New Smyrna Speedway - Best Short Track in U.S.!

[Mark Keeler]

The votes are in for the 2012 Speed51 '51 Awards' and Fans and Drivers have voted New Smyrna Speedway "Best Short-Track" beating out State Park Speedway (Wisconsin) and Bowman Gray Stadium (N.Carolina)

In addition the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing finished second only to the Snowball Derby for Best Annual Event!

http://www.speed51.com/2013_Stories/...ults_2_11.html

[Boneman]

Really? The best in the nation?

Maybe the voting was based on the fact that NSS is an good facility with an outstanding racing surface. Or perhaps it was given ahead of time based on the likelyhood that this year's World Series will be excellent, and then it will be followed by a season that will probably feature much rebuilding and improvement.

I'm just shocked that the track won after 2012, which had to be the worst year in its history.

The people have spoken!

[larryblount]

New Smyrna Speedway

Does anyone know when the full schedule will be ready?

[tccaz]

Who voted for this? Can we say stuffed ballot box, its a great track but best in the country "kind of doubt it".

[Bigbuck]

Definitely stuffed ballots!!

[chevyj31]

maybe we can get them to pave the infield now......lol

[EJC Engines]

Yeah reg season less then a mont away and i don't even know if I can race my sportsman cause I work till 730 pm 40 miles away every other Saturday Telly like to see the schelue

[Frasson118]

Im with Boneman on this one. NSS has a couple of 'will NOT MISS' events, namely Gov Cup weekend & the World Series.... but the weekly show needs a LOT of work. No offense to anyone involved, as I consider many of the key players there as personal friends... but honestly, it's not even the best show in the state, let alone the country. Hopefully, things will boom this coming year, and truly deserving of the award. I just don't see it this time around.

On the flip side.... BIG Congrats to Mark. Working the mic is not an easy job, and he does come across as someone who actually pays attention to what's happening on the track. The guy at Auburndale announces either nothing at all, or wrong info. Telling the fans who spun out 5 minutes after it happened doesn't do anyone any good. Again, nothing personal towards this gentleman, but he does need to keep his day job.

[AB195]

Keeler is the best---and New Smyrna Speedway is the the best?

I like them both, but....gaddam, really. How official are these results?

[ancrdave]

Well, it's not the NASCAR Hall of Fame, just a poll on one web site - Speed51.com - But they won the poll nonetheless, so congrats! There is no better racing web site than Speed51 either for total racing coverage and nothing better for sprint cars/midgets than hoseheads.com...

Hey Frassy... Auburndale has a new announcer this year... His first race was this past weekend... Did not get his name but he's an older guy from Georgia and very enthusiastic... A little too "country" for me but he'll fit in good with the Auburndale crowd... Now they just need to get him a decent sound system lol...

[fred23]

I will say this for NSS......as racer, there is no where more fun to drive......now I am not a well travelled racer but NSS is fast, pretty smooth and has two grooves to race in......although the bottom is getting tougher and tougher to use for passing......
Speedweeks and the Gov Cup are two really good events and will hopefully continue to get better.....bunch of cars for speedweeks should be good especially with USAC coming.....

[Mark Keeler]

First off Thank You all for the compliments. I certainly appreciate it.

Secondly, there were a few different categories for the Tracks, including, Best Annual Event (World Series finished 2nd to the Derby) and Best WEEKLY Venue as well as Best Overall Track, which is what NSS Won.

I think looking at it as Fred23 has, they were considering the overall track, surface, racing, history, amenities, etc., not necessarily the quality of the weekly show.

[kendo]

Really? The best in the nation?

I am so glad and fortunate that I got to experience the racing at a little track in Danbury CT...6,500-7,000 fans in the stands every saturday night to watch modifieds only,run 4 heats & 2 consi's,with a purse of $2500+ weekly,and this was back in the late 60's-70's.

Sure,NSS is a nice facility but times sure have changed at the weekly short tracks!

[Bigbuck]

Worked for a company in South Daytona once that offered a discount to every customer that returned a ballott to them voting them the "BEST" to be sent to the News Journal. The company won the award 10 yrs running. Company's out of business now.............just saying.

[bubba]

Hey, it is what it is, it is good publicity and will likely help draw in fans and racers. Don't see why some people cant just accept it - other than their own personal axe to grind.

I dont think anyone on here including Mark or probably even the Harts thinks that this result is an absolute fact and beyond debate. It can do nothing but help - we should get behind it and hope that it does. I sure as hell dont want the place to go downhill - do you?