Of course, the $1 million prize to the winner certainly helps, too.
In its 18 years of existence, The Winston has provided a myriad of excitement, controversy, good times and bad. In that same time, the rules and format for NASCAR's premier non-points event have undergone several changes, not because anything was wrong, but to keep things interesting.
It's weathered numerous storms -- both of the rainfall and controversy type -- including a failed attempt by NASCAR last year to force the race to be held at venues other than Lowe's Motor Speedway in suburban Charlotte, its home for the last 16 years. NASCAR may have wanted to spread the wealth to other tracks, but corporate sponsor R.J. Reynolds and LMS owner Bruton Smith made it clear that they both wanted The Winston to stay.
"The Winston has been here for so many years, and we will do everything in our power to keep The Winston here for many, many more years to come," Smith said last year. "The Winston belongs here in Charlotte and we're going to do our best to keep it here."
And even though increased budgetary constraints and multi-billion dollar judgments will force R.J. Reynolds to pull out as the series' title sponsor at the end of the season, RJR won't likely leave the sport completely: all indications are that it will continue to sponsor The Winston and keep the race at Lowe's for some time to come.
I wasn't a big fan of The Winston when it first began. To me, it was a staged event, nothing more than a moneymaker, another example of an event created solely for television and generating revenue.
But over the years, I've come to enjoy The Winston more each year, particularly now that it's run at night. I love watching the reflections bouncing off cars as they navigate the 1½-mile tri-oval. What's more, it has become a true All-Star event, even though I still dislike parts of its format and the way drivers qualify for the field.
Be that as it may, though, The Winston has become one of the biggest symbols of NASCAR's popularity, excitement and drawing power. Most fans love its three segments, where a driver can go from loser to winner to loser in each leg, or a winner in the first race can quickly be turned into a loser -- and eliminated -- in the second of the three sprints of 40, 30 and 20 laps, respectively.
Admittedly, The Winston was contrived at a time when similar all-star events in other sports -- particularly in Major League Baseball and the NBA -- were at the height of their popularity. If an all-star event could be such a harbinger of popularity and publicity for other sports, NASCAR and RJR decided together that stock car racing should have its own showcase.
It's where the best of the best meet in a no-holds-barred, pedal-to-the-metal event where racing gets back to its basic form -- and not have to worry about things like points or even pit stop strategy.
Rather, The Winston is nothing but pure, unadulterated speed and horsepower, with the lone goal being to get to the checkered flag first. Hence the event's nickname: "Survival of the Fastest." A truer slogan has never been born.
Of course, the $1 million prize to the winner certainly helps, too.
And just like the series, The Winston has taken on a legacy of its own, including probably its most famous moment 16 years ago, the so-called "Pass In The Grass" in 1987 by Dale Earnhardt that actually was no pass at all. Earnhardt was forced into the grass, but barreled through, got back on the track and drove to victory.
Most recently, rookie Ryan Newman won last year's event, becoming just the second rookie to win The Winston. Ironically, it was the only other rookie to win the event -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- who engaged in a final-lap dogfight with Newman, caused him to bobble, but still was unable to keep Newman from crossing the finish line first.
And in 1992, The Winston's first run under the lights, the late Davey Allison won one of the closest races in the history of the event, besting Kyle Petty by a bumper. Allison then wrecked right after crossing the finish line.
As for Saturday night's race, handicapping it is an exercise in futility. It's where drivers who won races since last year's edition but have struggled this year -- Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett, Bill Elliott and Newman most notable among them -- have a chance for redemption, at least for one night.
There's also the likelihood that a win or strong showing in Saturday's race could be just the thing those teams need to give them a shot in the arm. That's exactly what happened to Newman last season. After winning The Winston, Newman methodically climbed the standings, eventually finishing sixth in the points and earning Rookie of the Year honors.
Given his sophomore slump, not to mention two horrific end-over-end crashes, don't be surprised to see Newman fare well Saturday night. He's my pick to win it, with Stewart a close second and Earnhardt Jr. playing the role as potential spoiler.
But no matter who wins, the real winners -- as has been the case for most of The Winston's first 18 years -- will be the fans. They get the excitement, the slicing and dicing on the track, the usual late dash to victory and enough other action to hold him until next year's event.
http://espn.go.com/rpm/wc/2003/0513/1553171.html
In its 18 years of existence, The Winston has provided a myriad of excitement, controversy, good times and bad. In that same time, the rules and format for NASCAR's premier non-points event have undergone several changes, not because anything was wrong, but to keep things interesting.
It's weathered numerous storms -- both of the rainfall and controversy type -- including a failed attempt by NASCAR last year to force the race to be held at venues other than Lowe's Motor Speedway in suburban Charlotte, its home for the last 16 years. NASCAR may have wanted to spread the wealth to other tracks, but corporate sponsor R.J. Reynolds and LMS owner Bruton Smith made it clear that they both wanted The Winston to stay.
"The Winston has been here for so many years, and we will do everything in our power to keep The Winston here for many, many more years to come," Smith said last year. "The Winston belongs here in Charlotte and we're going to do our best to keep it here."
And even though increased budgetary constraints and multi-billion dollar judgments will force R.J. Reynolds to pull out as the series' title sponsor at the end of the season, RJR won't likely leave the sport completely: all indications are that it will continue to sponsor The Winston and keep the race at Lowe's for some time to come.
I wasn't a big fan of The Winston when it first began. To me, it was a staged event, nothing more than a moneymaker, another example of an event created solely for television and generating revenue.
But over the years, I've come to enjoy The Winston more each year, particularly now that it's run at night. I love watching the reflections bouncing off cars as they navigate the 1½-mile tri-oval. What's more, it has become a true All-Star event, even though I still dislike parts of its format and the way drivers qualify for the field.
Be that as it may, though, The Winston has become one of the biggest symbols of NASCAR's popularity, excitement and drawing power. Most fans love its three segments, where a driver can go from loser to winner to loser in each leg, or a winner in the first race can quickly be turned into a loser -- and eliminated -- in the second of the three sprints of 40, 30 and 20 laps, respectively.
Admittedly, The Winston was contrived at a time when similar all-star events in other sports -- particularly in Major League Baseball and the NBA -- were at the height of their popularity. If an all-star event could be such a harbinger of popularity and publicity for other sports, NASCAR and RJR decided together that stock car racing should have its own showcase.
It's where the best of the best meet in a no-holds-barred, pedal-to-the-metal event where racing gets back to its basic form -- and not have to worry about things like points or even pit stop strategy.
Rather, The Winston is nothing but pure, unadulterated speed and horsepower, with the lone goal being to get to the checkered flag first. Hence the event's nickname: "Survival of the Fastest." A truer slogan has never been born.
Of course, the $1 million prize to the winner certainly helps, too.
And just like the series, The Winston has taken on a legacy of its own, including probably its most famous moment 16 years ago, the so-called "Pass In The Grass" in 1987 by Dale Earnhardt that actually was no pass at all. Earnhardt was forced into the grass, but barreled through, got back on the track and drove to victory.
Most recently, rookie Ryan Newman won last year's event, becoming just the second rookie to win The Winston. Ironically, it was the only other rookie to win the event -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- who engaged in a final-lap dogfight with Newman, caused him to bobble, but still was unable to keep Newman from crossing the finish line first.
And in 1992, The Winston's first run under the lights, the late Davey Allison won one of the closest races in the history of the event, besting Kyle Petty by a bumper. Allison then wrecked right after crossing the finish line.
As for Saturday night's race, handicapping it is an exercise in futility. It's where drivers who won races since last year's edition but have struggled this year -- Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett, Bill Elliott and Newman most notable among them -- have a chance for redemption, at least for one night.
There's also the likelihood that a win or strong showing in Saturday's race could be just the thing those teams need to give them a shot in the arm. That's exactly what happened to Newman last season. After winning The Winston, Newman methodically climbed the standings, eventually finishing sixth in the points and earning Rookie of the Year honors.
Given his sophomore slump, not to mention two horrific end-over-end crashes, don't be surprised to see Newman fare well Saturday night. He's my pick to win it, with Stewart a close second and Earnhardt Jr. playing the role as potential spoiler.
But no matter who wins, the real winners -- as has been the case for most of The Winston's first 18 years -- will be the fans. They get the excitement, the slicing and dicing on the track, the usual late dash to victory and enough other action to hold him until next year's event.
http://espn.go.com/rpm/wc/2003/0513/1553171.html
