Another Viewpoint Archives
Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com
Debbi's Racing Resource Site
Another Viewpoint
By Debbi Willis
Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com
Fabrication
Frames and sheet metal aren't the only things being fabricated in NASCAR this season. Fabrication is the act of creating or inventing something. Thus the stories to explain the death of NASCAR's biggest superstar have been fabricated and so tightly interwoven into the "big picture" that it appears no one knows anymore what is the truth and what is the "story", or what they are allowed to say! Such is a side effect of telling stories- pretty soon they become reality with a life of their own. With their walls up, NASCAR is sticking to their story about Dale Earnhardt's belt breaking upon impact. Or so it appears to be for NASCAR's management "wall", that being Mike Helton, Gary Nelson and Bill France. I envision these three guys standing solidly shoulder to shoulder with a glare in their eyes saying, "Well, that's our story and we're sticking to it!" (That's the nice version of Bill's expletive laced response when queried about the EMT's version!) Surely they figure dead men can't defend themselves or prove otherwise, right?
Wrong. Facts will defend the dead. Facts that have been repeatedly investigated and innumerably questioned and still the answers stun us. Besides, this dead man has often carried NASCAR before, so surely he wouldn't mind now. This might even be something he'd do, too, they might think. Wrong again. Everyone minds when truth is hidden, but the truth never fails to prevail, eventually. Somebody knows it, and it's usually just a waiting game as to when it comes out from hiding. Though no answer will bring back any of the drivers we've lost over the past year, the bottom line is still a bitter pill to swallow, especially if we have to lose another driver to finally get NASCAR's attention. If rules have evolved to the point that an unsafe crash condition is a factor to the drivers, then changes are in order immediately, not lies. But, the lies are exposed and NASCAR's still sticking to their story. Guess they figure they're big enough and powerful enough to withstand the battle. Goliath thought he was big and powerful enough too!
Another Viewpoint
By Debbi Willis
Debbi Willis, Daw613@bigfoot.com
Fabrication
Frames and sheet metal aren't the only things being fabricated in NASCAR this season. Fabrication is the act of creating or inventing something. Thus the stories to explain the death of NASCAR's biggest superstar have been fabricated and so tightly interwoven into the "big picture" that it appears no one knows anymore what is the truth and what is the "story", or what they are allowed to say! Such is a side effect of telling stories- pretty soon they become reality with a life of their own. With their walls up, NASCAR is sticking to their story about Dale Earnhardt's belt breaking upon impact. Or so it appears to be for NASCAR's management "wall", that being Mike Helton, Gary Nelson and Bill France. I envision these three guys standing solidly shoulder to shoulder with a glare in their eyes saying, "Well, that's our story and we're sticking to it!" (That's the nice version of Bill's expletive laced response when queried about the EMT's version!) Surely they figure dead men can't defend themselves or prove otherwise, right?
Wrong. Facts will defend the dead. Facts that have been repeatedly investigated and innumerably questioned and still the answers stun us. Besides, this dead man has often carried NASCAR before, so surely he wouldn't mind now. This might even be something he'd do, too, they might think. Wrong again. Everyone minds when truth is hidden, but the truth never fails to prevail, eventually. Somebody knows it, and it's usually just a waiting game as to when it comes out from hiding. Though no answer will bring back any of the drivers we've lost over the past year, the bottom line is still a bitter pill to swallow, especially if we have to lose another driver to finally get NASCAR's attention. If rules have evolved to the point that an unsafe crash condition is a factor to the drivers, then changes are in order immediately, not lies. But, the lies are exposed and NASCAR's still sticking to their story. Guess they figure they're big enough and powerful enough to withstand the battle. Goliath thought he was big and powerful enough too!
Damage beyond imaginations and good reason is occuring in the midst of all the reports. Fans have begun to cling to their favorite drivers and denounce NASCAR because the stories raise too many unanswerable and unanswered questions. Fear wracks everyone every weekend and another driver spends time in the hospital from an accident that "didn't look that bad" - again. Owners and team members, safety-vocal drivers, worried families are torn between who they work for or benefit from and whether they are being assured of safety, or have they fallen prey to a missed focus. Sponsors are suddenly aware of just how quickly they could lose millions in advertising dollars in one driver and seek to protect their investments. Loyalty wanes rapidly in light of fabricated stories in the shadow of death. Personal priorities are NOT NASCAR first, then everyone/everything else in their lives and the stage is being set for a split like USAC suffered with CART. Drivers are ultimately an independent breed. Most owners were drivers at one time or another. NASCAR needs to heed the handwriting on the wall.
A shockwave wracked the racing world the day Dale Earnhardt died at Daytona. "Ironhead" wasn't made of iron after all. Last year, when I thought it couldn't hurt any worst after Adam died, we lost Kenny Irwin. I wasn't willing to blame the track but more inclined to blame inexperience and mechanical failure. And, I wondered how it must've felt to be Kenny's and Adam's fans. I wondered how I would feel if I lost my favorite driver in a racing accident. I shuddered at the thought and comforted myself with the fact that Dale Earnhardt always walked away and he'd do it again. Then, he didn't. And suddenly, I knew the sheer agony that Kenny's and Adam's fans were already too familiar with. I wasn't prepared for it at all.
Most of all, I wasn't prepared to suspect NASCAR of lying about how Dale died. I wasn't prepared to realize they actually might do something so foolish. I wasn't prepared to doubt the organization Dale and all the drivers had so staunchly supported, defended and helped build into it's current state of popularity. I definitely wasn't prepared for them to expect me and the world to swallow the bitter pill they were issuing everyone with their story, secrecy and so very private internal investigation. Bitter is still bitter when sugar coated, it just takes longer to get to the bitterness. I wasn't prepared to wonder what they were hiding and why did they set up Simpson to take the fall? Didn't they know he'd fight them? And I'm still not prepared to watch the repercussions NASCAR will surely reap from this. Stories only make everyone's ground unstable, much like the rearends of all the cars these days!
The truth died February 18, 2001 in that black 3 car. Dale Earnhardt always told everyone just like it was or he said nothing at all. Few others can step up to the plate like he did and still be in good standing with NASCAR and if they do, NASCAR refuses to recognize their concerns, then blatantly ignores them. Dale warned NASCAR repeatedly about restrictor plate racing and the crippling effect on the cars. Dale pitched serious fits over the new rules package instituted last year at Daytona that kept the cars loose and unstable making for the worst Daytona in history. Though the master of the very racing he hated, Dale died in a crash that "didn't look that bad". An EMT thought they'd find a furious Earnhardt in that car, but they didn't. NASCAR wouldn't be hearing from the Man again. And, NASCAR couldn't bear up under the tragedy so a feebly plausible story was created to explain his death as just an accident. Unfortunately for NASCAR, no one rolled over and obeyed. Bill Simpson defended his business rightfully so and an EMT wrestled his conscience until he had to come forward. Bitter as it is, the truth always comes out. With great sadness, I'm waiting for the grand finale and fallout in this elaborate fabrication.
Another Viewpoint Home
