In today’s fast-paced world, time is our most valuable commodity—especially for racers. Between work, family, and other commitments, fitting in a racing schedule isn’t as simple as it used to be. That’s why proactive scheduling by track owners and promoters has become more important than ever.
Why Timing is Everything
In many professions, employees are required to plan their vacations well before the year even begins. I remember working night shifts at the hospital, where vacation requests for the entire year had to be submitted months before the year began. If a race was scheduled after my vacation had already been approved, there was no way for me to adjust—I was out of luck.
This scenario isn’t unique to me. Families across the country plan trips and events long before racing schedules are released. For example, as I write this on August 4th, my wife and I just booked a family vacation for May of next year. That means any races that fall during that week are already off the table for us, no matter how exciting they might be. If race schedules were already out, I could have adjusted the week of my family vacation. My parents have also finalized their spring and summer travel plans—eliminating several weekends from their availability before a single race flyer has hit social media.
We’re not alone. Many racers and their families face the same challenge.
Not to mention, many jobs require weekend work or weekend rotation.
The Secret to Consistent Car Counts
One thing we’ve noticed is that the races with the most consistent car counts often have one thing in common: racers know when they are, year after year. Big events like Lights Out, No Mercy, the OG Million, The Flings, etc. succeed partly because racers can plan for them far in advance. They become traditions—not just races—because teams can circle those dates on the calendar with confidence.
When dates are announced late, even the best-promoted events can suffer. By the time the flyer drops, many potential participants have already committed to other plans.
Transparency Builds Trust
Getting race schedules out early doesn’t just help with attendance—it builds trust and loyalty between track owners and racers. Transparency allows racers to budget, plan, and commit to supporting events without last-minute conflicts. It also shows that promoters value their racers’ time and are willing to work with them to make the event successful.
When Do YOU Need to Know?
We want to hear from you!
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When do you have to submit vacation at your job?
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How soon would you like to see tracks release their schedules?
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Does the timing of schedules affect whether you can attend or not?
Your feedback can help shape the way tracks approach their planning process.
A Call for Earlier Schedules
To track owners and promoters: consider releasing your race dates earlier. Even if the details aren’t finalized, giving racers a general timeframe (or “save the date”) can make a huge difference. Flyers and exact payouts can come later, but the date itself is the most valuable piece of information.
For racers, time is as valuable as horsepower. The earlier we know, the more likely we can be there.
– See you at the next race (schedule permitting)
-Kline
