The Murfreesboro Post from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 11

'U -u 1 Sir .1 More to it than Davy Crockett see, David Davy Crockett was a true American frontiersman and bear-hunting legend, the visual image of Crockett wearing a coon-skin cap and buckskin jacket and totin a flintlock rifle is forever etched in come to mind right off: Davy Crockett, aJuL King of the Wild. Frontier, and Jim Bowie, legendary fighter and creator of the still-popular, still-manufactured Bowie Knife. Though the stories vary, both Crockett About the Alamo, two other names also are generally mentioned: Sam Houston and William Travis. The name you dont immediately associate with the Alamo, however, is U.S. President Andrew Jackson and heres where it gets interesting! Moving to East Tennessee as a teenager, Sam Houston (bom March 2, 1793) ingratiated himself into the Cherokee Indian Nation, even marrying a Cherokee Still, Houston distinguished himself by fighting bravely, under Andrew Jackson, against the British during the War of 1812.

Later, Houston passed the bar exam and practiced law in Lebanon, Tennessee DAVYonPaga 12 Thats what' happened a few days back when a friend and I were discussing the Battle of the Alamo! The Battle of the Alamo took place near San Antonio de Bxar (now modern-day San Antonio, Texas), February 23 -March 6, 1836. The entire state of Texas once had belonged to Mexico. Many living in the border region of "Texas, Mexico though, were U.S. immigrants and had grown tired of Mexican rule, and desired to break away. In early October 1835, "Texians (Spanish for Texans) defeated Mexican troops in what wasthe first official battle of the Texas Revolution, thus creatingthe Republic ofTexas.

When Mexican troops David 'Davy' Crockett was a true American frontiersman and bear-hunting legend, the visual image of Crockett wearing a coonskin cap and buckskin Jacket and totin' a flintlock rifle is forever etched in American lore and history books. American lore and histoiy books. Too, Crockett rep- resented Tennessee in U.S. Congress. now' what? departed San Antonio de Texian soldiers established a garrison at the Alamo Mission, afarmer Spanish religious outpost, which had been converted to a makeshift fort by the recently expelled Mexican soldiers.

However, Mexico was intent on retaking Texas! After a thirteen-day battle pitting approximately 185 Texians against approximately. Mexican soldiers, under the command of General Antonio Ldpez de Santa Anna, Mexican races overtook die Alamo and brutally slew approximately 185 Texas Freedom Fighters, as theyve been called. When discussing the Alamo, twofamous names conference. Some guy shells out a reported $45 million for a new toy without any idea about what he plans to do with it? VPaidon me if toy cynicism is The Great. Superspeedway Switcheroo comes on the 30th anniversary of the darkest day in area racing history.

In 1984 NASCAR yanked its two annual Win-: ston Cup (now Sprint Cup) races from Fairgrounds Speedway. Ever since then, fans have been jerked around with big talk, big plans, big promises. When Dover opened the Superspeedway in 2001, some smugly assumed that a Cup race was on the way. But that never happened. As Imported at the time based on high NASCAR MIKE VINSON MEAT A POTATOES' One of the more edifying aspects of studying American History is stumbling up on information you had no earthly idea' even ousted.

It can be an academically humbling though beneficial-experience because it forces you to admit just how little you know about the subject at hand. LARRY WOODY A SHOT OF WRY big white elephant squatting in the weeds in Gladeville has a new own er. Nashville Superspeedway Dover Motorsprats Field of Nightmares -r has been sold. Now what? Thats the question racing fans in Middle Tennessee are asking in the wake of last weeks announced track takeover by a technology-innovation compa- columnist Mike Vinson and Bowie died fighting at the Alamo. Bom August' 17, 1786, in Greene County, Twines- sources it neverhad a prayer of happening.

the tracks odds of getting a Cup race are longer than ever. The Superspeedway wobbled along with -sec-. ond-tier NASCAR Nation-wide races and third-tier truck races, along with an annual Indy Racing League race. But Indy bailed after eight years, and the minor league NASCAR- events failed to draw. Why didnt they? theory is that savvy area fans are interested only in big-league races.

Sprint Cup or nothing. TV; ratings support that theory; Cup races consistently beat every other pro sprat in the Middle Tennessee market except for the NFL. v. Dover didnt mis-read the demographics; there are oodles of race fans here. But what Dover didnt re enough fans to warrant a $45 million investment? Maybe.

That could become the 45-Million-Dol-lar Question. Other speculation is that the track will be utilized for automotive performance testing by the numerous auto manufacturing plants, located in Middle In other words, the facility would be turned into a glorified automotive industrial park. perhaps it could be' used as concert venue or for other entertainment events. Again, maybe. I dont know about any of that stuff.

But I do know some- -thing about auto racing, and I know that Dover gave it its best shot for 11 years and couldnt make it work. What makes the new guy think he can do better? Hes not saying. alize and what doomed the track is that theyre mostly Cup fans. My Murfreesboro racing buddy Don Christopher is Exhibit One. Don traveled to Daytona and Ihlladega with me for over 30 years (I listed lnm on my expense accounts as technical advisor).

Don is a diehard race fan. But only for Cup races. He lives just a few miles from the Superspeedway, but has never set foot on the Hes not interested in second- and third-string races. He says call him when a Cup race comes to town. What Dover didnt real- ize is, there are thousands of Dons out there: It has- been speculated -'that the new owner might develop a drag strip, dirt track and short track that were in Dovers original plans.

Could they draw ny called NeXovation. The 1.3-mile racetrack, located; on the Wilson CountyRutheford County line, hasnt had a -motor fired in anger in three years: Dover suspended racing because it wasnt drawing flies. Attendance was anemic for the opener in 2001, and steadily grew worse. It was a failed Field of Dreams: they built it, but they didnt come. So now.

die question: If Dover, with its five decades of NASCAR experience and expertise, couldnt make a go of it, makes newcomer NeXovation think it can? Thats the question Id like to ask NeXovation CEO Robert Sexton. However, a PR personsays the boss wont be available to discuss his plans for the joint until a late-July press wwuMnurfrMsboropostxom Monday, June 9, 2014 -11 7 J-V tew.