NASCAR's scheduling has changed dramatically over the years. Martinsville's spring race used to be held in late April. NASCAR's media guide doesn't list dates for the races of yester year, but by looking at race records from the 50's to the 60's, the spring race was held in late April for most of the track's history. At some point, the race date was changed from late April to late March or early April. It's normally not a problem since the shortest of NASCAR short tracks is usually sold out, but this year was different.

Paranoia was rampant at Martinsville this year. It's not hard to remember that attendance at Rockingham's early February race was given as the reason that its two dates were erased from the Sprint Cup schedule. Attendance was the reason (or one of them) for Darlington losing its signature date (the Southern 500 on Labor Day). Last Sunday, for the first time in this writer's memory, there were empty seats at Martinsville. The third and fourth turn stands were about a third empty and the first and second turn stands were about the same.

Who could blame people for staying home in the warmth of their homes? The thermometer said it was 39 degrees, but it felt like it was in the 20's. I even tried to eat a famous Martinsville hot dog. It got cold after the second bite. Still, there were probably 60,000 folks at the race, but for some around the track, it was a sign that they might lose a race.

It might have started at the Craftsman Truck Series test session when Sprint Cup star Tony Stewart mentioned he would fight to keep two dates at Martinsville. Most hadn't even thought that was on the table, but the driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota brought it up. It added to the paranoia.

And paranoia it was. One unnamed track worker told me that he was scared. "They did the same thing to Rockingham. They scheduled them in weather where they couldn't get a crowd and used it to do away with the race." That sentiment was found all around the little town of 20,000 last weekend.

The race was a thing of beauty. It was close racing with its share of beating and banging. Crowd favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr. not only led, but led the most laps. Another new winner was crowned in Denny Hamlin, a Virginia native no doubt, and all the manufacturers had good days. The only problem was the empty seats, which had many wondering what it meant. The question had to be asked. Isn't it more important that a good race takes place than whether a record crowd shows up? Apparently that wasn't the case at Rockingham or Darlington.