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Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com
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Another Viewpoint
By Debbi Willis
Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com
Decisions, Disasters and Dissension
A 3part Viewpoint
Part 1: Decisions
For the past couple of years Nascar has been hunting for the perfect fan favorite formula to entertain and still keep fans and their "stars" (the drivers) safe at the superspeedways of Daytona and Talledega. As the drivers achieved more dangerous speeds and had more horrendous accidents, decisions were made to keep the fans safe, to protect the drivers from serious injury and hopefully still provide good racing . Thus Nascar inflicted the restrictor plate racing package (of which I am not a fan of, either). And as Nascar grew in popularity, some fans found the "freight-train" drafting with not many lead changes "boring". After watching my tape of the '97 Daytona, oddly enough, I really miss the pre-1999 days at the superspeedways! In the last 60 laps there were multiple lead changes and the kind of competitive suspense I really enjoy so much more!
With restrictor plates, the draft was more important than ever. Without working the draft, a driver lost quickly. More design changes were allowed and the cars were made more rigid. Superspeedway racing changed with new model introductions from Ford and GM, and now Dodge. More decisions were made to "level the playing field" with rule amendments. In the course of all those decisions, a new shock/spring package was mandated by Nascar causing fans and drivers alike to suffer through the 2000 Speed Week and the Daytona 500. "Deals" between teams for help at the superspeedways became the norm. The hunt for parity became a parody. And then Nascar finally considered a new aero package of rules which were introduced at Talledega's Fall 2000 race, while keeping all the previous rule changes also. Dangerously close restrictor-pack-vacuum racing and an incredible come from 18th place to win the race by Dale Earnhardt (with Kenny Wallace and Joe Nemechek's help) gave Nascar the best of all worlds. Or, so they thought. Transferring those same rules to Daytona 2001 didn't work so well. Keeping those rules makes it anybody's race anymore.
Dale Earnhardt made many decisions during the 2001 Speedweek at Daytona. I believe Dale had a plan (as always) for this year: consistency and teamwork with his DEI team. Goals were set to get Michael Waltrip into victory lane. Dale had alluded to that teasingly telling reporters about "that 15 car" having something special. The eighth championship was foremost for himself and he relished the success of DEI. These were to be his glory years before his retirement from driving. Yet, I also believe, Dale knew the extreme risks involved in the restrictor-pack-vacuum racing they would be subject to and he'd studied and learned all he needed to know for the 500. There were no mistakes in his "losses" in the Bud Shootout or the 125 qualifier. Those losses were learning data for the grandaddy race of racing. I believe he knew he would potentially wreck because in those closing laps he was going to royally frustrate the "thunderstorm" behind him. I don't believe he ever thought his belt could break with the slam of that impact.
But, I also believe Dale decided to allow the cameras to watch him the whole day, giving the fans a haunting insight into the man he really was: loving husband and father, and good friend to many. Thus the pictures of the eternal kiss, the friends, the hug with Dale Jr and to Kyle Petty, and even the prayers. He prayed for wisdom in the race. The season was exciting and opportunities brand new. The personna of the Intimidator could finally soften, if just a little. Dale Earnhardt proved to be a very complex man with a great deal of innate wisdom. His goals were in line, and he was in good shape. As he said to DW in an interview: "Gotta great wife, great family, proud of my kids. I've really got it all right now, I'm racing, and enjoying, I win, I'm competitive. I'm a lucky man, I've got it all." Obviously, Dale's decsions throughout his life had blessed him with good fortune and a good life. Ultimately, the decision he made to protect Dale Jr and Michael Waltrip also cost him his life.
And Nascar has made many more decisions since, some in premature announcements and some in secretiveness that wrenches the racing fans heart wondering just exactly what happened and what's going on? In the aftermath of Dale's death, Nascar has failed it's fans with it's silence about the causes of Dale's death and has failed to assure it's drivers of good safety implementation for upcoming superspeedway races. Dale's death is preying on everyone's peace of mind as they approach Talledega and will prey even worst as Daytona nears. Nascar would do well to back up and re-evaluate where they really want to take the sport. If they want sheer entertainment, then they need to advise the drivers and teams and let them decide for themselves to be part of a semi-scripted show! If they want real competition, then they need to lighten up on the control and turn it back over to the teams to utilize their knowledge for the real competition true race fans enjoy. NO race fan comes to a race for the wrecks. Wrecks are just part of the equation. And NO race fan wishes death in the sport and we've all put up with far too much death in just the last 10 months! Decisions are part of the responsibilities and Nascar has a huge responsibility to it's fans and it's teams. I hope Nascar backs up soon and reevaluates their decisions over the past two seasons and takes us back to the superspeedway racing that looked like real racing prior to their restrictor-pack-vacuum rules! Nascar's silence is speaking volumes no one wants to hear.
(Part 2- "Disasters" to follow soon.)
Another Viewpoint Home
Another Viewpoint
By Debbi Willis
Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com
With restrictor plates, the draft was more important than ever. Without working the draft, a driver lost quickly. More design changes were allowed and the cars were made more rigid. Superspeedway racing changed with new model introductions from Ford and GM, and now Dodge. More decisions were made to "level the playing field" with rule amendments. In the course of all those decisions, a new shock/spring package was mandated by Nascar causing fans and drivers alike to suffer through the 2000 Speed Week and the Daytona 500. "Deals" between teams for help at the superspeedways became the norm. The hunt for parity became a parody. And then Nascar finally considered a new aero package of rules which were introduced at Talledega's Fall 2000 race, while keeping all the previous rule changes also. Dangerously close restrictor-pack-vacuum racing and an incredible come from 18th place to win the race by Dale Earnhardt (with Kenny Wallace and Joe Nemechek's help) gave Nascar the best of all worlds. Or, so they thought. Transferring those same rules to Daytona 2001 didn't work so well. Keeping those rules makes it anybody's race anymore.
Dale Earnhardt made many decisions during the 2001 Speedweek at Daytona. I believe Dale had a plan (as always) for this year: consistency and teamwork with his DEI team. Goals were set to get Michael Waltrip into victory lane. Dale had alluded to that teasingly telling reporters about "that 15 car" having something special. The eighth championship was foremost for himself and he relished the success of DEI. These were to be his glory years before his retirement from driving. Yet, I also believe, Dale knew the extreme risks involved in the restrictor-pack-vacuum racing they would be subject to and he'd studied and learned all he needed to know for the 500. There were no mistakes in his "losses" in the Bud Shootout or the 125 qualifier. Those losses were learning data for the grandaddy race of racing. I believe he knew he would potentially wreck because in those closing laps he was going to royally frustrate the "thunderstorm" behind him. I don't believe he ever thought his belt could break with the slam of that impact.
But, I also believe Dale decided to allow the cameras to watch him the whole day, giving the fans a haunting insight into the man he really was: loving husband and father, and good friend to many. Thus the pictures of the eternal kiss, the friends, the hug with Dale Jr and to Kyle Petty, and even the prayers. He prayed for wisdom in the race. The season was exciting and opportunities brand new. The personna of the Intimidator could finally soften, if just a little. Dale Earnhardt proved to be a very complex man with a great deal of innate wisdom. His goals were in line, and he was in good shape. As he said to DW in an interview: "Gotta great wife, great family, proud of my kids. I've really got it all right now, I'm racing, and enjoying, I win, I'm competitive. I'm a lucky man, I've got it all." Obviously, Dale's decsions throughout his life had blessed him with good fortune and a good life. Ultimately, the decision he made to protect Dale Jr and Michael Waltrip also cost him his life.
And Nascar has made many more decisions since, some in premature announcements and some in secretiveness that wrenches the racing fans heart wondering just exactly what happened and what's going on? In the aftermath of Dale's death, Nascar has failed it's fans with it's silence about the causes of Dale's death and has failed to assure it's drivers of good safety implementation for upcoming superspeedway races. Dale's death is preying on everyone's peace of mind as they approach Talledega and will prey even worst as Daytona nears. Nascar would do well to back up and re-evaluate where they really want to take the sport. If they want sheer entertainment, then they need to advise the drivers and teams and let them decide for themselves to be part of a semi-scripted show! If they want real competition, then they need to lighten up on the control and turn it back over to the teams to utilize their knowledge for the real competition true race fans enjoy. NO race fan comes to a race for the wrecks. Wrecks are just part of the equation. And NO race fan wishes death in the sport and we've all put up with far too much death in just the last 10 months! Decisions are part of the responsibilities and Nascar has a huge responsibility to it's fans and it's teams. I hope Nascar backs up soon and reevaluates their decisions over the past two seasons and takes us back to the superspeedway racing that looked like real racing prior to their restrictor-pack-vacuum rules! Nascar's silence is speaking volumes no one wants to hear.Decisions, Disasters and Dissension
A 3part Viewpoint
Part 1: DecisionsFor the past couple of years Nascar has been hunting for the perfect fan favorite formula to entertain and still keep fans and their "stars" (the drivers) safe at the superspeedways of Daytona and Talledega. As the drivers achieved more dangerous speeds and had more horrendous accidents, decisions were made to keep the fans safe, to protect the drivers from serious injury and hopefully still provide good racing . Thus Nascar inflicted the restrictor plate racing package (of which I am not a fan of, either). And as Nascar grew in popularity, some fans found the "freight-train" drafting with not many lead changes "boring". After watching my tape of the '97 Daytona, oddly enough, I really miss the pre-1999 days at the superspeedways! In the last 60 laps there were multiple lead changes and the kind of competitive suspense I really enjoy so much more!
(Part 2- "Disasters" to follow soon.)
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