there a significance to the $25.000.00 figure?
DALOISIO:
The first three years of the Oval Nationals it was basically a high dollar show
made up of SCRA racers. Last year
more drivers showed from out of town. Many
of them drove local back up cars or borrowed rides.
This year should see the biggest field of outsiders ever and they are
bringing their own cars. Money
talks doesn’t it? KAZARIAN:
With today’s cost of fuel and travel it’s hard for many teams to afford the
expense of coming to California at the end of the season.
Our Oval Nationals started a trend toward big money races at the end of
the year. With the advent of the
NWWC and the open show in Phoenix, along with Turkey Night, the racers can come
to the South West and run 5 or 6 races in as many weeks. This makes it more attractive to make the effort and bare the
expense. But no doubt about it –
the $25,000 to win Oval Nationals has generated attention. DALOISIO:
The entry list for this year‘s Oval Nationals is extremely impressive. Non-regulars include Tony Elliott, Jay Drake, Brent Kaeding,
Dave Darland, Bud Kaeding and J.J. Yeley. They
will face a hard time with SCRA stars such as Rip Williams, Richard Griffin,
Cory Kruseman, Tony Jones, Super Rickie Gaunt, Troy Rutherford, Steve Ostling,
Mike English and others. Are you guys happy with the lineup? DALOISIO:
With a field that tough, is it safe to say some very good drivers are going to
be watching the Oval Nationals “A” main from the pits or the grandstands? KAZARIAN:
The format is tough and the competition is deep.
I think luck will play a big part in many of the drivers’ ability to
make it to the A show on Saturday. But
there probably will be some “name” drivers watching from the sidelines. DALOISIO:
What is the format for this year’s Oval Nationals? KAZARIAN: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10TH QUALIFYING All Cars qualify two
laps C-MAIN – 64 CARS OR
LESS C-MAIN – MORE THAN 64
CARS HEAT RACES B-MAIN A-MAIN SATURDAY LAST CHANCE RACE
B-Main A-MAIN DALOISIO:
What does the future hold for the Oval Nationals? KAZARIAN:
It is our hope that we can continue to grow the purse each and every year of The
Oval Nationals. I would like to see
the winner looking at $50,000 in the not too distant future.
It is very likely that it will also grow into more than a two-day event. DALOISIO:
The SCRA fields that have been showing up at the PAS this year have been
phenomenal. I believe the last two
have drawn 54 and 58 cars respectively. How
many cars can we expect to see this weekend? KAZARIAN:
We expect to see between 75 and 90 sprint cars here for The Oval Nationals and I
wouldn’t be shocked to hit 100. As
of this writing, we have 55+ pre entries and many SCRA regulars are not signed
up yet. DALOISIO:
Just to set the record straight, many people think this race is an SCRA
sanctioned race. That is not
correct, is it? KAZARIAN:
The Oval Nationals is an Oval Entertainment Event.
In the first three years it was purely an “Open” show sanctioned by
Oval Ent. Because of the Non Wing
Tour, we have conformed to the rules of the series.
In short, yes the Oval Nationals are a sanctioned – non point SCRA
event like most of the other Non Wing World Championship events. DALOISIO:
Perhaps the best part of the weekend is the ticket prices.
It costs $25.00 for general admission and $35.00 for reserved.
One ticket is good for both nights!
That means if a fan comes to both nights, depending on where he or she
sits, it is $12.50 or $17.50 per night. Is
there a better deal in racing? KAZARIAN:
I don’t think there is a better deal around for a race of this caliber.
Our pricing for the weekend is a way of motivating people to come and see
the races on Friday night. I think
that the races on Friday night may be the best of the weekend.
If you only come on Saturday night the price will still be $25.00 for the
night so it’s a great deal to come both nights. DALOISIO:
Okay, I am going to put you on the spot. Who
do you think is going to take home the $25,000.00? KAZARIAN:
I think the winner will be one of “our boys.”
Because the SCRA runs here so many times of the year, they have developed
a sense of how this track reacts to the evening’s elements.
I think it will be a huge advantage to our guys.
Other than that, I won’t go out on a limb and pick one particular team.
I remain friends to all. |
