[Final Authority]

If one reviewed Mario's race career one would discover he learned to race on local short tracks in PA like most drivers. Drivers now often start with go-carts, go to a drivers school and start racing on a local short track. I think that is how Jeff Gordon got into racing. If you ever get to see a supermodified race in Oswego NY or Star Speedway in NH you got to go. Alcohol injected big blocks, offset open wheeled chassis with a multi-element wing and tons of stagger. The go like stink, spinning tires down the straight and believe me, they do touch and sometimes bang.

[NormsRevenge]

Dirt & clay tracks .. open wheelers or supermodifieds.. I grew up in Minnesota and there were quite a few tracks back then .. I agree that is some very intense and exciting racing. I never raced myself but have a nephew who races superstock at a half mile dirt track. They run supermods there as well.

Re: the rain thing and Nascar rain tires + 190 mph ,,nyahhh,, too risky ,, with grand prix or road course , fine .. but some of these drivers are nutsy enough to go for it too aggressively on a wet track.

And the Indy Is on!!!

There are a couple of folks from your neck of the woods that come in here, PetesWife, for one.

[Pete'sWife]

Final Authority, you are 10000% on target!

Supermodifieds are some the most incredible machines I've ever seen. They raced them years ago at the now defunct Flemington Speedway in NJ. They were turning lap speeds of 146 on a half mile track. It was an awsome show.

Mario Andretti was dirt poor when he started. He appeared at least once on the 1/5-mile paved track at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, NY. He finished sixth in his first appearance in, I believe, 1961.

I don't appreciate the "Big Leagues" nearly as much as I do the "Regular Joes" who race every Saturday night at our 5/8-mile clay oval in Middletown. The paved oval is long gone, but the legends linger...

I missed the 500. Who won?

I will be watching the '600 later.

Enjoy!