I like the new Bristol surface. Drivers can actually race on it. The old surface was a one lane track that made passing close to impossible without knocking the man in front of you out of the way. It produced a lot of crashes. It was one of the biggest events on the Sprint Cup schedule, but one of the worst races. Now there is actual racing happening.
And while I mentioned it, it takes absolutely no talent to run into the driver in front of you. An aggressive driver is one that can start 18th and win a 30 lap Friday night feature race without touching anyone else. Don’t use the term aggressive to describe a guy that drives dirty. The “bump and run” is nothing to be proud of.
I like Formula 1 racing. Sure the passing and side by side action isn’t there like stock cars but those cars are just plain cool.
As a matter of fact I enjoy road racing in general. As long as the cars competing on the track are road racing machines. I am not a fan of stock cars turning right and left. They belong on an oval.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a sight to behold. The place oozes history. Like Yankee Stadium brings to life the names Ruth, Mantle, DiMaggio, and Berra, The Brickyard has the auras of legends Andretti, Foyt, Rutherford, and Unser. If you ever have the chance to go there for any kind of event, go. I have attended an Indy 500 and it is a breathtaking day that any type of race fan should experience at least once.
The NASCAR modified is a sexy racecar.
Some bucket list races I want to attend someday: World 100, 24 Hours of Daytona, Knoxville Nationals, Snowball Derby, Rockford’s National Short Track Championship, Oxford 250, and the Hoosier Hundred.
Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Truck Series drivers: pick ONE.
I have been extremely fortunate to attend a few races that turned out to have greater meaning in the sport’s history. The November 15, 1992 Hooters 500 in Atlanta, for one. I originally made my plans because of the huge Richard Petty fan I am, and this was his final start. Combined with the fact the championship battle came down to a difference of Alan Kulwicki leading just one more lap than Bill Elliot, and Jeff Gordon made his debut, and you have a memorable day. In my attic I have an event shirt, program, and ticket stub.
In that same box is a Tim Richmond Folger’s coffee Hendrick Motorsports t-shirt as well.
I also had the privilege of being at Pocono Raceway in June of 1987. Richmond made his first point’s race return to Winston Cup competition after sitting out the early part of the season battling the AIDS virus. He ended the day in victory lane. I ended the day with a memory you can’t put a price tag on.
Earlier in that same season I witnessed one of the most exciting races I can remember. At Daytona, the first 125 mile qualifying race featured Phil Barkdol and Tommy Ellis getting on their roofs in separate crashes. Upstart Kenny Schrader piloting Junie Dunleavy’s Ford nipped Bill Elliot by six inches at the finish line in a dramatic battle that lasted the entire second half of the event. Over twenty years later that race is still etched into my memory.
Back then I was a big Ron Bouchard fan. I watched him race when I was growing up. He made it to the Grand National circuit and won Talladega as a rookie. That was a three wide finish with Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte in 1981.
In the early 80s Motorweek Illustrated aired every Saturday afternoon on TBS at 5:35. Current “Wind Tunnel” on Speed host Dave Despain anchored the show. For its time, that show was a great way to follow the sport. It was a half hour auto racing highlight show that covered all forms of racing. In my opinion it was and still is one of the best.
I greatly underestimated Clint Bowyer and the RCR number thirty three team heading into the season. That story is a pleasant surprise.
Add Kurt Busch and David Reutimann to that list too.
The October Syracuse Super D.I.R.T. week is a fun event. The actual racing on a dirt oval with a daytime surface is not great, but the weeklong party is.
I can offer the same description to Eastern States Weekend in Middletown, NY.
As long as NASCAR was date swapping last year, why didn’t the Southern 500 wind up back on Labor Day weekend?
Anyone that throws anything on to a racetrack surface is not a race fan. They should be ashamed of themselves and banned from attending all future events. I guarantee some of the well lubricated ticket holders that disapprove of a winning driver do not have the Roger Clemens throwing arm that they believed they had when the green flag was first unfurled that day. When those cans rain down on people in lower rows, how do they feel? Especially the children that attend because we promote this as such a fan friendly sport. I think it is a wonderful thing that fans are allowed to bring in their own coolers. There is no other sport that allows that. Everyone’s privilege may be taken away very soon because of the actions of a few.
…and thanks to motorsports writer Bones Bourcier, who inspired this week’s title and style with his former Speedway Scene columns.
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My Bucket List……………..The Hooser 100, The Hut 100, The Knoxville 360, & Midget Nationals, The Chili Bowl, The Little 500, Night Before The 500, SCCA Runoffs, The Monterey Historics, Sebring, AMA Flattrack Bikes on the Springfield Mile, Belleville Nationals, Kings Royal, Oswego modifieds, Mechanicsburg, My own new 911 on the Autobahn, Ascot, & Langhorn. Oops the last two have already kicked the bucket. I’m afraid they are soon to be joined by many others.
Great column. I agree with everything you say except that stock cars don’t belong on a road course. Those big old heavy cars with relatively narrow tires just have to slide on a road course and that makes for good racing. I especially agree with you about the racing being better at Bristol. Wrecks and caution laps aren’t much fun in my book. And for dawg – my bucket list also included the flattrackers at Springfiled and I got to see that last year on Labor Day weekend. AWESOME – JUST AWESOME! ! Do whatever you have to do, but go and watch them.
On the topic of Formula 1, I thought this past weeks race was pretty exciting. A lot of people complain that F1 has no passing and there is never any action, but I thought the first race of the season showed some promise for what could be a really exciting season with the new rules and regulations that have been put in place. And to be honest, a lot of F1 races are more exciting than some of the boring NASCAR races like @California where there are usually no accidents and relatively no close race for the win.
I also agree 100% with your comments on throwing things on the track.
I also enjoy Formula 1, the onboard views is something that is just awesome! Personally I think the F1 onboard view beats any of the views nascar can provide, hehe.
I agree with your view on fans throwing objects onto the track
Dawg: I can vouch for The Little 500, Oswego Supermods, and Mechanicsburg. I have seen all three and they are all worth the price of admission. Happy travels!