Kenny Wallace called for the DIRTcar Summer Nationals to get rid of extra divisions outside of the late models and modifieds due to many of the programs not finishing until after midnight and sometimes one in the morning.
Wallace posted on X, “WARNING! “Controversial commentary” by me, because it needs to be said. I absolutely LOVE the Summer Nationals .. The greatest mid summer DIRT show of all time and still is. However, When all other race shows (are over) on a Friday or Saturday night. These 2025 SUMMER NATIONALS shows go on till midnight and one in the morning. (Miserable). The reason this has happened is ‘added divisions’. I love Racing more than anybody, but there is a time and place for “extra divisions” and this Summer National series is not the time or place.”
“If we need these extra divisions to make money. Then that means THE MAIN show is not the attraction,” he continued. “It was never like this! TIMES HAVE CHANGED cot the worse. Crowds are smaller and we are looking at the new POKER RACING. That means we are racing off the back pit gate money. We are ALL putting in money and racing for it. It makes the night looong and miserable.”
“I will still show up and race because I love DIRT racing,” he concluded. “Just hoping we get our act together and go back to the ‘good old days’ like Mark Martin says.”
WARNING!
“Controversial commentary” by me, because it needs to be said 🏁
I absolutely LOVE ❤️ the @SummerNationals .. The greatest mid summer DIRT show of all time and still is.
However, When all other race shows (are over) on a Friday or Saturday night.
These 2025 SUMMER… pic.twitter.com/GF5hle62T2
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) July 7, 2025
CARS Tour owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. concurred writing on X, “Not controversial at all bud. And not limited to dirt either. Been trying to end our shows earlier for 3 years and feel like I’m swimming against the rip current.”
Not controversial at all bud. And not limited to dirt either. Been trying to end our shows earlier for 3 years and feel like I’m swimming against the rip current.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) July 8, 2025
Wallace would elaborate on his comments in a recent upload to YouTube. He said, “Here’s what’s going on with the Summer Nationals and some of these local dirt racing and asphalt racing: We’re losing our fans. It’s not helping. And here’s why: Because these f***ing races are getting over at 12 and 1 in the morning and they’re all sleeping and they all left the grandstands. Kids don’t even know who their heroes are anymore because while we try to bring in the compact series, the B-Mods, the Sportsmans, the races get over at 12 and 1 in the morning. The fans leave. They’re gone. They don’t even come into the pit area. You might have a couple people. But we’re losing our dirt fans because they’re tired and they go straight to their cars and they go home. It’s not good guys.”
He added, “There’s nobody in the grandstands at the local races anymore. There might be 5-600 hundred people, but what’s going on is the pit gate now is $45 pit pass. The grandstands not that much, but we’re running all these divisions because nobody comes to the racetrack anymore. And now it’s like you’re chasing your tail. … It’s getting worse.”
Still later he said, “They can’t make no money during a local show. So what’s going on is the local races, they can’t make no money. So when the big show comes to town, they going to get a f***ing lick in. We gonna get them. We’re gonna get a lick. And they should. That’s their job. Let’s make it a time deal. For the compacts, the sportsman’s, the B-Mods qualify [and] go to straight to feature.”
Wallace then suggested just having the Summer Nationals be late models, but said, “They won’t do that. You know why? ‘Cause they need the back pit gat money. And I understand that.”
What do you make of Wallace’s comments?
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