Things to know before heading to the track.(Motorsports)(visiting motor speedways)

At least, we think it's a hot dog . . .

So, it's your first time at Martinsville Speedway? You've heard all about the picturesque little half-mile bullring in southern Virginia, including reviews of its famous Jesse Jones hot dogs. Go ahead, treat yourself. Your cardiologist doesn't have to know that you ate a pink-looking tubule slathered in chili and mustard and onions and something that looked vaguely like cole slaw. They've been serving 'em that way for more than 50 years, and nobody's died yet of just one . . . that we know of.

Dover downer Heading to either of Dover's two 400-milers? Plan ahead, and get there as early as possible. Dover International Speedway is smack in the middle of Delaware's capital city, right beside heavily traveled Route 13. Downtown signal lights aren't always timed or manned, meaning traffic backs up for miles-and, it seems, for hours-in both directions. Local and state cops do their best, but they're no match for upward of 40,000 cars almost at once. Just be patient, and you'll get there by, well, who knows?

Don't say we didn't warn you

Here's a "best of'' that hardly anyone can dispute: The best infield in all of NASCAR is at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Of course, one man's best is another man's worst. Enter at your own risk, maybe with a couple of Green Berets or Airborne Rangers. Stories abound of births and deaths and everything in between ...