NSS & OSW NASCAR Sanctioned

[SeminoleWind]

I have to admit, I was a complainer when I had to squeak out an extra $150 when Lanier (GA) was a Nascar sanctioned track. After the promoter dropped the sanction, I became suspect of his current (or non-existent) insurance policy and bought extra race insurance from STIDA at $450 per year. The $150 per year from Nascar started to seem pretty reasonable.
At least when you pull into a Nascar sanctioned track, you know there is some sort of insurance policy.
All tracks take your money at the pit entrance, claiming that the majority of the payment is covering insurance. I, like many of us, have never asked the track owner for proof of insurance or specifics of the coverage.
I am still suspect of Nascar's overall masterplan for the future of short track racing, but still would prefer to race at a Nascar or ASA sanctioned track.
Nascar also kicked in a fair amount of $ at the year end points banquet.
Overall, I think a pretty decent move by New Smyrna and Orlando.

[Frasson118]

Here's my wish for making this move... as a Nascar sanctioned track, they would be elligible to host a Nascar Tour Mod show. This would be a perfect fit for the Richie Evans Memorial 100. The Daytona race is not a points race for the teams, but having a full-points race at New Smyrna would ensure a full field at BOTH tracks in 2014. Same thing with a K&N Series event. Those cars are perfect for New Smyrna's half mile.

Plus, New Smyrna will now get a lot of plugs on the Daytona Speedway P.A. system. They won't plug ANYTHING they don't stand to benefit from. If they do give the small track some mentions, it WILL increase the crowds at NSS for Speedweeks.

Without knowing more details, it appears to me to be a good move. If nothing else, it opens the door to the 'possibility' of the ideas above.

[Beach Bum]

"as a Nascar sanctioned track, they would be elligible to host a Nascar Tour Mod show. This would be a perfect fit for the Richie Evans Memorial 100. "

No doubt - The Richie Evans race as a tour event would be too damn cool!

Let's hope for the best with this move for now. NASCAR has a r-e-a-l mixed record regarding short track racing in the past. Look at how they tried to crush the SMART modified series up in the Carolinas. That was a real ugly deal. Especially considering the fact that NASCAR allowed modified racing to just wither away in the region. Once some folks started SMART to try to revive the mods, someone at NASCAR decided to play hardball with the local tracks to discourage booking the series races.

Guess we'll see, but for now I'm glad to see OSW/NSS mgmt. doing something to improve their situation.

[dd38]

Clyde is flip-flopping in his grave. He dispised NASCAR.

[tom77hmstd]

Not to sure, to think good or bad,it did nothing for Hollywood Speedway back in the 70's,but add a lot of extra fees to the drivers and cost more for the promotor,so it failed back then. Could be better layed out now? Hope so.

It made us buy a bunch of high dollar Nascar license that ended up useless.
Good or bad ???? Every time I had to deal with Nascar sanction it was a pain in the you know where.

[Benny The Mule]

Clyde is flip-flopping in his grave. He dispised NASCAR.

Agreed!...........

[Bill Chapman]

don't know if this helps, Stafford Srings has a great car count. They have SK Modifies, Late Model, SK Lights Mods Also, Plus mini stocks (The Real Ones
and Dear Stocks. The track and all fields are filled that night

[Bobby Diehl]

Smart move!!!!

Here is the release:
NASCAR Sanctions New Smyrna, Orlando
Marquee Florida Speedways Join Whelen All-American Series
By Paul Schaefer, NASCAR
January 18, 2013 - 4:00pm
Tweet DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Florida is the birthplace of NASCAR and Friday afternoon, two marquee tracks in the state joined the NASCAR family.

NASCAR and track officials announced New Smyrna Speedway and Orlando Speedworld will be sanctioned tracks in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in 2013.

New Smyrna is a half-mile banked paved oval near New Smyrna Beach, Fla. – 25 minutes south of Daytona – and Orlando is a .375-mile banked paved oval east of the city.

Super Late Models will be NASCAR Division I at both facilities. Speedworld operates on Friday nights and New Smyrna on Saturday nights.

Representing NASCAR at the Friday announcement at New Smyrna Speedway were Jim France, NASCAR vice chairman and executive vice president; George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and touring series; and Bob Duvall, NASCAR senior director, business development. They were joined by New Smyrna general manager Terry Roberts, Orlando track operator Ozzy Moya, and Robert Hart, who owns both tracks.

Sanctioning New Smyrna Speedway and Orlando Speedworld is important to our NASCAR Home Tracks program,” Duvall said. “Partnering with two well-established race tracks in central Florida is energizing the local racing community.

“These tracks are known for entertaining competition among top-notch drivers,” Duvall said. “With NASCAR, they have a new platform for recognition on local, state and national levels. Track owner Robert Hart created mainstays for weekly racing in Florida. We look forward to working with him and officials at both tracks.”

Hart represents the second generation of his family’s ownership of the facilities.

“We’ve enjoyed longtime friendships with folks at NASCAR,” Hart said. “My dad (the late) Clyde Hart was thinking about this 15 years ago. Now is the time to do it, and I have a feeling our new relationships are going to work out really well.”

Moya operates Orlando Speedworld via lease from the Hart family. The two tracks will work together under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner.

“We spent the past year reviving and improving Lakeland (Fla.) Dragstrip, and we’re proud of what we’ve done there in a short period of time,” Moya said. “We plan to do the same with Orlando Speedworld and renew its status as one of Florida’s premier short tracks. This is a great opportunity and it’s generating a lot of excitement.

“My parents came to America from Cuba. They came here and worked hard for success,” Moya said. “I’m following their path. Part of our promotions will be aimed at creating new race fans in central Florida’s Hispanic community.”

David Rogers of Orlando, Fla., won the 1994 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship at a former central Florida paved track. His undefeated season of 22 wins in 22 starts is legendary in NASCAR short-track racing. The 40-year racing veteran is excited about returning to NASCAR racing.

“Obviously I like it,” Rogers said of the new era. “This is good for our tracks and for NASCAR. The racers will benefit from the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. They’re going to find out how important weekly racing is to NASCAR. This will work out well.”

With their Division I designation, NASCAR-licensed Super Late Model drivers are eligible to compete for NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championships at the track, state and national level.

The track operators will designate support classes as NASCAR Divisions II-V and each will compete for points in the NASCAR Finalist program. The program brings added recognition to support division drivers.

Entering its 32nd season, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. More than 50 tracks throughout the United States and Canada participate. Asphalt Late Model driver Lee Pulliam, 24, of Semora, N.C., won the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship.

The track websites are http://newsmyrnaspeedway.org and http://orlandospeedworld.org.


I think it's a GREAT move. Hopefully more of Florida Tracks join in. Now NASCAR can have a "Winter Heat" program for the NASCAR Fans that get "CABIN FEVER"!!!!!! Can't wait for the 2013 Schedule!!!!!

[MJM10]

Maybe it will force them to improve the facilities a little bit, I know thats dreaming and probably won't happen but a paved infield at NSS would sure improve the facility...or at least soap in the bathrooms. The only flat tires I've ever had in a racecar before even going on the track were at NSS, there is sh!t everywhere. They also need a track sweeper like Five Flags has that goes out there before any big race and does a once over on the track. How would anyone run a high groove when it is filled with junk from the previous month of racing before the race even starts.

I think it is a good thing for the track, I think it could be a GREAT thing for the track but knowing how the owner is...Nobody there has ever had a "spend money to make money" attitude, so unless NASCAR forces them to improve some things I don't think they will. Its all how you handle opportunity when it's given to you, this could be a great thing, we'll see. Whoever mentioned Stafford Springs go look at the car count, every class is 20+ cars every weekend, but I doubt that's all from being a NASCAR sanctioned track...its all what you make of it. We'll see.

[Bill Chapman]

Nascar

Hope they bring SK Mods also

[Matt Albee]

I noticed the comment by the NASCAR official that now that NSS was a NASCAR track, he could drive over there and watch a race. I guess they aren't races unless they're NASCAR sanctioned.
I wonder why there has been very little interest in Florida and elsewhere for short tracks becoming NASCAR. There must be a reason that the local short tracks aren't elbowing each other out of the way to line up for becoming a NASCAR track.
I don't think NASCAR has any demands of it's sanctioned tracks regarding up keep. I think repairs and repaint will be left up to the owners.

[TheYoungGun]

Now they just need to get all these big NASCAR drivers in street stocks for a race and let all these weekend warriors get a chance to wear them out. Then it wont be who has the most money. It will be about skill......how racing should be!

[Jimmy McKinley]

The "press release" says Orlando is Friday nights. Few weeks back, Butch and Barbara posted that Orlando was going to Saturdays.

Which is it? Dad wants to plan to run the SLM at Speedworld...

[modracer22]

I hope it will be still on saturday if not then just as well go to A-Dale

[modracer#8]

yea I saw it said orlando would be running fridays also I guess we will find out thursday .