But few people realize that it had its origins in the southern states as drivers would customize small, fast vehicles to deliver bootleg whiskey during Prohibition, running 'shine and evading revenuers. By the 1940's the races were run for pride and profit and became a popular entertainment in the rural South.
The 2016 season's Sprint Cup Series commences with the STP 500 on the shortest and oldest track in the country at the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. And there is quite a controversy brewing there this year. No, it's not about the track surface or the kind of tires that are permitted on the vehicles. It has nothing to do with the blend of fuel or the pit crew's safety gear. The contentious debate in Henry County centers on the speedway's decision to change the supplier of the nearly fluorescent red, almost sweet tasting hot dogs that are sold in wax paper and served slathered in chili, onions and slaw.
It seems that the speedway owners have to decided to switch from hot dog maker Jesse Jones who has provided the tube steaks for nearly 70 years. The new dogs in town will come from Valleydale Foods, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods. This is not an insignificant move. The Martinsville hot dog is one of the most iconic concession items in all of racing. Consider this...more than 50,000 are sold each weekend. Some crew members have been known to eat 40 to 50 of them in a single weekend. They consume them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And while the competition between race cars is fierce, it's even more competitive in the pits as running totals of hot dogs consumed is kept on garage stall walls.
And may the best man, er...dog...win! Gentlemen, start your appetites!
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