Ok, let’s take this just a little further. I understand from someone who saw the pre-race program before Indy that D. W. and Kyle Petty were on a tirade with statements that A.J. was ruined in NASCAR. That no sponsor would touch him with a ten foot pole and on and on, while fully acknowledging that A.J. has enrolled in the NASCAR plan for repentance and acceptance. “The Road to Recovery” so am I told is, according to D. W. and K.P. a waste of time for A.J. To have done the man such an injustice as publicly espousing such a diatribe is unforgiveable. I just can’t accept that.
Part of my problem is total recall of how NASCAR did Tim Richmond. That should always be a black mark on the wall of NASCAR. As for Jeremy Mayfield, I have my doubts the situation is exactly as NASCAR has stated but what they have done to Mayfield is not nearly as unjust as what they did to Tim Richmond. I believe in forgiveness, but forgiveness for the Richmond injustice is a huge hunk of forgiveness.
ITEM TWO: NASCAR’s definition of Tradition. Much of the conversations during the broadcast of the Brickyard 400 and the written word in some articles I read, repeatedly suggested that the Indy race is “Tradition”. Much is being made on the fact that Jimmie Johnson has now won four times at Indy to equate him with his childhood hero, Rick Mears. Listen to me now on this. I doubt there is anyone within the walls of the NASCAR hierarchy that knows how to spell tradition! If so, we would still be racing at Darlington on Labor Day Weekend. We would still have the Firecracker 400 on July Fourth as a celebration of the Country’s birthday. The Cup would still race at North Wilkesboro, and Rockingham would have decent race dates. Fiascos like Chicagoland, Fontana, and New Hampshire would not exist. There would be a short-track, including dirt tracks, feeder system that would allow talented drivers to ply their talents into a move up the ladder. NASCAR has no interest in tradition. It moves them ONLY when they can obtain a buck or two out of it as their current advertising campaign for the NASCAR store and all the “traditional” items they can sell.
Tradition at Indy means Rick Mears, A.J. Foyt, Johnny Rutherford, and so many others, some of whose names I can’t spell and won’t even try to pronounce. Tradition at Indy does NOT mean a stock car race that started in 1994. I remember reading that many years ago Big Bill France was escorted out of the place because NASCAR wasn’t welcome there. Now, even Nationwide ran there. Taking nothing away from Nationwide, but that further indicates to me that whatever tradition may have existed at the place has gone with the wind.
One final comment here on “tradition” as it applies to Indy. Dale Jarrett started that “kiss the bricks” deal and it was a spontaneous showing of raw emotion when he did it the first time. That spectacle Sunday was absurd and disgusting. Funny to me that the young Johnson child was the ONLY one in that crowd of otherwise discerning adults who refused to kiss the bricks. Good for her.
ITEM THREE: The Top Thirty-five Rule. There apparently is some discussion going on inside NASCAR to do away with the top thirty-five starters rule. When I was reading Robin Pemberton’s statement I was struck by the part where he more or less says that “we’ll probably make that change but we will leave ourselves an out” or something to that effect. In other words, If Roush, Hendrick, or Gibbs has a car that fails to qualify on speed, we WILL find a way to get that driver in the race. PERIOD. No questions asked. But, that has always been the NASCAR way. Whatever it takes.
ITEM FOUR: Crowd control. This is laughable. I missed the Nationwide race from Indy, but from what I heard, there were more than enough empty seats. I did watch the 400, (please note I did not call it a race for obvious reasons) and the emptiness of the grandstands was clearly visible. No hiding that fact. To add insult to the matter, ESPN went back and showed the ending of the three previous Brickyard races Jimmie had won. If you get a chance to check that out on replay sometime, please note that the stands were full, or almost full, in each of those wins. To see those flashbacks was totally shocking to me. I realized the crowd was down, but just didn’t realize it was that much. According to one my Facebook friends who lives in Indy, and is a race fan, there wasn’t enough local publicity about the race to fill 5 minutes of TV air time or two columns of ink in the newspaper. He tells me that every year before, the press covered that race like it was THE sporting event of the year. The lack of crowd at that race saved NASCAR some money because they sure didn’t need crowd control. Barney Fife and Opie could have handled the entire situation. Opie was there, but, unfortunately, Barney is deceased.
Thinking back to the time, 1994 I think it was, when I had the ONE ticket to the Southern 500 in the grandstands and ended up between two very huge guys, probably at least 350 pounds each, sweating profusely, through their Dale Earnhardt t-shirts, and could not even move my head. I actually got up and went to the back of the stands and stood the entire race. Back then, there wasn’t the option of taking another seat. There weren’t any empty seats. Seems these days I would have plenty of room to stretch and enjoy the race without feeling as though I were swimming with Orca Whales.
ITEM FIVE: NASCAR continues to lament the economy as the reason attendance is poor. Not too sure how they acknowledge the lack of TV audience but I would like to know that. At the moment, Bruton Smith is making hay out of the fact that the NEW BRISTOL is in response to the request of the fans. The commercials he runs indicates he listens to the fans. It will be very interesting to see how he is rewarded when the races run there next month. He may have listened to the fans but which fans? The ones who are going to buy the tickets and come, or the ones who sit at their computer and make suggestions. I did NOT respond to the survey because I knew I wasn’t going to attend. Not that I wouldn’t like to see a race there, key word being “race” but living on Social Security is not amenable to spending untold hundreds of dollars for tickets, parking, food, accommodations and whatever else they can come up with to take my money. It has been so long since I bought ANY NASCAR merchandise that what I DO own is actually the vintage stuff they are trying to promote now.
If NASCAR wants my opinion, and here we go again, there are many things they need to change NONE of which they are even talking about with the exception of getting rid of that top thirty-five deal. I’ve given them my e-mail and my cell number and have e-mailed NASCAR, with never a response.
ITEM SIX: This is entirely personal but I want it said. Remember our show right before Christmas when I attempted to sing “Let There Be Peace On Earth”? I admit I am subject to temper tantrums and I do become hyper critical of folks over the dumbest of things but I’m really working on that. It is just not easy to always control what I think but I do need to learn to control what I say. I will continue to work on that. But the issue for me as I write this is the petty jealousies that I have encountered over the past few months and the bold, outright dishonesty of some folks as they strike out at either me or the RacersReunion concept. No names are mentioned here, intentionally, but I will put the word out that I am proud to be affiliated with RacersReunion and with Jeff Gilder. For those who envy what Jeff has accomplished and continues to accomplish, I would ask that you go about your business but that you do it honestly and without spreading rumors, lies, innuendoes, or otherwise besmirching what Jeff has built to honor the history and heritage of the sport. I have learned, in the past three months, that there are many out there who use any means to present false information to others and to threaten those who call them on it. I’m proud of what I do here. I appreciate Jeff allowing me to be somewhat of a spokesperson for RacersReunion. As hard has he has worked to build this site, it is a huge honor to be entrusted with the mission.
ITEM SEVEN: Addressing the issue of Dale, Jr. leading the points. The ridiculous Chase has not started yet so we will have to see how Dale, Jr. fares when that starts. Please note, however, that he is the ONLY driver who has completed every lap of competition this year. Also note that he has won, ONCE. Also, he owns Danica’s Nationwide Car. Further, he is NASCAR’s most popular driver. No conspiracy theory here, because Dale, Jr. is earning his place this year. But, you have to admit, if he is leading the points and has a chance at the championship, it sure can’t hurt NASCAR’s bottom line.
ITEM EIGHT: I have received several comments and suggestions to my Legendtorial last week in which we discussed the hope that we could present a united front to NASCAR so they would, possibly, listen. I have said it before, and I’ll say it once more. They listen to us. They read what we write. I know that for a fact. I’m glad they do and hope they hear more of what we have said than the riddance of the top thirty-five rule. Let’s tackle that ridiculous “Chase” thing next.
As always, you can e-mail me at: legendtim83@yahoo.com I’ll repeat that, legendtim83@yahoo.com. If you happen to forget that e-mail, just ask Bopper, he has it engraved on the palm of his hand.
-Tim
Email: legendtim83@yahoo.com
Twitter: @legendtim83
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