And we have on-track action
Jill Erwin
May 02, 2008
We’re about 3/4 of the way through the “final” (and only) Cup practice, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leading the way. Seeing him get his first victory in two years would make for an easy story for me to write tomorrow night. He’s followed by former teammate Martin Truex Jr. and the man he replaced at Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Busch.
Happy 23rd birthday, Kyle Busch. Heckuva season for a kid who started it at 22.
It’s gorgeous outside, and inexplicably 30 degrees colder in the media center. I’m wearing a jacket in here when it’s like 75 outside. Insanity.
Speaking of which, better get ready to head outside. Junior’s media availability is at 1, as is Busch’s. Carl Edwards is at 1:05, Clint Bowyer at 1:10, Kasey Kahne at 1:15, Hamlin at 1:15, Juan Pablo Montoya at 1:30, Tony Stewart at 1:45 and Jimmie Johnson at 2:05. That’s a pretty packed 65 minutes.
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NASCAR to abandon short tracks in 2013
Posted: May 22, 2008 7:09 PM
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As part of a comprehensive plan to overhaul its “good old boy image,” NASCAR has decided to abandon all short tracks on its Sprint Cup schedule. Sprint Cup will stop racing on short tracks in 2013, while both the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series will continue racing on short tracks until further notice. There is speculation that the Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series will continue to race on short tracks until at least 2015 or 2016. NASCAR is committed to diversity, and is particularly sensitive to anything that may draw attention to its White Southern beginnings, as the Whites who started NASCAR were unrepentant racists who have no place in today’s society. These moonshining, racist Southern Whites started racing on short tracks exclusively-therefore, NASCAR considers short tracks racist. NASCAR’s top division will only race on tracks longer than one mile from 2013 on.
HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT
There are currently three short tracks on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup schedule: Bristol, Tennessee, Martinsville, Virginia and Richmond, Virginia. Thus far, Bristol and Martinsville are silent as to their plans after NASCAR’s “overhaul.” However, Richmond has announced big plans. In 2011 and 2012, Richmond will host a road course race through the city, hoping to pump money in economically depressed areas of the city that are majority African American, mainly housing projects and other areas of the city that have suffered from White flight for decades.
This is not the biggest news, though. The bombshell that Richmond track officials dropped on the racing world is that late in 2010, construction of a 2.7 billion dollar, 3.14 mile road course will begin on 10,000 acres in an undisclosed location in the Richmond metro area. This road course will seat approximately 75,000 fans in the lap of luxury. Ticket prices have not been announced yet, but speculation is that they will be in the 150-200 dollar range. Richmond has adapted to NASCAR’s changing policies before and it will apparently adapt again.
Henry Maston
May. 23, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Being an avid NASCAR fan I keep up with the Sprint Cup Points in the paper. My favorrite driver is Bobby Labonte. I have noticed for the past several weeks his starts have been one less then the total races run. I know this is an insignificant issue, but I can’t remember a race that he failed to qualify in would you happen to know ? Thanks
Sandy Setzer of Victoria Va
May. 21, 2008 at 06:34 PM
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