Even if the racing wasn’t that good I can tell everyone that all of us citizens of Wilkes appreciate all the hard work that went into getting this track back going & we are happy it was back alive
Dale that track needs a little progressive banking on concrete or asphalt and while no one wants it replaced- it’s going to have to happen at some point!!
As someone that has lived in New England my entire life. I'm 48 now. I was happy to see a race back there. Always wanted to see a race down there. Hope improvements are made to it now that that race is over. And get some more racing there
Loved it! Pavement reminds me of @Delaware speedway, happens sometimes when someone hits on a shitty surface, felt more like a good old salute to the shorts tracks, the ones here in southern Ontario, for every one great latemodel race I've seen 10 that sucked
This video is a prime example as to why Jr has such a huge fan base. He is just a normal dude, and knows what the fans want and isn’t willing to hold back saying it. Honest and accountable. Love to see it
Nascar needs more horsepower for this new car that has better brakes, better suspension, better carbon bodies, better bigger tires, and not enough horsepower to even burn through the tires. Back years ago tires were worth seconds a lap and guys always would gamble for those tires with late-race yellows.
It is almost impossible to "force" a good race. It plays out how it plays out. Also why I love dirt track racing so much right now, the racing in the best in the world, period.
yea, when 1 car can run a lane that no other car can without bottoming out. Its definitely old fashioned. Great illegal car that absolutely ruined the race for everyone and made Nascar look even worse.
I agree. Yeah, the parading kinda sucked buttt it was legit racing and no gimmick/drumming up and creating drama bs. It's just true pure racing to the core, and I believe that's what majority of us fans want.
I loved the race, finally got to see the fastest car win, instead of some bs caution at then end of the race with 10 green white checkereds. Larsons performance was incredible and a spectacle in itself
I think the car and/or tire was what caused the bad race. I liked the format. It felt more like a race than gimmick it has been. If you need cautions to make a race interesting that isn't the fault of the format....
Being a Larson fan (& including 4 other drivers) & no crap caution with about 10 to go, I loved the race. But I also enjoyed seeing people there looking like they were really enjoying the experience of a track with such history.
Never has a motorsports figure been more transparent than Junior. That’s what I appreciate the most about him. He leads with his heart and takes ownership of his actions. Hats off!
I LOVED it! I've been a fan for 50+ years but it was my first trip to North Wilkesboro. It was like rolling up on Field of Dreams. No joke. The vibe was fantastic! There was throwback stuff everywhere. Saw a guy in a faded old Dick Trickle tee shirt. I had on my old Mark Martin jacket from the early 90s. I noticed a few things: Everyone (Drivers) were subdued and careful, probably due to Rick Hendricks words. Whi runs this sport? Don't get me wrong. Larson was lights out and drove a whale of a race. 2- One thing I noticed that nobody has picked up on that points to it was real, hard core fans in the stands.....I was In the pits. When Larson was making his final lap, flashes weren't going off everywhere. People were up, waving him on.
Agreed. I felt The star of the sport right now was forced to race in a subdued manner based off of the fit that Hendricks had last week. Do not change Ross...please do not change! I was so happy for the citizens if Wilkes county for getting their track and identity back!
I watched on TV and agree with you, boring. the guys in the booth even were saying and laughing that there was going to be a lot of bumbing, etc. racing for a million was going to really make for a real tough race. so disappointing.
I can remember watching Geoff Bodine, Richie Evans, Jr. Hanley and Ted Christopher lay waste to the field from time to time. I left each of those events knowing that I had just witnessed a brilliant performance.
I grew up cheering for Geoff Bodine, racing the modifies, in the northeast short tracks. Stafford Speedway, every weekend, as a little kid. Teddy Christopher, if I remember right, my grandma was always excited to see take a win.
I’m 56 years old and you are totally right! Racing is racing I hope Jr. doesn’t overthink this…… Larson was hooked up and gone bro! Why did his crew figure the track out and nobody else did???? Reminds me of going to MIS ( I’m from Michigan) and watching my hero dale sr. Not do very well, Ernie Irvan won a race lapped the field by 4 laps..,, that’s just the way it goes. Different times. Everyone wants to see their driver win. The reality is there is no first place for everyone….. True race fans know this.
I don't think it's the car either. It's nascar giving into one team and one team only who have their own set of rules and are the dominant team so you don't think maybe something is wrong there?
@@aRedFrog I know. I live about 15 minutes from Eldora, seen Yung Money take them behind the shed idk how many times. The car needs some work yes, people way smarter than me are trying to figure it out. But these “straight axel, 9 inch rear end” guys need to leave that in the last century. Manufacturers aren’t going to get behind that, my 2011 Camaro has more in common with the next gen than any car I’ve ever had, big selling point for me.
The only thing I would change is the predetermined caution at lap 100. I think it would have added a lot more suspense to not have this…. And see when Larson would have either blown a tire (lightnin McQueen) or decided to pit or lapped the field. Any one of those was preferable to a Nintendo reset button
The only thing that will save this car is more horsepower. Or running on wooden carriage wheels. One of the two. We all appreciate your efforts Dale. Its not your fault NASCAR fans have put the sport in this box and now we dont know what to do.
Horsepower is how you save short tracks. It will also create cautions. If you can't drive or get your car to handle horsepower will sort things out. Put it in the driver's hands
Dale, man, you did more than your part, and many thanks. It's great to see racing back where it belongs. But sports cars weren't made for short tracks. NASCAR's monster. Hope they'll come up with a short track car.
NASCAR needs to do something about the car! Watched the CarsTour and ASA races. Lots of fun. So, why does the Cup car have such a poor showing at a short track?
Larson just had a plan and it worked. He couldn’t be touched and I enjoyed every second of his masterclass. I think Nascar needs to get back to these Carolina tracks of the past. I see some races with so many empty seats and places like North Wilkesboro packs every single seat. Much like nascar in the 90s. Fill them up and have a good time. Sometimes you just get a guy who is better than everyone else. Much like Gordon in that T. rex car. It was just a perfect race for him and the entire #5 team. Tip your hat
@@BeautifulAngelBlossom "if you ain't cheating, you ain't winning", cheating is occurring constantly in nascar, but if you don't get caught, then you win
Gordon / Evernham figured out the importance of aero 3-5 years before the rest of the teams. Much of what was done to his car would never be allowed now days. As a simple example to see in old races, every pit stop they pulled the front fender out creating more downforce. The T-rex car is widely known to be high illegal, NASCAR just lacked the balls to tell their cash cow to park the car.
@@aRedFrog Hendricks ruins Nascar because they always cheat with no penalty. This is why F1 and Indy are better. Only Chastain can save nascar now. The drivers of Nascar are cry babies and same with the fans. Bud light Drinkers everywhere. Except for Ross and Trackhouse
I think Nascar should take a page from F1. Have Goodyear make 3 compounds of tire (soft Med, and Hard) and force teams to use at least 2 of the compounds during the race. Just my thoughts.
I'll double down. I agree it didn't turn out the way everyone had hoped, whether it's failing a sponsor by being eliminated or the sheer cost of the cars themselves, short tracks are about the beating and banging, and being good enough to handle the chrome bumper or giving one. Bristol was the hottest ticket in nascar in the 90's and it wasn't because everyone ran around in a circle for 500 laps. It was a tough enough track and then drivers had to be able to handle being moved out of the way and recovering. There is a reason Terry Labonte's sideways win at Bristol is still talked about.
Not the track’s fault at all. I thought it was great, smiling the whole time! I’m not a hardcore Larson fan, but to see him do what he did was incredible 🤘🤘
@@diychad7268 one groove tracks are fine if the cars are able to follow each other. Everyone loved old Bristol but the problem is the cars are much too aero dependent, even on short tracks
It was a combination of things, but the track was definitely part of the issue. Because of the sealer they put down on the bottom, you couldn't even fight back on the top. Even at Martinsville, if you wound up in the second groove you could try to pin the other guy down for a few corners and hopefully get a run and get back in line. At Wilkesboro, you were just dead. You had guys restarting on the outside of the first few rows that fell out of the Top 10 before they could get down.
There was 2 groves. Problem is only Larson could run the second groove. When it comes down to it, the creme always rises to the top. There just is no better race team in Nascar, than the 5 team. Week in and week out, if they aren't the best, than they are the second best.
No matter what you do to the car THE BEST DRIVER IN NASCAR " KYLE LARSON " WILL WIN!!! He should have and could have won 6 or 7 already this season and you put him on a track like North Wilkesboro and this guy will tear the field apart. LIKE HE DID!!
I agree, to see him dominate the truck and all star race, along with his being ready to win several races only to be taken out, Larson is the best driver in Nascar.
All the other racing was awesome so it is definitely the car or the tire and I was actually hoping Kyle would lap the field because we have not seen that in a long time either. He came thru the field in the truck race too and put on a clinic for how to drive that track. I would say everyone got Larsoned!!!
Dale Jr. I really appreciate everything you and Marcus did to bring back the track! I was there and loved all the races don't be so hard on yourself we need to keep going back to the track and figure out how to make it more competitive and exciting. Thank you so much for everything you have done! Rockingham should be next to be revitalized 🏁❤️🏁❤️ Im a huge Fan of yours!!!!!!
I love how passionate Dale is about this. Love him or hate him I believe he has a real love for the sport and it shows. I still enjoyed the race just because it was at a track I had never gotten to see before.
Thank you for everything you did to help get the ball rolling to bring North Wilkesboro back to life. I "toured" the track back in 2020 and was very disheartened about the condition of the facility. Again, thank you for what your did (and are doing.) As for the race ... it's now on my bucket list to see a race there even though the race was a snoozer. I was surprised at how much slower the 2023 cars were compared to the 1996 cars. Larson's fast lap in practice wouldn't have made the field in 1996. I imagine track wear (due to nature - not racing) plays into that ... but ... I think the Next Gen car is part of the "problem." Is it time to admit that the Next Gen car is a failure? I've heard/read that it's not as safe as the previous car. This week showed that it's not as fast as the previous car. I've heard/read that the monetary savings aren't nearly what they were projected to be. SO ... is it time to go "Back To The Future" to a faster, safer car, and actually control cost? What if you went back (OUCH!) to the previous car .... but with a controlled parts list of "stock car" parts rather than "sports car" parts ... with no "in-house" parts and composite bodies? Seems like you'd have a faster, safer car and hopefully actually control costs. Just a thought.
Dale,don't beat yourself up over this after all we did did get to see a race at a historic track that was just rotting away. Dale you should be proud, if it wasn't for you and your dedication to the sport this track would be still rotting away, thanks for what you do.
It was a great race. I believe the CUP drivers aren't going to risk their cars and resources for a race that means nothing if you are not the winner. Clearly Larson was going to win. Now points cutoff race means more aggressive racing.
Short tracks are fun, and don't want to see them go. Hope NASCAR and goodyear can get this fixed. That being said, don't want to see the high speed tracks go away either. Losing Chicagoland Speedway and California Speedway has very disappointing. Also losing old Atlanta. Please keep the variety of tracks.
I can understand wanting it to be a competitive, exciting race with a photo finish, BUT… I enjoyed the race. I think watching Larson dominate is probably similar to watch the bulls in the 90s. We’re just witnessing greatness right now.
I'm REALLY hoping that this hyped race that turned into a dud can FINALLY convince NASCAR to take a big swing to fix the short track package. I love Jr's ideas...He must be bummed to see something he had such a big role in turn out to be a disappointing race. LISTEN TO THE MAN NASCAR!
First, I am so thankful that Dale Jr. is honest and transparent, even when it hurts. That shows integrity and maturity. Having lived in Kannapolis since 1995, I get to see and hear a lot from race fans and race team employees. I think his assessment of this race is accurate and his concerns about the future are well-founded. An exciting atmosphere was created with high expectations. I wasn't sure if it was only the race car, or also too many passive drivers, but the actual race unquestionably fell short of its potential. To restore NASCAR to its glory days will be challenging but you can tell from all the positive comments that fans are hopeful and willing to be patient and forgiving. However, even the most dedicated fans may give up if the product doesn't improve soon. Look no further than the downsized and half-full Bristol which was once the darling of all NACAR short tracks (with 160,000 butts in seats for every Cup race). People like Dale Jr. know what needs to be done, and how to do it. NASCAR leadership needs to listen up.
Well theres a big difference in stage breaks/competition cautions in a points paying race, vs an all star race. Im not a fan of stages normally, but an all-star, non-points race, is the time to do that and entertain.
Dale don’t beat yourself up. That was one awesome race weekend. I watched every second. You win some you lose some, and some get rained out. And sometimes Kyle Larson steals the show. You are right if there was one more caution there might have been more beating and banging and drama, like there was in the truck race. Maybe you could tweak a few things, but I don’t think we need drastic changes… I liked the one groove track it reminded me of the old Bristol with the bump and run. The open was a great race too
Thank you for being one of the only ones to step up and say this wasn’t good enough. All I’ve been hearing for months is this track would eat tires and there would be a lot of falloff which should produce better racing. There was 0 fall off. The cars especially on short tracks are too heavy and aero dependent. Get rid of the diffuser, add more horsepower with softer tires and I think we’d see better racing.
Notice how Jr never once did congratulations to Larson, for whooping everyone's ass? Yeah, i didn't hear that either. We finally got to see a real NASCAR all-star race. The best in the business just laid down an ass whooping just like old school Nascar racing used to be
I’m a local resident and there is nothing that would have disappointed me with this week and the All Star Race. N. Wilkesboro has had many runaways and that’s the way it goes at times. I think hindsight is always 20/20. I’m thinking a caution between 25-50 to go and all change tires. Just give us a race and we’re happy. Someone will always complain and please tell Marcus to not raise prices for tickets. Local residents want to go but most of us have to use what vacation money we have and make this our vacation week. Thank you for always being honest and for listening to the fans.
We drove down from Indiana and hung out in the parking lot after the race both days. Can't tell you how many people would drive by and holler at us their thanks for coming, couple stopped and talked to us and said they were locals and were incredibly thankful for the track to be back and for us to come all the way down to support it. Really cool to see how excited everyone was.
I really liked it the lack of cautions is what it is i feel drivers didn't take chances bumping these cars are so easily knocked out off Alignment and if they had did the old style bumping and rubbing the cars would get trashed in no time they just aren't as tough as the 90's type of car.
Gimmicks are to compensate for the lack of something. The racing at short tracks with this car isn’t good that’s the problem. If it was good you wouldn’t need gimmicks
I enjoyed all the races. The late models were great to watch. I don't understand why everyone is so down on it. Why can't we just enjoy, and get what may come. Every minute doesn't have to be perfect. That what makes the great things so great. The internet makes us analyze every damn thing.
people wanted it to be a crazy all star race like One Hot Night was, but sadly there was little exciting stuff that happened. Yeah, Larson lapped most of the field but thats only neat to a point. The Late model races were the best of the week imo
Agree 100% with Dale on the 40 lap clock. Those extra cautions bring pit crews and restarts into play, and that would have no doubt made the racing better. The #5 was simply the class of the field Sunday, so I'm not sure anything beyond wrecking would have kept him from checkers.
40 lap cautions are just another gimmick that will fail more-so than a natural occurring caution. The only planned caution should be 10 laps from the finish, then all the cars will pit and get their best shot at winning plus through in a green-white-checkered to keep the big dog teams from ganging up on the single team drivers.
Dale jr if you want more cautions and more wrecks just have them clear out the infield and have a demo derby. This is racing and I agree with the no gimmicks, no stage breaks and no manufactured cautions. With that being said we had a blast watching Larson drive from last to first and dominate the field. Looks like everyone but the 5 team needs to stop crying and work on their cars.
I don't think he was looking for wanting more crashes but the All-Star race did need something to shake it up and bring tire strategy into the second stage
Larson came from the back of the field and passed everyone. I’m not sure how you can say there is something wrong with the tires and the car when one car just did the exact opposite. Seems that they found something that worked and everyone else didn’t. Also, he was so far in front of 2nd at one point that 2nd place would have been a leader for everyone else… and it doesn’t seem like that helped. So, I think 5 just found a different sand box to play in somehow.
@@BeautifulAngelBlossomThey suck? Two championships within the last three years and almost 300 wins. Probably the best team of drivers at the moment sounds like they are the exact opposite of what your saying
Dale Jr., you are a tremendous influence in NASCAR, but I have to tell you, you are missing the forest for the trees. This past week was a celebration of the history of the sport, and the revival of a dead track. Every person who bought a ticket, even bought a beer at the track, got to be a part of that huge re-opening of North Wilkesboro, and it made millions of fans emotional in the positive sense throughout the country. Everyone and anyone who have ever been a fan of NASCAR got to partake in the rebirthing of a track that was gone. So as much as you are feeling a heavy burden for the simplified format, and the fact that the All Star Race wasn't some unforgettable unbelievable climatic ending to the race, you have erred in your thinking that way. I can find you millions of people who agree with me when I say this past week was probably the finest and proudest moments in NASCAR history, because not just the people on the ground responsible for the work at and on the track, but the people like me all around the country who have been NASCAR fans got to feel what happened last week in a great way. Being a racer, you probably don't want to hear this, but this past week the final All Star race Sunday night was not the most important thing that happened. It wasn't who won the race or whether it was competitive or not. Instead, it was a celebration felt everywhere of bringing a track back from the dead, a revival for a county that NASCAR had written off. It proved to everyone with the right people fighting for something good, it could happen. So please don't tarnish the wonderful images that are in the minds and hearts of millions of NASCAR fans. Hell, we even got to see Dale Jr race earlier in the week, and you didn't win, but it didn't diminish what everyone got to enjoy and share. All the powers to be who came together and brought all the different series to the track last week need to be congratulating themselves and each other for overcoming impossible odds in making that happen. Do you really think the NC Gov. cared about the outcome of the All Star Race? No! When he signed the funding over I'm sure he hoped for a conclusion of the "week long event" to be a positive one, one that everyone and I mean everyone could walk away from feeling so good about what has been accomplished, and that happened! Junior, it could not have worked without you being at the forefront. Be proud man! You showed everyone, you gave everyone hope, with the belief that if you get the right people together, with a great plan and focus, anything can be accomplished, and we have proof of it now. It is sitting in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and it makes me so proud that the sport I have loved for decades would dig down deep and show the world what a sport called NASCAR can do in it's finest moment in the history of the sport. I know I've already said it but I'll end this by saying it again. Be proud man! What an accomplishment! Thank you! Stand tall!
The race was a disappointment but just seeing North Wilkesboro coming back to life Was absolutely amazing From the very 1st practice to the All Star race just seeing That Place put back together was awesome Gave You Goosebumps.
I appreciate all that went into bringing the race back to North Wilkesboro. I wasn’t able to go because I couldn’t afford a package deal. Did watch the all star on tv. I too was disappointed. Was not what I was expecting. I thought there would be more passing shoving cautions. They were racing for a million $$$$! Really it was boring and made me sad just like Dale. If the track is gonna come back you have to have an exciting show. I don’t think that Dale should take all that on his shoulders though. It just felt like the drivers didn’t go for it. But I have no idea what the cause of that was. Again thank you!
Tbh, the race could have used a few of theose mysterious "debris" cautions NASCAR was notorious for throwing. Super awesome to see North Wilkesboro raced again. 1 of my favorite tracks of old finally run by the series. But those sneaky "debris" cautions would have made the all star race interesting.😊
Not the same lol in team sports the teams are not equal but in a sport where the cars are supposed to be equal but yet one team and one team only continues to be the dominant team, you don't think hmmmm why is that? We all know why it is.
I think we all need to take a deep breath and a minute to let what happened soak in. The cup cars and teams went to a track that's not been raced on in over 20 years so not much notes to go by. Also I think the tire test needs to be done with drivers like Ryan Newman a veteran that can give better feedback. The other thing Nascar can do is take several cars for back to back days trying a range of things to the cars and different tire designs. This can be fixed but it will need to be a whole industry working together to get it right.
Honestly this is a bad take. Everyone wanted no stages, "Stages are ruining NASCAR, we need to go back to the way things were!" Well here it is, a dominant driver with a crew chief that had a fantastic strategy dominated the race. The entire field got a shot at Kyle Larson after the caution at lap 100 and no one could touch him. You can't please NASCAR fans and I hate it. Does the short track package need work? Absolutely. But this race shows that the issue isn't stage racing, and it certainly wasn't the short track package because this race had tire falloff like no other. It was fantastic and I loved it just as much as I love older races and the races of today
That was a race, if a gimmick caution wasn't thrown at lap 100 we would have seen green flag stops and strategy. Someone would have pitted. This would have created Cumberland Gore's over a period of laps. Interactions between fast cars and slow cars.
Man, I can feel the emotion and how much you care in your voice. I really hope they get the car/tire package figured out. It definitely wasn't the track or format as I much more enjoyed the CARS race Wednesday night.
That’s what happens when you build a road race chassis, I mean it’s basically a DP with more bars and less carbon. They try to make it work on an oval and it does to an extent the larger tracks hide some of the flaws. That thing drives too good, generates too much grip. That Independent rear set up doesn’t let the thing slide around like they used too. The composite body is a win but other that, they should have just evolved what’s been developed over the last 40 years.
Maybe a 250 or 300 lap race would have played out differently. Just a thought. I have no complaints about what i saw. The race was fine, and everything else about the experience was perfect. Can we just stop complaining about how heavy our gold bars are and how hard they are to carry around??!
That was the race that finally made me walk outside and get things done half way through 😂. Boring .As for you Junior, your a class act. Always been a fan of yours on and off the track. We learn from our mistakes right?
Personally I had no issue with the racing at Wilksboro. Yea it wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped, but when was the last time NASCARS run on a surface like that? That old and worn out. It was a shot in the dark for everyone and it reflected that. Also, sometimes in short track racing you just have one guy clean out the field. That simple. I'm still excited to see what we get in the future. NASCAR doesn't always give me much hope in its decisions, but I'm gonna hold onto it here.
The late model races were off the chain like always and are my preference anyway so much like how you and a few including the much deserving town of N Wilkes it came from hard work and roots. Mission accomplished for the ones who wanted it the most. Not to mention though I believe it was, the atmosphere was electric so winner winner Holly Farms fried chicken dinner!
You can’t polish a turd and I’m sorry but the next gen car is a turd . I fully realize the financial reality is they have way to much investment in this car to walk away from it but if they don’t NASCAR is dead
I think the time span from'19 til now,all involved done an excellant job. Alot of races turn out this way. I have basically stopped watching nascar altogether,but I watched this race on television and loved it. To see the cars and trucks goin' around that track after so long. Thank you Dale Jr.and Marcus Smith for your efforts. Don't stop going there,get a points race and you'll see more effort from the other teams. Anyway, Kyle Larson smoked the field and the rest give up.
New Gen cars,most are drama queens,went away from small historic tracks and small tracks in general NASCAR isn’t NASCAR anymore Camaro leaving I remember the 90s greatly Buick,IRoc,Dodge Now Toyota 😂
So, basically moving stages based on whether or not their are cautions. It's another gimmick which is part of the problem with NASCAR in the current era.
How about everyone be honest and say what it is. The car. It sucks. Period. It’s not a stock car - it won’t ever race short tracks right. You don’t build a GT2 car for stock car series. This may be the end of NASCAR going forward. Ratings are tanking as the show suffers - at a time where eye balls are being grabbed by a 100 other choices. They need to suck it up - dump the new car and go back to the proven gen 6 with updates - until they can decide what’s next. NASCAR doesn’t have the luxury to work out thr bugs over 4 seasons with dwindling viewership. The only good part of the all star race? DW in thr booth. I forgot how funny ad entertaining that guy is. Heck the sport needs him right now.
As an old school fan I accepted it. Larson took em to the wood shed. It happened Alot many years ago so it was kinda nostalgic to me. 🤷 What would be bad though is if it happened like that the next 2-3 weeks. As cool as it was for Bill Elliot fans and Ford back in early 80s (85) ,,, it wasn't for me and everyone else. lol . Dale need not beat himself up over the cup race. Not his fault they made an Indy car and threw a body on it.
Jr is one of the most down to earth and "real" people involved in NASCAR. I appreciate all he does to bring racing back to its roots. I think the next gen car is a repeat of the car of tomorrow. Get rid of all the underpinning, the single lug nut, and go back to horsepower and downforce. Fewer of the roadcorses. Just my opinion
New Hampshire after the Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin tragedies NASCAR raced with restrictor plates there and Jeff Burton led EVERY lap. No one blamed the track for that performance blunder. NASCAR needs to evaluate its rules package and test some different ideas. There will be better racing in the long run if they test how these cars race and act accordingly.
I remember in the 80s.there was 2 North Wilksboro races, 2 Martinsville races, 2 Richmond races (when RIchmond looked like North Wilkesboro and Martinsville) and 2 Bristol races. There was also short track specific cars. It was fun to watch. There were no gimmicks. You had to be as good on the short tracks as anywhere else to win the championship. Especially in 85, 86, and 87.
From all the comments that I have read... I enjoy yours the most. I also agree with you 100%. To win multiple Cup Championships as Petty, Earnhardt, Johnson, Gordon and others... a driver has to be talented on all sorts of tracks. Back in the '70s, '80s, and '90s I used to attend all the short tracks. I live in the Charlotte North Carolina area. NASCAR needs short track racing. Some people love it and some people hate it. The same goes for road courses. The way the economy has changed for the worse in the last several years the average race fan like me cannot afford to attend that many races anymore. I would have loved to have been at North Wilkesboro but the price of the tickets was too much for my billfold. I also remember when each of the four short tracks that you mentioned had two events each. I personally miss them days.....
Thank you. Your reply is very insightful, and I agree with you on all counts. Back in the early 2000's, I cringed when Nascar was taking dates from these classic tracks and moving them to the big 1.5 mile tracks.
If it aint broke dont fix it. NASCAR has broken and fixed (so they think) so many times since the chase its very difficult to say exactly what has gone wrong over the years. I do know one thing. That 40 lap counter for caution is ridiculous. Just like throwing a yellow at the end of stage one and two. Its a race. Somebody is always going to be the fastest. Sometimes you get 2-5 other guys who are almost just as fast. Sometimes not. Let the chips fall where they may. Changing the width of this or the thickness of that is trying to manufacturer results of battles on the racetrack. Whats wrong with a butt kickin? Especially in these new cars. These cars are supposed to be butt kickin proof. Guess what? I'd rather see a butt kickin than see beating and banging until someone wrecks. Thats not talent. Talent starts in the process of building the car and putting the set up on the track and seeing if your driver can utilize the hard work. If he kicks everyones ass so be it. If he laps the field, so be it. If only 10 cars are on the lead lap, so be it.
Don’t do any manipulation that disrupts the natural flow of the race. The short track package likely wont be fixed until they give them HP back. When the top stock car racing organization in the country has 200hp less then Saturday night late model racers we have issues, throw the tapered spacer away and let the engines have 900 plus hp again.
