Grassroots Racing is the Backbone of All Motorsports

Down in Florida’s panhandle there was a race held this past weekend. This might come as a surprise to many in the great white north that there is any racing being contested. But in Pensacola, at Five Flags Speedway, asphalt late models and support divisions gathered for what was a cold, but raceable weekend. The gathering wasn’t just some random race either. It was the historic Snowball Derby.

The annual Derby was in its forty-second running and has a storied past. This winners list reads like a late model hall of fame: Ed Howe, Pete Hamilton, Donnie Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Ronnie Sanders, Dave Mader III, Gary Balough, and Butch Lindley are just a few legendary drivers to hoist the trophy at the Derby’s conclusion. Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace, and Bobby Allison are some who have tried but did not succeed in scoring the win during their careers.

Five Flags is a half-mile oval with short staightaways and sweeping turns. Super Late Models were the headlining class staging a 300-lap feature on Sunday. Pro Late Models, local modified, super stock, sportsman, and bomber divisions provided the under card action throughout the five-day event.

Well over 200 racecars saw action over the weekend and a capacity crowd was on hand for the Sunday finale. Internet trackside coverage for that day was over 10,000 viewers and Internet radio listeners were reported to be around 38,000. And the Derby winner was a driver I bet you heard of, Kyle Busch.

This big weekend was the Daytona 500 for these types of cars. It is one example of what short track racing can and should be all about. These competitors were racing to win and for the love of the sport. Putting a name in the history books and bringing home a trophy were the goals. And shouldn’t that be what racing, at its core, is all about?

The Derby is but one example of the world offered up by the grassroots tracks. Summertime weekends can be spent at speedways from coast to coast. Now NASCAR sanctioned or not, paved or dirt, these short tracks are the backbone of professional stock car racing.

The hometracks are the roots to NASCAR Sprint Cup’s tree. Kill the roots of any sequoia or redwood and it doesn’t have to be chopped down. It will wither a slow death. But damage the branches or the trunk and as long as the roots are strong, a healthy tree can reemerge over time.

Auto racing is similar. If Sprint Cup racing were to be eliminated today Saturday night weekly racing could flourish. But if the minor leagues were to die off, so would the professional Cup level.

If Little League, Babe Ruth, high school and college baseball programs stopped existing, let’s see how Major League Baseball would look. I daresay a little bit ugly.

NASCAR’s televised stars for the most part came from a regional bullring. And there are many more talented drivers and mechanics that are still at that level. Having never gotten a chance to move up and some never wanting one. Taking a hobby or something you deeply enjoy and making it your livelihood runs the risk of removing the enjoyment and having it become just a job. A person’s passion has to come through in this sport to be successful and to get the most fun out of it. Some know where they belong and where their racing home is, right at their local speedway.

There is a certain level of professionalism at every grassroots track and touring series. But people making a living instead of spending money are in the minority. Most race for the simple reason of wanting to. They are called racers.

I have to believe any race fan would want to see a good, live race if there was the option to do so. SPEED TV showed a rebroadcast of the Sprint Cup awards ceremony during a four-hour time block last Sunday afternoon. In my opinion the Snowball Derby would have been a great alternative fit in the same time frame. Many portions of the country already are covered in white stuff and would love to see some actual racing between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here is an opportunity that would bring no viewing competition from other racing events.

I believe it would help strengthen our country’s short tracks that feed NASCAR’s top three series.

When done right, local racing can be an exciting and fulfilling bargain. Unfortunately, like any business we come across, there are good ideas that are not executed well and short tracks have their share of that. This hurts the entire industry not just one speedway.

I encourage all race fans to explore, support, and enjoy what this section of motorsports has to offer. Your own special event could be happening right around the corner from your home. Try checking out sprint cars in California or street stocks in Pennsylvania as they water the roots of the auto-racing world.