The track offers a variety of race divisions.
Just to put some perspective on the competition, 109 cars in just three divisions registered points in 2007. Over 40 NASCAR Late Models registered in the points, with Joshua Adams winning out over Mark Day. Third generation driver Steadman Marlin, Sterling Marlin's son, was Fourth in the season ending NASCAR Late Model point standings. In the Super Trucks, the top three were separated by less than 100 points as Daniel Victory beat Ronnie Campbell and Ricky Bolden in a division that saw 29 trucks score season-ending points. Followed up by the Sportsman division, with 40 point cars, Michael House held off Derrick Johnson for the points title. Any pavement short track in America would be very happy to get over 100 cars in just three divisions. This alone speaks volumes for the competition level and loyalty of the racers at Nashville.
The CRA Super Series and the old Southern All Stars Super Late Model Series took over the All American 400 race in 2003.
"Being involved with the resurrection of the Nashville All American 400 has been a truly awesome experience for me and the CRA Super Series," says CRA frontman Glen Luckett. "It's a great racetrack with so much history. I look at it like a Southern Winchester.
"The Nashville events are the highlights of the CRA Super Series schedule each season," adds Luckett.
Things can happen very fast at Nashville.
The Future And ResolutionsThe immediate future for the Nashville Music City Motorplex is not in question. However, the extended future is basically in limbo. Measures are being taken by all involved, including the race fans. And the track has partnered with local radio stations for aggressive advertising and marketing strategies.
"We've worked our tails off to get a rules package and schedule that will put cars on the track and butts in the seats," says Underwood. "We're doing a lot more promotional non-racing activities as well."
That includes concerts and car shows included with the race weekends.
Will the fairgrounds facility continue its racing tradition after 2009? That, of course, is the million dollar question, as the Nashville struggle continues. Unfortunately, the track's story is but one of the stories faced by short tracks in America every season.
A Rich HistoryIn 1958, track management was granted a 10-year lease with a 20-year extension from the State Fair Board. With that deal in hand the big dirt oval was wiped out and a new fresh pavement track was laid down. The track was built as a half-mile with 35 degrees banking in the corners. The first race on pavement was held in July of 1958 and featured 13 more events that first season. NASCAR sanctioning was also implemented.
Several changes occurred in the '60s. Lights were added in 1965 and, due to a fire, new grandstands where built in 1969. The Speedway itself was lengthened between the 1969 and 1970 seasons. The corner banking was also reduced from 35 degrees to the current 18 degrees in 1972.
A weekly feature back in the '60s was popular among local drivers, and many outsiders also dropped in for a challenge. Most notably, that included the famed Alabama Gang. Bobby Allison won the first two events of the 1962 season and most times would bring his brother Donnie along to compete. Red Farmer was a frequent visitor as well, as he was a native of Nashville. On a day filled with controversy, Farmer won a 200-lap ARCA race by three full laps in 1970, driving a 1966 Sportsman car.
The late Coo Coo Marlin was the first driver to win back-to-back championships at the fairgrounds track, in '65 and '66. In all, Marlin was a four-time track champion at Nashville, also capturing the honors in '59 and '63.