Nazareth Speedway Review

"A SORT OF HOMECOMING" USAC COORS LIGHT ("SILVER CROWN") SERIES RETURNS TO NAZARETH NAZARETH, Pa., -- Sixteen years is a long time- think back to 1983. USA Today was an odd concept and Cabbage Patch Kids were popular. You could have a mobile ...

"A SORT OF HOMECOMING" USAC COORS LIGHT ("SILVER CROWN") SERIES RETURNS TO NAZARETH

NAZARETH, Pa., -- Sixteen years is a long time- think back to 1983. USA Today was an odd concept and Cabbage Patch Kids were popular. You could have a mobile phone installed in your car for $3,000 plus $150/month for service.** And if you attended a USAC Silver Crown Series race at "Nazareth National Motor Speedway", you were sure to leave the track covered in dirt.

The venue may have changed hands and the track configuration is different, but the return of the USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series (as it is now known) will still mean exciting, open-wheel, side-by-side racing next weekend.

The series returns to the Lehigh Valley for the first time since 1983, when "Nazareth National Motor Speedway" hosted two races. The race will also mark the first series appearance in the northeast since a feature in Hagerstown, MD in 1986.

Many things have changed over the years since the series last appeared in Nazareth. Below are "then and now" charts comparing the characteristics of racing in Nazareth and some "cost of living" items.

Item                1983                                                1999
Owner                Lindy Vicari                        Roger Penske (Penske Motorsports, Inc.)
Track Name        Nazareth National Motor Speedway        Nazareth Speedway
Parking                Free                                        Free
Program                $3.50                                        $5.00
Surface                Dirt                                        Asphalt
Track Length        1 1/8 mile                                1 mile
Capacity        Approx. 10,000                                46,288

If a fan wanted to order tickets through the mail, drive to the Speedway in a pick-up, buy a soft drink, grill some chicken before the race and watch highlights on cable later that night in his or her new home, here is what it what it might cost in 1983 vs. 1999**

Item                                1983**        1999**
Postage Stamp                        $.18        $.33
Gallon of Gas                        $1.21        $1.04
Pick-Up Truck                        $5,995        $25,465
Cable TV/month                        $8.74        $28.00
16 oz. soft drink                $.47        $1.09
Chicken (by pound)                $.68        $1.99
New home (median sales price)        $79,000        $150,000

The USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series race is Saturday, July 17 and is part of the NAPA AutoCare 200 weekend July 16-18. The weekend includes the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series race (rescheduled from May 23) on Friday and two races on Sunday: the NAPA AutoCare 200 (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series) and the Burnham Boilers 100 (NASCAR Busch North Series).

Tickets are still available for all three days by calling 888-629-RACE.

NOTE:  Five USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series drivers completed testing
at Nazareth on Friday, July 9.  Their best times are below.

Driver Time Speed

Gary Hieber                27.35        131.627
Rick Treadway                27.967        129.978
Brian Paulus                28.03        128.434
Rich Tobias, Jr.        28.08        128.201
Kevin Boomstran                28.10        128.114