Lowe's Motor Speedway's walls have been painted yellow for the Nextel All-Star Challenge, and little things like that are the reason the Nextel All-Star Challenge needs to stay at the Concord, N.C. track.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith, track president Humpy Wheeler, senior vice president of events Jerry Gappens, director of racing events Roger Slack and everyone at the track take racing to the next level. They always have, and they always will. They put up lights in 1992 when everybody told them they were out of their mind. Working with NASCAR and the race's sponsors — Winston and Nextel — they've also changed the format of the race over the years.
The first all-star race started was a sideshow on Coca-Cola 600 weekend in 1985. They ran it after the Busch race. Darrell Waltrip won, and his engine blew up as he crossed the finish line. Then, it got a weekend of its own. The race then stepped up a notch and went under the lights. Now, it's not just all-star day, night or weekend in Charlotte. It's become all-star week.
Starting Wednesday at the Bobcats Arena with the Nextel Pit Crew Challenge, we moved up the road for my second annual all-star BBQ (SPEED, Thursday 7 p.m. ET). Then, we head to the racetrack for two days. It's the 23rd all-star event, and all but one have been held at Lowe's. The rumors about it moving have subsided as people realize that this is where it needs to be, especially since nearly 90 percent of the teams call Charlotte home.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith, track president Humpy Wheeler, senior vice president of events Jerry Gappens, director of racing events Roger Slack and everyone at the track take racing to the next level. They always have, and they always will. They put up lights in 1992 when everybody told them they were out of their mind. Working with NASCAR and the race's sponsors — Winston and Nextel — they've also changed the format of the race over the years.
The first all-star race started was a sideshow on Coca-Cola 600 weekend in 1985. They ran it after the Busch race. Darrell Waltrip won, and his engine blew up as he crossed the finish line. Then, it got a weekend of its own. The race then stepped up a notch and went under the lights. Now, it's not just all-star day, night or weekend in Charlotte. It's become all-star week.
Starting Wednesday at the Bobcats Arena with the Nextel Pit Crew Challenge, we moved up the road for my second annual all-star BBQ (SPEED, Thursday 7 p.m. ET). Then, we head to the racetrack for two days. It's the 23rd all-star event, and all but one have been held at Lowe's. The rumors about it moving have subsided as people realize that this is where it needs to be, especially since nearly 90 percent of the teams call Charlotte home.