By Jack Smith
It is simply amazing isn’t it? We have 75-85 degree days for weeks, along with mild evenings, and then when the northerners all begin to arrive enmasse to kick off the Winternationals and Speedfest and all the rest, the thermometer plunges into the 40’s.
Go Figure. One man’s dream is another man’s nightmare. Do you northern folks realize what 40 degrees does to us Floridians, we who are so acclimated to living in a suana with tropical breezes to take the edge off while the thermometer hovers around 90. Maybe there is something to the theory that they bring the midwestern winters with them.
Over the next few weeks a whirlwind of racing activities take place in Florida, the wintry spectacle called “speedweeks” by the fans, incorrectly we might add. That word is owned by NASCAR, and the tracks don’t dare call it that, or else risk the wrath of the Big League attorneys. We received one of those love letters from the corporate offices in Daytona back in 1998.
So we don’t call the races “speedweeks”, unless we are referring to the spectacle at the big track. They should never have left the beach, but that is a different story, best left for another time.
So whatever you call it, Florida puts on a show for the short track nation very year, a ritual that brings millions and millions of dollars, without even counting that spectacle over on the East Coast.
Short Track racing, nationwide is how big?
If you get bored some afternoon this year, take a calculator, get on Google and take a trip around the United States, and count up all the short tracks running on Friday and Saturday. And don’t forget Tuesday and Wednesday; use conservative estimates on car counts, pit side attendance and fan counts and you may be amazed at what you discover.
There is one heck of a lot of people across this nation buying hot dogs, colas and beer at America’s short tracks. And spending how much on cars and parts and fixing wrecks.
The Short Track Nation is huge.
You come to Florida to get the juices flowing for the coming year, cause you can’t stand not doing this, whether you are a driver, a crew man, a fan or a media type.
You can’t stand not doing this.
Thank God for “speedweeks” and the Internet. Both of them help us through the lean times.
