NASCAR was born in the South and was fueled by southerner's passion rather than lots of dollars early on. The extreme popularity of the sport caught the collective eyes of corporations who, for more than a decade, couldn't throw enough money at the sport. Outrageous hundred thousand dollar sponsorships turned into million dollar deals then ten million dollar deals, and finally twenty-five million dollar plus deals. Spending those kinds of dollars certainly warrants some fancying up of things. Or should it?
Well, those fancy people behind those multi-million dollar deals had to have better-looking, better-dressed, and better-speaking race car drivers if they were going to keep pouring in the dollars. The polishing began and the grooming by those wanting to be parents of race-car-driving stars began as well. Pretty soon to be able to hold a steering wheel in a race car at NASCAR's top levels meant bringing an ass of money or a sponsor with big ass of money to one of the mega-teams. You see, running a team with hundreds of employees takes a lot of money.
Humpy was spot on when he said we're not getting a lot of the great drivers at the top level. They're stuck at the local dirt tracks because they may not look right, talk right and tote enough money. They can drive the wheels off a race car, but that no longer qualifies one for the opportunity as once was the case long ago. Perhaps its better that way.
Some of the fancy people were whining like babies when they got the news NASCAR was going to run the trucks at Eldora. Dirt under the fingernails...in NASCAR? Unthinkable! Was the success of the Eldora race fortunate or unfortunate? Time will tell. To most of us old-school fans it was a treat to see top-level racing once again on the dirt where it began. But, if NASCAR decides to do more of this and the popularity escalates, will that attract the fancy people to the dirt?
Perhaps this is the possible resurgence to which Humpy seemed to hint. To me there's nothing better than seeing a well-prepared dirt surface and a good field of cars coming from their backyard garages and taking the green flag at a local dirt track. I like the food, the smell, the people, and even enjoy watching the red clay go down the drain of my shower. I, for one, hope nothing ever changes that. Every racer needs more money and will spend whatever they can get their hands on to compete. I know, because I was there. But, here's to wishing the fancy people stay away. We've made it without you, thus far. Don't screw this up.
I have had the pleasure on recent occasion to witness (at first) a fledgling young dirt series, grow and expand into a mature, crowd-pleasing series. Starting with only two cars doing exhibitions for track time, it has grown to a respectable series, often the largest division wherever they go. The series....the Bell & Bell Vintage Modifieds out of the Carolinas. Each year the car count increases and the racing gets better. Want to know what is so unique about this series? Glad you asked. They do not race for money! That's right. They race for the fun of it. I like it! No fancy people...no money...just racin on a dirt track for the fun of it. Fancy people need not apply.
