Another Viewpoint Archives
Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com
Boundaries
Boundaries are important to any relationship we have in our lives and it's no
different with Nascar and its fans or its drivers/teams. Many drivers play
within the "politically correct" boundaries imposed by sponsors and Nascar
through the past few years and now have reputations, for example: being the
nicest driver always goes to Bill Elliott. Politically correct drivers obey
the rules and orders Nascar imposes and maintain a neutral all-around
pleasantry to keep the sport more acceptable by mainstream America. Mark
Martin is the master of saying the right thing at all times in all fairness
and will never be accused of having a mean bone in his body. These invisible
undiscussed boundaries are like personality restrictors, though. Just as
restrictor plates control speed on the superspeedways, these rules and orders
(especially, in the drivers meetings) restrict personalities on the track.
Nascar in all its good intentions and it's own miscreations (the glitz and
glam of Golden Boy, for instance) has tried to sterilize the awesome sport of
stock car racing. Like the opening page of this website says:
"The meek
may inherit the Earth. They just better stay the hell off the track", and "Rubbin' is Racin'". Stock car racing is not a sport for the
faint of heart.
Keeping Nascar's humble beginnings in mind may conjure up some of the most
derogatory pictures about fans and racing for those who would ridicule the
sport, but for true fans, the real picture is a strong spirit and family
oriented competition. To lose sight of the roots is a form of
self-destruction. Just as our country was founded with a fundamental need
for freedom & individualism, sadly, Nascar sometimes appears to have lost
sight of its roots in real competition. Strong personalities and the fire
within on the track to go to the edge [and beyond] have given us some of our
most memorable moments in stock car racing. The infamous "kiss" or what is
better known as a love tap, or what's sometimes called "boogering" are all
part of short track racing. Go to any local short track and you'll see that
kind of tension on the track and that's what draws the fans. Controlling a
vehicle at an unusually high rate of speed in very close quarters with a
field of other vehicles after the same goal (getting to the front by the last
lap) is an adrenaline rush. The best drivers perfect the techniques and then
utilize them but what keeps all the order in the midst of chaos and emotions
is the boundaries set forth by the governing association. And inconsistency
of those boundaries confuses everyone- drivers and fans alike.
Racing is rubbing. Common slogan, commonly accepted until someone appears
too aggressive. Taps between drivers are different, too. The tap Nadeau
gave a crippled DJ was strategic- a caution would rearrange the field and he
would be in the back of the pack that was trying to put him a lap down. I
don't know if Nadeau thought it out that far or was just helping DJ out of
the way. Nascar delivered a decision with lightning speed! The tap by DW
on Terry appeared the same as Nadeau's to DJ (both trying not to be lapped),
now we have apples to apples taps, but an inconsistent reaction by Nascar. I
am not advocating that DW should be penalized but that the Nadeau deal was
harsh. The taps employed by Dale E, Rusty, Tony and Terry are all warning,
pre-pass taps that everyone employs before making the move Earnhardt
perfected. No one minds rules and order, only that it all be consistent
across the track. The only consistency Nascar displayed is their continuous
inconsistency, an overflow from last years (flaunted gray areas)
look-the-other-way season!
Bristol is a hot topic already overdebated and opinionated. Friends have
found each other on opposite sides of the fence over their driver loyalties
and a mistake on the last lap. By all rights Terry should have run away from
Earnhardt on his new tires as aggressively as he'd just passed the previous 3
cars (Dale included) and by not doing so, he knew what was coming. He also
knew he'd come out the hero and the game would go on. Terry has a reputation
as a gentleman that he counts on. Dale has a reputation as anything but a
gentleman on the track and anyone encountering him can depend on Dale
weathering the onslaught of criticism. In the end though, Nascar knows it
wasn't built on pristine manners and controlled speeches full of sponsors
names. So when a short track brings out the very nature of Nascar- some fans
may cry foul, but everyone benefits.
The laughable part of all this is that this week Dale and Terry will both hit
the track and race each other just as hard as ever, provided the Hendricks
camp gives Terry the equipment to run again well and in the long run, they'll
be joking about their Bristol controversy for years to come! Nascar IS a
sport and all sports have its moments, Bristols finish is one of them, (yes,
again!). In the meantime, the media is enjoying the diversion from the early
part of the season spent speculating on Gordon's failure to dominate or
trying to contrive stories of statistics worth hearing about each week.
Before crying foul, though, honestly think about which race you'd rather
see: Bristol and its controversy or another track with all its order.
Accidents happen. The intent of the accident or "violation" though is up to
Nascar to decide and until they get consistent and stay firm and fair with
their rulings, we will continue to see controversy prevail. And anyone who
wants to see Dale get the same in return only needs to check history: he's
been there and done that, just like many others!
Another Viewpoint Home
Boundaries
Boundaries are important to any relationship we have in our lives and it's no different with Nascar and its fans or its drivers/teams. Many drivers play within the "politically correct" boundaries imposed by sponsors and Nascar through the past few years and now have reputations, for example: being the nicest driver always goes to Bill Elliott. Politically correct drivers obey the rules and orders Nascar imposes and maintain a neutral all-around pleasantry to keep the sport more acceptable by mainstream America. Mark Martin is the master of saying the right thing at all times in all fairness and will never be accused of having a mean bone in his body. These invisible undiscussed boundaries are like personality restrictors, though. Just as restrictor plates control speed on the superspeedways, these rules and orders (especially, in the drivers meetings) restrict personalities on the track. Nascar in all its good intentions and it's own miscreations (the glitz and glam of Golden Boy, for instance) has tried to sterilize the awesome sport of stock car racing. Like the opening page of this website says: "The meek may inherit the Earth. They just better stay the hell off the track", and "Rubbin' is Racin'". Stock car racing is not a sport for the faint of heart.
Keeping Nascar's humble beginnings in mind may conjure up some of the most derogatory pictures about fans and racing for those who would ridicule the sport, but for true fans, the real picture is a strong spirit and family oriented competition. To lose sight of the roots is a form of self-destruction. Just as our country was founded with a fundamental need for freedom & individualism, sadly, Nascar sometimes appears to have lost sight of its roots in real competition. Strong personalities and the fire within on the track to go to the edge [and beyond] have given us some of our most memorable moments in stock car racing. The infamous "kiss" or what is better known as a love tap, or what's sometimes called "boogering" are all part of short track racing. Go to any local short track and you'll see that kind of tension on the track and that's what draws the fans. Controlling a vehicle at an unusually high rate of speed in very close quarters with a field of other vehicles after the same goal (getting to the front by the last lap) is an adrenaline rush. The best drivers perfect the techniques and then utilize them but what keeps all the order in the midst of chaos and emotions is the boundaries set forth by the governing association. And inconsistency of those boundaries confuses everyone- drivers and fans alike.
Racing is rubbing. Common slogan, commonly accepted until someone appears too aggressive. Taps between drivers are different, too. The tap Nadeau gave a crippled DJ was strategic- a caution would rearrange the field and he would be in the back of the pack that was trying to put him a lap down. I don't know if Nadeau thought it out that far or was just helping DJ out of the way. Nascar delivered a decision with lightning speed! The tap by DW on Terry appeared the same as Nadeau's to DJ (both trying not to be lapped), now we have apples to apples taps, but an inconsistent reaction by Nascar. I am not advocating that DW should be penalized but that the Nadeau deal was harsh. The taps employed by Dale E, Rusty, Tony and Terry are all warning, pre-pass taps that everyone employs before making the move Earnhardt perfected. No one minds rules and order, only that it all be consistent across the track. The only consistency Nascar displayed is their continuous inconsistency, an overflow from last years (flaunted gray areas) look-the-other-way season!
Bristol is a hot topic already overdebated and opinionated. Friends have found each other on opposite sides of the fence over their driver loyalties and a mistake on the last lap. By all rights Terry should have run away from Earnhardt on his new tires as aggressively as he'd just passed the previous 3 cars (Dale included) and by not doing so, he knew what was coming. He also knew he'd come out the hero and the game would go on. Terry has a reputation as a gentleman that he counts on. Dale has a reputation as anything but a gentleman on the track and anyone encountering him can depend on Dale weathering the onslaught of criticism. In the end though, Nascar knows it wasn't built on pristine manners and controlled speeches full of sponsors names. So when a short track brings out the very nature of Nascar- some fans may cry foul, but everyone benefits.
The laughable part of all this is that this week Dale and Terry will both hit the track and race each other just as hard as ever, provided the Hendricks camp gives Terry the equipment to run again well and in the long run, they'll be joking about their Bristol controversy for years to come! Nascar IS a sport and all sports have its moments, Bristols finish is one of them, (yes, again!). In the meantime, the media is enjoying the diversion from the early part of the season spent speculating on Gordon's failure to dominate or trying to contrive stories of statistics worth hearing about each week.
Before crying foul, though, honestly think about which race you'd rather see: Bristol and its controversy or another track with all its order. Accidents happen. The intent of the accident or "violation" though is up to Nascar to decide and until they get consistent and stay firm and fair with their rulings, we will continue to see controversy prevail. And anyone who wants to see Dale get the same in return only needs to check history: he's been there and done that, just like many others!
Another Viewpoint Home