A Rational Rebuttal To Darrell Waltrip's Short Track Article

"I was listening to a discussion (on) Sirius Satellite Radio about the state of short track racing in the country. Having cut my teeth on the short tracks, especially all over the southeast, I have some thoughts on the issue."

DW should definitely be proud of his short track heritage. He was extremely good at his chosen craft.

"One of the things that has hurt short track racing is the simple lack of exposure. The local TV or print media has really drifted away from the short tracks across our country. The results are usually buried at the bottom of the sports page, if they are there at all. The problem stems from the fact that a lot of the short track events aren’t over 'till the papers have already gone to press."

I will agree with this to a point but I want to add to what he says. Times are changing. In this day of cutbacks in employment, check out the local papers. Most are now owned by huge conglomerates and have cut staff to the point of not having someone cover the events.

Our own local paper (Winston-Salem Journal) laid-off Mike Mulhern from the Cup beat after over 25 years of writing about racing. The Journal does send a beat writer who does a good job to Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday night but Bowman Gray is definitely an exception to the rule. But even “back-in-the-day” as DW likes to call them, not many local papers actually covered the local racing beat.

Only in the “heart of racing county did many short tracks get any print coverage and even less radio or TV. These days many of the younger NASCAR “beat” writers are lucky to have their jobs and many are younger guys or gals (who probably never attended short tracks when growing up) commanding much less salary than the writers they replaced. NASCAR should require these writers to cover the short tracks in their areas on Saturday night before getting in the chow line at the media center at the Cup tracks. Dang! I forgot they were covering the Cup tracks on Saturday night.

"This disconnect between the local track and the media outlets has surely hurt. There are just so many other options at times that force the short track coverage to take a back seat. There are football, basketball and baseball games."

The print and local news media has always catered to stick-and-ball sports so that is nothing new. What has puzzled me for years is the fact the papers and electronic media has always taken the time to dote on those sports. Is there really more demand for tennis or golf coverage from England or the Yankees or BoSox over the local hero’s of our sport? Or it's just easier for the sports editor to pull something off “the wire” to take up space?

"There might be a concert at the local arena. So there is no doubt the competition has made it more difficult for the local short tracks."

I understand DW’s point about the concerts and such but in case he doesn’t remember, they have always been around. There is nothing new about that. What he is saying is the same old stuff NASCAR puts out in their propaganda.

Competition from other things are the problem the short tracks face. B/S! There have always been concerts, movies, restaurants, bowling alleys, pool halls, video games and other “competition” for the short tracks. What the short tracks didn’t have for competition was Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona, Darlington, Richmond, Bristol, Texas and Kentucky on the TV set in the living room of millions of short track fans.

Not too hard to figure out that given the option of sitting in the air conditioned living room sipping on your own cold beverage, not spending $3.00 (AND RISING) per gallon for gas and saving the cost of a ticket to the local track (that he/she knows nothing about because the local paper isn’t covering it), the average NASCAR fan will sit at home and watch NASCAR racing.

"Look at examples like the track here in Nashville at the Fairgrounds or Birmingham International Raceway. Back then, the tracks were built on the edge of town. Now with expansion over all the years, the tracks are in town. So the town has grown up around it and a racetrack in the middle of town doesn’t seem to make sense anymore."

The biggest glaring contradiction to that comment is to check out the city of Winston-Salem, NC and Bowman Gray Stadium. Again, Bowman Gray is an exception to the rule but the key to the success of ANY business is location, location, location! Short track fans in this area are fortunate to have a stadium owned by the city that is probably the only city owned facility that operates in the black.

Not to mention the fact stadium racing subsidizes the coliseum, the convention center and half-dozen other city owned properties that operate in the red. If the operators of the Nashville Fairgrounds track had worked with the owners (fairgrounds/city) to keep open such a historic track (instead of letting the fairgrounds/city gouge the operators into submission) that track might have a future. Same for BIR, New Asheville Speedway and dozens of others across the country.

"Now to me, it seems awfully convenient to have a track that close, but it may not be for everybody within those towns."

It is convenient DW! It’s strange that as we grow older and younger folks become the community leaders, that history (especially racing history) goes by the wayside. Somewhere along the line, those folks missed something that helped grow their communities to where they are today and to just discard those facilities is a shame. The notion that folks can’t work together for a few hours a week to maintain some sense of history and a profitable facility boggles what mind I have left.

"Another area where short tracks struggle is keeping up with the amenities that other sports facilities provide."

While I agree that some tracks don’t keep up with the times, I can think of several that do and still struggle.

Southern National Raceway in Kenly, NC (built outside the city) has state-of-the-art seating, lighting and VIP areas. Closed! Caraway Speedway near Asheboro, NC (outside the city) has 2,000 closed deck seats, half-million in sewer and concession updates in the past eight years and 2-300 spectators (hopefully that will change with a new management team) in the stands each week.

Motor Mile Speedway near Radford, VA is one of the finest short tracks in the south with modern everything, huge car counts and big purses struggles with attendance and without the support of a wealthy ownership with strong community leverage ability would probably close the doors. The list of really quality facilities IS short and I haven’t covered all of them but even “history” and location can’t save them all.

Hickory Speedway,” The Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars” as it is billed it, struggles every week for a crowd and Tri-County Motor Speedway across the Catawba River from Hickory struggles even more. The list of tracks that I am familiar with could fill a couple of pages so I’ll move on.

"That’s mainly because the track owners are independent operators. They do things out of their own pocket. They don’t get funding from anyone."

It’s not all funding DW. It takes support as well. Support from everyone from the community, NASCAR and even the Cup drivers. Every driver in the “big leagues” should commit to at least one night each season at the local track he came from and in this day of jets and helicopters he should bring a couple of his “pals” with him to sit in the stands (without a $10,000.00+ appearance fee) and greet and thank the fans that put him where he or she is. And that goes for all the big leagues, Cup, Nationwide, Camping World trucks, Indy Car and on and on.

"As the “Green” movement continues to expand, that might actually be an opportunity for these tracks to have a chance to revitalize. We are seeing electric cars, ethanol cars, etc. so there might be an outlet to take advantage of the initiatives being pushed by the government and the manufacturers."

Maybe I’m getting old and time is passing me by but I am not even going to waste my time with explaining everything that is so out of touch with DW’s comment on the “green” movement.

"Every racetrack has to have something that folks go there for. Great Racing? Sure, but you expect that when you spend your hard earned money to buy a ticket. You expect and deserve to be entertained. That’s why you are there."

WTH? Hell yes! Great racing. That’s what you paid to see. And if you see great racing, you HAVE been entertained.

"We have to figure a way to get that local flair and flavor back. If you are a short track owner, you have to come up with something that is unique, attracts people and gives them something to talk about."

With this I agree. Great Racing!!!

"Look at Martinsville Speedway –- what is that track known for? It’s known as a paperclip track that gives Grandfather clocks to the winner, plus don’t forget those red hot dogs. That’s their hook."

Hey DW! Those are Jesse Jones hot dogs. They just happen to be red. I will admit I rarely turned down one of those hot dogs but I don’t remember making the Martinsville trip to eat a hot dog or see a clock. I went to see some hard-nosed, beatin and bangin, short track racing. They do make a really great trophy and when they used to give one away to someone in the stands, it was an added bonus for a lucky FAN. But these days, if Martinsville didn’t have a winner’s circle in plain view, no one would see the clock anyway.

"South Boston Speedway (and half-dozen others within 100 miles of here) is known for their baloney burgers. Here in Nashville at the Fairgrounds, and now at the bigger track, the race winner’s trophy is a guitar. I remember back in the day that BIR in Birmingham had the best hot dogs. Like them, every track needs something that the fan identifies them with."

Again, it ain’t the trophy! It’s the up-close action, see the drivers in the pits, check out the beatin and bangin racing we want to see. Remember you and Richard, Cale and Bobby finishing the races there with the fenders and doors barely hanging on? I do.

"You want a place that puts on a great show." Amen to that! "Great racing mixed with a good public address announcer." Hard to find but definitely a plus!

"You want fair officiating."

As a competitor you do but I’m not so sure it’s something the fans clamor for. I will admit that poor officiating seems to stir the crowd at Bowman Gray but they are sitting on top of the action and don’t miss much.

"It’s a fun evening to go to your local short track with the family, have dinner and a of couple Mountain Dews and watch your neighbors compete against each other."

Have to agree with old DW here but if the local press isn’t writing about the show, no one knows his neighbor is there. BTW DW! When was the last time you went to your local short track and spent some time walking through the pits or stands? Or better yet, gave the promoter a heads-up that you were going to be there to sign a few autographs (without getting a check) so he might take advantage of your attendance.

"Local short track racing is the backbone of our sport. Not only are we not developing new talent, but we’re also not developing new fans because of the downturn of our local short tracks."

Good point DW but you fail to give any credible reasons for this. You speak of talent. How much talent did you look for when you owned you truck team? Did you look for real talent or “some” talent and a “big” check?

If memory serves correctly it was the second option. Not faulting you or any of the other car owners out there. I understand they must make money to survive, but facts are facts. There are hundreds of Dale Earnhardt, Jr’s. and Jeff Gordons out there and a few make it to the upper ranks on their talent alone, but many are just steering wheel holders spending dads or grandpas money, and after finding they can’t “cut the mustard” move on after driving up the cost of racing for the little guys who struggle every Saturday night to put on the show. Those “shooting stars” do little to fuel the local fan base and in the long run dilute the real driver and fan pool.

"Short track racing is chaotic. That’s what makes them fun. You have heat races. You invert the field."

Not so much these days. It’s everyone copying NASCAR with look-alike cars and look-alike races. Fast cars up front, follow the leader, some guy in a red shirt telling the drivers to not wreck the other guy, the penalty box, qualify the mini-stocks, boring-azz shows.

"You may have a demolition derby between the heat races and the feature."

I thought the demo-derby was supposed to be the heat races.

"You might even have some guy on a motorcycle jump over a bunch of school buses. That comes from the promoter. That’s the Humpy Wheelers of the world. That’s the other thing a good short track needs –- a great promoter. Where are the Bob Harmons, the Paul Sawyers and the Clay Earles of today’s short tracks? Those guys lived and breathed promoting the next event. We need the next generation of those guys and guys like Humpy Wheeler."

Great people and promoters one-and-all. “Uncle” Bob was a one-of-a-kind. Worked his tail off to put on a show, God rest his soul. Seems he was so good at what he did, NASCAR bought him out and shut him down. Never was the same at the All-Pro races again.

Paul Sawyer taught his trade well to his sons. They still love to do what he taught them. Mr. Earles knew what his fans wanted and provided that to them. His grandson sold his share of his Grandpa’s track to ISC. They built more stands they can’t fill, watered down the chili on the Jesse Jones hot dogs and did away with the longest running division under NASCAR sanction for next season.

As for Humpy Wheeler. Not sure anyone will ever know the full story there but he was one hell of a promoter in his day. Where are today’s promoters? Most of them are out beating their heads against a wall trying to get some local coverage from their TV, radio or print media. If they aren’t doing that they are probably emptying the trash barrels or cleaning the bathrooms or painting the walls at their tracks cause they can barely afford to keep the doors open much less pay someone to do those jobs.

"The best promoters come from a racing and public relations background. They understand the sport. They know what excites people and they know how to promote that."

Just doesn’t seem to be enough of them to go around. Could be the bathrooms needed cleaning again this week.

"There are a lot of reasons the short tracks are in the shape they are in. There used to be some national coverage like Thursday Night Thunder on ESPN and Winter Heat on TNN that simply isn’t there anymore."

Where the heck is that coverage? You can turn on the TV almost anytime, night or day, February through November and find something on about NASCAR racing. Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Trucks, crew chief with a hangnail, Jimmie and Chad, Chad and Jimmie, heaven only knows how many crew chiefs Junior has had or why he can’t win or why he needs another damn crew chief.

NASCAR controls the TV from sun-up 'till sun-down. Their contracts dictate what the networks can or can’t show. Their production company feeds the media the “news”. We have had NASCAR Cafes, theme parks, nights at the ball game, monopoly, movies, tee shirts and caps. NASCAR, to its credit, has done one hell of a job of marketing the upper levels of the sport but since the Master Settlement Agreement was signed and Winston/RJR went by the wayside, short track racing has been on a downhill slide. Without the funding of Winston, the NASCAR sanctioned tracks had to fend for themselves and many really didn’t know how.

The fallout from the NASCAR tracks carried over to the un-sanctioned tracks and the struggles continue to multiply. Toss in three and four dollar per gallon gas a few years ago, the current downturn in the economy and you really have a crisis in the short track community, especially in the southeast. Hey Darrell! You got any pull with FOX?

"All of us collectively –- NASCAR track promoters, media, etc. –- need to set down as a group and find ways to promote our local tracks. That’s where our next superstar drivers need to be groomed."

For the record, there is a place where “all of us collectively” can sit down as a group. It’s called the Racing Promoters Workshops. They have been going on every December and February for almost 35 years in Reno and Daytona Beach. It’s a workshop where track operators from across the country DO sit down and collectively evaluate and discuss what each can do to succeed.

Oh! Remember when NASCAR tried to help promoters a few years ago. They decided to have their own “Short Track Summit”. Just so happened they decided to have theirs on the very same dates and the very same towns as the RPM workshops. How do you think that worked out? As for the new drivers, I too hope the owners will continue to look for talent wherever they can find it and hope the talent doesn’t continue to require a check to succeed. But I fear the Danicas of the world or the next gimmick will be the headliners.

"Plus that’s where we’ll grow a new generation of fans."

If we rebuild the short tracks, the fans will follow.

"I love the short tracks. I always have. Coming from go-kart racing, the short tracks were the next step for me on my way to the NASCAR Cup level. I think collectively we all are also guilty of going for the glamour, speed and danger of the superspeedways today while ignoring the excitement and thrill of our past, the short tracks. We simply have to have the short tracks around our country healthy and thriving. That’s the future of NASCAR."

I too love the short tracks. I even know where you could invest something other than opinion in a great facility or two, but I fear “talk is cheap”. We may be guilty of buying into the hype of those things you mentioned but the top had better begin to help support the bottom and not the other way around as has been the case in the past. We DO need the short tracks healthy. They are the future of RACING. Not just NASCAR. Last time I looked at my trusty Speedway Directory, there was something over 750 racetracks in the country. Not counting the Cup tracks, only 55 of them carried a NASCAR sanction. They are ALL the future of the sport we love and support.

In closing, and in support of my opinions, if one reads the eight pages of comments from race fans on the FOX page, you will understand my points. Over 40% have never attended a short track and it’s quite possible many of those who say they have are confusing the Cup, Nationwide and Truck races at Martinsville, Bristol or Richmond for a short track race and not what DW is discussing in the article. Most comments are from folks who wouldn’t know a sprint car or modified if it ran over them.

I also wish each of you and DW a Happy New Year!