Why are martinsville hot dogs red

Even the first hints of a possible NASCAR tire cheating conspiracy failed to unseat the most unsettling topic of the week -- Martinsville Speedway's decision to permanently change hot dog suppliers for the first time in As he said it, race sponsor STP was hauling in boxes of those new dogs for the media to try.

Jesse Jones, a Virginia company, had supplied the racetrack's flaunters for nearly 70 years via handshake agreement with speedway founder Clay Earles. They are known for being very pink with a taste that's almost sweet, and for as long as anyone can remember they have been the favorites of everyone from Richard Petty to Dale Earnhardt to their children. A week and a half ago, venerable motorsports reporter Jerry Bonkowski broke the news that Jones was out, replaced by Valleydale Foods, also Virginia-based, and a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.

Smithfield is the primary sponsor of Petty's iconic No. This weekend's race is the STP , and as has become tradition for them, they sponsor "STP Style" Martinsville hot dogs, slathered in chili, onions and slaw. At lunchtime on Friday, NASCAR competitors did just as they have since the days of the Eisenhower administration, lining up at the concession stand located just off pit road and beneath the scoring pylon.

Eight concessionaires prepared and wrapped stacks of Martinsville hot dogs, selling them as fast as they could throw them onto the counter. That would be , when International Speedway Corp. But Friday wasn't Not even close. Because the new Martinsville dog was pretty close. Just ask those trucks crew guys who didn't know the difference.

They were in a majority that included the active dean of the stock car racing media, Steve Waid "I couldn't tell the difference. And they had to restock the supply in the media center, so that's a good sign" , and admitted junk food junkie Clint Bowyer , who gave the new dogs his endorsement earlier in the week.

As a track safety worker, working on his third dog of the day and by his estimation the th of his life, explained it: "If you didn't know, you wouldn't know. The first time lasted just a few hours when, shortly after International Speedway Corp.

Race fans in the area still will be able to buy the hot dogs at local stores, as well as at racetracks such as South Boston Va. Speedway and Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, N. A lot. It worked both ways, but sometimes things just change, and that was the case here.

This is nothing substantial, however, when adding on the mayonnaise from the coleslaw, whatever is in the chili and any accumulated oils from the onions, this caloric number can jump up significantly. From all reports, almost no one orders it plain, just bun and dog. Even more recently, controversy has ensued over the inclusion of the additive Red, which gives it its distinctive pink pallor. This additive has been linked to causing hyperactivity when given to young children in high doses, such as those provided in the Martinsville Dog.

Beyond that, the cholesterol and salt levels of the hot dog are high, as is any hot dog. Still further, higher levels of production have been argued to have affected quality.

In terms of the average dog-eater, the pre-packed bun and dog combo has produced some disappointingly soggy buns. Therefore, the staple food of the track is certainly not healthy, maybe not even percent satisfying all of the time. Does it matter? It is offered two weekends per year. That surely is not a high risk, even for the fan attending both races for the entire weekend.