hidden in the Elliott breaks his leg snowboarding story is why he was there...he went home for a few days. he basically grew up in Vail. they hide that so they can play the "hick from Dawsonville" angle like his dad. anyway, I agree, too expensive for too crap of a product, I live an hour from Daytona and haven't been to the 500 in years. just not compelling. they wouldn't be trying new things (Coliseum, Chicago street race, etc) if the old things were still working.
That's why I was a Bowyer and McDowell fan...those guys raced their ways in, paid their dues, no dynasty names or money pushing them into a seat. Was happy to see Custer get knocked back to Xfinity after daddy saved his seat in the lunchroom.
I've been a McDowell fan since that whole RHR/Rocketsports cluster****. hilarious he's having a good season this year. solid top 10 almost every week, even if the result doesn't show it
He had a few bad breaks this year, but now in the 16th "Playoff" spot. That team fights hard every week.
I never thought he was a hick from Dawsonville. My 'point' was (if I even had one) - 40-50 years ago you would not catch a stock car driver DEAD on a ski slope - skiing is for snot-nosed rich kids, not big, gruff, hard-livin' smokin' and drinkin' drivers... MY problem is it is very hard for me to go to ANY event and sit in the stands, I just won't. After being in the garages and the pits for nascar and F1 events, on the sidelines of college and pro football and basketball games, in the photo dugouts of college and pro baseball games, being able to roam where I want at golf, track, gymnastics events with press passes, it's just hard to attend an event and just SIT and watch. Over the last 40 years, I have sat in the stands ONCE to watch an event, and that was a college football game I took my now-ex to when she said 'I always wanted to see an NU game but have never seen one in-person', and a friend of mine gave me a set of tickets for free, circa 2002 IIRC. She wanted to see Eric Crouch, since he came from the same HS her kids/my 2 step-kids were attending.
They do still have ties to Dawsonville, I'm about 2 hours away and I think Bill stores some of his old cars near here, they bring them out for car shows and whatnot, but I've never seen him casually.
There are two places to see in Dawsonville: the Pool Room is full of Elliott newpaper clippings and still serves a mean hamburger at a fair price. Thunder Road USA is a nearby museum complex with a number of cars (and not just those of the Elliotts), the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, and even a moonshine distillery! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I used to go right past there when I used to have to travel to Gainesville for work, never had time to stop in, but always saw the Elliott signs out front. There are still people that gather there to watch every race.
And right outside of Dawsonville is Atlanta Motorsports Park, which is one of the "automotive country clubs" that has become popular around the U.S. It has a great 1.9-mile track, with more elevation change than Road Atlanta, that was designed by Hermann Tilke and is arguably better than most of his Formula 1 circuits, as well as a 0.85-mile kart track that has already been called by some the best in the country. The main track is open to members only (aside from special events) but the kart track is open to anyone, with karts available for rental. https://www.atlantamotorsportspark.com/
and if you're ok with a little traffic, the best time to go is when Dawsonville has their annual Moonshine Festival. https://www.destinationdawsonville.com/events/mountain-moonshine-festival/
I wouldn't be too worried for Hamlin remembering back to when Earnhardt, Sr. won races (particularly at Talledega) when fans would not only shoot him the bird but throw trash onto the track such was their dislike for him. When Earnhardt, Sr. pulled into Victory Lane, a chorus of boos was usually the accompanying background noise. Funny how all that changed. BHW
one of NASCAR's (many) problems today is nobody embraces the "black hat" Dale Sr played that to perfection. Tony Stewart kinda played into that. now everyone wants to have a nice and cuddly persona, oddly at a time when driving conduct is at an all time low IMO
He's a pud, for sure, nobody should be surprised at that...but I have a bigger problem with the way NASCAR allowed that race to end under caution because they sat on the yellow for so long while there was a stalled car on the track. That was absolutely inexcusable. Larson can take care of himself, he will put that little ***** in the wall.
I was a HUGE Earnhardt fan and don't remember fans throwing stuff at him especially at Talledega as you mentioned. I was there for a couple of races in the 90s and half the crowd were Earnhardt fans. That was literally everywhere you went. I do know they gave him crap at Bristol when he turned Terry on the last lap.
I have no issues with what Hamilin did. The old saying checkers or wreckers. If you are against this then you should be against the old bump and run on short tracks. Racing has never been the same since Sr left us that's for sure.
Nope, I said I had a problem with NASCAR at Pocono, not Hamlin. I just don't like Hamlin and never have. He's just a Massengill bag, has been since day 1. I still remember when he made some pretty damning (inaccurate) accusations about Bowyer after he was handed down a penalty after winning at Loudon. I was in the garage at the Kansas race (Bowyer's home track) as one of his guests, and that little jerk hid the whole time. I literally saw and met everyone but him, even Helton.
I went to 'Dega in 1996 (spring race, when Craven did his huge airborne crash) and it was 50% Dale and 50% Jeff Gordon fans only time I remember fans at Dega throwing things on track was when Gordon won in 2004 (beating Jr) Image Unavailable, Please Login
Noah Gragson suspended for liking George Floyd meme https://www.autosport.com/nascar/news/legacy-motor-club-suspends-driver-noah-gragson/10504795/
Michael McDowell beats the international all stars at the Indy road course @RedNeck raises a keystone lite in his honor
if it’s paved, it’s racetrack if that was gravel they’d never complete a green flag lap I’m ok with it
