Forum Activity for @bill-shapard

Battle at the Beach Late Model finish

Stock Car Racing History

Sorry...this was not rubbin'...this was a cheap shot. I understand that anything goes on the last lap...move a guy up..get him loose..thats OK with me. BUT... I agree withSadler, once you get to the straight...you've had your shot.You can easily get someone broadsided in the drivers door by spinning a guy in thefront field, especially..right before start/finishline. I've see it before. I think this sets apoor standard for officalsthat workthe local NASCAR short track series, across the nation, that nothing was done. Every driver is gonna say, "If a guy can get away with it at Daytona...it should be OK here too."

Championship Shouldn't be Decided by Brian Vickers - NASCAR Should Have Parked Him

General

I agree...are wecrowning a Sprint Cup Champion orone for expensive demo derby. Here's what I would do...I would park him. AND,I would let everybody in the race know, that if you take out a Chase driver while getting revenge on another...you get NO POINTS & NO MONEY that race, and suspended for the next race. Ifa Chase driver takes out a Chase driver...it would depend on situation...but same rule applies. This would also keep teammates that are out of the Chase... taking out a rival's team car that isin the Chase.

TV Shows I miss

General

Thanks, for the kind words about TNN. I worked there, and for Diamond P Sports for 11 years. I left out the World of Outlaws appeared on "TNN Motor Madness"many times. I still don't understand whyWoO races are not on live TV...especially the Knoxville Nationals. With the NASCAR HOF up & running, you would think that NASCAR would love for Speed to have a show like "Winners". Now, the only profiles you see, are the peopleto be inducted. How bout the other 20 people nominated? That's a whole season of shows. How bout the old TNN NASCAR races...the tapes were in a Nashville warehouse when TNN became Spike (2000). Where are they today? Now, there's real classic racing...and a great "weather delay" showor off season programming.

TV Shows I miss

General

Yesterday, while watching the old file video of Jeff Gordon racing open wheel cars...I remembered the first time I saw Jeff was on ESPN's "Thunder Series" racing USAC at IRP. I

watched or taped just about every one of those races. Then, I thought about TNN's American Sports Cavacade and "Motor Madness" shows, with swamp buggies, ASA racing, demo derbies, go-karts, and monster trucks. I wish some TVnetwork wouldbring back a live grassroots motorsports series and air themon Tuesday or Thursday nights.They could always re-air them during the winter too.

updated by @bill-shapard: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Nashville Superspeedway off the NASCAR schedule

General

UPDATE: The amendment to save Nashville's Fairgrounds (including the Speedway) won by a landslide vote with a 71% to 29%for saving the Fairgrounds in Thursday's city election. This means that local racing at the Fairgrounds will continue, (currently a limited schedule) and it cannot be torn down as the Mayor wanted. The city now has to come up with a master plan for the facility.

Nashville Superspeedway off the NASCAR schedule

General

Toomuchcountry was right on with his comments about Nashville Superspeedway. I live just over 4 miles away from NSS, and like toomuchcountry went only 3 times. (ARCA,Nationwide & Indy car) It was a one lane track...follow-the-leader.The Indy car guys actually put on the best show...and the crowd was just starting to catch on...when Indy car left. Even being the home of Bridgestone/Firestone, a major series sponsor,could not keep Indy here. It seemed the track was doomed from then on.As for the Nashville Fairgrounds, I would love to see NASCAR back racing onthe 5/8's...but I doubt that NASCAR wants anything to do with short tracks anymore...just look at what they did to IRP.

Did you ever see Richard Petty win in person?

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Saw "The King" win several races at Nashville Fairground Speedway as a kid. I saw him win in 3 different makes of cars. Nashville in 1967, driving a Plymouth, 1969 aFord, and in 1980 driving a Chevy. At the 1980 race, I was a working for Nashville's Ch 2 Sports, and filmedhis winning interview in VL. During my years of following him as a fan, and later as a member of the press, he never changed...he always had time for people. He would stay long after the race to sign autographs, after driving 400 laps, on those hot & humid nights in Nashville. I still have the autograph he signed for me when I was a kid...he did not win that night...but I did. I got to meet a true American Legend.

The Nascar Hall of Fame

General

I agree with you, Cody. I think the HOF voters this year needed to honor a least one other person from the early days of NASCAR. Especially, they needed Raymond Parks, put in the HOF this year. He was a founding father like the Frances'. I think it's also a cheap shot to Cale & DW, to have Allison go in before them. Those 3 should have gone in next year...all together.

Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

General

It's funny you guys mentioned Bruton Smith. Two of his track Presidents Ed Clark (Atlanta) Eddie Gossage (Texas) both worked at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway early in their careers. I wonder if anybody has talked to Bruton. As far as racing goes, I prefer the fairgrounds 5/8's mile of beating & banging, to Nashville SuperSpeedway's 1.3 mile, one groove track, with over priced tickets. Please sign the petition, and if you can come to the All-American 400 in October that would be great too.

Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

General

Winston, I too think the fairgrounds could & should be used for more than a few days a month. That takes money & enthusiasm by the Mayor to make it into something. But "King Karl" has already stated he wants the race track to go away... NO MATTER WHAT. He feels the fairgrounds is a eye sore & ear sore. There is no middle ground. Some of Nashville's best known in the racing community (DW, Sterling Marlin and Gary Baker) have already talked to him about the great history here. He doesn't care. He is already trying to get Hickory Hollow Mall to take the flea mkt. His yuppie friends have bought expensive new condos nearby, and they don't want to hear race cars....ever. It's a done deal...unless we get enough city council members fired up ( through the petition)...and show them what a big mistake they are making.