Dateline: 05/16/01

For the past few days, rumors have flown about a new racing league that is trying to form as competition to NASCAR. The league, Team Racing Auto Circuit or TRAC, plans to launch operations in 2003, using a few of the same tracks that are currently the domain of NASCAR and to have television coverage of its races. The early press coverage attempted to portray the league as a rival to NASCAR, but later statements by a league founder and spokesman Cale Yarborough suggest that this just isn't the case.

Yarborough, a legendary figure in NASCAR history, suggested that the league would be a "little sister" to NASCAR and would serve as a place where young talent could develop. My question is this. Do we need another "minor league" racing series? After all, we already have extensive coverage of Busch, ARCA and ASA racing, and don't these series serve the same purpose as TRAC proposes to offer?

If what Cale says is true, and there is no reason to doubt him, then my answer is YES. They do serve the same purpose, but in my opinion, "The more the merrier." I love to watch Busch, ARCA and ASA races. Like many fans, I can't get enough of stock cars, and TRAC would give just one more opportunity to watch the "stars of tomorrow" show their talents as they develop their skills. For this, NASCAR should show its unqualified support.

For years, NASCAR stars have graced tracks around the country as celebrity guests at ARCA and ASA races. I remember the first ASA race at Heartland Park Raceway, Topeka, Kansas, when Mark Martin, Ken Schrader and Darrell Waltrip were the featured drivers. Their appearance brought out fans in droves, and added to the press coverage of a race, that the year before had been cancelled when a group tried to organize a road course race with local area stock car drivers and had only one entry. It helped to put Heartland Park on a secure footing, and TRAC could do the same for other tracks, if Winston Cup drivers show their support by participating on a limited basis.

In fact, rumor has it that the success of ASA and the Craftsman Truck Series at Heartland Park was a major influence in building the new Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, just an hour away. It helped to show that there was support for big time auto racing in the heartland, and now we see a Winston Cup race being scheduled at the new oval. This new league, if successful, could provide just such a springboard to other areas getting tracks that would support a major racing event. And that would be good for everyone involved.

In my opinion, fans should support this new venture enthusiastically. It gives us one more way to watch our favorite sport, opens up opportunities that are currently unavailable, and gives young drivers a place to develop and grow under the banner of a legitimate sanctioning body with experienced leadership, that would provide secure purses and unlimited opportunity. This new league could be a real winner for all of us, if we just give it a chance.

As a side note, good luck to Tony Stewart and Robbie Gordon as they attempt to secure their positions in the starting grid at Indianapolis this weekend. Tony is one of the best Indy car drivers around, as well as being one of NASCAR's top performers. I don't envy him trying to run 1100 miles on one day, but if anyone can do it, it would be Tony. Robbie has always been a top-notch Indy car driver, and teaming with A.J. Foyt makes him a potential winner at the "500" as well. Both deserve our support and respect for their abilities and skills, and NASCAReporter salutes them for their accomplishments and wishes them well in their efforts.