Group will sanction races at Tri-County
Move is expectde to be a draw for fans and driver and boost speedway's 'credibility fcator'
Sunday, March 30, 2008
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
HUDSON -- NASCAR is back in Caldwell County.
On Friday, a couple dozen drivers will line up at the Tri-County Motor Speedway, start their engines and launch the first NASCAR-sanctioned race the track has seen since 2000.
"This is going to be great," said Scott Hatton, who has been going to Tri-County races since the track opened in 1985. "Great for the drivers, great for the fans. Just great."
The speedway's 2008 season starts Friday, and this year brings to Hudson the prestige and allure of NASCAR, which recently sanctioned the 0.4-mile paved track as part of its short-course racing family.
"These tracks bring a level of competition and excitement to the fans that have become synonymous with NASCAR's short-track racing," said George Silbermann, managing director of NASCAR racing operations, in February.
Tri-County joins 59 other speedways across the country and six others in the state as a NASCAR-sanctioned short-course track. But it isn't the first time that Tri-County, which seats about 3,000 in the bleachers and several hundred more in trackside parking, has been part of the elite.
In 1986, in its second season, the speedway became the state's only NASCAR-sanctioned dirt track. Though it had sporadic NASCAR affiliation in its more than two-decade history, the track hasn't been part of the national association since 2000, said speedway General Manager Joe Lewandoski.
And the name recognition of NASCAR, he said, brings more authority.
"Everyone knows about NASCAR, and when you say you're NASCAR affiliated, that goes a long way," he said. "It brings a real credibility factor."
But Lewandoski is hoping it will bring more fans, too.
With three tracks - Tri-County, Antioch and Hickory - within 25 miles of each other and the bigger races televised throughout the season, it's tough to get people out to the track every Friday, he said.
"It's a challenge to get the NASCAR couch potato to come out and see real racing," Lewandoski said. "But if you're a big fan and you haven't seen a race at Tri-County or (the Hickory Motor Speedway), you need to get out there."
Now, with its NASCAR association, drivers who race at Tri-County will be eligible to compete for state and national championships in addition to the individual track titles.
If drivers do well, they could be looking at a $14,000 prize for a state title, $25,000 for the national title and $3,000 for titles at Tri-County and the Hickory Motor Speedway, which is also a NASCAR-sanctioned track.
And for Hatton, who led a crew at Tri-County for 15 years and is teaching his 3-year-old son everything he knows about the sport, bringing the prestige of NASCAR back is exciting.
"I've seen a lot of big names come through Tri-County (when it's been affiliated with) NASCAR," he said. "If you can tell someone you won at a NASCAR-sanctioned track, well that just means more."
Want to go?
NASCAR-sanctioned races at the Tri-County Motor Speedway begin Friday and run Friday nights though Sept. 5. The front gate and trackside parking open at 6 p.m., qualifying races start at 7 p.m. and the featured races begin at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for children ages 4-15 and free for children under 4. Family passes cost $25 and include admission for two adults and up to three kids.
Tri-County Motor Speedway is at 4405 Hickory Nut Ridge Road in Hudson. Details: call 828-726-6600 or visit www.tricountymotorspeed way.com.
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