PHOTO: All eyes from the northeast were on New Smyrna last year as the American-Canadian Tour rolled into Florida for a special Speedweeks appearance, with Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., winning big. The offseason this year is a bit longer with no ACT appearance, but we can finally start talking racing as Speedweeks is here. (Eric LaFleche/VLFPhotos.com photo)

–by T.J. Ingerson
VMM Editor

There is actual racing to talk about this weekend. Finally.

It may not be in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, or New York, but it’s something that most of us will take an interest in. It may start at the big track in Daytona, but doesn’t end there, as there are plenty of other races being held: DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Baberville, Fla., World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and Winter Nationals at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla.

Never heard of Bubba Raceway Park? It’s the former Ocala Speedway that was purchased by radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge.

We’ll be keeping an eye on all the big happenings at the smaller tracks in Florida. The Super DIRTcar Series rolls into Volusia on Wednesday, while the World Series at New Smyrna beings tomorrow night. Former ACT winner Ryan Moore is entered in the Super Late Models, as is Martin Latulippe from Vallee-Jonction, Que., and Rodney Brooks from Thomaston, Maine. Former third place finisher in the ACT Invitational Brandon Watson from Stayner, Ont., and Seekonk Speedway racer Frank Duquette, of Fall River, Mass., are entered in the Pro Late Model portion of the World Series. The Modifieds will see many drivers from the northeast competing, including Andy Seuss of Hampstead, N.H., Ryan Preece of Berlin, Conn., and Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn.

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I love Ozzie Altman and his “Fraternal Order of Go Fast.”

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As I said, we can finally start to talk about the on track racing. It is much needed.

I’m all for opinions. Heck, I’m bringing my opinion to you with these words. If someone doesn’t care for a particular series or race track, guess what? That’s perfectly fine. There are hundreds of other options to choose from.

But what is the logic of trying to be negative toward one series in attempt to glorify another? The 28th place runner in a PASS Super Late Model race is no better or no worse than the guy who finishes in the same position in an ACT Late Model race. Or a Valenti Modified Racing Series event. Or a SCoNE race. Or a Granite State Pro Stock Series race. Insert any race series or race track here and the result is the same.

Every series has things they do right and wrong. And someone may not like a particular series for what they do wrong. And guess what? That’s one-hundred percent fine. But why constantly beat the dead horse if you don’t like something? We got your point, you don’t like it. Move on to something that is more enjoyable to you and stop trying to draw comparisons by being negative about the others. That constant negativity can keep people from attending the racing, for any series. It hurts racing more than it helps racing. The more it hurts racing, the less racing we may have.

Racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a big deal, no matter what the series is. NASCAR Sprint Cup Car, Truck, Modified, Late Model, Legends Car, Mini Stock, Vintage Car, Sports Car, Club Cars. You get the picture.

Our colleague Big Bigelow ends his Strap In! column every week with the statement “every day find someone or something that makes you laugh.” To laugh, you have to have fun. If you don’t like one racing series, find one you enjoy and tell the world about it. Help build the good of that series or race on its own and why you enjoyed it on its own, rather than trying to make a comparison of why you hate one particular series. Racing will grow because of it.

VMM goes to all types of races because we enjoy it. And we like telling the stories from the race. And we hope those stories put more people in the seats.

April can’t come soon enough. Thankfully we can at least talk about on track racing action beginning this week.