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Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com

Fan and Fanatics

Nascars fans seem to have divided themselves into two camps: either Pro- Gordon or Anti-Gordon! I prefer to think of them as race fanatics and race fans, respectively. Now, granted fans is the short version of the word fanatics but to me fans conjures up the image of the full fledged knows- something-about-the-actual-sport person. A fanatic is the one who likes someone solely because of the looks or affiliations, and they win alot. It's always easier to like those winners you know. Race fans love racing, recognize natural driver skill and serious competition. Even clean competition is important, look how the fans treated Earnhardt in his very aggressive years! Before Jeff Gordon, you never heard someone say they liked a driver because he was CUTE or because of his religious preferences. By marketing Jeff's supposedly appealing appearance and his so-called "morality" (does Wag the Dog come to mind here?), he singlehandedly delivered two more large markets to Nascar! But for what purpose? More exposure, which means more money. Hmmm, isn't there some where that advises that the love of money is the root of all evil? or is it the downfall? or both?

Fanatic suits the Gordon fans, because they are truly fanatical about their driver. Nothing has to add up or make sense for them as long as he is winning. It doesn't matter how, or that logic dictates otherwise, only that he is a winner. Everyone from the very young (who don't know any better) to women (who never watched a race before in their life!) to the very old (who like that "nice" young man) suddenly love racing and think they know who "rules" it all!! Well, I don't think so.

Now, friends remind me that Dale Earnhardt divided Nascar the same way in his earlier championships. As a true black and blue Earnhardt fan, I didn't and still don't see it that way. I happen to like the finesse (or force, depending on your view) Dale used on the track and as a racing fan recognized serious driver skill and a burning desire to be the best. Very few dispute that of all the drivers on the track, none is feared more than he behind them. But, I never heard anyone say they just loved Dale Earnhardt because he's so cute or because of his religious affiliation. In fact, Dale never made a point of that, yet never forgets to thank the Creator for being able to do what he loves best! And PR people weren't necessary to create an awesome image, Dale did that on his own, like the rest of the great drivers out there!

Watching the awards banquet this week was great fun! There's no denying that the drivers are not comfortable in tuxedos on a stage trying to catch the teleprompter or remember their notes or even read them, but it's a funny thing really, they do this banquet live for the fans! For their fans, for all the world to watch them be real people on the stage and to hear the creative thank yous (DJ was humorously wonderful!!!) and the humble appreciation to sponsors, family and fans (DE was true to himself and MM was superb!), these guys who make millions in their careers take this time to be recognized for their fans.

And then we come to Jeffy and he is perfectly polished, totally under control this year, makes note of all the usual sponsorship, even subtlely disputes the idea that racing wasn't his idea, and gushingly thanks his folks (gee, do you think Jeffy reads the editorials too?). He even digs everyone with the tire remark! His little boy champion act is revolting to me. He's poised, he's calm, NO TEARS this year (ratings had to be high in anticipation of that!), and he's the champion. That's a downright flat thought. How come the audience appeared so bored with his speech time? When veiwed, no one seemed pumped up over the championship, no one even seemed to care much what was said, I thought more that they may have been daydreaming on how they were going to spend the money!

Personally, I think he's releived, he and Ray and the whole Hendricks team (including the under-house-arrest owner at home) pulled off another championship based on the "gray" areas of the rules. "Whew! We made it!" was more the feeling I got from all the acceptance speeches related to the #24! Well, congratulations to you Gordon fanatics, if you're happy, then I guess it doesn't matter HOW a championship is won, at least not to you.

It is my sincerest hope that next year, the rest of the teams will have discovered those "gray" areas of the rules too, and be right up to speed with "Wonder Boy" who admittedly knows nothing about stockcars! And I hope that NASCAR, the greatest organization of auto racing (in my opinion), will find its backbone to enforce all the rules properly so that we won't have to ever endure a "silly" season of "musical" rules and drivers again! Maybe then, Gordon-mania will subside and race fans everywhere will get a fair run again for their drivers. No doubt the 50th Anniversary year of NASCAR will not be forgotten!

In the meantime, the true champion this year was Mark Martin! Congratulations Mark for a supreme show of class and love for the sport, your family and all your fans! May 1999 be kinder to you than, 1998 was.

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