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Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com

Bandwagons

Bandwagons are a funny thing. Often, they look good, perform fairly well, and sound wonderful, so most everyone flocks to it and most everyone seems to want to be at least partially responsible for predicting its success! Message boards are a prime example. Of course, the media attempts to create the bandwagons, which feeds the sponsors, which creates the popularity, which draws the fans, which continues to build the media up as the "experts". Sort of like a dog chasing it's tail! According to Websters, "Bandwagon" is defined as an elaborately decorated wagon or to side with a successful candidate for cause... as in "get on the bandwagon." That definition truly fits the description of some bandwagons fans and media have jumped on in recent years.

Fan loyalty is an essential aspect of any sport or there wouldn't be the necessary funds to support the sport. However, the current trend in predicting the success of any given driver, has become a competition in itself! Every fan, critic and broadcaster tries to be THE one who predicts a superstar rising. The media appears to be determined to create, direct and feed the fans the bandwagons they want to see succeed. Even when a slump strikes, the media dutifully continues to focus and promote. Refreshingly, fans continue to choose whom they will support and whom they won't, which is evident at every race from the sounds in the stands.

Rising BGN stars like Kenseth, Dale Jr, Casey Atwood, Adam Petty and the multitude of others are under the most extreme scrutiny (and pressure) to succeed. Some of that can be attributed to family history: like Dale Jr & Jason Jarrett, who are 3rd generations while Adam Petty is the 4th generation of undeniably the greatest racing family in Nascar! Then others like Kenseth, ,Atwood, Buckshot Jones, and so many others have worked their way up from the short tracks earning their way into Nascar. Others currently in Nascar, have leapt through the divisions and gone straight to the top, anyway they could. All of them have their bandwagons though.

Expectations from media and sponsors create these bandwagons before the proof is proven. For example, Dale Jr's highly touted and extremely hyped up debut Winston Cup run at Charlotte was beyond belief in the way the media hovered around his every word and move! Yet, the result was a cautious, smartly run race with a solid experience under his belt and all 600 miles run safely without incident. Bravo to Dale Jr for keeping his head when all about him, others were losing theirs! By virtue of his BGN championship and very natural style of racing, not to mention the bloodline, name and excellent equipment, no doubt Dale Jr will be a force to be reckoned with. But, I'm not ready to call him the next "Gordon" especially since Jeff Gordon is not necessarily the standard to judge others by. The only thing I see in common between these two drivers is their youthfulness... the rest is like night and day!

Tolerance and evaluation of performance would serve everyone well in Nascar regarding rising superstars and new talent! Tony Stewart has proven he has the makings of a winner and the stamina of a champion! Matt Kenseth drove Bobby Labonte's car for an excellent run, showing he has the ability to perform very well in good equipment. The media would have us beleive that every new young driver who comes up to Nascar will have to be another "Jeff Gordon". Just because one drivers career began early with a great deal of imposed direction, does not mean all good drivers must start and produce in the same manner! What's the rush? Experience is a great teacher and a little maturity better handles the pressures of success anyhow!

Bandwagons are hype, glitz and glam! As quickly as they come, they may go too! Fans jump on, and like a broken record profess the same things they hear the media report and promote. Funny though how quickly they may jump off when the glitz tarnishes. Some good advice I received once: get educated and learn the sport, watch the drivers (character and values should mean something), then, make a sensible and intelligent choice to follow a driver based on something other than looks, or winning. And, let the bandwagons go by....

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