I'm At The Wrong Track! NASCAR Fans Miss Darlington

Most of NASCAR fans will tune in for the Sunday night event in California, but our hearts will still be in Darlington, South Carolina.

Remember that old Michael Waltrip commercial, when he's rambling on and on, and suddenly he realizes that he's at the wrong track. Well, in my personal, not professional opinion, I believe that every Labor Day since 2004, all of NASCAR has found themselves at 'the wrong track'.

I may be a NASCAR writer, but I am also a huge NASCAR fan, and grew up watching the time-honored Labor Day classic Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway with my father. Ever since 1985, when I was only a mere seven years of age, up until 2004, there wasn't a race on the NASCAR schedule that I looked forward to more than the Southern 500.

In 1988, I attended my first Southern 500 with my father. My father wore his red Coors cap representing Bill Elliott, while I wore my black and gray GM Goodwrench cap representing Dale Earnhardt. The race consisted of classic battles between Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, and Rusty Wallace. It was a memorable race no doubt, with Elliott edging out Wallace.

I am positive that I am not alone in my desire to bring Darlington back to it appropriate Labor Day date on the schedule.

The two Labor Day races in California have without a doubt failed to measure up to timeless races such as Elliott winning the Winston Million, or Jeff Gordon edging out Jeff Burton to become the second driver to win the Winston Million. You know, the races that you may see on ESPN Classic.

But the professional side of me comprehends why the scheduling modification was set in motion. The races held in Fontana, California are much more lucrative than races held in the humble town of Darlington, South Carolina. It seems coherent that if NASCAR wants to continue to grow, then the change was essential, much to the consternation of the majority of NASCAR's fan base.

Most of NASCAR fans will tune in for the Sunday night event in California, but our hearts will still be in Darlington, South Carolina.

Enjoy your race weekend.

email the author: autoracing@suite101.com