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  • PattyKay Lilley
    • PattyKay Lilley ~ 2020 >
      • Quotes from NASCAR's Earlier Days
      • Marty Robbins ~ NASCAR Balladeer ~ 2020 Reprise
      • The Question Is Not About Lug Nuts
      • A Change Is Recommended
      • I Remember You ~ 2020 Reprise
      • In Loving Memory of Neil Bonnett ~ 2020
      • An Earnhardt Kind of Day ~ 2020 Reprise
      • Its Almost Daytona
      • Looking Back on the Beginning of The Chase
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Let’s talk about “Smokey” Again
    • PattyKay Lilley 2019 >
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told ~ 2019
      • Saying Goodbye to 2019
      • The Lady in Black is Back
      • The Little Track by the Railroad Track ~ 2019
      • Yellow Line Rule or No Yellow Line Rule
      • Racing the Way It Was When I Started
      • A Defining Moment ~ 1992 Finale at Atlanta
      • Chasing and Whining
      • Adam Petty
      • The Passing of a Giant ~ Buddy Baker
      • Whatever Happened to North Wilkesboro
      • The Life and Good Times of Curtis Turner
      • Tim Richmond Remembered
      • J. D. McDuffie ~ Lived and Died for Racing - Reprise
      • If It’s Foggy It Must Be Pocono
      • New Hampshire Nonsense 2003
      • Rain on the Firecracker 400 ~ No Surprise
      • A Tale of Two Races
      • Down Memory Lane ~ Fireball Roberts
      • Lets Hit the Road
      • Michigan Shenanigans
      • Junie Donlavey ~ A NASCAR Pioneer
      • Tales from the Lighter Side ~ Final Chapter
      • Memorial Day Means So Much More than Racing ~ 2019
      • The Lighter Side of NASCAR ~ Whats in a Name
      • Tales from the Lighter Side ~ Terry Labonte, Ward Burton and More
      • Tales from the Lighter Side ~ Bobby Allison, Ken Schrader and More
      • Quotable Quotes from NASCAR
      • Tales from the Lighter Side ~ Another Round of Quotes
      • NASCAR Quotes from Smokey and Others
      • Tales from the Lighter Side of NASCAR
      • An Objective Look at the 2020 Schedule
      • Pretty Little Martinsville
      • The Lady in Black Visits the Land of Fruits and Nuts
      • Facts and Fantasies about the New Package
      • The NASCAR Balladeer ~ Marty Robbins
      • Leaving Daytona and Looking Forward to Atlanta
      • I Remember You ~ Reprise
      • An Earnhardt Kind of Day ~ Reprise
      • In Memory of Neil Bonnett
      • The Loss of a Treasure
      • All Kinds of News and None of It Bad
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Daytona SpeedWeeks Are Upon Us
      • NASCAR Doesnt Love Me Anymore ~ Reprise
      • Where Winter Racing Can Be Found
      • When Rednecks Ran NASCAR ~ 2019
    • PattyKay Lilley 2018 >
      • The Cars and Fans through the Generations
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told ~ 2018
      • The Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas ~ 2018
      • Thursday Night Thunder
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Is it Finally Time for Smokey Yunick
      • The End of the Season and Some Sad Farewells
      • A Busy Racing Weekend and Then…
      • A Good Mood Spoiled
      • Bump or Dump ~ Yes There Is a Difference
      • Pretty Little Martinsville ~ 2018
      • Old Versus New ~ Age Versus Youth
      • Tales of the Talladega Curse ~ 2018
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Word Games
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Some Things You Might Not Know About ROVALS
      • Thoughts and Memories from an Aging Mind
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Echoes of Indy
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Sound of Silence
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Place Where Names Are Made
      • Bristol ~ From Snow Squalls to Snow Angels
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Questions and Answers
      • Thank God for the SAFER Barriers and Other Varied Thoughts
      • Rain Delay, Sticky Stuff and the Little Race that Could
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ From This Fans Point of View
      • Davey in Retrospect – 25 Years
      • Remembering the Very First Truck Race at Eldora
      • Bobbles in the Booth and Stages in a Road Course Race
      • Nicknames Are Usually Earned
      • Shenanigans at Sonoma
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Insert Clever Title Here
      • What Did He Say
      • Memorial Day Means So Much More than Racing ~ 2018
      • All-Star Racing or Short Track Nationals ~ The Choice is Yours
      • Adam Petty Remembered
      • Its All about Tradition
      • The White Cement of Dover
      • 31 Years of a Temporary Fix
      • We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us
      • All the News Unfit to Print~ All-Star Edition
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ No One Is Listening
      • Alan Kulwicki Will Always Be a Champion
      • 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Selections and Elections
      • Fontana to Martinsville and All About the Fan Experience
      • Kevin Harvick Is Right ~ Grass Roots Racing Does Matter
      • The Road Less Traveled
      • Surefire Cost Cutting Ideas for NASCAR
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Too Much Is More than Enough
      • I Remember You ~ My Personal Tribute to Dale Earnhardt
      • An Earnhardt Kind of Day
      • Remembering Neil Bonnett
      • Daytona Fever
      • NASCAR Looked the Other Way
      • A Look in the Rear View Mirror ~ Keith Jackson
      • The Product Is Encumbered and Therefore Not Marketable
      • Its January Already
      • The Perfect Storm and a Sad Farewell
    • PattyKay Lilley 2017 >
      • That Time between Christmas and Daytona
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told ~ 2017
      • I Still Believe in Santa Claus ~ Jimmy Spencer
      • A Defining Moment in NASCAR History
      • Remembering the Final Winston Cup Banquet ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Dont Believe Your Lying Eyes
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ One Last Ride
      • As the 2017 Season Draws to a Close
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Who Is Not Speaking to Whom?
      • The Little Track by the Railroad Track
      • NASCAR Goes Country
      • Tales of the Talladega Curse ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Sad Times and Poor Broadcasting
      • Not One Knee Was Taken During Solemn Prerace Ceremonies at Dover
      • The White Cliffs of Dover ~ Delaware
      • History Holds the Back Story ~ RPM
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Someone Ought to Say It!
      • Characters Add Character to Racing
      • In Darlington, Everything Old Is New Again
      • Remember When NASCAR Was All About the Fans?
      • From Michigan to Richmond and All Points In-between
      • Racing at the Glen and Millennials Can Learn from Geezers
      • When the Points Arent the Points and 2+2 Doesnt Equal 4
      • When Rednecks Ran NASCAR
      • Dear Brent Dewar, About That Star Mangled Banner
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Silly Season Is Only Silly for Some
      • Looking Back ~ A View from the Rearview
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ On Road Racing and Dirt Racing
      • Defeat Snatched from the Jaws of Victory
      • Ninety Miles an Hour down a Dead End Street
      • The Good, the Bad and the Intolerable
      • Verrrry Interesting
      • D-Day Demolition Derby at Dover
      • Memorial Day Means So Much More than Racing ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ NASCAR Why Do You Refuse to Listen?
      • A Tale of Two Weekends
      • Remember Adam Petty
      • Truth Will Always Serve Better than a Good Story
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Vaya con Dios
      • It’s Bristol Baby, but Which Bristol?
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ When Enough Becomes Too Much
      • A Sunday Drive, Texas Style
      • One Helluva Good Race; Sorry You Missed It
      • As Requested By the Fans… and Other Fairytales
      • Smokey Yunick Belongs in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Selections and Elections
      • Some Facts Are Indisputable and Some Folks Enjoy Being Unhappy
      • At Daytona, Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
      • A Few More Nicknames and Some Quaint Quotes
      • Nicknames in Racing Have to Be Earned
      • Drivers, Please Start Your Engines
      • The Voice of One Fan Only
      • Fly on the Wall ~ Speaking of Carl Edwards
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Hopefully the Voice of Reason
      • U.S. Nationals, and We Are Not Talking Drag Racing Here
    • PattyKay Lilley 2016 >
      • The Christmas Story as My Mother Told It
      • We’re Gonna Miss the Man Called Smoke
      • The New Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas
      • Remembering The Final Winston Cup Banquet
      • Let’s Talk About Indy Instead of Homestead
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Why All The Secrecy?
      • Martinsville ~ FUBAR
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ And the Fans Need to Be Heard!
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ NASCAR Doesn’t Love Me Anymore
      • Under The Charlotte Lights...Again ~ Lady in Black
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ A Question For Brian Z. France
      • Who’s Abbott, Who’s Costello and Who’s on First
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Where Have All The Race Fans Gone?
      • Throwback ~ The Lady In Black
      • Throwbacks and Tributes and Memories, Oh My
      • Someone Asked About the History of North Wilkesboro
      • Mid-Ohio Mayhem ~ All In Fun
      • His Name Is Waddell Wilson ~ Remember That Name
      • J. D. McDuffie ~ Lived and Died for Racing
      • Attendance and Ratings ~ Do They Matter?
      • Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup ~ What Comes Next?
      • Davey in Retrospect
      • Twisted Sheet Metal and How A Race Should End
      • Is NASCAR For Sale?
      • Wreckin on the Road ~ Lady in Black
      • Marty Robbins ~ NASCAR Balladeer
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Those Silly Ol’ Lug Nuts
      • Junie Donlavey ~ True Pioneer of NASCAR
      • Tim Richmond ~ Right to the Bitter End and Beyond
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Penthouse and the Outhouse
      • Memorial Day Means More than Just Racing
      • Dover - The Good The Bad and the Unacceptable
      • Down Memory Lane ~ Smokey Yunick
      • Best Damn Garage In Town
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Talladega: Too Much of a Bad Thing
      • Tales Of The Talladega Curse
      • A Few Words About The Old Bristol
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ How the Election Process Works
      • A Sunday Drive, Texas Style with the Lady in Black
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Where Have All the Fans Gone?
      • Alan Kulwicki - Always A Champion
      • Volkswagen Isnt Just a Bug Anymore
      • Racing Is For The Young As Well As The Old
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ From The Desert To The Mountains
      • Would You Like Fries With That?
      • A Few Words on Flag Etiquette
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Great Racing But Poor Coverage
      • Leaving Daytona And Headed For Atlanta
      • Dale Earnhardt ~ I Remember You
      • Charter of Franchise, It's All Good
      • Neil Bonnett: Racer, Broadcaster, Legend, And Man
      • A Racer For All Seasons!
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Six Generations Of Cars And Fans
      • Curtis Turner Inducted Into NASCAR Hall Of Fame
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Improving The Fan Experience
      • The Official Everything Of NASCAR
    • PattyKay Lilley 2015 >
      • It’s Hard to Say Goodbye to So Much Talent
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told
      • And How Would You Like That Dashboard: Analog or Digital?
      • The Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas
      • Who You Callin' A Rookie?
      • And Then There Were Four
      • There Really Was A Race In Texas
      • A Twilight Happy Ending And Sunshine On The Horizon
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Luck of Austin Theriault
      • What It Wasn't, Was A Restart
      • Playing The Blame Game
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Am I Still A Race Fan?
      • Under The Charlotte Lights With The Lady in Black
      • It's Probably Not Safe If It's Not SAFER
      • Missing: Race Teams And Sponsors!
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Getting Started, Word Games and Playoffs
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ What Happens When Racing Becomes Soporific?
      • Darlington In The Rearview And Richmond Right Up The Road
      • The Lady in Black at the Riot in Richmond
      • Retro ~ Everything Old is New Again at Darlington
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ So Much Happening And Most Of It Bad
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Actions Detrimental
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Fans Have Some Responsibility, Too
      • The Passing Of A Giant
      • Something Happened At Pocono That Almost Everyone Missed
      • Kissing The Bricks With The Lady In Black
      • Time To Say Goodbye, To A Track And To A Man
      • The Brickyard 400 In The Rearview ~ What Happened?
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Leaving Sparta For Loudon
      • Logic 101 ~ When in Doubt, Rely on Common Sense
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Kentucky Speedway Needs To Be SAFER
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Fireworks At The Firecracker
      • Some Things Just Aren't News
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ On The Road Again
      • NASCAR Fans Didn't Fit The Stereotype
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ A Fan's View On The State Of The Sport
      • The Lady In Black Pokes Fun At Pocono
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ No One Knows What Goes On Behind Closed Doors
      • One LAP UP With The Lady In Black
      • Making Racing Safer With SAFER
      • Memorial Day Should Mean More Than Racing
      • Showdowns, Trucks, A Starlit Night, And A Couple Guys Named Smith
      • Remembering Adam Petty
      • A Lady Makes Her Debut, And We're Not Any SAFER In Kansas, Toto.
      • Talladega ~ The Curse And SAFER Barriers
      • Pretty Words And Strong Words: Steve Byrnes And SAFER Barriers
      • Bristol, By Any Other Name
      • The NASCAR Hall Of Fame ~ How It Works
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Old Races And New Walls
      • The Lady In Black - The Magic Of Martinsville
      • Revisiting Martinsville, Without Jesse Jones
      • The Lady In Black - The Fontana Furnace
      • Sometimes, You Just Have To Laugh
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Our Drivers DeserveThe Safety Of SAFER
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Send In The Clowns
      • SAFER! Just Do It!
      • The Choices of NASCAR, February 18th, And A Million Points Of Light
      • A Perfect Storm And A Sad Farewell
      • They Didn't Have To Go That Way
      • I Fought The Law And The Law Lost!
      • A Voice For The Fans No More
      • The Day The Vortex Theory Was Tested
      • Do We Miss Daytona Testing
      • Autographs And Memories
      • Always Hoping For A Happy New Year
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ A Cup Full Of Snow
  • Frank Buhrman
    • Frank Buhrman ~ 2020 >
      • Constant NASCAR Critic
      • Anything Less Than First Is
      • So What Do We Do Now
      • Daytona Then and Now ~ Which Is Better
      • THE CURE ~ For NASCAR, It’s Elusive
      • Fewer Grandstands and More VIP Suites ~ Recipe for NASCAR Success or Failure
      • A Look Back at Some Obscure Racing History
      • We Race on Sand but Will Racing Last as Long as the Ocean
      • History ~ Praising and Preserving It
      • Daytona ~ Lets Begin
      • Healthy Weekly Racing Essential to NASCAR
    • Frank Buhrman 2019 >
      • Junior – The Best of What Was
      • Fast Forward to Racing in 2030
      • Some Nashville-inspired Thoughts on The Future
      • Bringing Back NASCARs Roots
      • Whats the Right Age to Quit NASCAR
      • Gravel’s Move to NASCAR Is a Bright Light
      • Is There A Beginning in This End
      • For the Nostalgic Purist Maybe Xfinity Is the Place
      • Are Today’s Dreamers Dreaming of Becoming Tomorrow’s NASCAR Stars
      • Old Days Old Ways Or New
      • Theres No Stock in NASCAR and We're Racing the Wrong Cars
      • Lets Think Speed Bumps ~ Mixed Surfaces and Gasp ~ Intentional Contact
      • The Diverse Legacy of Cup Race Tracks
      • Age Is Just A State of ~ Speed
      • A Contrarian Opinion and Other Notes
      • An Old Track and NASCARs Future
      • Where Do the Fans Fit in Tomorrows NASCAR
      • When It’s Wet at The Track and Dry at The Computer, You Start Thinking
      • Dim Pocono Memories A Smaller Track, USAC Stocks and More
      • Underneath the Pavement at Loudon, History and an Idea for the Future
      • Go Reino! Cheering for a Ghost in the Cup field at Kentucky
      • Remember REAL Holiday Racing
      • Who Are Tomorrow’s Fans Going to Cheer
      • Is ALL Racing in Trouble
      • TV Versus Watching in Person ~ What Kind of Race Fan Are You
      • Can We Make Charlotte a Big Deal Again
      • Can Racing Escape the Corrupting Influence of $$$
      • Keep Up With Your Local Tracks and Get to Know the Next Stars
      • A Monster of a Driver at the Monster Mile
      • The Lure of Gimmicks and the Barrier of Money
      • NASCAR and Speed – A Little History
      • Lets Talk About whats Good with NASCAR
      • And Sos Your Bleepin Sponsor
      • Time to Lower the Curtains on Stage Racing
      • Looking Back at NASCAR in the Golden State
      • Add More Real Racers like Preece to Cup and More Fans Just Might Follow
      • Freezing Fans at the Track No Longer Works ~ Here Are Some Better Schedule Ideas
      • A Time for Optimism about NASCAR ~ but This Should Just Be the Start
      • Is NASCARs Future In The PASS
      • Looking Back to Look Forward
      • More Good Times at the Chili Bowl As NASCAR Continues to Sink
      • Does NASCAR Need a Nike
      • Time to Save Xfinity ~ SUVs to the Rescue
    • 2018 Frank Buhrman >
      • All I Want for Christmas
      • Fantasy Picks 2020 - Atlanta Results and Martinsville Picks
      • Whats With the New Spire Cup Team
      • SUVs, New Manufacturers, Electric Cars and More
      • Time for a Talk with the Boss
      • The Season’s Over – Time to Start Again
      • We Need a Little Less Perfection
      • Back in Time to Excitement
      • This Weeks History
      • Martinsville ~ Time for the Good Stuff
      • Betting on the Future
      • Give the 2019 Rules a Chance But Keep Pushing for STOCK!
      • The Stuff Floating Around in Franks Head
      • Is NASCAR the Key to the Future Can It Keep All of Racing Alive
      • Follow the Richmond Races This Weekend Then Return in October for the Clash
      • A Better Schedule for Indy ~ The Area, Not the IMS Race Track
      • Darlington ~ The Links to the Past Set It Apart in a Good Way
      • Ray and Sonny Wouldn’t It Be Nice To Have Local Stars Racing in Cup
      • Racing at a Very Different Bristol, Half a Century Ago
      • From Michigan to Rhonda, N.C.
      • New York, New York ~ Frank Sinatra Could Have Sung the National Anthem
      • Whom Shall We Recruit to Buy NASCAR and Rebuild the Sport We Love
      • Looking Back to the Beach
      • A Farce on the High Banks or Fun in the Dirt
      • Another How to Fix NASCAR Article
      • NASCAR on July 4 – Set the Time Machine for Oswego or Spartanburg or Raleigh or
      • In Our Never-Ending Effort to Save NASCAR, We Present
      • A Sport Sinks While Leadership Keeps Up the Practices that Are Killing It
      • What Weve Lost ~ What I Miss
      • NASCARs sort-of Memorial Day Tradition Is Traditionally Followed by ~ Not Much
      • What If It Had Been Different Back When It All Started
      • A No-France NASCAR A No-NASCAR Racing Circuit
      • Can the Way It Used To Be Work?
      • Put the Local Heroes Back in the Field and Bring Back Variety in Cup Racing
      • Phooey on Fast at Talladega ~ Give Me Slow at Bowman Gray
      • NASCAR Needs More Racers Like Those Who Came Up Through the ASA
      • Does Our Future Keep Going Around in Circles Or Will Other Options Bring the Fans Back
      • In Chartered NASCAR Theres No Room for Guys Like Texan H.B. Bailey
      • Sponsors ~ Who Are They and What Do They Do
      • Its Martinsville ~ Let the REAL Racing Begin
      • Maybe its NASCARs Inspection Process that Really Needs Inspecting
      • Las Vegas’ NASCAR Success Blessed By the Spirit of the Late Mel Larson
      • Stock Car Racing Magazine ~ Lessons Learned from Old Covers
      • Celebrate the Trophy and Money, Daytona Winner, but Don’t Count on Winning that Cup
      • Strollin Down the Beach
      • How About a Swap?
      • The Chili Bowl
      • They May Be Tomorrows NASCAR Stars, But Are They Anybodys Heroes
    • Frank Buhrman 2017 >
      • Make This a Christmas to Remember!
      • Winters Cold Is Colder without Racing. What Can We Do to Get Some
      • A New Champion - and One from NASCARs Infancy
      • Old Stats Are Fun, but They Shot Down a Good Theory
      • Martinsville Went Right, So What Keeps Going Wrong?
      • A Field of Dreams that Never Came True
      • Do NASCAR’s Screw-ups Even Matter If Motorsports Have No Future?
      • Does Speed Make the Speed-Sport More Exciting?
      • My Intro to Charlotte Motor Speedway
      • Racing Grand Nationals Once Meant Prepping Your Car in a Hurry
      • Driver Development Programs Need to Get the Gong
      • Drawing Attention to NASCAR in a Good Way
      • Little Joe, Junior, Gentleman Ned and Mr. Modified on Fairgrounds Dirt
      • Darlington ~ Back Then, It Was Something Special
      • Where Else Has NASCAR Raced in These States?
      • The Formula for Success is Not Obvious in Appealing to Millennials
      • Will NASCAR’s Aging Fans Demand that Medicare Pay for More Comfy Seats at the Speedway?
      • Kyle Larson Wins Races of All Kinds, and He Might Just Save NASCAR
      • With Writers and Racetracks, Age Can Be Everything
      • NASCAR Has It All, So Why Am I Happy Watching the Races at Lizard Creek?
      • Wood Brothers + Blaney = Good News for NASCAR
      • Who Could Make NASCAR A Little Spicier?
      • A Little Ramble in Delaware
      • Not The Masters, But the Wood Brothers Truly Have a Tradition like None Other
      • Speeds Were Slower, Drivers Still Came and Went, and NASCAR Survived
      • A Quick Surf Through NASCAR History
      • More than the Loss of a Great Driver
      • Little Martinsville Is the Monster Track of NASCAR Cup Series History
      • California Not So “Golden” A NASCAR State
      • Franks Guide to How to Fix All That Ails NASCAR
      • A Little Vegas History and Long Trips to Races
      • The Real Dirt on Atlanta’s Racing Past
      • Would More Fans Watch if a “500” Was a “Triathlon?”
      • Media Coverage Today Could Be A Lot Worse
      • Another Link between Short Tracks and What Ails NASCAR
      • Lets Go Back To The Old Definition Of Cheating
    • Frank Buhrman 2016 >
      • Bringing Back the Excitement – One Fan’s Ideas
      • Racing Road Trip: Let’s Head to… Where?
      • Bring Cup Racers Back to the Bullrings
      • Discover Some "Mud Roots" Racing!
      • Memories, Gripes and Maybe a Little Dreamin
      • Frank Likes The Chase...Kind Of
      • 1960's: NASCAR's Northern Tour
      • Chicago: The First Races In The Second City
      • Richmond "Action": Then And Now
      • 1950 To Now: Ladies Attack The Lady In Black
      • Radical Thought: Let Drivers Develop Themselves
      • 1967: With Lower Banking And Smaller Crowds, Bristol Was Still A Big Deal
      • Coverage of Racing Has Changed With The Sport
      • More Bluegrass Than Green Flags For NASCAR In Kentucky
      • The Day Goliath Roared (sort-of) In NASCAR Racing
      • Give a Nod to Larry LoPatin for NASCAR Motors in the Motor State
      • Pondering Racing’s Future in Charlotte . . . and Trumansburg
      • Frank's Loose Lugnuts
      • Fix it, Forget it, or Let Nature Run its Course
      • Oh, The Yellow Flag of Texas
      • A New Track, Some Old Memories . . . But Where is the Lake
      • Let’s Have A Sprint Cup ‘Blindfold Race,’ With Donald Trump Guiding Who?
      • Maybe The Ghost of "Fireball" Can Call The Auto Club 400 Winner
      • It ain’t like it used to be . . . (and sometimes that’s a good thing)
      • Sure, Atlanta Can Be Cold In February, But Remember Richmond?
      • Is A Blast From The Past What NASCAR Needs In The Future
  • Vivian Simons
    • Vivian Simons 2020 >
      • 2020 Review and Hopes for 2021
      • Memories, etc.
      • Is NASCAR’S Chase Fair
      • Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas City
      • As Dale Said...
      • Why Not A Cup Race At Eldora
      • South Point 400 At Las Vegas Review
    • Vivian Simons 2018 >
      • Season’s Greetings to Our Staff and to All of Our Readers
      • And It Came to Be
      • NASCAR and Home
      • History ~ How We Honor It and Why
      • Thoughts on Racers Being Equal
      • Reader Responses and Random Thoughts
      • Through the Years Something Went Wrong
      • Fan Choices
      • Road Course Racing Memories
      • Where Do Old Fans Go
      • The Fan Experience
      • Where Were You When
      • Young Racers vs Kyle Busch
      • Daytona Has Come and Gone - Part 2
      • Daytona Has Come and Gone - Part 1
      • Hey Have You Heard the News
      • Daytona Memories - Again
      • Vehicles and Life Must Change
    • Vivian Simons 2017 >
      • Christmas Wishes to Our Staff
      • Old Versus New - History and Memories
      • Musings During the Off-Season in NASCAR - Again
      • It Is What It Is!
      • Sponsors, Drivers, Tracks & NASCAR
      • Some Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Playoffs
      • Is It a Race or a Show?
      • I Am a Race Fan that Wants to See the Race!
      • Road Course Ringers ~ Are They a Good or a Bad Thing?
      • Phases & Memories = Good Old Days By An Older Fan
      • Who's Gonna Fill Their Seats?
      • Is the Cup Half Full or Half Empty?
      • Observations from the Atlanta Races
      • Musings During the Off-Season in NASCAR
    • Vivian Simons 2016 >
      • Christmas Wishes
      • Is It Racing Or Just A Show?
      • Drivers Or Racers
      • And So It Came To Be
      • The Trucks, The New Chase, And The School Yard Bully
      • The Chase Is Coming! The Chase Is Coming!
      • Parity...Or Toyota Domination?
      • Invasion Of The Lower Tier Victory Snatchers!
      • High Banks and Memory Banks
      • A Road Course Is A Course (Of Course, Of Course...)
      • What Sort of Race Fan Are You?
      • NASCAR Hall Of Fame Or Hall Of Fave?
      • NASCAR's Generation Gap
      • Tony Stewart, NASCAR and Lug Nuts
      • Racing 101
      • Television Coverage Of NASCAR Racing
      • Is The Xfinity Series Fair?
      • Follow The Leader
      • Daytona Memories
    • Vivian Simons 2015 >
      • Addiction, Disillusionment, And Conforming
  • David Nance
    • David Nance 2020 >
      • A Fan’s Memories of Stanley Smith
      • Rain and Fuel Mileage-A Texas Playoff Race
      • I’m Looking for a KFB Sweep
      • After Kansas It’s Time for Some New Terms
      • Chase, He Had No Radio - Ee-I-ee-I-O
      • Chase Saves the Day - KC Lead Change Scorecard
      • Clint Bowyer’s Next Ride
      • DAMP LEAD CHANGE SCORECARD - ROVAL
      • Kentucky Speedway Gone… Just Like That
      • Recipe for Cup Success
      • Six Lead Changes… It’s Bristol, Baby
      • Was Richmond that Bad
      • Lead Change Scorecard - Darlington
      • Lead Change Scorecard
      • It’s Time to Bring Back DW
      • Daytona 500 and the Four Laws
      • Three Laws ~ Plus a New One
      • 2019 In the Rear View ~ 2020 Just Ahead
    • David Nance 2019 >
      • 2019 GOTS ~ Some Interesting Stats
      • Every Fan Needs a Racing Buddy
      • As the Onion Peels... And Its Impact on Kyle Busch
      • Remembering Jimmie Johnson ~ Through the Wrecks
      • We’ve Got Everything We Want ~ and Then Some
      • For Everything There is a Season
      • Choosing Your Words Wisely
      • That Double Yellow Line ~ It Ain’t Going Away
      • The Other Untold Story ~ The Race for the Winless Cup Champion
      • What About the Other Race ~ Win You’re In
      • Race for the Green Tweaked
      • Nashville 400 Backstory - Fifty Years Later
      • Nashville ~ One Giant Step
      • NASCAR Now That’ll Preach!
      • Sonoma in Song
      • DW ~ Deja Vu All Over Again
      • Race for the Green ~ Its Time Has Arrived
      • After 200 ~ Then What
      • Two Aero Packages Down ~Two to Go
      • Put It Out One Last Time ~ David Hoots
      • Race Fans ~ Start Your Predictions
      • Another One Bites the Dust ~ Thank You Jay
      • Respects to a Champion
    • David Nance 2018 >
      • David and Dad
      • Texas Gas ~ NASCAR History Lost
      • Against Headwinds
      • The Race for the Winless Champion
      • DuQuoin Was Our Darlington
      • A New Plan ~ Gentlemen and Ladies, Start Your Acronyms
      • The Day After Loudon
      • Loudon ~ Bruton Is Sitting on a Gold Mine
      • Clint Bowyer Was Right About The Product
      • Man, I Wish Race for the Green Was in Place This Weekend
      • Stage Racing Before It Was Cool
      • Left Turns - Where Did It Start
      • The Shirt ~ One Fan’s Memorial to Alan Kulwicki
      • There Is No Racing This Weekend
      • Martinsville Inspection Procedures = New Crew Chiefs by Friday
      • For a Moment All Was Right with the Racing World
      • Oh Where Oh Where Is NASCARs Driver Alert System
      • Qualifying Concept Long Overdue - Race for the Green
    • David Nance 2017 >
      • Thank You Bud
      • All about the Price Tag
      • And the Real True Playoff Winner Is
      • The Perfect Storm
      • If We Are Going to Have a Playoff, Make It a Real One
      • Outrunning the Bear
      • Level Playing Fields Not Until All Winners Face R &D Inspections
      • Is It Time For Encumbered Starts?
      • Kevin, I Dont Believe Ida Told That
      • And Stomped that Sucker Flat!
      • A Sons First Race… Through the Eyes of a Dad
      • Take Em To The Fence
      • Kyle's Mic Drop ~ Just One of Those Racing Deals
      • Remember When DW Was Monster Energy?
      • We Have Ourselves A Summit!
      • The Hunt for the NASCAR Canary
      • Penalties ~ DW Had A Better Idea
      • If FOX Covered the Kentucky Derby
      • Media Coverage Today Could Be a Lot Better
      • The Week in NASCAR - Opportunity Lost
      • Will Karma Smile on NASCAR?
      • Gentlemen... Start... Your... Commercials
      • The Untold Story of How the New Race Format Came To Be
      • Another Look at Attendance
    • David Nance 2016 >
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ Let Cooter Be Cooter
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ All I Want For Christmas
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ Grand Prix Memories
      • 20-20 + Monster Energy = Race For the Green
      • Please Let It Be Rain
      • It's Just Not Right
      • More Chase, Baby!
      • Three Laws
      • 20-20: The Rest Of The Story
      • Take A Chance, Mr. France
      • Time For A New Chase
      • And That Was Fr'istol!
  • J. L. Steele
    • J.L. Steele - 2020 Articles >
      • Now We Can Breathe
    • J. L. Steele 2019 >
      • Random Ruminations
      • Quick Hits on Charlotte
      • Quick Hits on Dover
      • Quick Hits on Talladega
      • Quick Hits on Richmond
      • Quick Hits on Bristol 1
      • Quick Hits on Texas 1
      • Quick Hits on Martinsville
      • Quick Hits on Fontana
      • Quick Hits on Phoenix
      • Quick Hits on Vegas
      • Quick Hits on Daytona and Atlanta
      • Off Season Thoughts
    • J.L. Steele 2018 >
      • 2018 ~ It Was a Good One
      • Logano Is Not the Problem, Hes the Solution
      • Jimmie Johnsons Roval Win
      • Some Guys Just Dont Know When to Quit
      • The Glass Is Half Full
      • Back to the Future
      • Predictions and Wishes ~ Through a Hazy Crystal Ball
    • J. L. Steele 2017 >
      • A NASCAR Fans Letter to Santa
      • 2017 in the Rear View Mirror
      • A Sign of the Bad Times
      • Ken Squier at Darlington
      • Thoughts, Opinions and Rumors - Oh My!
      • Leave Junior Alone!
      • Kyle Busch is Exactly What NASCAR Needs
      • Let’s Save the Truck Series
    • J. L. Steele 2016 >
      • Brian's Big Monday
      • A Wishing Well And A Crystal Ball
      • A Parting Gift For Stewart
      • A Perfect Voice For A Perfect Time
      • Growth By Subtraction
    • J. L. Steele 2015 >
      • Meet The Racing Marine
      • A Race Fan's Christmas Wish List
      • Sunset At Martinsville
      • The Michael Waltrip Dilemma
      • The Rich Keep Getting Richer, While The Xfinity Series Dies
      • The Last Perfect Night
      • Halfway(?) Home...
      • The Essence Of Racing
      • Ranking The Truex Win
      • Visiting Victory Lane
      • The Silver Lining
      • Smoke Will Rise
      • No Comparison When Comparing Newman and Bowyer
      • Advice For Race Tracks
      • Making A Case For Kahne
      • Support Your Local Short Track
      • SAFE Is A Four Letter Word
      • Dinner With D.W.
      • Gordon's Greatness
      • Wendell Scott - Leader Of The Class
      • We Shook Earnhardt's Hand
      • Show Me The Money! (And Where It Comes From)
      • The King And I
  • Dana Gibson
    • Dana Gibson 2019
    • Dana Gibson 2018 Articles >
      • On Heroes
      • Infield Dreams
      • Ghosts of My History
  • Mitch Walker
    • Mitch Walker 2019 >
      • Respect in Racing
      • The Dale Singleton Story
      • Cost Is Killing Racing
      • Changes and Changes
      • Racing Like It Used to Be
      • Heroes
      • Can Driver Safety and Speed Work Together
      • NASCAR ~ Is It Done
      • An Evening with Tiger Tom Pistone
      • Through My Eyes
      • 2019 ~The Dr.s Take on It
      • Just Amazing What Can Be Learned Through Racing
      • A Trophy Story
    • Mitch Walker 2018 >
      • 400 Miles of Mayhem
      • A Trip Through Time
      • Its History, Like It or Not
      • Once the Local Tracks Are Gone
      • Kevin Harvick Gets It!
      • Racing, Broadcasting, Blocking and the Win ~ All Bad
      • Lets Go Racin
      • Untold Stories ~ Hidden History
    • Mitch Walker 2017 >
      • The Son of a Country Boy; the Son of a Champion
      • You Dont Tug on Supermans Cape
      • How It All Got Started
      • What Drove the Core Fans Away?
      • Who Benefits from the Decline in NASCAR Attendance?
      • Old School: Lessons By Legends
      • The Drs Script for the Ails of NASCAR
  • Tim Leeming
    • Tim Leeming 2019
    • Tim Leeming 2018 >
      • An Introduction to Billy Scott
      • Second Turn to the Left and Straight on to
      • Do You Believe
      • The Question Was Why ~ The Answer
      • What Difference Did They Make
      • The Magic Window ~ Closing It Up
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter 8 The Phone Rings Again and Ford Has a Better Idea
      • The Magic Window~ Chapter Seven - More Damage Than First Appeared. One Shot Deal, NASCAR
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Six New Season, New Colors, New Number, New Sponsor, Wow!
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Five Things Called Spacers and a Menace Named Dennis
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Four From Disaster to Faster but Caught in a Clutch
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Three The Kid Gets a Name and the King Comes to Town
      • The Magic Window ~ Chapter Two Trailers, Late Night Talks and High Banked Asphalt
      • That Magic Window You Climb Through
      • How to Become Popular with Georgia Law Enforcement
      • Is Time Travel Possible?
      • Theres a Sign Post Up Ahead
      • An Uncles Legacy to His Nephew
    • Tim Leeming 2017 >
      • My Name Is Not Important
      • The Darlington Shocker
      • The Eclipse and a Race Car
      • Lil Bud Moore Tribute
      • The Sly FOX (Sports Network)
  • Matt McLaughlin - Anniversary Edition - 50 Years of NASCAR Racing
    • #100 - Truth is Stranger than Fiction - Part 2
    • #99 - Truth is Stranger than Fiction - Part 1
    • #98 - Alan Kulwicki ~ Running Down a Dream
    • #97 - The Hickory Wind Blows Cold
    • #96 - David Slays Goliath
    • #95 - Until the Fat Lady Sings
    • #94 - Charlotte in the Fall
    • #93 - One Magical Season - 1992 ~ Part 3
    • #92 - One Magical Season ~ 1992 - Part 2
    • #91 - One Magical Season ~ 1992 - Part 1
    • #90 - Remembering Davey ~ Part 2
    • #89 - Remembering Davey ~ Part 1
    • #88 - The Bump and Grind
    • #87 - High Stakes on the High Banks
    • #86 - The Fall of Richmond
    • #85 - The Southern 500 ~ The Granddaddy of Them All - Part 6 of 6
    • #84 - The Southern 500 ~ The Granddaddy of Them All - Part 5 of 6
    • #83 - The Southern 500 ~ The Granddaddy of Them All - Part 4 of 6
    • #82 - The Southern 500 ~ The Granddaddy of Them All - Part 3 of 6
    • #81 - The Southern 500 ~ The Granddaddy of Them All - Part 2 of 6
    • #80 - The Southern 500 ~ The Granddaddy of Them All - Part 1 of 6
    • #79 - Better Get Back To Tennessee, Jed
    • #78 - MPH Not MPG ~ The Michigan Of Old
    • #77 - Controversy, Let It Rage - Part 2
    • #76 - Controversy, Let It Rage - Part 1
    • #75 - Road Warriors
    • #74 - Hot Fun in the Summertime
    • #73 - Hallowed Ground
    • #72 - Hotter Than the Fourth of July
    • #71 - Close But No Cigar
    • #70 – My One and Only ~ Part 2
    • #69 - My One and Only ~ Part 1
    • #68 - You Never Forget Your First ~ Part 3
    • #67 - You Never Forget Your First ~ Part 2
    • #66 - You Never Forget Your First ~ Part 1 of 3
    • #65 - Road Rage
    • #64 - Triumph, Tragedy and the Tunnel Turn
    • #63 - The Luck of the Irish
    • #62 - Islip ~ Long Island, Short Track
    • #61 - Richmond, the Pettys, and the Evolution of NASCAR
    • #60 - Kid Lightning
    • #59 - Temper, Temper! Part 2
    • #58 - Temper, Temper!
    • #57 - The Monster Is Coming!
    • #56 - The World 600
    • #55 - The Winston ~ Checkers or Wreckers
    • #54 - Occoneechee Speedway
    • #53 - Trenton ~ The Speedway of the North
    • #52 - Texas World Speedway ~ Field of Shattered Dreams
    • #51 - Ontario ~ The Best Laid Plans
    • #50 - Do You Feel a Draft
    • #49 - Martinsville in the Spring
    • #48 - Hickory ~ The Birthplace of Legends
    • #47 - Oddities ~ Short Takes - Part 2
    • #46 - Oddities ~ The Bizarre and Peculiar
    • #45 - North Wilkesboro
    • #44 - The Ford-Chrysler Duel
    • #43 - The Bristol Stomp
    • #42 - Big Blocks, Bickering, and Bill
    • #41 - Tim Richmond ~ The Reason We Remember ~ Part 2
    • #40 - Tim Richmond ~ The Reason We Remember ~ Part 1
    • #39 - Too Tough to Tame for Too Long to Recall
    • #38 - Tales from Days of Yore
    • #37 - Atlanta Motor Speedway
    • #36 - J.D. Stacy
    • #35 - Viva Las Vegas
    • #34 - The Rock
    • #33 - The Daytona 500 1994-1997
    • #32 - Swervin' Irvan and the Second Generation
    • #31 - Daytona - Little Cars and Big Bucks
    • #30 - Heart Stoppers, Heart Breakers and Heart Warmers
    • #29 - The Factories Go Home and Petty Goes on a Tear
    • #28 - The Daytona 500 1965-1970
    • #27 - The Daytona 500 ~ 1960-1964
    • #26 - Beyond the Beach - The First Daytona 500
    • #25 - Racing on the Beach
    • #24 - Larry LoPatin and American Raceways
    • #23 - Fuelish Pride
    • #22 - The Day the Music Almost Died
    • #21 - DW and DiGard ~ Breaking Up is Hard to Do
    • #20 - Winston to the Rescue
    • #19 - Charlotte ~ 1964 Drama & Danger - Part 2
    • #18 - Charlotte ~ 1964 Drama & Danger - Part 1
    • #17 - In the Beginning
    • #16 - Ford Strikes Out - The 1966 Boycott
    • #15 - Before he was Awesome
    • #14 - 1965 ~ Chrysler Plays Hardball
    • #13 - A Million to One
    • #12 - Seven up ~ The King Wins his Seventh Title
    • #11 - The Great Spoiler Debate of 1981
    • #10 - The Original Golden Boy
    • #9 - The Greatest Race Ever
    • #8 – The Petty-Allison Feud
    • #7 - The First Super Team
    • #6 - By the Time I Get to Phoenix
    • #5 - 1967 ~ Richard Petty Becomes The King
    • #4 - Charlotte ~ Bright Lights and Dark Days
    • #3 - Those Cheatin Ways
    • #2 - The Talladega Curse
    • #1 - Showdown in Alabama
  • "Tiger" Tom Pistone ~ Racing, Now And Then
  • Previous Columnists
    • Jim Fitzgerald >
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2019 >
        • 200 Versus 200
        • The Last Man Standing
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2018 >
        • Another One Bites the Dust
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2017 >
        • The Cup Series Is Revisiting A "Monster" From Its Checkered Past
        • Ode, To The Cup Series
        • When Do We Start Hating On Kyle Larson?
        • Attendance And The Worst Excuse Ever
        • The One I Knew About, The One That Was A Surprise, And The One That Shocked Me
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2016 >
        • Bunch of Sore Loser Crybabies (No, Not You...THEM!)
        • Look At Those Marbles!
        • I Guess We Can Discuss "Playoffs" Now...
        • How Many More Beatings...
        • Dover ~ A Bitter Sweet Relief
        • NHRA Sizzles While NASCAR Fizzles?
        • Out Of Focus: The 2016 Championship Picture
        • Ignorant Fans Of A Feather Are Dumb Together
        • That Final Lap
        • Blame Kyle Busch
        • I Thought The Daytona 500 Was...
        • Caution Clocks, Chase Formats, Heat Races, and Knee-Jerk Reactions
        • Don’t Know What You’ve Got Until It’s Gone
      • Jim Fitzgerald 2015 >
        • A Sunset On 2015
        • OWW! Track Communication
        • Bowyer And Harvick Are In It To Win It
        • A Lap Ahead...
        • Toeing The Line: Let's Argue About Restarts
        • Hot & Heavy ~ Rules, Rules, Rules
        • My Dear, Dear, Uninformed Person Speaking About NASCAR
        • The Day Rusty Wallace Scared The $&@# Out Of My Mom
        • A Lap Around: Hot Topics
        • Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Three Times A Winner?
        • On The Dover Road
        • All-Star Memories
        • NASCAR Racing: A Team Sport?
        • Cheating The Cat
        • Cheers To The Best Beer Cars!
        • Just Don't Call It The "R" Word
        • Fans Eye View ~ Star Wars And Stock Cars
    • James Crooks >
      • James Crooks 2017 >
        • Why Talladega Scares Me and Why I Love It
        • A Six Pack Down And A Thirty Pack Left To Go
        • In The Year 2525 ~ NASCAR’s New Rule Changes for All Three Top Series
        • Thoughts As We Green Flag The 2017 Season
        • Get Off Your Duff and Go to the Track!
      • Carl Edwards, The Earnhardts, and Grandpaw
      • James Crooks 2016 >
        • All I Want for Christmas is Winston Cup Back!
        • What Happened to Roush-Fenway Racing?
        • Support Your Local Race Track!
        • The Mystery of the History(Did Anyone See It?)
    • Jeremiah Thalheimer >
      • Jeremiah Thalheimer 2016 >
        • A Day In The Life Of A NASCAR Official
        • Move Over Football - NASCAR Is The Real Family
        • The Ultimate All-Star Format
        • Six Years, One Dream
        • The Faith Of NASCAR
        • The Benefits of the Current Sponsorship Climate
        • Up And Coming: Christopher Hogan
        • Dale Earnhardt: What Might Have Been
        • Sterling Marlin: What Might Have Been
        • Casey Atwood: What Might Have Been
        • Kenny Irwin, Jr: What Might Have Been
      • Jeremiah Thalheimer 2015 >
        • Ernie Irvan: What Might Have Been
        • Davey Allison: What Might Have Been
        • Alan Kulwicki: What Might Have Been
        • 2019 Fantasy Game >
          • Season Finale
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Homestead
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Phoenix 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Texas 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Martinsville 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Kansas 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Talladega 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Dover 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Charlotte Roval
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Richmond 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Las Vegas 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Indianapolis
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Darlington
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Bristol 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 Watkins Glen
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Pocono 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ New Hampshire
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Kentucky
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Daytona 2
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Chicago
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          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Michigan 1
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 Pocono 1
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Coke 600
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Kansas 1
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Dover 1
          • Fantasy Picks ~ Talladega 2019
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 Richmond 1
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 Bristol 1
          • Fantasy Picks 2019 Texas 1
          • Fantasy Picks ~ Martinsville
          • Fantasy Picks ~ Fontana
          • Fantasy Picks ~ ISM 1
          • Fantasy Picks ~ Las Vegas 1
          • Fantasy Picks ~ Atlanta
          • Fantasy Picks ~ Daytona 1
        • Fantasy Picks 2019 ~ Michigan 2
        • A Case For The Chase
        • A Four Year Old's View Of The Greatest Race Of All Time
        • A Phoenix Fan Memory
        • Does NASCAR = Baseball?
        • The New Souvenir Experience
        • A Review of NASCAR in the Heartland
        • The Psychology Of NASCAR
        • When Our Heroes Hang It Up
        • The Time I Helped Tony Stewart Win at Daytona
        • How Richard Petty Made Me a Lifelong NASCAR Fan
        • Why NASCAR Is Better Than Pro Football
        • The Plight Of Local Racing
        • What Was The Greatest Fight In Racing?
        • How To Make A Race Fan In Ten Minutes Or Less
        • Short Track Racing With Lightning McQueen >
          • Robyn Vandenberg 2014 >
            • NASCAR's Little Prince
            • How Would NASCAR Handle A "Sterling" Situation?
            • NASCAR Fans: Gotta Love 'Em!
            • When Was The Last Time You Thought Of Kenny?
            • NASCAR Races: Rigged?
            • Dale Jr. Is On Twitter And Taking Over!
            • Hey, What Are You Doing This Weekend?
            • I Am A NASCAR Fan
            • An Apology To Brad Keselowski
        • One Of The Greatest Comebacks In Racing
        • NASCAR Memories
        • Legends Never Die
        • For The Love Of Racing, Part II
        • For The Love Of Racing, Part I
        • Bobby Hamilton Was My Favorite
    • Kevin Abraham >
      • Kevin Abraham 2015 >
        • The Shift: The Chase, Cheating, And Short Tracks
        • The Shift: Changing Of The Guard, Kurt Busch, And Domination
    • David Allen >
      • David Allen 2014
    • Robyn Vandenberg
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  • Welcome to the 2020 Fantasy Racing Game
    • 2020 Fantasy Picks >
      • Fantasy Picks 2020 - Atlanta Results and Martinsville Picks >
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        • 2020 Fantasy Picks Pocono 1 & 2
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        • Fantasy Picks 2020 - BristolResults and Atlanta Picks
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  • Article Links Page
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  • PattyKay Lilley
    • PattyKay Lilley ~ 2020 >
      • Quotes from NASCAR's Earlier Days
      • Marty Robbins ~ NASCAR Balladeer ~ 2020 Reprise
      • The Question Is Not About Lug Nuts
      • A Change Is Recommended
      • I Remember You ~ 2020 Reprise
      • In Loving Memory of Neil Bonnett ~ 2020
      • An Earnhardt Kind of Day ~ 2020 Reprise
      • Its Almost Daytona
      • Looking Back on the Beginning of The Chase
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Let’s talk about “Smokey” Again
    • PattyKay Lilley 2019 >
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told ~ 2019
      • Saying Goodbye to 2019
      • The Lady in Black is Back
      • The Little Track by the Railroad Track ~ 2019
      • Yellow Line Rule or No Yellow Line Rule
      • Racing the Way It Was When I Started
      • A Defining Moment ~ 1992 Finale at Atlanta
      • Chasing and Whining
      • Adam Petty
      • The Passing of a Giant ~ Buddy Baker
      • Whatever Happened to North Wilkesboro
      • The Life and Good Times of Curtis Turner
      • Tim Richmond Remembered
      • J. D. McDuffie ~ Lived and Died for Racing - Reprise
      • If It’s Foggy It Must Be Pocono
      • New Hampshire Nonsense 2003
      • Rain on the Firecracker 400 ~ No Surprise
      • A Tale of Two Races
      • Down Memory Lane ~ Fireball Roberts
      • Lets Hit the Road
      • Michigan Shenanigans
      • Junie Donlavey ~ A NASCAR Pioneer
      • Tales from the Lighter Side ~ Final Chapter
      • Memorial Day Means So Much More than Racing ~ 2019
      • The Lighter Side of NASCAR ~ Whats in a Name
      • Tales from the Lighter Side ~ Terry Labonte, Ward Burton and More
      • Tales from the Lighter Side ~ Bobby Allison, Ken Schrader and More
      • Quotable Quotes from NASCAR
      • Tales from the Lighter Side ~ Another Round of Quotes
      • NASCAR Quotes from Smokey and Others
      • Tales from the Lighter Side of NASCAR
      • An Objective Look at the 2020 Schedule
      • Pretty Little Martinsville
      • The Lady in Black Visits the Land of Fruits and Nuts
      • Facts and Fantasies about the New Package
      • The NASCAR Balladeer ~ Marty Robbins
      • Leaving Daytona and Looking Forward to Atlanta
      • I Remember You ~ Reprise
      • An Earnhardt Kind of Day ~ Reprise
      • In Memory of Neil Bonnett
      • The Loss of a Treasure
      • All Kinds of News and None of It Bad
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Daytona SpeedWeeks Are Upon Us
      • NASCAR Doesnt Love Me Anymore ~ Reprise
      • Where Winter Racing Can Be Found
      • When Rednecks Ran NASCAR ~ 2019
    • PattyKay Lilley 2018 >
      • The Cars and Fans through the Generations
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told ~ 2018
      • The Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas ~ 2018
      • Thursday Night Thunder
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Is it Finally Time for Smokey Yunick
      • The End of the Season and Some Sad Farewells
      • A Busy Racing Weekend and Then…
      • A Good Mood Spoiled
      • Bump or Dump ~ Yes There Is a Difference
      • Pretty Little Martinsville ~ 2018
      • Old Versus New ~ Age Versus Youth
      • Tales of the Talladega Curse ~ 2018
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Word Games
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Some Things You Might Not Know About ROVALS
      • Thoughts and Memories from an Aging Mind
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Echoes of Indy
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Sound of Silence
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Place Where Names Are Made
      • Bristol ~ From Snow Squalls to Snow Angels
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Questions and Answers
      • Thank God for the SAFER Barriers and Other Varied Thoughts
      • Rain Delay, Sticky Stuff and the Little Race that Could
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ From This Fans Point of View
      • Davey in Retrospect – 25 Years
      • Remembering the Very First Truck Race at Eldora
      • Bobbles in the Booth and Stages in a Road Course Race
      • Nicknames Are Usually Earned
      • Shenanigans at Sonoma
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Insert Clever Title Here
      • What Did He Say
      • Memorial Day Means So Much More than Racing ~ 2018
      • All-Star Racing or Short Track Nationals ~ The Choice is Yours
      • Adam Petty Remembered
      • Its All about Tradition
      • The White Cement of Dover
      • 31 Years of a Temporary Fix
      • We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us
      • All the News Unfit to Print~ All-Star Edition
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ No One Is Listening
      • Alan Kulwicki Will Always Be a Champion
      • 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Selections and Elections
      • Fontana to Martinsville and All About the Fan Experience
      • Kevin Harvick Is Right ~ Grass Roots Racing Does Matter
      • The Road Less Traveled
      • Surefire Cost Cutting Ideas for NASCAR
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Too Much Is More than Enough
      • I Remember You ~ My Personal Tribute to Dale Earnhardt
      • An Earnhardt Kind of Day
      • Remembering Neil Bonnett
      • Daytona Fever
      • NASCAR Looked the Other Way
      • A Look in the Rear View Mirror ~ Keith Jackson
      • The Product Is Encumbered and Therefore Not Marketable
      • Its January Already
      • The Perfect Storm and a Sad Farewell
    • PattyKay Lilley 2017 >
      • That Time between Christmas and Daytona
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told ~ 2017
      • I Still Believe in Santa Claus ~ Jimmy Spencer
      • A Defining Moment in NASCAR History
      • Remembering the Final Winston Cup Banquet ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Dont Believe Your Lying Eyes
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ One Last Ride
      • As the 2017 Season Draws to a Close
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Who Is Not Speaking to Whom?
      • The Little Track by the Railroad Track
      • NASCAR Goes Country
      • Tales of the Talladega Curse ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Sad Times and Poor Broadcasting
      • Not One Knee Was Taken During Solemn Prerace Ceremonies at Dover
      • The White Cliffs of Dover ~ Delaware
      • History Holds the Back Story ~ RPM
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Someone Ought to Say It!
      • Characters Add Character to Racing
      • In Darlington, Everything Old Is New Again
      • Remember When NASCAR Was All About the Fans?
      • From Michigan to Richmond and All Points In-between
      • Racing at the Glen and Millennials Can Learn from Geezers
      • When the Points Arent the Points and 2+2 Doesnt Equal 4
      • When Rednecks Ran NASCAR
      • Dear Brent Dewar, About That Star Mangled Banner
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Silly Season Is Only Silly for Some
      • Looking Back ~ A View from the Rearview
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ On Road Racing and Dirt Racing
      • Defeat Snatched from the Jaws of Victory
      • Ninety Miles an Hour down a Dead End Street
      • The Good, the Bad and the Intolerable
      • Verrrry Interesting
      • D-Day Demolition Derby at Dover
      • Memorial Day Means So Much More than Racing ~ 2017
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ NASCAR Why Do You Refuse to Listen?
      • A Tale of Two Weekends
      • Remember Adam Petty
      • Truth Will Always Serve Better than a Good Story
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Vaya con Dios
      • It’s Bristol Baby, but Which Bristol?
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ When Enough Becomes Too Much
      • A Sunday Drive, Texas Style
      • One Helluva Good Race; Sorry You Missed It
      • As Requested By the Fans… and Other Fairytales
      • Smokey Yunick Belongs in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ Selections and Elections
      • Some Facts Are Indisputable and Some Folks Enjoy Being Unhappy
      • At Daytona, Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
      • A Few More Nicknames and Some Quaint Quotes
      • Nicknames in Racing Have to Be Earned
      • Drivers, Please Start Your Engines
      • The Voice of One Fan Only
      • Fly on the Wall ~ Speaking of Carl Edwards
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Hopefully the Voice of Reason
      • U.S. Nationals, and We Are Not Talking Drag Racing Here
    • PattyKay Lilley 2016 >
      • The Christmas Story as My Mother Told It
      • We’re Gonna Miss the Man Called Smoke
      • The New Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas
      • Remembering The Final Winston Cup Banquet
      • Let’s Talk About Indy Instead of Homestead
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Why All The Secrecy?
      • Martinsville ~ FUBAR
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ And the Fans Need to Be Heard!
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ NASCAR Doesn’t Love Me Anymore
      • Under The Charlotte Lights...Again ~ Lady in Black
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ A Question For Brian Z. France
      • Who’s Abbott, Who’s Costello and Who’s on First
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Where Have All The Race Fans Gone?
      • Throwback ~ The Lady In Black
      • Throwbacks and Tributes and Memories, Oh My
      • Someone Asked About the History of North Wilkesboro
      • Mid-Ohio Mayhem ~ All In Fun
      • His Name Is Waddell Wilson ~ Remember That Name
      • J. D. McDuffie ~ Lived and Died for Racing
      • Attendance and Ratings ~ Do They Matter?
      • Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup ~ What Comes Next?
      • Davey in Retrospect
      • Twisted Sheet Metal and How A Race Should End
      • Is NASCAR For Sale?
      • Wreckin on the Road ~ Lady in Black
      • Marty Robbins ~ NASCAR Balladeer
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Those Silly Ol’ Lug Nuts
      • Junie Donlavey ~ True Pioneer of NASCAR
      • Tim Richmond ~ Right to the Bitter End and Beyond
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Penthouse and the Outhouse
      • Memorial Day Means More than Just Racing
      • Dover - The Good The Bad and the Unacceptable
      • Down Memory Lane ~ Smokey Yunick
      • Best Damn Garage In Town
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Talladega: Too Much of a Bad Thing
      • Tales Of The Talladega Curse
      • A Few Words About The Old Bristol
      • NASCAR Hall of Fame ~ How the Election Process Works
      • A Sunday Drive, Texas Style with the Lady in Black
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Where Have All the Fans Gone?
      • Alan Kulwicki - Always A Champion
      • Volkswagen Isnt Just a Bug Anymore
      • Racing Is For The Young As Well As The Old
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ From The Desert To The Mountains
      • Would You Like Fries With That?
      • A Few Words on Flag Etiquette
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Great Racing But Poor Coverage
      • Leaving Daytona And Headed For Atlanta
      • Dale Earnhardt ~ I Remember You
      • Charter of Franchise, It's All Good
      • Neil Bonnett: Racer, Broadcaster, Legend, And Man
      • A Racer For All Seasons!
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Six Generations Of Cars And Fans
      • Curtis Turner Inducted Into NASCAR Hall Of Fame
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Improving The Fan Experience
      • The Official Everything Of NASCAR
    • PattyKay Lilley 2015 >
      • It’s Hard to Say Goodbye to So Much Talent
      • The Christmas Story My Mother Told
      • And How Would You Like That Dashboard: Analog or Digital?
      • The Twelve Days of a NASCAR Christmas
      • Who You Callin' A Rookie?
      • And Then There Were Four
      • There Really Was A Race In Texas
      • A Twilight Happy Ending And Sunshine On The Horizon
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ The Luck of Austin Theriault
      • What It Wasn't, Was A Restart
      • Playing The Blame Game
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Am I Still A Race Fan?
      • Under The Charlotte Lights With The Lady in Black
      • It's Probably Not Safe If It's Not SAFER
      • Missing: Race Teams And Sponsors!
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ Getting Started, Word Games and Playoffs
      • A Voice for the Fans ~ What Happens When Racing Becomes Soporific?
      • Darlington In The Rearview And Richmond Right Up The Road
      • The Lady in Black at the Riot in Richmond
      • Retro ~ Everything Old is New Again at Darlington
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ So Much Happening And Most Of It Bad
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Actions Detrimental
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Fans Have Some Responsibility, Too
      • The Passing Of A Giant
      • Something Happened At Pocono That Almost Everyone Missed
      • Kissing The Bricks With The Lady In Black
      • Time To Say Goodbye, To A Track And To A Man
      • The Brickyard 400 In The Rearview ~ What Happened?
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Leaving Sparta For Loudon
      • Logic 101 ~ When in Doubt, Rely on Common Sense
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Kentucky Speedway Needs To Be SAFER
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Fireworks At The Firecracker
      • Some Things Just Aren't News
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ On The Road Again
      • NASCAR Fans Didn't Fit The Stereotype
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ A Fan's View On The State Of The Sport
      • The Lady In Black Pokes Fun At Pocono
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ No One Knows What Goes On Behind Closed Doors
      • One LAP UP With The Lady In Black
      • Making Racing Safer With SAFER
      • Memorial Day Should Mean More Than Racing
      • Showdowns, Trucks, A Starlit Night, And A Couple Guys Named Smith
      • Remembering Adam Petty
      • A Lady Makes Her Debut, And We're Not Any SAFER In Kansas, Toto.
      • Talladega ~ The Curse And SAFER Barriers
      • Pretty Words And Strong Words: Steve Byrnes And SAFER Barriers
      • Bristol, By Any Other Name
      • The NASCAR Hall Of Fame ~ How It Works
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Old Races And New Walls
      • The Lady In Black - The Magic Of Martinsville
      • Revisiting Martinsville, Without Jesse Jones
      • The Lady In Black - The Fontana Furnace
      • Sometimes, You Just Have To Laugh
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Our Drivers DeserveThe Safety Of SAFER
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ Send In The Clowns
      • SAFER! Just Do It!
      • The Choices of NASCAR, February 18th, And A Million Points Of Light
      • A Perfect Storm And A Sad Farewell
      • They Didn't Have To Go That Way
      • I Fought The Law And The Law Lost!
      • A Voice For The Fans No More
      • The Day The Vortex Theory Was Tested
      • Do We Miss Daytona Testing
      • Autographs And Memories
      • Always Hoping For A Happy New Year
      • A Voice For The Fans ~ A Cup Full Of Snow
  • Frank Buhrman
    • Frank Buhrman ~ 2020 >
      • Constant NASCAR Critic
      • Anything Less Than First Is
      • So What Do We Do Now
      • Daytona Then and Now ~ Which Is Better
      • THE CURE ~ For NASCAR, It’s Elusive
      • Fewer Grandstands and More VIP Suites ~ Recipe for NASCAR Success or Failure
      • A Look Back at Some Obscure Racing History
      • We Race on Sand but Will Racing Last as Long as the Ocean
      • History ~ Praising and Preserving It
      • Daytona ~ Lets Begin
      • Healthy Weekly Racing Essential to NASCAR
    • Frank Buhrman 2019 >
      • Junior – The Best of What Was
      • Fast Forward to Racing in 2030
      • Some Nashville-inspired Thoughts on The Future
      • Bringing Back NASCARs Roots
      • Whats the Right Age to Quit NASCAR
      • Gravel’s Move to NASCAR Is a Bright Light
      • Is There A Beginning in This End
      • For the Nostalgic Purist Maybe Xfinity Is the Place
      • Are Today’s Dreamers Dreaming of Becoming Tomorrow’s NASCAR Stars
      • Old Days Old Ways Or New
      • Theres No Stock in NASCAR and We're Racing the Wrong Cars
      • Lets Think Speed Bumps ~ Mixed Surfaces and Gasp ~ Intentional Contact
      • The Diverse Legacy of Cup Race Tracks
      • Age Is Just A State of ~ Speed
      • A Contrarian Opinion and Other Notes
      • An Old Track and NASCARs Future
      • Where Do the Fans Fit in Tomorrows NASCAR
      • When It’s Wet at The Track and Dry at The Computer, You Start Thinking
      • Dim Pocono Memories A Smaller Track, USAC Stocks and More
      • Underneath the Pavement at Loudon, History and an Idea for the Future
      • Go Reino! Cheering for a Ghost in the Cup field at Kentucky
      • Remember REAL Holiday Racing
      • Who Are Tomorrow’s Fans Going to Cheer
      • Is ALL Racing in Trouble
      • TV Versus Watching in Person ~ What Kind of Race Fan Are You
      • Can We Make Charlotte a Big Deal Again
      • Can Racing Escape the Corrupting Influence of $$$
      • Keep Up With Your Local Tracks and Get to Know the Next Stars
      • A Monster of a Driver at the Monster Mile
      • The Lure of Gimmicks and the Barrier of Money
      • NASCAR and Speed – A Little History
      • Lets Talk About whats Good with NASCAR
      • And Sos Your Bleepin Sponsor
      • Time to Lower the Curtains on Stage Racing
      • Looking Back at NASCAR in the Golden State
      • Add More Real Racers like Preece to Cup and More Fans Just Might Follow
      • Freezing Fans at the Track No Longer Works ~ Here Are Some Better Schedule Ideas
      • A Time for Optimism about NASCAR ~ but This Should Just Be the Start
      • Is NASCARs Future In The PASS
      • Looking Back to Look Forward
      • More Good Times at the Chili Bowl As NASCAR Continues to Sink
      • Does NASCAR Need a Nike
      • Time to Save Xfinity ~ SUVs to the Rescue
    • 2018 Frank Buhrman >
      • All I Want for Christmas
      • Fantasy Picks 2020 - Atlanta Results and Martinsville Picks
      • Whats With the New Spire Cup Team
      • SUVs, New Manufacturers, Electric Cars and More
      • Time for a Talk with the Boss
      • The Season’s Over – Time to Start Again
      • We Need a Little Less Perfection
      • Back in Time to Excitement
      • This Weeks History
      • Martinsville ~ Time for the Good Stuff
      • Betting on the Future
      • Give the 2019 Rules a Chance But Keep Pushing for STOCK!
      • The Stuff Floating Around in Franks Head
      • Is NASCAR the Key to the Future Can It Keep All of Racing Alive
      • Follow the Richmond Races This Weekend Then Return in October for the Clash
      • A Better Schedule for Indy ~ The Area, Not the IMS Race Track
      • Darlington ~ The Links to the Past Set It Apart in a Good Way
      • Ray and Sonny Wouldn’t It Be Nice To Have Local Stars Racing in Cup
      • Racing at a Very Different Bristol, Half a Century Ago
      • From Michigan to Rhonda, N.C.
      • New York, New York ~ Frank Sinatra Could Have Sung the National Anthem
      • Whom Shall We Recruit to Buy NASCAR and Rebuild the Sport We Love
      • Looking Back to the Beach
      • A Farce on the High Banks or Fun in the Dirt
      • Another How to Fix NASCAR Article
      • NASCAR on July 4 – Set the Time Machine for Oswego or Spartanburg or Raleigh or
      • In Our Never-Ending Effort to Save NASCAR, We Present
      • A Sport Sinks While Leadership Keeps Up the Practices that Are Killing It
      • What Weve Lost ~ What I Miss
      • NASCARs sort-of Memorial Day Tradition Is Traditionally Followed by ~ Not Much
      • What If It Had Been Different Back When It All Started
      • A No-France NASCAR A No-NASCAR Racing Circuit
      • Can the Way It Used To Be Work?
      • Put the Local Heroes Back in the Field and Bring Back Variety in Cup Racing
      • Phooey on Fast at Talladega ~ Give Me Slow at Bowman Gray
      • NASCAR Needs More Racers Like Those Who Came Up Through the ASA
      • Does Our Future Keep Going Around in Circles Or Will Other Options Bring the Fans Back
      • In Chartered NASCAR Theres No Room for Guys Like Texan H.B. Bailey
      • Sponsors ~ Who Are They and What Do They Do
      • Its Martinsville ~ Let the REAL Racing Begin
      • Maybe its NASCARs Inspection Process that Really Needs Inspecting
      • Las Vegas’ NASCAR Success Blessed By the Spirit of the Late Mel Larson
      • Stock Car Racing Magazine ~ Lessons Learned from Old Covers
      • Celebrate the Trophy and Money, Daytona Winner, but Don’t Count on Winning that Cup
      • Strollin Down the Beach
      • How About a Swap?
      • The Chili Bowl
      • They May Be Tomorrows NASCAR Stars, But Are They Anybodys Heroes
    • Frank Buhrman 2017 >
      • Make This a Christmas to Remember!
      • Winters Cold Is Colder without Racing. What Can We Do to Get Some
      • A New Champion - and One from NASCARs Infancy
      • Old Stats Are Fun, but They Shot Down a Good Theory
      • Martinsville Went Right, So What Keeps Going Wrong?
      • A Field of Dreams that Never Came True
      • Do NASCAR’s Screw-ups Even Matter If Motorsports Have No Future?
      • Does Speed Make the Speed-Sport More Exciting?
      • My Intro to Charlotte Motor Speedway
      • Racing Grand Nationals Once Meant Prepping Your Car in a Hurry
      • Driver Development Programs Need to Get the Gong
      • Drawing Attention to NASCAR in a Good Way
      • Little Joe, Junior, Gentleman Ned and Mr. Modified on Fairgrounds Dirt
      • Darlington ~ Back Then, It Was Something Special
      • Where Else Has NASCAR Raced in These States?
      • The Formula for Success is Not Obvious in Appealing to Millennials
      • Will NASCAR’s Aging Fans Demand that Medicare Pay for More Comfy Seats at the Speedway?
      • Kyle Larson Wins Races of All Kinds, and He Might Just Save NASCAR
      • With Writers and Racetracks, Age Can Be Everything
      • NASCAR Has It All, So Why Am I Happy Watching the Races at Lizard Creek?
      • Wood Brothers + Blaney = Good News for NASCAR
      • Who Could Make NASCAR A Little Spicier?
      • A Little Ramble in Delaware
      • Not The Masters, But the Wood Brothers Truly Have a Tradition like None Other
      • Speeds Were Slower, Drivers Still Came and Went, and NASCAR Survived
      • A Quick Surf Through NASCAR History
      • More than the Loss of a Great Driver
      • Little Martinsville Is the Monster Track of NASCAR Cup Series History
      • California Not So “Golden” A NASCAR State
      • Franks Guide to How to Fix All That Ails NASCAR
      • A Little Vegas History and Long Trips to Races
      • The Real Dirt on Atlanta’s Racing Past
      • Would More Fans Watch if a “500” Was a “Triathlon?”
      • Media Coverage Today Could Be A Lot Worse
      • Another Link between Short Tracks and What Ails NASCAR
      • Lets Go Back To The Old Definition Of Cheating
    • Frank Buhrman 2016 >
      • Bringing Back the Excitement – One Fan’s Ideas
      • Racing Road Trip: Let’s Head to… Where?
      • Bring Cup Racers Back to the Bullrings
      • Discover Some "Mud Roots" Racing!
      • Memories, Gripes and Maybe a Little Dreamin
      • Frank Likes The Chase...Kind Of
      • 1960's: NASCAR's Northern Tour
      • Chicago: The First Races In The Second City
      • Richmond "Action": Then And Now
      • 1950 To Now: Ladies Attack The Lady In Black
      • Radical Thought: Let Drivers Develop Themselves
      • 1967: With Lower Banking And Smaller Crowds, Bristol Was Still A Big Deal
      • Coverage of Racing Has Changed With The Sport
      • More Bluegrass Than Green Flags For NASCAR In Kentucky
      • The Day Goliath Roared (sort-of) In NASCAR Racing
      • Give a Nod to Larry LoPatin for NASCAR Motors in the Motor State
      • Pondering Racing’s Future in Charlotte . . . and Trumansburg
      • Frank's Loose Lugnuts
      • Fix it, Forget it, or Let Nature Run its Course
      • Oh, The Yellow Flag of Texas
      • A New Track, Some Old Memories . . . But Where is the Lake
      • Let’s Have A Sprint Cup ‘Blindfold Race,’ With Donald Trump Guiding Who?
      • Maybe The Ghost of "Fireball" Can Call The Auto Club 400 Winner
      • It ain’t like it used to be . . . (and sometimes that’s a good thing)
      • Sure, Atlanta Can Be Cold In February, But Remember Richmond?
      • Is A Blast From The Past What NASCAR Needs In The Future
  • Vivian Simons
    • Vivian Simons 2020 >
      • 2020 Review and Hopes for 2021
      • Memories, etc.
      • Is NASCAR’S Chase Fair
      • Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas City
      • As Dale Said...
      • Why Not A Cup Race At Eldora
      • South Point 400 At Las Vegas Review
    • Vivian Simons 2018 >
      • Season’s Greetings to Our Staff and to All of Our Readers
      • And It Came to Be
      • NASCAR and Home
      • History ~ How We Honor It and Why
      • Thoughts on Racers Being Equal
      • Reader Responses and Random Thoughts
      • Through the Years Something Went Wrong
      • Fan Choices
      • Road Course Racing Memories
      • Where Do Old Fans Go
      • The Fan Experience
      • Where Were You When
      • Young Racers vs Kyle Busch
      • Daytona Has Come and Gone - Part 2
      • Daytona Has Come and Gone - Part 1
      • Hey Have You Heard the News
      • Daytona Memories - Again
      • Vehicles and Life Must Change
    • Vivian Simons 2017 >
      • Christmas Wishes to Our Staff
      • Old Versus New - History and Memories
      • Musings During the Off-Season in NASCAR - Again
      • It Is What It Is!
      • Sponsors, Drivers, Tracks & NASCAR
      • Some Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Playoffs
      • Is It a Race or a Show?
      • I Am a Race Fan that Wants to See the Race!
      • Road Course Ringers ~ Are They a Good or a Bad Thing?
      • Phases & Memories = Good Old Days By An Older Fan
      • Who's Gonna Fill Their Seats?
      • Is the Cup Half Full or Half Empty?
      • Observations from the Atlanta Races
      • Musings During the Off-Season in NASCAR
    • Vivian Simons 2016 >
      • Christmas Wishes
      • Is It Racing Or Just A Show?
      • Drivers Or Racers
      • And So It Came To Be
      • The Trucks, The New Chase, And The School Yard Bully
      • The Chase Is Coming! The Chase Is Coming!
      • Parity...Or Toyota Domination?
      • Invasion Of The Lower Tier Victory Snatchers!
      • High Banks and Memory Banks
      • A Road Course Is A Course (Of Course, Of Course...)
      • What Sort of Race Fan Are You?
      • NASCAR Hall Of Fame Or Hall Of Fave?
      • NASCAR's Generation Gap
      • Tony Stewart, NASCAR and Lug Nuts
      • Racing 101
      • Television Coverage Of NASCAR Racing
      • Is The Xfinity Series Fair?
      • Follow The Leader
      • Daytona Memories
    • Vivian Simons 2015 >
      • Addiction, Disillusionment, And Conforming
  • David Nance
    • David Nance 2020 >
      • A Fan’s Memories of Stanley Smith
      • Rain and Fuel Mileage-A Texas Playoff Race
      • I’m Looking for a KFB Sweep
      • After Kansas It’s Time for Some New Terms
      • Chase, He Had No Radio - Ee-I-ee-I-O
      • Chase Saves the Day - KC Lead Change Scorecard
      • Clint Bowyer’s Next Ride
      • DAMP LEAD CHANGE SCORECARD - ROVAL
      • Kentucky Speedway Gone… Just Like That
      • Recipe for Cup Success
      • Six Lead Changes… It’s Bristol, Baby
      • Was Richmond that Bad
      • Lead Change Scorecard - Darlington
      • Lead Change Scorecard
      • It’s Time to Bring Back DW
      • Daytona 500 and the Four Laws
      • Three Laws ~ Plus a New One
      • 2019 In the Rear View ~ 2020 Just Ahead
    • David Nance 2019 >
      • 2019 GOTS ~ Some Interesting Stats
      • Every Fan Needs a Racing Buddy
      • As the Onion Peels... And Its Impact on Kyle Busch
      • Remembering Jimmie Johnson ~ Through the Wrecks
      • We’ve Got Everything We Want ~ and Then Some
      • For Everything There is a Season
      • Choosing Your Words Wisely
      • That Double Yellow Line ~ It Ain’t Going Away
      • The Other Untold Story ~ The Race for the Winless Cup Champion
      • What About the Other Race ~ Win You’re In
      • Race for the Green Tweaked
      • Nashville 400 Backstory - Fifty Years Later
      • Nashville ~ One Giant Step
      • NASCAR Now That’ll Preach!
      • Sonoma in Song
      • DW ~ Deja Vu All Over Again
      • Race for the Green ~ Its Time Has Arrived
      • After 200 ~ Then What
      • Two Aero Packages Down ~Two to Go
      • Put It Out One Last Time ~ David Hoots
      • Race Fans ~ Start Your Predictions
      • Another One Bites the Dust ~ Thank You Jay
      • Respects to a Champion
    • David Nance 2018 >
      • David and Dad
      • Texas Gas ~ NASCAR History Lost
      • Against Headwinds
      • The Race for the Winless Champion
      • DuQuoin Was Our Darlington
      • A New Plan ~ Gentlemen and Ladies, Start Your Acronyms
      • The Day After Loudon
      • Loudon ~ Bruton Is Sitting on a Gold Mine
      • Clint Bowyer Was Right About The Product
      • Man, I Wish Race for the Green Was in Place This Weekend
      • Stage Racing Before It Was Cool
      • Left Turns - Where Did It Start
      • The Shirt ~ One Fan’s Memorial to Alan Kulwicki
      • There Is No Racing This Weekend
      • Martinsville Inspection Procedures = New Crew Chiefs by Friday
      • For a Moment All Was Right with the Racing World
      • Oh Where Oh Where Is NASCARs Driver Alert System
      • Qualifying Concept Long Overdue - Race for the Green
    • David Nance 2017 >
      • Thank You Bud
      • All about the Price Tag
      • And the Real True Playoff Winner Is
      • The Perfect Storm
      • If We Are Going to Have a Playoff, Make It a Real One
      • Outrunning the Bear
      • Level Playing Fields Not Until All Winners Face R &D Inspections
      • Is It Time For Encumbered Starts?
      • Kevin, I Dont Believe Ida Told That
      • And Stomped that Sucker Flat!
      • A Sons First Race… Through the Eyes of a Dad
      • Take Em To The Fence
      • Kyle's Mic Drop ~ Just One of Those Racing Deals
      • Remember When DW Was Monster Energy?
      • We Have Ourselves A Summit!
      • The Hunt for the NASCAR Canary
      • Penalties ~ DW Had A Better Idea
      • If FOX Covered the Kentucky Derby
      • Media Coverage Today Could Be a Lot Better
      • The Week in NASCAR - Opportunity Lost
      • Will Karma Smile on NASCAR?
      • Gentlemen... Start... Your... Commercials
      • The Untold Story of How the New Race Format Came To Be
      • Another Look at Attendance
    • David Nance 2016 >
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ Let Cooter Be Cooter
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ All I Want For Christmas
      • Holiday Leftovers ~ Grand Prix Memories
      • 20-20 + Monster Energy = Race For the Green
      • Please Let It Be Rain
      • It's Just Not Right
      • More Chase, Baby!
      • Three Laws
      • 20-20: The Rest Of The Story
      • Take A Chance, Mr. France
      • Time For A New Chase
      • And That Was Fr'istol!
  • J. L. Steele
    • J.L. Steele - 2020 Articles >
      • Now We Can Breathe
    • J. L. Steele 2019 >
      • Random Ruminations
      • Quick Hits on Charlotte
      • Quick Hits on Dover
      • Quick Hits on Talladega
      • Quick Hits on Richmond
      • Quick Hits on Bristol 1
      • Quick Hits on Texas 1
      • Quick Hits on Martinsville
      • Quick Hits on Fontana
      • Quick Hits on Phoenix
      • Quick Hits on Vegas
      • Quick Hits on Daytona and Atlanta
      • Off Season Thoughts
    • J.L. Steele 2018 >
      • 2018 ~ It Was a Good One
      • Logano Is Not the Problem, Hes the Solution
      • Jimmie Johnsons Roval Win
      • Some Guys Just Dont Know When to Quit
      • The Glass Is Half Full
      • Back to the Future
      • Predictions and Wishes ~ Through a Hazy Crystal Ball
    • J. L. Steele 2017 >
      • A NASCAR Fans Letter to Santa
      • 2017 in the Rear View Mirror
      • A Sign of the Bad Times
      • Ken Squier at Darlington
      • Thoughts, Opinions and Rumors - Oh My!
      • Leave Junior Alone!
      • Kyle Busch is Exactly What NASCAR Needs
      • Let’s Save the Truck Series
    • J. L. Steele 2016 >
      • Brian's Big Monday
      • A Wishing Well And A Crystal Ball
      • A Parting Gift For Stewart
      • A Perfect Voice For A Perfect Time
      • Growth By Subtraction
    • J. L. Steele 2015 >
      • Meet The Racing Marine
      • A Race Fan's Christmas Wish List
      • Sunset At Martinsville
      • The Michael Waltrip Dilemma
      • The Rich Keep Getting Richer, While The Xfinity Series Dies
      • The Last Perfect Night
      • Halfway(?) Home...
      • The Essence Of Racing
      • Ranking The Truex Win
      • Visiting Victory Lane
      • The Silver Lining
      • Smoke Will Rise
      • No Comparison When Comparing Newman and Bowyer
      • Advice For Race Tracks
      • Making A Case For Kahne
      • Support Your Local Short Track
      • SAFE Is A Four Letter Word
      • Dinner With D.W.
      • Gordon's Greatness
      • Wendell Scott - Leader Of The Class
      • We Shook Earnhardt's Hand
      • Show Me The Money! (And Where It Comes From)
      • The King And I
  • Dana Gibson
    • Dana Gibson 2019
    • Dana Gibson 2018 Articles >
      • On Heroes
      • Infield Dreams
      • Ghosts of My History
  • Mitch Walker
    • Mitch Walker 2019 >
      • Respect in Racing
      • The Dale Singleton Story
      • Cost Is Killing Racing
      • Changes and Changes
      • Racing Like It Used to Be
      • Heroes
      • Can Driver Safety and Speed Work Together
      • NASCAR ~ Is It Done
      • An Evening with Tiger Tom Pistone
      • Through My Eyes
      • 2019 ~The Dr.s Take on It
      • Just Amazing What Can Be Learned Through Racing
      • A Trophy Story
    • Mitch Walker 2018 >
      • 400 Miles of Mayhem
      • A Trip Through Time
      • Its History, Like It or Not
      • Once the Local Tracks Are Gone
      • Kevin Harvick Gets It!
      • Racing, Broadcasting, Blocking and the Win ~ All Bad
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The Little Track by the Railroad Track

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10/27/2017
PattyKay Lilley

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(Author's note: This article, originally entitled "Pretty Little Martinsville" and written with love, first appeared in print on the pages of Insider Racing News in October of 2003. It’s updated now to reflect the changing times, but she remains to this day this lady’s favorite track. Race fans, put Martinsville near the top of your “Bucket list.” You’ll be glad you did.)

Just a bit north of Greensboro, North Carolina and nestled at the foot of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, one can find Martinsville Virginia, home of the sweetest little short track on the Cup circuit. Martinsville Speedway is rich in racing history, being one of the original hosts of the first NASCAR racing series, "Modifieds" and "Strictly Stock" which later became the "Grand National" Series, “Winston Cup" Series, “Nextel/Sprint” Series and today the “Monster Energy NASCAR Cup” Series. 

The track was built by H. Clay Earles in 1947, and debuted as a dirt track, which was all there was back then. "Dirt's for racin'; asphalt's for gettin' you there." Building Martinsville wasn't the easy task that Mr. Earles had envisioned, since the $10,000 he anticipated spending turned out to be $60,000 before it was ready to race on, but he persisted and on September 7, 1947, the first cars rolled onto the brand new track. Red Byron won the race and pocketed the winner's share of the $2000.00 purse, $500.00.  I wonder what Red would say about the purses being handed out today?

Originally, the track had a seating capacity of 5000 fans, though at that first race only 750 seats were even in place. By 1949, when NASCAR was a full-fledged racing entity, Martinsville was up and running and hosted the sixth race of what we know today as the Cup Series, on September 25, 1949. (Byron won that one too) On July 4 of the previous year, NASCAR sanctioned Modified stock cars raced there, and it was Fonty Flock taking home the honors that day.

In 1955, Mr. Earles modernized his little Jewel by adding pavement to her. Some folks might tell you that the same stuff is still there, but that's not true. We’ll talk more about her pavement in a minute.

Martinsville has a unique shape, especially for a short track. It's a long narrow oval, described by many as being the shape of a paperclip. It has some banking in the corners (12º), but the straightaways are pancake flat, creating a situation where a driver must accelerate hard on the front and back stretches, then brake equally hard before going into the hairpin turns at either end. Brakes are at a premium and even with all the technological advances of today, Martinsville is the equal of the best and always manages to park a few hapless drivers who have overused or burned out those brakes. For as long as television has been covering races there, the broadcast media take great delight in showing the viewers someone's brakes, "glowing cherry red." Listen for it. They won't disappoint.

Passing on this track is a trick of its own, since it is notoriously a one-groove racetrack and that groove is tight to the bottom. Also on that bottom is a fairly high curb that can and will mess up your afternoon if you climb it. A pass on the outside is a rarity and a pass on the inside is difficult if the car ahead can hold the bottom.

The secret of course, is to move the car away from the bottom, which can sometimes be accomplished by getting him a little "aero-loose", but more often than not it's done by applying the "chrome horn" to the rear bumper. That usually works, though it might not garner many friends.

I haven’t heard yet if they plan to apply the “Coke syrup” treatment this year, but my guess is they will. It has a fancy name that consists of letters and numbers today, but “Back in the day” it was literally Coke syrup and it was used for traction in the pits, so as not to spin tires and rip out a gear or three on acceleration.

Another interesting facet is that pavement I mentioned a while ago. It seems the transition areas between the flat straights and the banked turns didn't hold pavement very well. Mr. Earles devised a way of making it stay put that like so many things, is unique to Martinsville. The flats are asphalt but the turns are concrete, a combination sure to upset the handling of the best of cars.

Over the years, some drivers seemed to develop a knack for handling this tricky little half-mile (.526-mile to be exact), while others continue to struggle. The overall champ would be Richard Petty with 15 wins, followed by Darrell Waltrip (11), Jeff Gordon (9), Jimmie Johnson (9), Rusty Wallace (7) Dale Earnhardt (6), Cale Yarborough (6) and Denny Hamlin (5).

Whatever the trick is to winning there, one thing is certain. It involves good brakes, a lot of patience and at least a mildly aggressive nature, though few of those drivers I just mentioned could be described as “mild.” Saying, "Excuse me" won’t likely get it done.

I first discovered this little jewel sometime in the 1980's and I fell in love with her immediately.  She had grown considerably from the 5000 original seats, and housed over 20,000 fans at that time. I understand that number at one point swelled to over 100,000, but like most tracks, some of those seats are now unused. Back when I met her, the first thing that greeted you as you entered the grounds was a huge free-roaming flock of ducks and geese that made their home around a pretty lake situated just outside the track.

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They were friendly as can be and would follow you anywhere with the slightest encouragement, like a piece of popcorn or a potato chip. Unfortunately, they are gone now, sacrificed in the name of progress. No one ever said exactly why the birds were removed, but I've always suspected that some NASCAR higher-up or an influential sponsor slipped on something and fell in it. I hope it stained his suit.

For the race fan, Martinsville is an amazing place. There is scarcely a seat around the entire track from which you can't see every inch of the action.  A few at track level on the backstretch have a limited sight range, but are also very cheap. The fans that used to buy those would usually go and stand up on the hill by the railroad track to watch the race. Heck, folks never sit down at a race anyway, do they? The railroad track that I mentioned was situated up the hill, just behind the backstretch and just in front of the campgrounds. At least once or more during every race, a train would come through and the engineer would blow the whistle just to say "Hey Y’all" to the race fans gathered there. The track now runs behind the campgrounds and out of sight of the race track.

Beyond that, there is the subject most dear to the hearts of race fans with ever-shrinking wallets, the cost of attending a race. I figured this out many years ago, but someone actually made it official 15 years ago, and Clay Campbell assures me it’s still so today. "The best all-around bargain in the sport, hands down, is Martinsville Speedway," says Art Weinstein, staff writer for Winston Cup Scene, in a 2002 issue of that now defunct and much missed publication. WCS did a price survey of all 23 tracks currently on the Cup circuit, and came up with some very interesting observations.

Tickets at Martinsville range from $40 to $75, and parking is free. Soft drinks are $1 and hotdogs $2. Camping costs only $40 for the entire stay, no matter if it's one night or the entire weekend. Would anyone care to weigh those numbers against any of the other tracks, like the newer cookie-cutters?  For the price of a hot dog and a Pepsi at Martinsville, you'd be extremely lucky to get a bottle of water elsewhere. Bear in mind, these are 2002 prices and though they probably have increased through inflation, I’m assured that Martinsville remains the most fan-friendly track on the circuit.

Current president of Martinsville, Clay Campbell, says, “This is something we have always worked hard to do. My grandfather (H. Clay Earles) always believed that the fans came first and we have kept that legacy alive. People say this is a sponsor-driven sport or a TV driven sport, but it's still fans who make the sport go around, and we want to keep the sport affordable for fans." Campbell continued, "We will always strive to keep prices as low as possible. We want our fans to be happy and that's the best way we know to do it."

Something else unique about Martinsville is the winner’s trophy they hand out twice a year. Instead of awarding the race winners another pretty shelf decoration, Martinsville gives them full-sized Grandfather clocks. I have no idea what started that tradition, but it is singular to this track every bit as much as her shape and her pavement. The drivers all seem to think it’s a “Grand” idea.

Note to self: Find out where King Richard keeps fifteen of those.

Well, let's see!  We have here one of the oldest tracks on the circuit, which has managed to survive where others failed. It's located in one of the most beautiful parts of this great country. It offers spectacular racing with no obstacles to viewing, and it does all this cheaper than anyone else does, by far. I'm not sure what the fans of today are looking for, but for this scribe's money, Martinsville has it all. She's been my absolute favorite from the first day I set foot on her grounds and continues to be so today.

The beautiful little lady finally did get a new dress some years back, after she puked a chunk of concrete through the grille and radiator of the #24 rainbow car, but even NASCAR knew that they couldn't better the best, so the corners remain concrete, connecting the two asphalt drag strips.

Yes gentle readers, I know that since I last visited my little jewel at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains that controlling interest has been bought out by ISC, which is merely an alias for NASCAR. Fortunately for the track, Clay Campbell remains in charge of operations there. I can’t give you price updates for what you’d pay for a hot dog and such today, but I’ll wager it’s still cheaper than anywhere else. Beware the “historians” that will rave about those hot dogs. The Jesse Jones “Red Hots” are gone… and none too soon. The fixins were great, (Chili, onions, mustard and slaw) but those dyed red things, barely related to any identifiable meat were just awful! I have Jeggings that color for Heaven’s sake!

But no matter the owner or the year, with or without the lovely lake or the birds that called it home, even with no beautiful azaleas to be seen or no train to be heard, may she live long and prosper, for she truly remains to this day the crown jewel of stock car racing… Pretty Little Martinsville.

Y’all thought I’d be talking about the debacle at Kansas, didn’t you? I really have nothing much to say on that mess. The Anthem was “adequate”, though it contained maybe 60 notes that aren’t in the sheet music. I dislike that, but on the bright side, no one “Took a knee.” In my world, Martin Truex already won the 2017 Championship, having been on top before Brian started to play games with the numbers. Kansas is and always has been a boring 1.5-mile race track that produces boring races. That is NOT improved by adding rules after rules on top of rules that only apply to some drivers but not all.

I will enjoy the race this coming weekend, no matter who wins or loses. One thing Martinsville has never been is boring, and I don’t think even Brian Z. France can spoil that.

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Time now, all my boot-scootin’, toe-tappin’, foot-stompin’ Country fans, for our Classic Country Closeout, and today we’re going back for another of those wonderful shows featuring the stars of the 1950s! Please enjoy!

Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!

~PattyKay

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The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Race Fans Forever are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of Race Fans Forever.  Race Fans Forever is not affiliated with NASCAR or any other motorsports sanctioning body in any form.
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