Firecracker 400 - Daytona on July 4th

Richard Petty 200th win - Firecracker 400 - July 4th, 1984

As I age my memory fades on details but generally major events and activities tend to remain.  One such memory is of the Firecracker 400 (I think that was the name) Daytona NASCAR race on July 4th each year.

The weather is typically very hot in Daytona on July 4th, so NASCAR scheduled the race to run at 10 am and it would be completed about 3 hours later.  Neat thing was that viewers then had the rest of the holiday to enjoy as they wished.

Think about that for a minute, you've watched a 3-hour stock car race and it's only 1 pm.  The rest of the day is free.  Think about the few fans that NASCAR has on the west coast, the race begins at 7 am and is over by 10 am.  Talk about having the rest of the day free.

I think NASCAR should move the summer Daytona race back to the 4th of July.  Of course they have lights at Daytona now, so they would likely make it a night race followed by a tremendous fireworks display.

In either case, NASCAR should be celebrating the 4th of July on the 4th of July along with the rest of the country.

JD, here in the BToS waiting for Saturday night so I can watch the Daytona summer race on TNT (don't get me off on their TV NASCAR coverage).

PS - July 6, 2013 11:21 pm.  It took me 1 hour to watch this 3 hour race.  It was the most boring race I have watched this season.  All races at Daytona and Talladega (both RP (Restrictor Plate) tracks) should be removed from the schedule and replaced with more short track and road course races.  Just too boring to be on TV.