[Bob Tanner]

I lifted the following from Matt McLaughlin's column this morning:
"They want to move the first Dover Cup date to the first weekend in April? Given the unpredictable nature of the weather in my native northeast, NASCAR ought to install snow plows on the track drying trucks. Winter didn’t want to let go this year. The only change to the schedule I really want to see is the Labor Day weekend race returning to Darlington. "

I haven't seen this before; has anyone heard about this? I doubt that it's a figment of Matt's imagination, but I've been fooled before, many times.

If it is true, it's Rockingham revisited - Ba-Bye Dover.

Hmmm...??? Let me ponder this a second... The owners of Dover also own Kentucky Speedway... Kentucky Speedway is in a potentially nasty lawsuit over a requested race date... Could moving a race at Dover to a date which would increase the chances of poor attendance and/or uncertain temps and weather be a vindictive measure by NASCAR?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

One thing I an ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE about in Matt's statement; BRING THE SOUTHERN 500 BACK TO DARLINGTON ON LABOUR DAY!!!!!

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I lifted the following from Matt McLaughlin's column this morning:
"They want to move the first Dover Cup date to the first weekend in April? Given the unpredictable nature of the weather in my native northeast, NASCAR ought to install snow plows on the track drying trucks. Winter didn’t want to let go this year. The only change to the schedule I really want to see is the Labor Day weekend race returning to Darlington. "

I haven't seen this before; has anyone heard about this? I doubt that it's a figment of Matt's imagination, but I've been fooled before, many times.

If it is true, it's Rockingham revisited - Ba-Bye Dover.

Hmmm...??? Let me ponder this a second... The owners of Dover also own Kentucky Speedway... Kentucky Speedway is in a potentially nasty lawsuit over a requested race date... Could moving a race at Dover to a date which would increase the chances of poor attendance and/or uncertain temps and weather be a vindictive measure by NASCAR?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

One thing I an ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE about in Matt's statement; BRING THE SOUTHERN 500 BACK TO DARLINGTON ON LABOUR DAY!!!!!

Lets see, Dover, Dover... I've been there. Nothing real special about Delaware's little capital city. No bright lights, no big parties, no celebrities.

On the other side, Las Vegas only has one date, Dover has two. Oh boy I've been down this road too many times before. I hope this isn't true for the sake of Northeastern racing fans. I was one of those fans for most of my life, so I don't want anything to happen to my Magic Mile or Monster Mile.

The sad thing is, this is believeable. Hell, you said it, they threw out the Southern 500. What is there protecting Dover?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

Lets see, Dover, Dover... I've been there. Nothing real special about Delaware's little capital city. No bright lights, no big parties, no celebrities.

On the other side, Las Vegas only has one date, Dover has two. Oh boy I've been down this road too many times before. I hope this isn't true for the sake of Northeastern racing fans. I was one of those fans for most of my life, so I don't want anything to happen to my Magic Mile or Monster Mile.

The sad thing is, this is believeable. Hell, you said it, they threw out the Southern 500. What is there protecting Dover?

I have no special affinity for Dover. High-banked concrete makes it unique but it's always a brutal race. I was glad when they shortened it to 400 miles.

It's in a developing area with...? Is it a college across the highway from the track? I could see ISC taking a date for a couple of semi-valid reasons.

What bothers me is the way they apparently intend on justifying their actions, IF Matt's assertion is correct; moving a date to guarantee failure. A really chicken-<bleep> way to do business if you ask me.

[simple simon]

im looking everywhere i can for this Bob ..... nothing yet

although Dover isnt part of the IMS ----i think thats it---- family is it ?

so it doesnt surprise me they want to weed it out

[Bob Tanner]

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!

I think I made a mistake and owe everyone an apology! My bad!

After some research (which dumb-arse here SHOULD have done before starting the thread, I find out that Kentucky and Dover ARE NOT connected! Dover also owns Nashville, gateway and Memphis. From what I can gather Kentucky Speedway is completely separate.

I must be getting senile. I have no idea where the concept that Dover and Ky were one organization came from.

FWIW, I still think moving a date at Dover to early April is a rotten thing to do. Maybe NASCAR is getting a date ready for Kentucky because it doesn't want a anti-trust suit to open up NASCAR's books?

[Mike24]

Dover in April? NO WAY! Keep it the way it is.

[LSC9901]

In 2001 they ran at NHIS on Nov 23. No snowplows required. Dover in April would be easy !!! LOL

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!

I think I made a mistake and owe everyone an apology! My bad!

After some research (which dumb-arse here SHOULD have done before starting the thread, I find out that Kentucky and Dover ARE NOT connected! Dover also owns Nashville, gateway and Memphis. From what I can gather Kentucky Speedway is completely separate.

I must be getting senile. I have no idea where the concept that Dover and Ky were one organization came from.

FWIW, I still think moving a date at Dover to early April is a rotten thing to do. Maybe NASCAR is getting a date ready for Kentucky because it doesn't want a anti-trust suit to open up NASCAR's books?

Bob... I could've told you that KY and Dover aren't connected. That's one of the reasons KY is gettin the shaft for a cup race... because they aren't part of ISC AKA "The Family France". That issue is really startin to pick up steam here in the bluegrass. People are gettin steamed.

[Phils20]

Moving Dover to April would be pretty pointless. You'd be lucky to get the race run at that time of year!! Now moving the September race a bit later in the season, like the next to last race, might be great! The Sept race is usually just brutal for the temperature. It's always rumoerd here the the late date will be at night. I'd give up the spring race to see a night race here is September.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Moving Dover to April would be pretty pointless. You'd be lucky to get the race run at that time of year!! Now moving the September race a bit later in the season, like the next to last race, might be great! The Sept race is usually just brutal for the temperature. It's always rumoerd here the the late date will be at night. I'd give up the spring race to see a night race here is September.

I really think there are too many night races these days (darn, that phrase again)

Sorry to go down the road of tradition again, but I just can't get used to watching Darlington at night, or finishing the 500 under the lights. The concept is exciting, but there is a point where it goes overboard. I like Richmond, Bristol, and the Firecracker 400 at night, even Phoenix, but do we really need more than that? What is happening to settling in on a Sunday afternoon with a cold beverage and some chips and enjoy the action on the track, then return to the work that needs to be done afterwards?

[oncea3fan]

Dover wouldn't be so bad in april it does get pretty hot out there. dover always sells out both races and adds seats every year, I don't think they'll be losing a date anytime soon.

I have four tickets to sundays race, and can't go, my wife just had surgery yesterday and is still at univ. of md in baltimore. sucks!

I gave 2 away and will prpbably give my nieghbors the other 2. and I got the renewel in the mail yesterday for the 2008 spring race already shhhhsss.