Golden Era
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Thoroughbred Horse Racing has its celebrated Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes). Professional tennis cherishes its Grand Slam (Australian, French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open), four tournaments that only five men and women have won in a calendar year. So does PGA golf (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship), four tournaments that no man has captured in a single season.
Sports where every participant gathers for each event have traditionally recognized a handful of prestigious races or tournaments that stand above the rest. NASCAR has added to its schedule through the years after chopping it to one race per week when the "Modern Era" began in 1972. But with 36 events covering 10 months in the Sprint Cup Series, what distinguishes one date from the rest?
Currently only the season-opening Daytona 500, the "Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing," is recognized for special prominence, although certain racetracks have a measure of renown. "The Brickyard" at Indianapolis, due to its status as home of the open-wheeled Indianapolis 500, is one such venue. The "Track That's Too Tough to Tame" at Darlington, along with the fame awarded at Talladega SuperSpeedway, bring added significance during the 10-month race season.
If NASCAR wanted its own version of the "Triple Crown," the first pick is a no-brainer. The Daytona 500, a.k.a. "The Great American Race," is the most watched and esteemed motorsports event on the continent. Beyond that, there are few races most fans can even identify by name. The Pocono 500 comes to mind because it's about the only other event to keep its original name through the years, while other race names are in constant change due to corporate sponsorship. Still, the Pocono race only started in '82, missing out on the sport's Golden Era, and takes place two weeks after the better known Coca-Cola 600.
The argument that a Talladega race should be included is valid, but the Aaron's 499-no attention-grabber and with no real tradition-doesn't fit. And the April date is too soon and October race too late.
The Coca-Cola 600, called the World 600 until '85, runs on Memorial Day weekend and competes head-to-head with the Indy 500. The all afternoon drive began to outdraw the Indy Racing League's grand event in '02. Had NASCAR's longest race kept its original name, which denoted the world's longest regularly-run race of its kind, the World 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway (formerly Charlotte Motor Speedway), held near the unofficial start of summer, would easily be the second leg of a Triple Crown.
The perfect date for the final leg would be the Labor Day weekend race, particularly if that were still the date of the Southern 500. But NASCAR killed that event-after renaming it the Mountain Dew Southern 500-in 2005. With the 10-race Chase starting two weeks later, a late August/early September date would be ideal.
Were a "Grand Slam" more preferable to a Triple Crown, the July 4th weekend race, once called the Firecracker 400 and since changed to Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola, would work, but that would give Coco-Cola two major plugs-although Coke is the "official soft drink of NASCAR"-and also give Daytona two dates in the Crown/Slam. And Daytona officials would balk at losing that date to Talladega. A road course has been suggested as a final leg to give drivers a true test at versatility, but road course events haven't caught on fast with NASCAR's fan base. Chase races are not worthy of consideration given the emphasis on gathering points above winning any one event.
The Daytona 500, World 600, Firecracker 400 and Southern 500 are the events that spark the most memories and stir the biggest debates, but a Grand Slam is not doable just yet. With a tweak here and there, the best bet for a NASCAR Crown or Slam is three or all of the following: the Daytona 500, won in '08 by Ryan Newman; the Coca-Cola 600, won by Kasey Kahne; a re-named Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, won by Jimmie Johnson in a race marred by bad tires; and the final event before the Chase, which would return winning to the forefront over positioning for the "playoffs." Currently that's the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond-another prestigious track. Give the race a better name or switch dates with a re-named Talladega event, and decide if a Slam is preferable to a Crown. Otherwise, the first three options have merit for a true Triple Crown.
That would mean horsepower over horses. Our four-hoofed friends haven't won a Triple Crown of their own since 1978.
More articles about NASCAR news and auto racing can be found at http://www.speedweekly.net
The best way to watch NASCAR can be found at [http://www.watchautoracing.com]
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Martin D-18Ge Golden Era 1934 Acoustic Guitar $3299.99 Martin D-18GE Golden Era 1934 Acoustic Guitar |
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Magnum 05ZS9415 Golden Era $43.17 A magnificent Samurai sword with a golden tsukaito (handle wrap) and synthetic rayskin. The Tsuba and Kashira (end cap) display a beautiful antique gold finish. The blade is made of 440 stainless steel. Includes a handsome wooden scabbard. Overall length: 38 3/8 . Blade length: 26 3/4 . |
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Farewell to the Last Golden Era $29.95 In 1960, Major League Baseball reached a crossroads in its history. Facing a challenge from the Continental Baseball League, the owners of the original 16 major league teams elected to admit new clubs. This in-depth look at that pivotal season--the last played with only the original 16 teams--follows the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates on their march to the 1960 World Series. The trials and triumphs of these two teams reflect the changes, large and small, that came to define the sport in the following decades--surnames on the backs of the uniforms, exploding scoreboards, the increasing impact of international players, and foremost of all, expansion. Marking the end of the "Golden Age" of baseball and the beginning of the ascendancy of professional football as the national pastime, this historic season witnessed the intersection of the past and future of American professional sports. |
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Art Of Conducting - Legendary Conductors Of A Golden Era (DVD) $15.93 A portrait of conductors from the golden era of classical music. Cast List: Herbert Von Karajan , Hermann Scherchen , Andre Cluytens , Vaclav Talich Running Time: 115 min |
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Undisputed: A Golden Era in Australian Boxing $27.99 Boxing in Australia is steeped in history and tradition. The primal heat of battle and the triumph of the underdog have been woven into the fabric of Australian society. Even though the 'format' has changed with super-fights drawing stadium crowds and reaping millions of dollars, the core attraction of boxing is still about competition and entertainment. Since the glory days of Les Darcy and Young Griffo, the success and popularity of Australian boxing has ebbed and flowed. With the development of pay-per-view television along with the arrival of other sports competing for attention, and the dearth of true stars fighting on the global stage, Australian boxing took a battering in the middle to late 1990s. UNDISPUTED: A GOLDEN ERA IN AUSTRALIAN BOXING charts an exciting new era between the years 2000 to 2009, a time of promise and hope. Out of this decade came the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and a group of newly blooded fighters arrived. There was also the presence and skill of Kostya Tszyu, Anthony Mundine, Vic Darchinyan and Danny Green who punched above their weight at an international level. Super fights flourished, with Kostya Tszyu versus Zab Judah, Anthony Mundine versus Danny Green, Vic Darchinyan versus Cristian Mijares and Danny Green versus Roy Jones Jr. Impressive performances at the highest level helped push boxing back into the spotlight, raising the profile of the sport among boxing and mainstream sports fans. |
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Minnesota Golden Gophers New Era Downflap Flex Hat $31.99 Minnesota Golden Gophers New Era Downflap Flex Hat Size S/M Red |
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Martin D-18GE Golden Era 1934 Acoustic Guitar $3299 Classic dreadnought body with slightly stiffer solid Adirondack spruce (red spruce) top, permit scalloped 5/16" Golden Era bracing shifted closer to the soundhole for free vibration and huge volume. Solid genuine mahogany back and sides give it punch and clarity, assisting the powerful mids and highs. Mahogany blocks with a dovetail neck joint. V-shaped neck for long-playing comfort features a fossil ivory nut and solid ebony fingerboard. Looks are enhanced by Old Style 18 abalone fretboard inlays, Waverly nickel tuners with butterbean knobs, polished gloss finish, Brazilian rosewood headplate with large Golden Era-style logo, and black binding.Classic dreadnought bodySolid Adirondack spruce topScalloped 5/16" Golden Era bracingSolid genuine mahogany back and sidesMahogany blocks with dovetail neck jointV-shaped solid mahogany neckFossil ivory nut and saddleSolid ebony fingerboard and bridgeOld Style 18 abalone fretboard inlaysWaverly nickel tuners with butterbean knobsPolished gloss finishBrazilian rosewood headplateLarge Golden Era-style logoBlack binding25-2/5" scale1-3/4" nut width |
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GOLDEN ERA HOTEL $150 Nestled At The Edge Of The Sea On The Site Of An 18th Century Merchant Warehouse. Hotel Is Located In One Building With Comfortable Not Deluxe Accommodations |
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Music Of The Golden Era $17.99 Globe:6013 |
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Golden Era (Dig) $15.99 The Council:93031 |
