HARRISBURG, N.C. — A recent journey into the SPEED SPORT archives reminded us of an earlier era when local short tracks — many of them with dirt surfaces — formed the foundation for Bill France’s fledgling stock car circuit.

But that foundation eventually began to crack, so France took his premier series in a new direction, one that would better position it for the future. Dirt tracks were dropped from the schedule, new intermediate tracks were added as soon as the paint was dry on the retaining walls and television coverage became an important part of the equation.