How One Fan Changed NASCAR Forever

#nascar #motorsport #history
NASCAR in the 2000s saw change, from Toyota, Dodge, crashes, wrecks, fights, new drivers, highlights, lowlights, and a boom period. But one lawsuit by a random race fan altered the direction of the sport for the better part of 2 decades. This is that story.
If you like NASCAR news, F1, Indycar, sports car highlights, history, stories, and opinions, this channel is for you.

[@NotMattyDYT]

At least North Wilkesboro got its revenge on the track that nearly killed it

[@purwantiallan5089]

Why they nearly killed North Wilkesboro?

[@NotMattyDYT]

@@purwantiallan5089 Texas replaced it

[@aldouscoroza]

Ah Yes Francis Ferko, the Guy who cost Rockingham and Darlington a Race on the NASCAR Schedule for 2 Texas Races

[@krs561]

Keep in mind NASCAR approved all of these dates to be transferred when North Wilkesboro was sold. The 2 parties that bout NW -the Bahre's of NHIS, and SMI each pillaged a date from that track and let it rot- AND NASCAR APPROVED ALL OF THIS!

[@AlonsoRules]

and he never showed up to the race

[@purwantiallan5089]

​@@AlonsoRuleswhy Gerko never shown up to these races?

[@turbo_marc]

0:04 is no one going to talk about this unhinged fanmade schedule?

[@krs561]

Yes -good locations 'Middle earth' etc

[@X2Lazy2WinX]

This was such a a wild story when I was a kid. I'll never forget my dad telling me Darlington, Rockingham, and even Martinsville were all on the chopping block. Also, someone attempted a similar lawsuit to get Kentucky Speedway in the Cup Series in 2005.

[@purwantiallan5089]

Martinsville should've had 3 race dates.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

This is one of those where the court documents are both an entire rabbit hole, and a fascinating read even if you don't understand the particulars. That and at least over here it got a lot of coverage in Autosport at the time because of how big of a news story it was for global motorsports. If one fan could sue NASCAR, then what was stopping someone suing teh other sanctioning bodies. As great as your video is, I'd love someone with a legal background to go through the court documents and explain the why and how of what was filed and how we got to the settlement and what both sides were thinking and hoping for though. I've read the court documents, they are freely available, and the amount of subterfuge and shenanigans from both sides is utterly spectacular howevers

[@RACECAR]

Sounds like something to approach Legal Eagle about.

[@President_Grover_Cleveland]

I want an alternate universe where Francis Ferko does nothing, and we potentially still have Rockingham on the cup schedule to this day.

[@Duster2582]

I love these videos you make. Uncovering hidden or forgotten stories from the world or motorsports, Even as a die-hard fan myself, I always learn something new with your videos!

[@purwantiallan5089]

Wish we could had Treasure Island Raceway raceable on real life.

[@TheBraydenBunch58]

I wouldn’t want an alternative universe where Darlington ends up like Wilkesboro

[@Marko137-em8nx]

Doesn't make sense to have 2 dates of the same track. It kills the novelty, thats why nascar is smart to expand.

[@TravisMSimpson]

Only made sense for the traditional two date venues of Darlington, Daytona, Rockingham, North Wilkesboro, Charlotte, Martinsville, Bristol, and a few others.

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

I’m not a fan of 2 race dates a year for any series, tbh. I feel like it’s more special to have 1 race date a year for tracks cuz it does feel more special and more fans can save up money to go to a next race for tracks. I can understand the expansion at the time, but to kill off some tracks (even iconic ones with loyal fans) is just rough. Least Wilkesboro is back and Rockingham is back. I like that we are seeing some tracks get 1 race date a year cuz of the reasons I’ve mentioned. But that’s just me.

[@Marko137-em8nx]

@@TravisMSimpson it did. But we're in soon to be 2025... Nascar should be going to new venues and trying get new tracks , can't be having 2 dates, it doesn't make sense. All those tracks you mentioned would have sold out if they have 1 date for each. When you have 1 date you have options like, going to mexico like there doing, Silverstone, long beach, Brazil. All of what I mentioned will give the sport big respect and world recognition and quick boost in popularity because there is a lot of people who doesn't care going in circles which is the reason why oval racing isn't popular, yes it's popular in the USA but it's only there, US is one country while F1 have the foot note of the world thats why Nascar does not have *Stars* that the sport needs cause the fans are holding it back. But with that said , Yes it might take awhile but if you don't look back at it as nostalgia every race date will grow the sport and every weekend will be special. not saying to remove oval racing completely but you need to have 2 of both, one for the oval community and one for the majority market (circuit racing).

[@TravisMSimpson]

@Marko137-em8nx Don't need to be going outside North America from a cost standpoint. Definitely don't need to go to the middle east, I don't care how much money they have, their human right record sucks.

[@North-101-Racing]

​@@TravisMSimpsonacting like nascar wont pay the teams to go. Plus i saw a video were they gone to mexico. So Why cant a big ass series like nascar cant go to different places beyond just America? Doesn't WEC, F1, Moto gp, and Wrc do it? So why cant the tOp 3 motorsport in the world cant expand..tell me why? When other series arguably much smaller does it.

[@smokeymchaggis73]

Nazareth was never owned by SMI. It closed under ISC. The town didn't want the track anymore and banned racing in the town.

[@AlanNadeauIII]

Sorry, WHAT?

[@smokeymchaggis73]

@AlanNadeauIII NAZARETH WAS NEVER OWNED BY SMI! IT CLOSED UNDER ISC! THE TOWN DIDN'T WANT THE TRACK ANYMORE AND BANNED RACING IN THE TOWN!

[@AlanNadeauIII]

@smokeymchaggis73 You don't have to yell, I was just surprised, hence the reaction

[@crystaljon]

1:45 It's funny you say that at a time when that market is actively being re-saturated. And the fanbase wants to saturate it more because "roots" and all that.

[@TanDawg58]

And now the tables have turned. Texas has a single event, we have Wilkesboro for the all-star, darlington has its 400 miler back, and now the Rock is back for Trucks and Xfinity

[@TimothyChapman]

If I were in charge, the Daytona oval would get the 500 and July 4th. All other tracks would get 1 date per configuration for a maximum of 2 dates.

[@AlonsoRules]

Ferko got his precious extra race and he didn't even show up to it

[@purwantiallan5089]

North Wilkesboro track still is an awesome track to race but, Motegi Road Course could be all good.

[@rexjsimracing]

There is still traffic delays around Texas Motorspeedway

[@VGF80]

If you look in the dictionary for the term 'conflict-of-interest' it should say 'Francis Ferko'

[@trevleisner]

Lost 2 iconic tracks to the infamously crappy Texas Speedway.

[@AlanNadeauIII]

At least Rockingham is coming back and Wilkesboro did. Nazareth got screwed.

[@jsmith282]

One of many reasons i hate Texas motor speedway

[@purwantiallan5089]

Texas Motor Speedway even with improved layout still never able to produce exciting racing since 2020s.

[@JT-ht2hc]

Can we bring back PPIR for trucks or Xfinity?

[@DavidHoskins]

This isn't entirely accurate. N. Wilkesboro lost it's races because there physically aren't enough pit stalls to hold a points paying race. I get sick of this NASCAR is declining meme too. Sure it declined from it's peak after the turn of the millennium. That level of interest where it was giving the NFL a run for its money was never sustainable unless you got a tree somewhere that you can grow racing drivers like Gordon, Earnhardt Sr & Jr, Busch, Wallace. It was a perfect storm. The only other decline was the year Jr retired. Other than that NASCAR has declined some, just less so than every other sport not named NFL. Remember for a lot of years there the races were all on butt wad sports network 12 or something. And still attracted more viewers than NBA, MLB, or NHL.