I totally agree with you Johnny. YOU are a big part of the awesome contributions to the site and I sure hope YOU keep it up. You bring many wonderful memories back to life for me. Thank you.
Thanks for posting this Johnny. Seems like an honest interview with some really candid answers. Did much to increase my respect for Kyle above his ability behind the wheel. Now if we could just keep him out of the X-Finity series. lol
To all you very faithful supporters of the Tuesday night radio offering known as "Thee Goat Rodeo", although I'm not particularly in favor of that nickname for "Racing Through History", there willbe NO show tonight. Jeff left me a voice mail that we should be back on the air next week but the storm sort of put things on hold for a week.
You know, in a small way, I'm glad there will be no show. Before I got the word, I was already working on the Legendtorial, which reading back over it before deleting it, I realized it was probably the most negative I've written on NASCAR since I told myself I need to back off the negativity. Seeing the stands Sunday was a disgrace for the sport. Two races in one day and not enough fans in the stands to make a good showing at the old half-mile Columbia Speedway Grand National races on dirt back in the 50s and 60s. I haven't even looked for the television ratings this morning because I can't even find them anymore as NASCAR has managed to learn how to delete certain information they don't want known. Sound familiar?
I'll miss you all tonight. Hope you all will have a good day and stay safe. This coming week they race in Kansas. I am not a big fan of that track at all. Dorothy and Toto are the best things to come out of Kansas and they had to be swept away by a tornado before they even appreciated it.
See you all next week. Maybe something positive will happen in the meantime, about with I can write with enthusiasm.
God bless!
I drove past the Mooresville exit on 77 many times, north bound to Virginia or to visit my son and his family in New Hampshire. Every time I saw that sign "North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame" I wanted to stop off for a visit but I knew such a stop wouldn't be short one and as I was always on a schedule, I couldn't take that chance. My first actual visit to Mooresville was to be a part of an event a Memory Lane Museum the first year RacersReunion was involved. I was there all day so I still didn't get to visit the NCARHOF but was determined to do so. I got that wish a year later when I made a special trip there. What a great trip that was and everyone there welcomed me as if I were a part of that family. Can'ttell you how good that felt.
During the past six years, I have seen that apparent decline and I disturbs me that "Race City, USA" a bumper sticker for which is on the back of my Mercury. I guess it has to do with the huge influx of money, a huge quick influx of money, built up an industry expecting a continuing growth in the sport that is now being killed by poor management and such gimmicks as "The Chase".
But let's got back a little bit. Remember Rhonda, NC, and Junior Johnson. Remember Randleman, NC and the Petty shop. Spartanburg, SC and the Bud Moore and Cotton Owens shops. I'll bet you don't remember an Air Force guy named Roy Mayne who had a small wood-framed shop sitting at the highway split for the Sumter, SC by-pass when we stopped off one day to find it had a packed DIRT floor. How about Dawsonville, GA and the Elliott shop? Daytona and the Yunick racing Area 51? All across the Southeastern U.S. little shops were building and racing stock cars. Think of Bill Blair in Thomasville, NC. I could go on and on with little town after little town where little money build race teams and where most small town folks supported their local drivers much like the local high school football fans support their boys.
I have several racing friends in Canada. One young man, I think he's 19 now, has been winning races up there for at least the last three years. He has a small shop, a dedicated crew and the right attitude. Through him I've met several other young Canadians just as much into stock car racing as a little guy out of Sumter, SC.
Mooresville is the Mecca of stock car racing, made so what exactly what reason I am unsure. I was unaware of the "newness" of Mooresville's fame until I read Dave's post. Mooresville is still a place I will visit as long as the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame and Memory Lane are operational. And the "Walk of Fame" in downtown Mooresville near Richard's Coffee Shop. I have to wonder, though, if the NASCAR Technical Institute will survive. I hope so. I visit there once a year and talking with the kids attending that school always leaves me with the feeling that there are still dreams and hopes in young folks besides those of being a doctor or attorney or chasing imaginary Poke-whatevers around.
Patrick thanks for bringing this to my attention of which I was totally unaware. I hope the swing to change will start soon or there may be more empty buildings or buildings with fading signage that indicates only what once was.
Yes, Johnny, I got that point and I totally agree. However, some of the stories I'm hearing from some tracks around here and come aspiring drivers trying to make it, things are getting out of hand even on the local level. Articles like you just wrote serve both as an inspiration to those guys and gals and notice to those who keep hiking the price. Thank you and keep it up.
Johnny,although I am not especially a fan of Sprint Car Racing, the essence of what you wrote is exactly right. Racing the way it should be, the way it once was, and the way NASCAR is not likely to experience again. But then, this is not about NASCAR, it's about a great piece of writing. Thanks for sharing.
Frank, I apologize if I offended you in any way. No where in what I said did I slam a race, a culture, or a nationality. I was simply pointing out that our far too politically correct culture is destroying this country. I did not address Republican Klansmen or their efforts to do whatever it is they do. There is no one more patriotic than am I. I stand up for what I believe and that's the way I call it. I do totally agree this is a cheap stunt by an opportunist but you just wait and see what it leads to. I can foresee that already. Again, my apologies for any personal offense.
Dave, there is plenty I would like to say and have already said it to myself. Jeff, however, would cut me off so quick, you would think it was a debris caution to manipulate theoutcome. From what I have read, and I attempted to read the actual filing as it is public record, these people are a bunch of those moronic, race-baiting liberals just trying to stir up the pot even more to racially divide this country. Barack Hussein Obama started all this with his racially divisive talk and it has gotten traction in every respect because of this B.S. Political Correctness. College kids are being brainwashed, in fact to the point of brain removal, to embrace the crap coming out of a certain political party. (I don't think I can name the party because that would not be politically correct). This is one instance on which I'm totally supporting NASCAR. I notice it is filed in the U.S. District Court in New York where the liberal leanings could spell trouble for NASCAR. At the very least, it is going to cost a bundle of legal fees.
And what about the new sponsor for the Cup Series? Even if NASCAR had one on the line, which I doubt, this will probably cause great concern for any potential sponsor to think that NASCAR is a racist organization. No company wants that hanging over their heads, especially if a certain candidate gets elected.
Perhaps they are jealous because our folks honor the flag, unlike other sports. I can imagine one "taking a knee" ata race track. I would expect the pace car would be driven up their butts at full speed.
Am I disgusted? Hell yes. My sport was having enough problems of its own without the outside influence of race baiting trouble makers doing this.
Thanks, Dave.
If you don't read about it before hand, join us tonight on Racing Through History and I'll tell you about it.
Good read Patrick. I agree with your take on motorsports raising the bar, but you and I could have a long discussion on this "racism" thing.
