GEORGE STARKS / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Cam coupes fly into the fourth turn at the Pahrump Valley Speedway Saturday night. Jim Ralleo, in 77, won the feature. Advertisement

Coming from the great Midwest (Ohio) I have to admit I've been spoiled by super half mile tracks like Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio and Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Ind.

Eldora is a dirt track with 33-degree banks while Winchester is a half-mile paved speed plant, also with 33 degree banks in the turns.

Then I saw Pahrump Valley Speedway. There was a small crowd, and with it, a small car count.

If a track is going to be a success, the driver count needs to get bigger and the facility needs the support of local race fans,

When fans start to come out and support the track, the car counts become larger and the races get bigger with larger payouts.

Case in point.

Saturday night, the count for the featured event (open wheel nodifieds) was just six.

Where I come from, it's nothing to have 30-40 modifieds and that is just a support race, not a feature event.

When I arrived at the track and saw all this on a warm, pleasant summer night, I was totally amazed at the lack of cars and crowd.

What I was impressed with was the track itself ... in a way.

It's something of a throwback to the old time tracks.

The only thing missing was the starter was not down on the track starting the races from a stopped position.

Granted, Joe Rogers Jr. is in his first year as a promoter and he acknowledges he has some things to learn. I was somewhat shocked that the promoter would actually be racing against the competition. On top of that, Rogers won his race in the mini-stock division.

The formula: More fans plus more cars equal success (especially if the action is hotter than the weather).

Being an outsider, all I can say to Joe is...Good Luck!

When I get home, Pahrump Valley Speedway will be a topic of conversation for my next column at the Daily Advocate in Greenville, Ohio.

My thought will include:

Race fans need to be a little more appreciative of what they have. Often, we have the same problems with crowds, but rarely is there a a problem with car counts.

Rogers responded in a telephone conversation Monday.

"We have raced seven of the last eight weeks and that is a big reason for the low car count," said Rogers. "These guys don't have a lot of money to sink into their cars so it's a matter of attrition. We had a lot of cars break down on race night and that was the reason. The cars just can't keep up.

"We have went up againt Perris Speedway in California a lot lately," Rogers said. "They run the Barnett series and that kills our car count by at least a third. We really can't compete with that. Besides, I would rather have 10 good quality drivers and have a quality race instead of having 20 cars on the track with 10 ding-a-lings. I would much rather have quality over quantity."

"When you're racing in 106-degree heat after the sun goes down, it has an affect on the crowd," Rogers said. "The crowd that was there are regulars. They come out for just about every race so they are loyal to the track and true race fans. People that will bring their families will spend, on an average of $100 at the track on hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks, along with admission. Most guys just can't afford that."

As for competing, Rogers said, "I have been racing for many years and it is something I love to do,

"I have known several promoters that race, so what I'm doing is not unusual. In fact, I will have my modified and super stock out at the next race. With my cars on the track, it helps with the car count also."

Finally ... In nearly 20 years of covering races in the Midwest, I thought I had done it all.

Not so fast, home boy.

Saturday night Rogers allowed me to cover the races from the flagstand.

It gave, without a doubt, a whole new perspective on the sport.

To be able to get up in the flagstand and watch the cars coming right at you, snapping action photos is different.

I have had the luxury of riding in pace cars and shooting from the back end of a push truck but never in a flagstand.

I would personally like to thank Joe for allowing me to do this -- it was quite an experience.