For your consideration:

1950-NASCAR's Strickly Stock Division is a year old. Winner of the first

Strictly Stock race was disqualified because of "beefed up" sus-

pension.

2010-There is nothing on the current cup car that can even remotely be

considered stock. There are no Ford, GM, Chrysler, or Toyota cars,

just NASCAR manufactured composits of automotive engineering

1960-Charlotte Motor Speedway opens with a distinct configuration that

provides some excellent views from the stands and exciting racing

even though the fresh asphalt was flying through the air.

2010- We have so many tracks now in the CMS configuration that they

are being called "cookie cutter" tracks. While I do enjoy cookies,

I am missing tracks like North Wilkesboro, Rockingham, Middle

Georgia, Columbia Speedway.

1961-Smokey Yunick Driver Marvin Panch wins the Daytona 500 in a year

old Pontiac which was just a sideline entry for Yunick as the num-

ber one driver to Yunick was Fireball Roberts in a 1961 Pontiac.

2010-If it weren't for the decals identifying the Number 1 car as a Chevro-

let, would you have known what it was?

1964-Chrysler introduces the "hemi" and revolutionized it's also ran

position on the big tracks. That engine was so far ahead of the

competition that NASCAR banned it for the 1965 season.

2010-What engines are in the current fleet of Cup cars? Do we even

know?

1965- NASCAR bans the Mopar Teams and the attendance suffers so much that they have to

relent 2/3rd through the season and bring the Mopars back. Also the year NASCAR

reinstates Curtis Turner.

2010- Attendance is dropping like a Jack Rousch piloted airplane at all tracks. Meetings are being

held with Team Owners to see what can be done about it. With the Team Owners??????

What about the fans? We buy the tickets, or did once upon a time.

1966-Any time a driver could get a quote in a newspaper or on a television show was considered

a valuable commodity by NASCAR P.R. people.

2010-NASCAR's new mandate: "Say anything you want guys as long as it pays homage to the

organization and the mighty Brian France. Anything less will be considered treason and,

well, you know what happens to people like that".

1967-Richard Petty sets records in NASCAR never to be broken (unless the press continues to

promote wins in all divisions, bicycle races, drag races from stop lights, and any other

competitions in which Kyle Busch may have been involved). In the process, Richard

became the "darling" of the press because he was accessible, quotable, and downright

hero material. Not to mention his attention from the fans was true and sincere, from

both sides.

2010-In order to get interviews with drivers now, the press must go through agents to gain access,

most times have their writings "approved" before printing. As for fan access? Well, if you've

ever tried to have a few minutes with today's drivers, you know the answer to that.

1970-Chrysler Corporation brought in the "winged" cars with the Superbird and Daytona. Good

year, fun races and you could sure distinguish the Plymouths from Fords and the Fords from

the Chevys.

2010-Park a Ford, Chevy,Dodge, and Toyota Cup car side by side, without decals and numbers,

and tell me which one is which. Sort of like F-1 or Indy, huh?

I could go on with this, but by now you see where I'm going. That September night in 1952 when my uncle Bobby introduced me to this world of stock car racing, it may not have been considered "glamourus" and my introduction was at a half mile dirt track called Columbia Speedway. I've been there through the 50's, the 60's, 70's, 80's and even the 90s. I've hung in there through the last ten years to watch MY sport, OUR sport (hush you mouth D.W.) go on a downward spiral. If I had the answers, I would have no one to tell because no one in power in Daytona Beach wants to listen. But I do know the answer lies with the fans. It was we fans that brought about the multi-million dollar speedways, the big buck teams, everything that is NASCAR today. Ask The King. He always acknowledges that and means it. The lip service given to the fans by today's group is just that, lip service. It sounds good when they say it, but there is no sincerity there.

I have said, just a couple of months ago, that I was supporting NASCAR and trying to bring it back to the popularity it once enjoyed. That's a much bigger job than I can handle. Let's hope there can be some return to the glory days, but I've about reached the point where I believe that will not happen within my lifetime. I'm just glad I got to live the "good ole days" and have those memories to share and a forum to share them.

So, if Kyle Busch wins the truck race and the cup race this weekend, with that move him ahead of Cale Yarborough on the all time win list? I'm thinking they are going too need to start figuring out how many more KB will have to win before he moves ahead of Jack Ingram, Lil Bud Moore, Dink Widenhouse, and don't forget Peanut Turman.

"Have at it boys", and ladies. Tear me up over this one.

Oh, and Brian, if you need to call me about my fine, my phone number is I-800-Ido-care.

Tim