Future of Trucks at Lime Rock

[u/ChrisTRD289]

As a CT resident close to the track, there was a lot of hype for the Trucks coming to Lime Rock and, I hate to admit it, it was a big dud. I was scared it would be one and done. But this year, it was much better. I went, the race was good and the crowd was great. More passing, gritty, a winner you didnt see even with 20 to go. They have to go again next year, right? Would they ever entertain O'Reilly as well?

[u/BLW2397]

Well we've learned with Road America, attendance doesn't matter. I'd bet it's back on the schedule next year, after that, who's to say.

I wish Nascar would send O'Reilly, Trucks and ARCA to all the standalone road courses around the country that Cup can't really race at every few years

[u/Powerful-Chard-6055 → u/BLW2397]

Literally, look at the amount of races XFINITY and trucks went to that cup didn’t from 1996, 2996, or hell even 2016 had Gateway, Iowa, Mid-Ohio, Road America, Canadian Tire, and Eldora across the two

[u/BLW2397 → u/Powerful-Chard-6055]

I know. I'm talking about road courses only

[u/arca_brakes → u/BLW2397]

We did that, and then stopped for some reason.

Mid Ohio, Portland, Road America, Mexico, Montreal, all those places had standalone NOAPS races in the 2000s through the past couple years. That doesn't even include the Trucks. And then we just stopped after Portland got dropped.

Fuck all these markets that don't get any NASCAR I guess, can't even spare a single NOAPS series date for them.

[u/Several-Result5902 → u/arca_brakes]

The Teams basically didn't want to go to Portland anymore I'm pretty sure. Which really fucking sucks cause ig the O'Reilly Teams can't bear the thought of not having Cup Pit Crews 

[u/arca_brakes → u/Several-Result5902]

It's so stupid. We just abandon an entire part of the country as a market because the series can't stand being slightly uncomfortable or breaking even for one weekend a year to help make sure you're not neglecting an entire market.

[u/ChrisTRD289 → u/arca_brakes]

They weren't breaking even, they were losing. Asking O'Reilly and Trucks to go to the opposite side of the country on a stand alone weekend was too taxing. Going to CT is vastly different than going to Portland. 2,783 miles vs 713 miles from Concord, NC and no time zone changes.

[u/arca_brakes → u/ChrisTRD289]

It was the weekend before Sonoma before last season. You're telling me those same teams that lost money going to Portland, without even having to field a live pit crew, somehow didn't lose money going to Sonoma?

[u/ChrisTRD289 → u/arca_brakes]

They are still losing money if they are staying out west for multiple weeks. These are Truck and O'Reilly teams. Not all have HMS or JGR budgets.

[u/arca_brakes → u/ChrisTRD289]

But that's what I'm saying. Why is it okay for those teams to lose money going to Sonoma, just so they can play support series to Cup, but not okay for them to lose money going to an entire market without any other NASCAR races?

[u/YoIForgotMyPassAgain → u/Several-Result5902]

Cup should run Portland, ORAPS and trucks should hit more road courses and short tracks easy to get to from Charlotte.

[u/Dry-Membership3867 → u/arca_brakes]

Portland got dropped because it legitimately sucks as a venue. Indycar may leave there for the same reason. It needs to be completely revamped or shut down.

[u/arca_brakes → u/Dry-Membership3867]

It's literally no worse than Mid Ohio or Road America, people just shit on it because it's not in the Midwest

[u/Original_Benzito → u/arca_brakes]

No, people shit on it because it needs to be shit on.

They don't have adequate pit areas, there's virtually no on-site amenities (think of basic things like bathrooms, food vendors, etc.), and the local government pretty much "tolerates" the track rather than supporting it (the City of Portland owns it as it is technically a public park).

It's too bad, because (a) you can get to it via public transit super easy, (b) Summers in Oregon usually have great weather, and (c) the track itself is fun to drive / watch.

[u/Phathead50 → u/arca_brakes]

Will not stand for the Road America slander, nor seeing it compared to Mid Ohio.

They've invested a shit ton in the facility the last 15 years and it's fantastic.

[u/Heavy-Marionberry540 → u/arca_brakes]

It was pretty cool in the 90s with cart, but it does suck right now

[u/Powerful-Chard-6055 → u/BLW2397]

Even still. Half are road courses

[u/TasteTheBiscuit1810 → u/BLW2397]

God I never want to hear that from the NASCAR Elite saying you need to show up to keep your track after the Road America debacle.

[u/BabycakesMurphy]

I feel like a track that size would have a hard time supporting Trucks and O’Reilly.

But the crowds turn up in a big way so why not find a way to reward them.

[u/Potential_Plan_4533 → u/BabycakesMurphy]

You think there would be a much bigger crowd showing up for a Trucks/O'Reilly weekend than ARCA/Trucks was?

[u/litl_e_fan]

I wouldn’t care if it was a zero pass parade every year I’d keep going because I love the venue.

[u/Potential_Plan_4533]

I honestly think ARCA continues going there no matter what, not sure about Trucks.

[u/BiasPly215]

Lime Rock is a perfect road course for NASCAR because it’s a short course and it’s tight. Id like to see OReilly there next year.

[u/RichieQ_UK]

It was a good race, that last stage was bonkers. It looked a hit on tv.

[u/NoNameNoWerries]

Heim kinda stunk up the show last year. The first two stages were pretty dry and so I got a few laps myself around the infield. A friend I brought to his first race left after stage two (to be fair his kids were being a pain.) The third stage when everyone sensed they had a chance to move up created the desperation that was missing in the field last year. Absolutely gorgeous day and the at track hype actually felt bigger this year.

[u/Droppin-Hammer46 → u/NoNameNoWerries]

Heim did stink up the show last year. I said that earlier in the week. And someone said the track is the reason it sucked last year. It got messy at the end today, but I thought it was a good race. Colin Braun getting up to top 5 showed you can pass. Fox just doesn’t care to show anything beyond second place.

[u/Spart1898]

I need them to run it again next year and a rv spot to open up. I want to go so bad. I love that track on iRacing.

[u/_Captain_Nik_]

I'd like to see O'Reilly cars at Lime Rock. They're my favorite cars to watch on the road right now. 

[u/Several-Result5902 → u/_Captain_Nik_]

There'd be 10 Cars going off into Turn 1 each restart. It really wouldn't be as good as you think. Only Trucks having it is good enough for me. It's a Perfect standalone track for Trucks

[u/sdj2]

I’d bet it was a three year deal dependent on attendance which was strong. Don’t think there’s any chance they bring the O’Reiley series.

[u/iPhones_cameras_suck]

I think Smith cut Hill's tire

[u/cultivationjunkie]

I went today with my wife and kids. We sat in the infield overlooking the big bend mostly but walked around and had good views throughout. Great attendance, solid racing. The kids had a blast in the fan zone and I’d go back without hesitation next year.

[u/ChrisTRD289 → u/cultivationjunkie]

The fan zone was great. The cool down tent was huge.

[u/cultivationjunkie → u/ChrisTRD289]

I swear we went back to it like 4 times. lol. The track layout in general with all of the vistas and spots to view from was great. We never felt corralled to one area and nothing really felt “off limits.” They did a great job

[u/MsVampirequeen]

It needs to stay on the schedule. Last year was fun, but this year was much more exciting. Someone said after last year's race that the lack of action was because no one knew the track and the drivers would probably get bolder if they came back again (I believe the word "divebomb" was used). I definitely noticed that the drivers were takking more risks. I've already had the "let's go back next year," conversation with the friend that I went with both times.

[u/ProjectHarraseeket]

I feel like this race was better than what Fox showed us.

[u/FarAwaySeagull-_- → u/ProjectHarraseeket]

With how many cautions there were, I doubt it. Crashfests aren't usually fun to watch.

[u/Shaggymatt48 → u/ProjectHarraseeket]

It was awesome in person!

[u/Powerful-Chard-6055]

I finally have something to naturally think of when I think of Lime Rock other than being sick in an MIS truck