He Brought Respect, Not Only To NASCAR, But To All Motorsports

ALTON, Va. — Everyone here at Virginia Int’l Raceway is talking about the untimely death of NASCAR chieftain Bill France, Jr. His death vividly brings to mind the accomplishments he and his father brought not only to NASAR, but to auto racing in general in this country. Prior to NASCAR’s 1948 creation, auto racing was a denigrated sport in this country, “Hot rodders trying to kill themselves” and  “guys in greasy coveralls with an oily rag in their hip pocket.” “Kooks” was an accepted description for  those in auto racing. In checking raceways in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida records show — aside from the board speedway era — only two tracks built expressly for auto racing: Hambone Hamilton’s 1932 banked half-miler in Atlanta and a cobbled-together 1940 one-mile dirt oval in High Point, N.C. Almost all auto racing  was conducted on fairground ovals built decades earlier by horsemen. Compare that listing with today’s race-track inventory in those states! Bill France founded NASCAR out of altruism and love of his sport, not as a money-making venture. He wanted “his sport” to be respected and more highly regarded, rather than noted for moonshiners showing off and promoters skipping town on race days with the day’s prize money and local bills unpaid. “Guaranteed purses” was a NASCAR hallmark, then and now. But it was his son, Bill, Jr., who put NASCAR — and auto racing — on Main Street by opening Daytona’s doors to advertising and marketing  types, then strangers in the racing world. It was this dramatic change that has led to the exalted status of today’s NASCAR, with allied ripple-effect benefits for all in auto racing. RIP Bill, we owe you.            

Spending a vintage racing weekend at Virginia Int’l Raceway for the 50th anniversary of its opening was far more interesting and newsworthy than anticipated. Now owned by former supermarket developer Harvey Siegel and local partner Connie Nyholm, this scenic circuit undergoes ongoing upgrades and improvements. At 1,250 acres it is likely the largest road course, property-wise, in this country. In addition to its two road courses, which offer several configurations, there’s a go-kart track, a hotel, a restaurant and two industrial parks, along with driving schools, each with allied courses. The weekend vintage car turnout totaled 275, with 14 races over the weekend, and all were treated to appearances by Carroll Shelby, the winner of the 1957 opening race, and noted Chevy chauffeur Dr. Dick Thompson. But the big news came in a conversation with Siegel, who has homes in New York City and Califon, N.J. He revealed his plan for New Jersey Motorsports Park on a 702-acre parcel abutting the Millville Airport is going forward, and construction has begun. Working in league with New Jersey’s SCCA regions, plans call for 2.2-mile and 1.9-mile linkable road courses on the property. Completion is anticipated in time for a 2008 opening race. Thunderbolt is the name given the bigger circuit, while Lightning has been chosen for the smaller one.

Deep concern is being voiced by Iowa promoter Ralph Capitani for the future of weekly sprint-car racing at his Knoxville Raceway, as well as the ability of other Iowa tracks to survive widespread attendance downturns. A lengthy story in the Des Moines Register reveals a disturbing falloff in attendance at all of Iowa’s 56 raceways. The Hawkeye State is ranked fourth in the nation in the number of tracks behind Texas, Pennsylvania and California. Weekly revenues at Knoxville’s 410” sprint-car programs no longer cover the $29,000 purse paid, and revenue from the widely popular Knoxville Nationals annual event is now being used to supplant weekly show purses, a situation that cannot continue says Capitani. He also says he can count only eight tracks that today run weekly 410” sprint-car shows and consequently is considering less costly 360” sprint-car programs and/or special events only to possibly replace his weekly shows. Let’s hope the nearby new Iowa Speedway proves helpful.    

Cooperation at last. For many years three competing vintage race-car groups headquartered in the Daytona Beach area have been dueling. Now comes a collective announcement by the Auto Racing Legends, the Living Legends of Auto Racing and Motor Racing Heritage clubs that they are joining hands, or should I say wheels, for a July 5th “The Legends Come to Main Street” gathering at 316 Main St., site of the late Bill France’s original garage, for a car show and autograph session to kick off Summer Speed Weeks in Daytona. ARL president Norman Madsen, LLOAR prexy Ray Fox and MRH headman Tim Sullivan have extended invitations to all to attend. Call (386) 760-9587 for details.    

Next year’s Chili Bowl may be more than a series of indoor midget races. A plan is afoot to move the annual National Midget Hall of Fame banquet to Tulsa as part of the annual Chili Bowl activities. 

A recent Automotive News story on the highest-salaried U.S. auto executives shows Roger Penske, chairman of the United Auto Group dealer organization, ranking third with an annual salary of more than $15 million! This reflects only his UAG pay and does not include his auto race winnings.

Now that High Definition TV has arrived at NASCAR, the number of on-site TV tractor-trailers required to get a live HD telecast on the air has jumped to 30, reports Lou Borrelli, CEO of Pittsburgh-based NEP Broadcasting, this country’s largest remote services provider. No wonder infield parking places are so hard to find these days.

The June 23-24 Red Baron auction in Atlanta is offering the No. 62 ME Ford that appeared in the film “Talladega Nights.” Want to know more? Call (404) 252-3770.

It is always nice to hear from old-timers. Former Chicagoan Chuck Stark, who was involved in Midwestern stock-car racing in the mid-1960s and now lives in Riviera Beach, Fla., lets ye ed know he is a part owner of a Hooters Pro Cup Taurus. Just can’t stay away.

All the fuss over where Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is headed has boosted sales of his souvenir merchandise 17 percent since his May 10 bye-bye DEI announcement.

Former Nextel Cup driver Geoffrey Bodine recently paid a 10-day visit to U.S. troops serving in the Middle East. His host was the Navy aboard 13 ships. He said he even got to steer an aircraft carrier for a few minutes. Bodine won the Daytona 500 in 1986.