NASCAR Sprint Cup's Biggest Martinsville Controversy: The Martinsville Hot Dog

Food is a pertinent part of the experience of a sporting event. Some like to do-it-themselves and bring elaborate barbecue grills to share homemade delights with family and friends alike. Others like to make it a catering event and pre-order their favorite food to be eaten quickly before game time.

Still, others opt to simply pack a few sandwiches and completely involve themselves in the rhythms and tempo of the game. In the end, it does not really matter as long as enjoyment and fulfillment have taken place.

Whatever your preferred poison, one food product cannot be avoided at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia: The Martinsville hot dog. It is considered the "classic" NASCAR snack. It comes in a few ways, but the basic ingredients, besides bun and dog, are coleslaw, onions and chili.

It is as ubiquitous as the loud roar of the V8 engines during the race. There is no concession stand within miles of the track that does not offer some version of it. The Martinsville Dog has remained, throughout the years, a great economic deal at only two dollars per unit, no matter how you wish to dress it with condiments.

In recent years, as society has grown more and more health conscious it has been pondered whether, it is, indeed, healthy. That is a matter of perspective. It is advertised at around 110 calories.

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-40, 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 100 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. They are more like a carnival food than a food staple. And, it is only 200 cents!

Carl Edwards probably avoids them. Dale Earnhardt Jr. reportedly loves them.

The controversy will ensue, but more than 50,000 of these hot dogs are estimated to be consumed at Martinsville races. Does anyone count calories at the racetrack? Hopefully not.