Keepin’ it Short – Another Chapter of History Starts Saturday Night

There are legendary sports venues all over the world, some are still in use, others are merely a shell of their former selves, still others are completely gone. Of the arenas that are still in use, few of them are still in the same relative state as they were when they opened. Wrigley Field has lights and sky boxes added. Fenway Park has seats on top of the Green Monster. Soldier Field has been completely renovated. Bowman-Gray Stadium, aside from the endzone fieldhouse, is virtually the same as it was when it held its first NASCAR sanctioned race in May of 1949.

The quarter-mile track at the venerable facility has hosted 29 Sprint Cup races from 1958 through 1971, until NASCAR stopped staging Cup races at tracks less than a half-mile in length. They still host weekly shows from April until Winston-Salem State, the school whose campus houses the facility, begins playing football games on the field that sits inside the racing surface. It hosts four divisions regularly, Stadium Stock (a 4-cylinder class), Street Stock, Sportsman (a limited Late Model class) and the feature division, the Modifieds. While Modifieds are a staple of racing in the Northeast, they have never taken hold in the South except at Bowman-Gray. For 18 weeks, from the end of April until the end of August, the stands at Bowman-Gray will be packed with more people than any other weekly track will seat on an average night anywhere in the United States. Opening night will have 15,000 or more in the stands and the average race night will host 10,000 people.

The racing at The Stadium is hardly captivating. A completely flat quarter-mile track that was originally designed to be the running track for the local college is not ideal for side-by-side racing. Making the outside work at Bowman-Gray is about as hard as working a slide rule. The attraction at the Stadium is the atmosphere. The fans in the stands are as passionate as any race fans you will find anywhere. The factions in the stands are fiercely loyal to their favorite drivers and are not beyond trading insults and even blows to reinforce that loyalty. That passion, and the air of excitement that it creates is contagious. Spending a night in the stands at The Stadium can change a race fan for the rest of their lives.

This Saturday night, the green flag will fly for the first time in 2013. Another year of racing will see Tim Brown try and win yet another track championship, along with catching and passing Junior Miller on the all-time wins list (Brown needs five to tie, six to break the record). The Myers Brothers and their Dirty South legion of fans will try and keep Brown from having any success. The rebel fans that don’t want to cheer for the big names will gravitate to Jonathan Brown, Lee Jeffreys, Danny Bohn and others. The support divisions have their own fans who are there to cheer on their favorite 4-cylinder drivers or Sportsman wheelmen. In the end, it is all about a love for racing and the men and women who pour their hearts and souls into the sport, both in the cars that run around the tight confines of Bowman-Gray and those who wear their allegiance on their sleeves in the stands, some 10,000 strong, every Saturday night all Summer.

Whether you come to Winston-Salem this Saturday night or another one between now and August 31st, it is worth the trip to see a night of racing at The Stadium. Don’t expect wide open, side-by-side racing, but know that you’ll go home worn out from a racing experience you’ll never have anywhere else.

This Weekend’s Racing Schedule

Friday 04/26/13 Jacksonville Speedway Jacksonville IL POWRi Lucas Oil National Midgets
Friday 04/26/13 Jacksonville Speedway Jacksonville IL POWRi Speedway Motors 600 Outlaw Micro Sprints
Friday 04/26/13 Jacksonville Speedway Jacksonville IL Street Stocks
Friday 04/26/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Factory Stocks
Friday 04/26/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Late Models
Friday 04/26/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Modifieds
Friday 04/26/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Pro-Crate Late Models
Friday 04/26/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Sport Compacts
Friday 04/26/13 Gas City I-69 Speedway Gas City IN USAC Midwest Dirt Ignite Midgets
Friday 04/26/13 Gas City I-69 Speedway Gas City IN USAC Sprint Cars
Friday 04/26/13 Attica Raceway Park Attica OH Sunoco American Late Models
Friday 04/26/13 Salina Highbanks Speedway Salina OK World of Outlaw Sprint Cars
Friday 04/26/13 Thunderbird Speedway Muskogee OK MARS DIRTCar Late Models
Friday 04/26/13 Smoky Mountain Speedway Maryville TN World of Outlaw Late Models
Friday 04/26/13 Boyd Raceway Boyd TX ASCS Winged Sprints
Friday 04/26/13 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX USMTS Modifieds
Friday 04/26/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Factory Stocks
Friday 04/26/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Limited Modifieds
Friday 04/26/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Sprint Cars
Friday 04/26/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Street Stocks
Friday 04/26/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX USRA Modifieds
Friday 04/26/13 Oshkosh Speedzone Oshkosh WI Dirt Devils
Friday 04/26/13 Oshkosh Speedzone Oshkosh WI Grand Nationals
Friday 04/26/13 Oshkosh Speedzone Oshkosh WI Modifieds
Friday 04/26/13 Oshkosh Speedzone Oshkosh WI Sport Mods
Friday 04/26/13 Oshkosh Speedzone Oshkosh WI Street Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Dixieland Dirt Track Cottonwood AL 4-Cylinders
Saturday 04/27/13 Dixieland Dirt Track Cottonwood AL Bombers
Saturday 04/27/13 Dixieland Dirt Track Cottonwood AL Limited Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Dixieland Dirt Track Cottonwood AL Open Wheel Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 Dixieland Dirt Track Cottonwood AL Stockers
Saturday 04/27/13 Dixieland Dirt Track Cottonwood AL Vintage
Saturday 04/27/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR 600 Mini Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR ASCS Winged Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR Stock Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Challenge Cup Sprint Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Mini Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Southwest Mod Lites
Saturday 04/27/13 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ USAC Southwest Sprint Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ Factory Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ IMCA Sport Mods
Saturday 04/27/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ Pro Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ Street Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA CDCRA Dwarf Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Mini Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Sport Mods
Saturday 04/27/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Sprint Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA USAC West Coast Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway Blythe CA ASA Trucks
Saturday 04/27/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA 4-Cylinders
Saturday 04/27/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Hobby Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA MST
Saturday 04/27/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Open Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Sport Mods
Saturday 04/27/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Toyota Sedans
Saturday 04/27/13 Placerville Speedway Placerville CA 410 Winged Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Placerville Speedway Placerville CA Midget Lites
Saturday 04/27/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA 305 Sprint Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA 4-Cylinders
Saturday 04/27/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA IMCA Stock Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA Mod Lites
Saturday 04/27/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA Sport Mods
Saturday 04/27/13 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville IA 305 Winged Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville IA 360 Winged Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville IA 410 Winged Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Fairbury American Legion Speedway Fairbury IL UMP Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Fairbury American Legion Speedway Fairbury IL UMP Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 Fairbury American Legion Speedway Fairbury IL UMP Sportsman
Saturday 04/27/13 Fairbury American Legion Speedway Fairbury IL UMP Street Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Pro Crate Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Sport Mods
Saturday 04/27/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Street Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Macon Speedway Macon IL POWRi Lucas Oil National Midgets
Saturday 04/27/13 Macon Speedway Macon IL POWRi Speedway Motors 600 Outlaw Micro Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Peoria Speedway Peoria IL Hornets
Saturday 04/27/13 Peoria Speedway Peoria IL Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Peoria Speedway Peoria IL Lightning Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Peoria Speedway Peoria IL Limited Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Peoria Speedway Peoria IL Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 Peoria Speedway Peoria IL Street Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Spoon River Speedway Canton IL Spoon 6-Shooters
Saturday 04/27/13 Spoon River Speedway Canton IL UMP Hornets
Saturday 04/27/13 Spoon River Speedway Canton IL UMP Limited Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 Spoon River Speedway Canton IL UMP Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 Spoon River Speedway Canton IL UMP Pro-Crate Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Lincoln Park Speedway Putnamville IN USAC Sprint Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Montpelier Motor Speedway Montpelier IN USAC Midwest Dirt Ignite Midgets
Saturday 04/27/13 Plymouth Speedway Plymouth IN USAC 600 Mini Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Cedar Ridge Speedway Morgantown KY American Modified Series
Saturday 04/27/13 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Pevely MO World of Outlaw Sprint Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland MO A-Mods
Saturday 04/27/13 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland MO B-Mods
Saturday 04/27/13 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland MO Factory Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Lucas Oil Speedway Wheatland MO ULMA Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 County Line Raceway Elm City NC Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 County Line Raceway Elm City NC Pure Stock 4 Cylinder
Saturday 04/27/13 County Line Raceway Elm City NC Pure Stock V-8
Saturday 04/27/13 County Line Raceway Elm City NC Super Stock 4 Cylinders
Saturday 04/27/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Limited Sportsman
Saturday 04/27/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Micro Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Renegades
Saturday 04/27/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Stock 4
Saturday 04/27/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Super Stock 4 Cylinders
Saturday 04/27/13 Hickory Motor Speedway Newton NC Limited Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Hickory Motor Speedway Newton NC Renegades
Saturday 04/27/13 Hickory Motor Speedway Newton NC Street Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Hickory Motor Speedway Newton NC Whelen All-American Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Roadrunner Speedway Carlsbad NM USAC National Quarter Midgets
Saturday 04/27/13 Eldora Speedway Rossburg OH FWD Compacts
Saturday 04/27/13 Eldora Speedway Rossburg OH Stock Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Eldora Speedway Rossburg OH UMP Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 Southern Oklahoma Speedway Ardmore OK USMTS Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 Tri-State Speedway Pacola OK MARS DIRTCar Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Duck River Raceway Park Wheel TN Modified Street Bomber
Saturday 04/27/13 Duck River Raceway Park Wheel TN Openwheel
Saturday 04/27/13 Duck River Raceway Park Wheel TN Outlaw Pony
Saturday 04/27/13 Duck River Raceway Park Wheel TN Pure Pony
Saturday 04/27/13 Duck River Raceway Park Wheel TN Rookie Pony
Saturday 04/27/13 Duck River Raceway Park Wheel TN Street Stock Bomber
Saturday 04/27/13 Duck River Raceway Park Wheel TN Super Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Duck River Raceway Park Wheel TN Two Barrel Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Tazewell Speedway Tazewell TN World of Outlaw Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association Hermitage TN Jr. Honda Quarter Midget
Saturday 04/27/13 Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association Hermitage TN Light 160 Quarter Midget
Saturday 04/27/13 Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association Hermitage TN Sr. Honda Quarter Midget
Saturday 04/27/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX Bandoleros
Saturday 04/27/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX Ecostocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX Legends
Saturday 04/27/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks 2X
Saturday 04/27/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX NASCAR Fiesta Modifieds 2X
Saturday 04/27/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX NASCAR Stock Cars 2X
Saturday 04/27/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Dwarf/Mod Lites
Saturday 04/27/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Hot Stock Trucks
Saturday 04/27/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Mini Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Pure Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Sport Mods
Saturday 04/27/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Street Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Motor Mile Speedway Radford VA Limited Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Motor Mile Speedway Radford VA Mod 4
Saturday 04/27/13 Motor Mile Speedway Radford VA Street Stock
Saturday 04/27/13 Motor Mile Speedway Radford VA U-Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Motor Mile Speedway Radford VA Whelen All-American Late Models 2X
Saturday 04/27/13 Evergreen Speedway Monroe WA ASA Northwest Sprint Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 Skagit Speedway Alger WA 360 Winged Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Skagit Speedway Alger WA 410 Winged Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Skagit Speedway Alger WA Outlaw Hornets
Saturday 04/27/13 Skagit Speedway Alger WA Sportsman Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 Wenatchee Valley Speedway Wenatchee WA Apple Blossom 200 PASS Super Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 Wenatchee Valley Speedway Wenatchee WA Pro Four Alliance
Saturday 04/27/13 Wenatchee Valley Speedway Wenatchee WA Pure Stocks
Saturday 04/27/13 Wenatchee Valley Speedway Wenatchee WA WESCO Winged Sprints
Saturday 04/27/13 I-77 Raceway Park Ripley WV Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 I-77 Raceway Park Ripley WV Mini-Wedges
Saturday 04/27/13 I-77 Raceway Park Ripley WV Mod Lites
Saturday 04/27/13 I-77 Raceway Park Ripley WV Modifieds
Saturday 04/27/13 I-77 Raceway Park Ripley WV Ohio Valley Sprint Cars
Saturday 04/27/13 I-77 Raceway Park Ripley WV Semi-Late Models
Saturday 04/27/13 I-77 Raceway Park Ripley WV Semi-Mods
Sunday 04/28/13 Stafford Motor Speedway Stafford CT Whelen Modifieds
Sunday 04/28/13 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville IA Hobby Stocks
Sunday 04/28/13 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville IA Modifieds
Sunday 04/28/13 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville IA Sport Mods
Sunday 04/28/13 Knoxville Raceway Knoxville IA Stock Cars
Sunday 04/28/13 Quincy Raceways Quincy IL IMCA Northern Sport Mods
Sunday 04/28/13 Quincy Raceways Quincy IL IMCA Sport Compacts
Sunday 04/28/13 Quincy Raceways Quincy IL IMCA Stock Cars
Sunday 04/28/13 Quincy Raceways Quincy IL UMP Late Models
Sunday 04/28/13 Quincy Raceways Quincy IL UMP Modifieds
Sunday 04/28/13 Salem Speedway Salem IN ARCA
Sunday 04/28/13 Terre Haute Action Track Terre Haute IN USAC Silver Crown
Sunday 04/28/13 Oxford Plains Speedway Oxford ME Mini Stocks
Sunday 04/28/13 Oxford Plains Speedway Oxford ME Outlaw Sportsman
Sunday 04/28/13 Oxford Plains Speedway Oxford ME Pro Late Models
Sunday 04/28/13 Oxford Plains Speedway Oxford ME Street Stocks
Sunday 04/28/13 Roadrunner Speedway Carlsbad NM USAC National Quarter Midgets
Wednesday 05/01/13 Ogilvie Raceway Ogilvie MN USMTS Modifieds
Wednesday 05/01/13 Millbridge Speedway Salisbury NC 125 Mini Outlaw
Wednesday 05/01/13 Millbridge Speedway Salisbury NC Beginner Box Stock Mini Outlaw
Wednesday 05/01/13 Millbridge Speedway Salisbury NC Box Stock Mini Outlaw
Wednesday 05/01/13 Millbridge Speedway Salisbury NC NBA Clone Go-Karts
Wednesday 05/01/13 Millbridge Speedway Salisbury NC Open Mini Outlaw
Thursday 05/02/13 Rice Lake Speedway Rice Lake WI USMTS Modifieds