So how bad is TN???
That depends who you ask. As a race promoter, he was one of the best. He pulled the track out from the dark ages when Super Late Model racing was dying as a weekly division. He evolved the old Street Stock A division into CASCAR late model, which was a very viable sportsman division that brought a number of the old timers back. And the racing was excellent and the fans started coming back.
He was also responsible for turning the facility into what it is now. In the 70's, Delaware had as much character as a gravel pit. The place was falling apart. Everything you see out there now (even as its aged) was built gradually after Novotny took over in the end of the 70s. Bathrooms, pit garage, control tower, molded plastic seats in turn 1, licensed section, concrete retaining walls (no more tearing your car up pulling it off of guardrail posts.)
From a fan standpoint, he was the savior of Delaware. He turned the place around.
The problems (as far as Fri night racing goes) arose when the Super Series took off. Guys were no longer allowed to keep their Nova and Monte Carlo bodies, thay had to upgrade to current styles, and the cars began to resemble Winston Cup cars.
Guys were not encouraged to race on Friday night, as the prevailing attitude was that all the top dogs on Friday night were just there until they could "move up" to the Super Series.
So now armed with rules saying current body styles required, the rule was then expanded to say only current body styles bought from, you guessed it, Mr Novotny. And they're expensive. And the racing is rough, so you gotta keep buying those panels. Guys didn't like that. And I don't think body panels were the only thing that needed to be bought in-house. Maybe someone else can answer.
Guys never had any input as far as rules go. It was Tony's way or the highway. He ran the ship the way he did and never mind that your car can't race at other tracks, and other track's cars can't race here. I believe I heard it once said that Delaware was like the snotty glamor girl who was too good to associate with anyone else at the party.
So, that's my view, as a simple race fan. I'm sure there's lots more the drivers and teams of the era could add. There's a bunch of good
and bad points to having TN as the promoter.
Anyway, its all idle chit chat. I still don't think he'll be in at Delaware, unless he got hired on as an interim manager. I just don't see it.
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=5785.msg22749#msg22749
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