I know it was a rhetorical question but here's what draws me to it:
1. It’s THE social event in racing. Sort of like a high school reunion bowling night. Sometimes if feels like having to get up to go throw the ball is an annoying interruption to your socializing
2. The format. While you are racing for points, there is no points racing. From the time the trailer door drops, it’s on the gas racing. While that style of racing tends to bring out some questionable driving decisions it’s just kind of accepted as part of the deal.
3. Elephant Run. Kid, you wanna slither around in a pool of baby oil with your clothes on? Have at it.
4. They sell beer in the pits.
5. It's well organized. There's a few unnamed sanctioning bodies around that couldn't organize a rock fight but I wouldn't include the Chili Bowl people in that bunch. I've never been to the Tulsa Shootout and perhaps that’s when all the bugs get worked out but for a once a year event it's a remarkable achievement.
6. See #4
7. The entire town embraces it. They are exceeding accommodating.
8. Did I mention that the racing is really quite good and there is a whole lot of it? If you wanna look spectacular, you better do it early in the week because by the time Saturday rolls around that move you did on Tuesday is going to elicit yawns on Saturday ("did you see that!!" <yawn> Yeah, 16 guys have done that this week.)