SMOKE AND MIRRORS? – ARCA East At Hickory To Spring At Martinsville In The Next Gen

“It’s important to ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing and what purpose it serves in the big picture.”

Richard Branson

What an insightful weekend it was. From the ARCA Menards Series East debut at Hickory Motor Speedway to the spring Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville, there was a lot to take in. But from what we can tell from the initial feedback from those events, it seems to us people are focusing on things that really don’t mean a hill of beans in the overall scheme of things. Whether it’s the industry bubble or the fan hype, from our perspective people are missing the forest for the 10 ft. trees right in front of them. But we’re going to go a little deeper and fill you in on what we think they’re missing.

The contrast between the Cook Out 200 and the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 was more than just 200 laps. But what they had in common were that they were both ran at 2 of the most historic short tracks in the country. Tracks that go back to the very beginning. So to us it’s only fitting that these 2 tracks put a spotlight on 2 very important issues facing NASCAR. How NASCAR deals with these issues could significantly impact the way the sport of American stock car racing is perceived well into the future. But before I get deep into that, let’s first take a closer look at the action on the track from both of these memorable events.

HICKORY MOTOR SPEEDWAY MINI STOCK FEATURE

Some of the region’s Mini Stock greats descended onto Hickory Motor Speedway for a 35 lap matinee, but in the end, it was AJ Sanders who adds to his evergrowing list of wins ahead of Michael Tucker, Chuck Wall, Shane Canipe, and Randy Canipe!

CAROLINA PRO LATE MODEL SERIES COOK OUT 75

Justin Crider in the #8 puts down the fastest lap in qualifying for Terri Crider, but a driver change forces that machine to go to the rear. With the race being shortened from 75 to 55 laps due to a schedule backup, the intensity is high from the drop of the green. Palmer Haag and Hudson Canipe paced the field for the majority of the event, with Hudson Canipe leading the charge in the final stages. A furious late race run from defending champion Trey Canipe falls short, meaning Hudson Canipe takes his first career Carolina Pro Late Model Series win! Trey Canipe crosses the line in second followed by TJ Moon, Talon Pelfrey, and Sheflon Clay. Haag drops to 8th after an unscheduled stop in the pits.

ARCA MENARDS SERIES EAST COOK OUT 200

Max Reaves looks to continue his East Series winning ways and starts off on the right foot after capturing the pole. Reaves gets a great start and keeps steady at the head, leading the most laps. But a late race caution sets the stage for a challenge from both Landon S. Huffman and Tristan McKee. Huffman gives it his all, muscling his way by Reaves with contact. But Reaves gives it back as they’re now three wide with McKee poking his nose! The fans are on their feet as they trade the top spot back and forth! Huffman sends it into one deep and goes for a spin! Picking up the bones on the next restart is McKee, driving away from a battered Reaves en route to his first career East Series win! Reaves comes home second, Isaac Kitzmiller third, Derek Kneeland fourth, and Nick Tucker fifth.

NASCAR CUP SERIES COOK OUT 400

Martinsville ace Denny Hamlin leads the field to green, and much like Max Reaves, goes on a tear from the pole. William Byron gets by for a short period, but Hamlin takes it right back on his way to sweeping stages 1 and 2. Behind him, Alan Gustafson decides to make a bold call on behalf of Chase Elliott, short pitting in the final stage to gain track position. A piece of brake rotor from Ty Dillon’s machine brings out a caution, just what the doctor ordered for Elliott, who’ll get to restart up front with Hamlin and a staying out Ross Chastain. With track position on his side and another caution to boot, Elliott motors to the lead and takes advantage of the clean air all the way to his second Cup Series Grandfather Clock! Hamlin maintains in second, Joey Logano ends the day in third, Ty Gibbs continues to build his momentum in fourth, and William Byron rounds out the top five.

MY TAKE

This needs to be said. On Saturday in ARCA at Hickory Motor Speedway, a series I saw a “fan” refer to as, “glorified street stocks”, I saw a battle for the win that was nothing short of epic. The beginning of it contained at least the top five, but as the race closed ever closer to the final laps, it featured three aggressive young drivers that know each other pretty well. Those guys went toe to toe, swapping the lead, two and three wide, just going for it. It ended with some controversial comments, and well, moves on the track also in many eyes. And that’s what was talked about after. The comments, and who was to blame for what. Oh, and do “social media” drivers belong in the sport. But, most people just missed it. The forest for the trees…we saw something else. And it’s more important than anything else I heard about this race. But I haven’t heard anyone else talking about it.

On Sunday, we went to where I spent a lot of my younger fan days, Martinsville Speedway. Not going to lie, I have a special affinity for the place. Many people do. It goes deep. And so to be able to go over there and cover the NASCAR Cup Series is more than special, really. If you don’t get too caught up in it, you can’t help but see the work that goes into putting on that professional of a production. It’s amazing man, truly. Those guys know what they’re doing from the moment the trucks arrive until the final gates are locked. I also get an amazing look at the state of the art, top of the line American “stock” car, the Next Gen. And they look as badass up close as you think they would. But again, on a short track, I saw two wide on restarts, and three wide once, and well, we all know how that worked out. But that’s all people wanted to talk about. But we noticed something else. For the most part, single file racing. Thankfully there was also the great strategy call that made the story favorable, leading to a Jeff Gluck “Was It A Good Race?” poll rating of 49.2%. Important to note here that the last Gen 6 race here had a rating of 92.7%. Important because on many of the big NASCAR groups on social media, they say it might be time to scrap Martinsville. Yeah, they missed it, but we didn’t.

You see, because what we saw at Hickory with those three young aggressive drivers was again nothing short of epic short track racing. They battled it out. Overlooked partly because of who they were, and the car they were driving. But I’m going to tell you right here why it’s good for these young drivers to drive in that series, and no, it’s not just to get accredited to be able to run in the bigger series, it’s because those cars are hard to drive. A lot of weight and a lot of horsepower. We know a little about that from access to the Grand National Super Series. A series that runs, for the most part, old ARCA and Pro Cup cars. Now knowing that, I ask to now take another look at that ARCA East battle at Hickory in that different light. Three young drivers that many say are too aggressive, in a heavy car that also holds heavy power, and what I saw was three extremely talented drivers exhibiting what should send shivers to any series they’re coming into. But we’ve seen it over and over. Great short track battles. In Legend Cars, Limited Sportsman, Pro Late Models, Super Late Models, and Late Model Stocks. At short tracks all over the region. Hickory, Tri-County, Orange County, South Boston,…and also at short tracks all across this country. And let’s be honest. Martinsville Speedway has been known for a very long time for it’s GREAT short track racing history. The reason it can wear the title “The Short Track”. You can see clips of epic races to the line just like those three talented young men put on. Doesn’t make it any less special because of what it was. The future of the sport proving why they belong in it. Mark my words, when they move into the upper echelon of the sport, they will contend for wins. Love ’em or hate ’em. It won’t stop that fact. The next gen of drivers is as talented as they exhibit. They show it every chance they get. Crossovers, bumping and grinding, refusing to lose.

What you won’t see, is those types of epic short track battles in the Next Gen car. I honestly thought by now that we would. I’ve written as much. But I’m starting to doubt that the car can even do it. Even with the best in the world at the helm, I’m starting to get the inclination that the sport has focused itself on the enormity of the production, leaving the action on the track hidden behind smoke and mirrors. Unfortunately, the mirror is stained with rubber and minimal horsepower upgrades. And no one seems to see that a generation of upcoming young talent, a generation already showing itself in drivers like Connor Zilisch, may never get to display their true door to door competitive skills at the highest level, underneath the smoke of the stage that presents them to the world. Oh, and Tristan McKee. This was a great win for McKee because he’s been given a lot of flack about his racecraft. But this past Saturday, patience was his virtue, and is what ultimately led to him to the checkered flag.

In the end it comes down to the racing on the track. And I promise you, these storied short tracks are made to bring out the best competitive spirit in a driver. But that driver, and that track, if it receives the talent, still has to have a car that can provide them that opportunity. So it’s time to stop putting the blame on the drivers, I know what they can do. Anyone thinking that the fencing and the plowing came at ‘misjudgement’, you’re fooling yourselves about the talent those guys posses. They know exactly what they’re doing. Now if they just had a car on a short track that could get up to another’s bumper with no to minimal issue. Leaving them able to RACE side by side, door to door, lap after lap, going for it with a refuse to lose attitude. The entertainment side of it then takes care of itself. And with less of a headache.

Until next time, as always, See You At The Track!