Speedway Hotdogs & Goats

During the weekly goat rodeo (known to some as "Racing Through History" on RR Radio),

the topic of the now shuttered North Wilkesboro Speedway came up and my friend PKL berated my choice of the red dyed Jesse Jones Hot Dog served up with mustard, onions and chili at Martinsville Speedway in favor of what used to be offered at NWS, a non-descript frank hidden under a dripping layer of cole slaw.

Browsing around today, I came upon a photo blog authored by Steve Sheppard. Some of you may know or remember Steve. He replaced Chris Browning at Martinsville working for the late Dick Thompson (PR man extraordinaire) and succeeded Dick for seven years after Dick retired.

Martinsville's Late Dick Thompson

As fate would have it, included in Steve's blog is a photo of one of those famous Martinsville dogs that I am posting below to share with all of you who have never partaken of one. If PKL is able to find a photo of a North Wilkesboro dog, I welcome her to post it here also. However, I sincerely doubt that anyone ever took a photo of one and if they did the photo was probably ruined by cole slaw splatters on the camera lens. Anyway, the photo of the goat above is by Steve Sheppard as well as the photo below of a Martinsville concession stand and and the upclose shot of the famous dog.

Now my mouth is watering! I am ducking and preparing for a caustic comment or some other form of retribution by PKL that is sure to demean my judgement in hotdogs, lol! Bring it on PattyKay!

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

I will defer to PattyKay in the knowledge that not everybody likes the red dyed nuclear dogs. For those who don't , I'd direct you to Dick's Hot Dog Stand in Wilson, NC, the place we always got the dogs we took to Wilson County Speedway. Dick's is a national treasure, having been featured on the PBS show "Vanishing Americana" and listed by ChoppedOnion as one of the top-10 dog places in the country. In fact, when we sporadically visit Wilson, we have to take several coolers to bring back dogs ordered by folks in Charlotte who know their eastern NC delicacies. We also bring back barbecue.

Photos from Chopped Onion Website

Review of Dick's Hot Dog Stand from "Chopped Onion"

Until recently, I have only known Wilson, North Carolina to be the home of several outstanding Q houses. Now, I know that it's also the hometown of a world class hotdog stand. Dick's Hotdog Stand founded in 1921 by Socrates "Dick" Gliarmis is on the corner of Nash & Pearson Street in Wilson. Dick's is a Wilson institution, but it's also a museum of sorts. Inside, the walls are covered with photos of all the famous swells, celebrities and corkers that have visited Dick's over the years. Celebrities include Stan Musial, Ava Gardner, President Jimmy Carter, Steve Young, Harris Barton, Jerry Rice, Coach Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden, Joe Paterno, Bob Uecker, Jim Lampley, Clint Eastwood, Jodie Foster and Burt Reynolds. The photo collection is impressive, but for me, the real stars @ Dick's are the top quality hotdogs; you won't find any nuclear red dogs here. Their dogs are grilled and the buns are steamed. I had three dogs with a side of onion rings. My dogs were topped with mustard, onions and Dick's homemade chili. The dogs were simply outstanding! And my lightly fried rings with their great sweet taste were equally outstanding and also very addictive. The hot-dogs were so outstanding in fact, that they will easily find a spot in my top ten best hot-dogs of the American Realm. The homemade chili that tops those dogs is so good that the Campbell Soup Company tried to buy the recipe without success. Enjoy!

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

There is nothing like a Martinsville Speedway hot dog, period. Either good, bad or indifferent in your taste. I am not a big hot dog fan, but I still have a traditional Martinsville Speedway hot dog twice a year each time I go there. Such is part of the culinary delights we grew up with.I remember a few years a go when they tried to use something else and the compliants and fan outcry was enough that they had to go back to the traditional dog.

Speaking of the goat though, sort of looks like someone we may have gone out with back home too, or maybe it was her sister! Where I came from the men were men, and the sheep, and goats were scared! Remember, I used to go to races at Franklin County Speedway, where they also said that public drinking was not allowed. They didn't say anything about drinking, just public drinking!

A little something for The Legend, also, lol!

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Dave, my most sincere thanks for posting that video. Not only did I get a great education on the hot dog, but also got to see the number ONE driver on the single digit salute get so pleasantly greated. The very beginning of this forum has the picture of another Busch kid. Wow, how funny is that?

T

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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.

I thought you might get a kick out of that, Tim


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

Another corner heard from. I am shocked to know that Chris Myers is not the authority I thought. Another bubble burst!


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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"