The rumor mill is back, new and improved, with less reading and more stuttering … but seriously folks, let’s check in on what’s popping with the rumors when it comes to Stafford, the Whelen Modified Tour, the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series and the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
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Cheshire Cat- Popularized in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
“Often it is shown in the context of a person or idea that is purposefully confusing or enigmatic.”
I think you could argue were there no Stafford Speedway RaceDayCt would not exist. The virtual home track of the publication the coverage provided from the start has been comprehensive to say the least. For the pre eminent track in the area it’s been the perfect symbiotic relationship benefiting RaceDayCt, the track, we fans and the greater regional racing community beyond Stafford. Naysayer’s exist but they are few, can’t see beyond the boundary of their pit stall with regard to the importance of RaceDayCt or the vacuum that would be created were it to go away. Just do a query on anything to do with local racing and RaceDayCt is the only meaningful source the comes up in search results.
Over the life of the relationship and especially in recent years the publisher has unfailingly gone to bat for the track. Whether it’s editorializing why the owners should be the Near Hall of Fame, clarifying Stafford’s position on scheduling, decisions made in specific race events, penalty decisions or anything that effects the track RaceDayCt usually was in a position to give the inside scoop to fans why things happened the way they did.
With regard to series the Tour is what it is. It is not a marketing partner of RaceDayCt, Stafford finalized it’s divorce from the NWMT years ago, the coverage of the Tour is professional as you would expect. That said if there is an opinion to be had on any controversial issue the greatest likelihood is the RaceDayCt will take a very critical look at any NWMT related decision in the interest of exposing the negative aspects and for good reason. They’re cold, long distance, minimally communicative as far as RaceDayCt goes and give the impression they could care less about it’s role in the northeast. I don’t know that’s completely true but suspect it’s substantially true. The MMTTS on the other hand is a RaceDayCt marketing partner, they are local, likeable, forthcoming communicators and have a strong relationship with Stafford and RaceDayCt. At least that’s my interpretation.
My view is that when it comes to the job you do it professionally giving fair exposure to all sides but once that’s accomplished you support those that support you when it comes to opinion. So when I’m seeing the Tour or the Speedbowl get needled for anything by RaceDayCt it all seems as it should be in my view. You gave me the information on all sides, I can do with it what I will and after if there’s criticism to be had on anything that’s all fair game.
So what’s the point of all that? It’s about what is a rumor and what isn’t. If the statement is, the rumor regarding Stafford and the NWMT getting together for a race next year is not going away then fine it’s just a rumor. If there is a statement accompanying it that the Tour has given no clue if it’s a possibility nor even when their schedule is coming out I’d accept that as the righteous truth. If Stafford is included along with the Tour in the same context there in lies the rub. One call to Paul Arute or whomever is the closest contact at the track, a question posed with the words “off the record” mystery solved.
Is it still a rumor sure. Is it fair game to cast it to the winds under the Rumor Mill banner you betcha. Is it being proffered by the hard nosed journalist known for suffering no fool that plays fast and loose with facts or the Cheshire Cat looking to inject some drama into a pretty significant possibility were it to happen?
I lean Cheshire Cat.
ALthough I did not check out the Rumor Mill, here’s my $0.02. First off I think Doug did a great assessment on RacedayCT, as in my mind it is the most important and accurate info source to all things Modified and then some. Second, Stafford’s Open events get similar car counts to the WMT and the SIzzler and Fall Final events draw more Mods than anything else. I think they’re doing great without the WMT and it would be no surprise to me if it continued that way. I am glad the WMT is a plus for Thompson which may increase the odds of the oval continuing to exist.