Another Viewpoint Archives
Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com
Bad Boys and Controversy
"Bad boys" and controversy go hand in hand, and lately Nascar seems to have a
share of both. Normally congenial competitors like Dale Jarrett and Rusty
Wallace were irate with fellow driver Jeff Gordon at NHIS. The incident is
history but it sure provided an undertone for Pocono, even though normal
racing took its course there. What no one (except the parties involved)
knows is the true thoughts, motives and feelings behind the altercations.
Unfortunately, the incident becomes fodder for the media and endless debates
and speculation by everyone. What I've had to wonder, in light of this
year's uncharacteristic aggressiveness by Jeff Gordon, is: could he be trying
to slip into the "bad boy" profile in order to rid himself of the "golden"
image? Maybe he thinks it's made Dale Earnhardt great (or so folks may
think) and infamously popular, so why not? Of course, the difference is that
Earnhardt came by it quite naturally, being self-admittedly mean on the
track! Trying to become a "bad boy" on the track is unbecoming of Gordon.
However, "bad boys" get a lot of attention and often create controversy and
controversy supposedly keeps a sport exciting!
Nascar has always been exciting and colorful with or without controversy! The
all too well publicized ( and now embarrassing) brawl of Allison and
Yarborough reminds us of that. Earnhardts infamous intimidation on the track
made him one of the most notorious "bad boys" of Nascar for years. Some of
his skills on the track still remain unmatched and fortunately, age and
experience has mellowed him without affecting his skills. Nascar's early
years though, required learning bump drafting and that rubbing was racing in
order to survive the field. Nice guys did finish last then! The familiar tap
from behind usually meant the next tap would have serious consequences if one
did not get out of the way. Thus the phrase, "that's racin'..." .
Today, the speeds are greater, the cars are extremely aerodynamic and just
disturbing the air behind and around a car can totally change a drivers
outcome. Controversies arise from rule bending and gray areas implementation,
if offenders are caught or when they dominate. And, when someone utilizes a
little old-style driving (intentionally or not), the results are some of the
worst accidents in the "modern era" of racing. Younger drivers have
carefully watched and learned from the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Darrell
Waltrip now, who cut their teeth among the Allisons, Yarborough, Pearson,
Baker and Petty. And they're discovering the edge of being a "bad boy" on the
track. However, today's racing may not embrace this style because there is
so much to lose when the inevitable disaster strikes. Better for the younger
drivers to cull the skills from the "bad boy" style and refine it to fit
today's Nascar, than to haphazardly apply aggressive techniques on the track.
With these skills though must come temperance and safety-mindedness. In two
races this year already Gordon has used the apron of a track like Earnhardt
had used the grass in the past. At the Daytona 500, the better part of valor
for Rusty was wisdom to make room for Gordon, but NHIS cost him a finish.
In another race, Tony Stewart held his position while Mike Skinner attempted
to assume the position and lost. Countless other exchanges have taken place
in the same manner, in the name of competition. Most recently, Stewart
appeared to be playing leap frog with Earnhardt at Pocono while matching each
others passes in traffic! Usually a formula for disaster with a rookie,
Stewart was impressive! Such clean racing as we see exhibited week after
week by Mark Martin (and many others) and this feat between a rookie and a
veteran driver is truly the real thrills of racing that keep the sport
colorful and exciting. Aggression isn't necessary nor desirable to provide a
good show anymore.
Being a "bad boy" on the track has a price. Controversy prevails, and new
rules and fines can be expensive. Defensiveness with the media and fans, a
reputation to live down, along with the constant risk of retaliation or no
sympathy when disaster strikes is everpresent in the life of a "bad boy"
racer. Nascar has refined its sport into practically a level playing field
for all with the rules adjusted per car manufacturer to keep all the
advantages equal. So all that is left is the driver and his team. Now, pit
crews practice incessantly to acheive the fastest pitstops, so that all that
makes the difference then may be the driver. A driver utilizing the skills
learned from close quarters competition is better than a driver utilizing
just the right moves to remove the competition.
Some other "sports" on TV can get away with the fakery and big show but
ultimately, if Nascar were to put up with the "bad boys" on the track,
everyone would lose in the end. Too much controversy as experienced in
recent seasons costs everyone, i.e. less sellouts at tracks, poor reputations
and dissatisfaction with the sport. Racing isn't a soap opera and loses it's
appeal when it becomes one. Nascar may secretly love its "bad boys" because
they attract the media and publicity, and action on the track makes for
some serious intensity. Ultimately, that is the bottom line to keeping the
sport alive and well. If Nascar can reign in the aggression so there's just
enough to keep everyone happy and everyone talking, it could work to
everyone's advantage. So, who might be the new "bad boys".... only time will
tell, let's hope they accomplish it safely.
Another Viewpoint Home
Bad Boys and Controversy
"Bad boys" and controversy go hand in hand, and lately Nascar seems to have a share of both. Normally congenial competitors like Dale Jarrett and Rusty Wallace were irate with fellow driver Jeff Gordon at NHIS. The incident is history but it sure provided an undertone for Pocono, even though normal racing took its course there. What no one (except the parties involved) knows is the true thoughts, motives and feelings behind the altercations. Unfortunately, the incident becomes fodder for the media and endless debates and speculation by everyone. What I've had to wonder, in light of this year's uncharacteristic aggressiveness by Jeff Gordon, is: could he be trying to slip into the "bad boy" profile in order to rid himself of the "golden" image? Maybe he thinks it's made Dale Earnhardt great (or so folks may think) and infamously popular, so why not? Of course, the difference is that Earnhardt came by it quite naturally, being self-admittedly mean on the track! Trying to become a "bad boy" on the track is unbecoming of Gordon. However, "bad boys" get a lot of attention and often create controversy and controversy supposedly keeps a sport exciting!
Nascar has always been exciting and colorful with or without controversy! The all too well publicized ( and now embarrassing) brawl of Allison and Yarborough reminds us of that. Earnhardts infamous intimidation on the track made him one of the most notorious "bad boys" of Nascar for years. Some of his skills on the track still remain unmatched and fortunately, age and experience has mellowed him without affecting his skills. Nascar's early years though, required learning bump drafting and that rubbing was racing in order to survive the field. Nice guys did finish last then! The familiar tap from behind usually meant the next tap would have serious consequences if one did not get out of the way. Thus the phrase, "that's racin'..." .
Today, the speeds are greater, the cars are extremely aerodynamic and just disturbing the air behind and around a car can totally change a drivers outcome. Controversies arise from rule bending and gray areas implementation, if offenders are caught or when they dominate. And, when someone utilizes a little old-style driving (intentionally or not), the results are some of the worst accidents in the "modern era" of racing. Younger drivers have carefully watched and learned from the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip now, who cut their teeth among the Allisons, Yarborough, Pearson, Baker and Petty. And they're discovering the edge of being a "bad boy" on the track. However, today's racing may not embrace this style because there is so much to lose when the inevitable disaster strikes. Better for the younger drivers to cull the skills from the "bad boy" style and refine it to fit today's Nascar, than to haphazardly apply aggressive techniques on the track.
With these skills though must come temperance and safety-mindedness. In two races this year already Gordon has used the apron of a track like Earnhardt had used the grass in the past. At the Daytona 500, the better part of valor for Rusty was wisdom to make room for Gordon, but NHIS cost him a finish. In another race, Tony Stewart held his position while Mike Skinner attempted to assume the position and lost. Countless other exchanges have taken place in the same manner, in the name of competition. Most recently, Stewart appeared to be playing leap frog with Earnhardt at Pocono while matching each others passes in traffic! Usually a formula for disaster with a rookie, Stewart was impressive! Such clean racing as we see exhibited week after week by Mark Martin (and many others) and this feat between a rookie and a veteran driver is truly the real thrills of racing that keep the sport colorful and exciting. Aggression isn't necessary nor desirable to provide a good show anymore.
Being a "bad boy" on the track has a price. Controversy prevails, and new rules and fines can be expensive. Defensiveness with the media and fans, a reputation to live down, along with the constant risk of retaliation or no sympathy when disaster strikes is everpresent in the life of a "bad boy" racer. Nascar has refined its sport into practically a level playing field for all with the rules adjusted per car manufacturer to keep all the advantages equal. So all that is left is the driver and his team. Now, pit crews practice incessantly to acheive the fastest pitstops, so that all that makes the difference then may be the driver. A driver utilizing the skills learned from close quarters competition is better than a driver utilizing just the right moves to remove the competition.
Some other "sports" on TV can get away with the fakery and big show but ultimately, if Nascar were to put up with the "bad boys" on the track, everyone would lose in the end. Too much controversy as experienced in recent seasons costs everyone, i.e. less sellouts at tracks, poor reputations and dissatisfaction with the sport. Racing isn't a soap opera and loses it's appeal when it becomes one. Nascar may secretly love its "bad boys" because they attract the media and publicity, and action on the track makes for some serious intensity. Ultimately, that is the bottom line to keeping the sport alive and well. If Nascar can reign in the aggression so there's just enough to keep everyone happy and everyone talking, it could work to everyone's advantage. So, who might be the new "bad boys".... only time will tell, let's hope they accomplish it safely.
Another Viewpoint Home