thought THIS was interesting

[Chris]

A poll at the AMS site
What time would you like to see the races start next year at AMS?

1:00 pm (Daylight Race)                 51%
3:00 pm (Finish Under the Lights)    49%

Total Number of votes: 3946

hhuumm interesting

[LeeAnne331]

it's great to see a race ending under the lights, but seeing the massive sunglare in the turn for that period in time is crazy!! 

[flamehothead]

I personally like the races that end at night. Sometimes it really shows which teams are on their game. If it's a night or day race then you pretty much know what you have to set up for. When they start in the heat of the day and run until the cool of the night it makes for some interesting racing.

[Cangal48]

FHH, totally concur with you!  I enjoy the "night races", however, I am concerned for driver safety when "the glare of the sun" becomes a measurable safety concern for the drivers going into these effected turns.  Problem is, what can be done about this problem, other than to move up the starting time for races where weather conditions warrant safety concerns, or push the starting times later on in the day, when sun or other environmental issues aren't an issue.

Only a thought!

Nancy

[Chris]

Another problem with starting races later in the day is this
You start a race on Sunday at say 3:00 or 3:30...
You have bad weather in the area, and they don't get but 100 miles or so in and it rains the rest of the day
NOW people got tickets and didn't get to see much of the race.  Race is postponed until MONDAY.  Folks don't have rooms for Sunday night, many can't take of work, etc.
If the race starts at around 1:00... then in that extra two+ hours they could of run 300 more miles and the race might of been complete.  AT least got in 400 miles and been past 1/2 way so everyone could go home;  Fans, teams, drivers, everyone.

[Cangal48]

If you are from the U.S. YOU are fortunate enough to attend races, whether it be day or night...most Canadians (who haven't attended races) get to enjoy it from the FAN ZONE known as OUR LIVINGROOMS...might I add, VERY COMFORTABLE!!!!

But on a serious note, I am very concerned about driver and crew safety.  I have read articles where pitting can be quite dangerous, as certain pit areas are very dark, even heading to the garages at various speedways.  So is there a benefit to holding night races, perhaps based on the level of excitement "racing under the lights." 

Nancy

[KurtBuschFan]

I kinda have mixed feelings.  As was mentioned before, if you have a day race or a night race, you know what the setup has to be.  But to switch from day to night setup during the race, it shows just how well the crew chief, the team and the driver work together.  Of course then there's that pesky sunlight issue!  I pretty much dont have anything to add that hasn't been said.  But for excitement I'm definitely a night race kinda girl.  There's just something about the way the paint jobs on the cars sparkle under the lights....

[Chris]

yeah,.. and the sparks flying when the bottom out... and crash...

[Butterbean]

Speaking of night racing...where was the first night race on a superspeedway under the lights held?  Remember, a track a mile or longer is a considered superspeedway to NASCAR.

[Chris]

I'm wanting to say it was Lowes,...
Seem Humpy is always on the cutting edge of doing stuff...
I know the first "Winston" race was under the lights in May of 1992... so thats been 14 years ago.

[Butterbean]

No, not Charlotte/Lowes.  Good try.

[flamehothead]

First Night Race: 1992

Lowes/Charlotte. Found this on one of my favorite websites.

[Butterbean]

Again, not Charlotte/Lowes.  Sorry.

The track was in NC though, and the race was run in the 50's

[falcon325]

Butterbean:

It wasn't the Raleigh (a.k.a. "Dixie") Speedway, was it?

[Butterbean]

Bingo,  you've got it falcon,  WTG.  Herb Thomas won it with a 55 Buick on 8-20-55 at the old Raleigh (NC) Speedway, a 1 mile paved oval.  And yes, I attended races there when I was a youngster.  They had a 1/4 mile track also that used the frontstreatch of the one mile track like Charlotte, Atlanta and such.  I attended more of the Sportsman/Modified races on the 1/4 mile track though.  Only went to one on the big track race.  That WAS some great racing back then!