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A NASCAR BLOG BY Steve Waid
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The Martinsville hot dog – it’s a must to many, but why?
Mar
28
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – No speedway is more closely identified with a concession stand offering than Martinsville Speedway is with its hot dog. The track may be the only one in NASCAR at which fans relish – excuse the pun – the thought of paying for, and ingesting, something other than beer.
Why?
A Martinsville hot dog doesn’t look particularly appetizing. In fact, if you inspect it closely, you’ll see that what appears to be a red dye from the meat (?) has soaked into the bun.
Sometimes it feels soggy to the grip, nd it’s not very big. A couple of good bites and you’re finished. It can’t be good for your health. No doubt your cholestorol count rises with every bite. Your arteries scream for mercy.
Yet people don’t care. They plop down good money for a few hot dogs – seldom is just one ordered – which come lathered with chili, onions and cole slaw, and enjoy a fine dining experience.
Teams have been known to dispatch a crew member to the concession stand to purchase boxes of hot dogs – which, many times, are the only lunch offering for the press in the media center. Most don’t mind at all.
Over the years what became the true Martinsville hot dog was established. It had to have the proper condiments and served wrapped in that wax paper.
Alterations were allowed. But anyone who wanted them was considered an infidel.
When International Speedway Corp. became the speedway’s owner a few years back it had the temerity to package the hot dogs in a styrofoam box rather than wax paper. Oh, the horror!
Eddie Wood, co-owner of the Wood Brothers team who has probably been eating Martinsville hot dogs since he could walk, was infuriated.
“Look at this!” he said to a writer as he held out the styrofoam box. Then, after one bite, he flung the hot dog, and the box, into the trash.
ISC quickly brought back the wax paper.
Not everyone likes a Martinsville hot dog, of course. They don’t understand why others do.
But I guess it’s like this: For those who don’t understand the lure of a Martinsville hot dog, no explanation will do. For those who do, no explanation is necessary.
STILL SHAMELESS: Listen to Steve on The Sporting News Radio’s “Inside Track” at 9 a.m. EDT on Saturdays. Tune in to your local Sporting News Radio’s affiliate or Sirius Radio Channel 123.
And on Sundays at 8 a.m. EDT, listen to Steve on Fox Sports Radio’s “Race Day On Fox.” Check out your local Fox Sports Radio affiliate or tune in to XM Radio Channel 142.
Why?
A Martinsville hot dog doesn’t look particularly appetizing. In fact, if you inspect it closely, you’ll see that what appears to be a red dye from the meat (?) has soaked into the bun.
Sometimes it feels soggy to the grip, nd it’s not very big. A couple of good bites and you’re finished. It can’t be good for your health. No doubt your cholestorol count rises with every bite. Your arteries scream for mercy.
Yet people don’t care. They plop down good money for a few hot dogs – seldom is just one ordered – which come lathered with chili, onions and cole slaw, and enjoy a fine dining experience.
Teams have been known to dispatch a crew member to the concession stand to purchase boxes of hot dogs – which, many times, are the only lunch offering for the press in the media center. Most don’t mind at all.
Over the years what became the true Martinsville hot dog was established. It had to have the proper condiments and served wrapped in that wax paper.
Alterations were allowed. But anyone who wanted them was considered an infidel.
When International Speedway Corp. became the speedway’s owner a few years back it had the temerity to package the hot dogs in a styrofoam box rather than wax paper. Oh, the horror!
Eddie Wood, co-owner of the Wood Brothers team who has probably been eating Martinsville hot dogs since he could walk, was infuriated.
“Look at this!” he said to a writer as he held out the styrofoam box. Then, after one bite, he flung the hot dog, and the box, into the trash.
ISC quickly brought back the wax paper.
Not everyone likes a Martinsville hot dog, of course. They don’t understand why others do.
But I guess it’s like this: For those who don’t understand the lure of a Martinsville hot dog, no explanation will do. For those who do, no explanation is necessary.
STILL SHAMELESS: Listen to Steve on The Sporting News Radio’s “Inside Track” at 9 a.m. EDT on Saturdays. Tune in to your local Sporting News Radio’s affiliate or Sirius Radio Channel 123.
And on Sundays at 8 a.m. EDT, listen to Steve on Fox Sports Radio’s “Race Day On Fox.” Check out your local Fox Sports Radio affiliate or tune in to XM Radio Channel 142.
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