THE PAPERCLIP held together again today

Todays race proved what real racing can still be like. Seems to me the big tracks cant hold the like to the boys racing they out there having fun. Those silly blinding speeds at Daga and Daytona cant hold a light to the racing short track style.

Todays race showed whats its like. Look at the different leaders in todays race. Did you see any two car drafting? How about a runaway train? Didnt think so, this is racing as its supposed to be. No rum dum laps of 25 or more where nothing happens. The good ole boys have time to get plastered between the short periods of cleanup after a wreck or caution s. From the drop of the green to the checerd flag it was non stop excitement.

Or maybe I was watching a replay of years ago,----what do you think!!!!!

updated by @johnny-mallonee: 12/05/16 04:09:31PM

Oh wait did SMOKE mess up anybodys day by beating J.J. -- If so I will convey your sentiments to ole DW

Johnny, Couldn't agree more with your assessment. It was an exciting event. The kind you'd like to attend in person.

Two observations and opinions here:

1) 2:00 pm is too late todrop the green on a500 lap Martinsville race at this time of year.

2) I thought the caution was used a little too liberally a couple of times when there was no imminent danger and a car was off and going about the time the yellow flew.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

an enjoyable race...specially w smoke taking it on the high side at the end....

I was once pulled out of the Martinsville exit line by one of Henry County's finest for being over zealous "making a hole." He made me wait about 30 minutes, then allowed me to re-enter the traffic flow. I also got locked in the turn one mens room one year when I hung around too long. Thank goodness there was an open window. Shouting "help" (or whatever I shouted) from the Martinsville mens room, in the rain, was not my finest hour.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

It was a great race, what I saw of it which was the first 100 laps and the last 85 laps. Good racing, just like the good old days. Was very happy to see Stewart win it, especially the way he did, passing on the outside at Martinsville. He's the man!!!! Let's see if he can whip Duck Boy's feathers in the next three races. I'm pulling for Tony.


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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.

Jimmy... funny you should mention Michigan. After a 1981 race there, someone threw Bob Jannelle and I each a coldbeverage. Bob was driving our rental car and we were just leaving the track premises. An officer made Bob pull out of line and Bob said something the officer didn't like after he requsted we pour out the two beverages. The officer then proceeded to make us take all of the luggage out of our trunk and empty the contents. We had aggravated him and he really did show us who was boss. I remember in later years we used to get a special sticker from Dick Beatty (also at Watkins Glen) that let us go out of the garage at MIS and onto the backstretch and out a special backstretch gate. I must say, I don't miss the traffic getting in and out of some of those places, especially if you were touch and go on making a plane flight. After I moved to Texas, I just started booking all my return flights for Monday morning. Your Bodine van story is a good one.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

As much as we enjoyed the race it sounded like many of the drivers hate racing there, there's no room...even Smoke said "I was pissed off", you don't hear that talk at the supers. I think they need to add more short tracks to bring these whiners back down to the trenches.

Sounds like most of us that have posted recently regarding Martinsville, the "cookie-cutter" mile and a halves and racing at Talladega would agree with Dale Earnhardt Junior's assessmant as reported in an Associated Press story:

"I think this was a great day for NASCAR, and I think this kind of racing is exciting and people really yearn to see that style of racing," he said. "Please, build some more short tracks, we need some more short tracks. All these 1.5-mile tracks. I know you can get more seats or whatever but they just don't really turn everybody on, you know? So I think this was a good day for NASCAR."

It's a totally different tone than the one NASCAR's most popular driver had a week earlier, after riding around at the back of the Talladega field with teammate Johnson until it was too late to make a charge to the front.

"Bored," was how Earnhardt summarized Talladega in a sentiment shared by many.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.... I know where there is a short track in Wilkes County, NC and a mile track in Richmond County, NC.


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"