"It becomes a little city. It has to be cleaned every night. The food has to be restocked. You need to accommodate the sponsors. We have a different sponsor for each night."
New Smyrna has the distinction of being the closest asphalt track to Daytona International Speedway. The question begs to be asked: Is that a good thing?
"It helps, certainly," Roberts says. "It helps us bring people in for the World Series. In fact, the World Series got started because of it. We do benefit in that way. However, they've gone to night racing and that hurts. Still, you just have to give it your best shot. You have to come up with programs that will keep everyone coming to New Smyrna. It hasn't impacted the pit area, but it does have an impact on the grandstand.
"If you say it doesn't hurt you, you're not telling the truth. You just have to do some different promotion and try to attract more local people. The NASCAR Tour Type Modifieds and the SK Modifieds have their crowds. There's a lot going on there, but there's a lot going on all over town at that time of year. Our success comes in getting local people involved, by getting involved with the News Journal, the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, and the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau."
Racing Action In Georgia
Florida will not be the only place where racing gets an early start. Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Pooler, Georgia, will again provide some early season thrills. The races will be held February 2-4.
The 2nd Annual Young Guns Shootout will give some of the nation's young racing talent a time to shine. Drivers under the age of 23 are eligible to compete in the Modified or Late Model segments of the competition. The 2005 Young Guns Modified champion, Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, is expected to return to defend the title.
This year, the event will carry the sanction of the IMCA for Modifieds. The IMCA Winternationals will open with a practice session on February 2. IMCA Modifieds will run a 25-lap main event, with $1,000 to the winner on Friday. The following night, the ante will rise to $1,200 for a 30-lap main.
In addition to the Young Guns and IMCA Modifieds, there will be action featuring local and regional divisions. Crate Late Models and the 440 Series will have Friday and Saturday features. The Mini Stocks will run a feature event as part of the Friday program.
Complete information can be found on the Web site, www.ospracing.net, or by contacting the track: 912/964-8200.
See Them For Yourself
How to Find the Short-Track Action
East Bay Raceway Park - Take I-75 to exit 250. Go west 2 miles to U.S. 41, north on U.S. 41 for 1.2 miles, and then turn right on Old U.S. 41. After 1.3 miles, turn right on Burts Road. Track phone: 813/677-7223. Web site: www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
New Smyrna Speedway - Take
I-95 to exit 249-B. Go west on SR 44 (Clyde Hart Highway) for 4.5 miles to the intersection of SR 415. Alternate route: Take I-4 to exit 118 and turn left on SR 44. Take SR 44 for 10 miles to the intersection of SR 415. Track phone: 386/427-4129. Web site: www.fascar.org.
Volusia Speedway Park - Take I-95 to exit 268, then go west on SR 40 for 15 miles. Track phone 386/985-4402. Web site: www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com.
Big Field For Budweiser Shootout
A record-tying field of cars is expected to take the green flag for the 2006 Budweiser Shootout on February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. The starting field for the no-holds-barred, non-points event is expected to include 22 drivers with six NASCAR Nextel Cup champions and five former Daytona winners in the group.
Drivers are eligible to compete if they have secured a NASCAR Nextel Cup pole during the previous season or have previously won a Budweiser Shootout. Rusty Wallace, who retired from driving at the conclusion of the '05 season, is eligible, but not expected to participate.
Expected drivers for 2006 (listed alphabetically) include Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Scott Riggs, Elliott Sadler, Ken Schrader, Tony Stewart, Brian Vickers, and Michael Waltrip.
The race will precede the running of the annual ARCA RE/MAX Series ARCA 200.