The Winston Cup

From 1971 through the end of 2003, NASCAR had one main sponsor. That sponsor provided the cash and publicity to turn a bunch of 'shine runnin' good ol' boys into a serious sport and an American institution.

Since the France family decided to not only go to Nextel for sponsorship but to try to hide any past links between NASCAR and Winston Salem, it made me proud to see a new museum in town.

Today, the Winston Cup Museum opens it's doors to the public, with cars, photos, sounds, sights and memoribilia from those years.

You can stand in downtown Winston Salem and damn near be able to throw a rock and hit the engine and chassis builders for these cars. Now Charlotte is the only place in the state where the 'left-turn boys' run anymore. Darlington SC, Bristol TN and Martinsville VA are all being threatened with closure, just as what happened to Rockingham NC not long ago.

Nowadays, if you don't have a super speedway tri-oval like Texas or Daytona you don't get a race. This museum shows what it was like when the competitors actually had to race!