Before we get into the world of racing, let’s take a brief pause to consider the graduations.  I attended a college graduation of a friend this month and, in spite of my special interest in the event, it was the mundane spectacle of endless speeches and recognition of students for certain achievements, some of whichI didn’t even understand.  Of course the graduation was the same night as the NFL draft in which I had absolutely NO interest, but being in Columbia, close to the University of South Carolian, the audience seemed more interested in whether or not a certain player from USC would be the first pick of the draft as if that was of some great consequence to the graduates awaiting their diplomas. Seriously, the graduation began at 7:00 p.m. and the NFL freak auction started at 8:00 p.m. At approximately 7:59 p.m., you could have lit up an airport runway with the cell phones coming out and tuning into the draft.  That really made me a little upset to think of these students who had completed their college education and rather than their parents and friends having an interest in the ceremony, the interest was in some football player about to snag a mutil-million dollar contact to play football.  Honestly, cheers went up in the auditorium when that player was actually selected as the number one pick.  One of the school officials on stage shot a look at the audience that would have chilled an iceberg, but the offenders didn’t seem to notice.

I have very limited memory of my graduations, both High School and Naval Advanced School. I do remember the cap and gown for High School and the uniform for the Naval School, but I don’t remember the speeches or even who gave them. I don’t remember my class rank, although in the Naval School it was in the top three.  I guess High School was somewhere in the middle because I was, at best, an average student.  I knew I had to graduate and get my military service out of the way so I could drive race cars.  After all, that is all I had wanted to do since I was age 5.  Bopper has talked, many times, about drawing race cars in his school notebooks and believe me, I was the same way. My notebook covers were all race cars (mostly number 43) and checkered flags.

I have, right here in front of me, my Senior Annual.  Almost every person in the school signed that annual and every comment but ONE was about my future as a race driver.  The quote, from the school, beside by Senior Picture was “An Ernest Worker Whose Reward Should be The Best”.  Looking at the pictures in that annual, I see a current Sheriff of one of South Carolina’s largest counties. I see a couple of doctors, a few lawyers, some bankers, bakers and candlestick makers (kidding about the candlesticks).I see two friends kill in Viet Nam bringing yesterday’s Memorial Day Remembrance even more special to me.  I see more that one who committed suicide, one who served time in the Federal Pen for making his own money with his own printing press.  So many faces, so many memories, so many dreams.

I read Cody Dinsmore’s post on the Forum this week in which he says he’s on “hiatus” from the show here on Tuesday nights, which we all know.  He goes on to say that he is modifying his dream of going into broadcasting for reasons he sets forth in that post.  Cody, I truly hope you will give that thought further analysis. You have the voice, you have the talent.  I hope you will find a way to not only follow that dream but to capture that dream.  It is a goal worth pursuit.

In some ways, my thoughts for Cody reflect the thoughts and comments of so many graduation speeches. Throw the political hacks out of the ceremonies and let the students do the speeches.  It is, after all, their event, a landmark in their lives.  Having a Vice President or First Lady invoke political themes into a graduation exercise should be forbidden.  I wonder, sometimes, how many of the students actually listen to what is being said, or even more interesting, how many who do listen can remember what was said two weeks later?

I have had the privilege and honor of being close to a number of young people who are facing life now, either as a High School Graduate of a College Graduate. I interacte with 99% of them through racing circles in some respect and they are from all over the country as well as Canada, England, New Zealand, and Australia. Their interest in NASCAR is sincere and passionate.  The conversations I have with these individuals indicate the interest is sincere for the racing as they know it today.  Some of those “kids” have taken an interest in racing history and some of them joined the site here over the past couple of years to learn more.  I am often asked questions about how it was in the old days and I do the best I can to answer their specific questions honestly, and refer them to other sources to explore further. That is something I enjoy very much and the friendships I’ve made with these fans has been, and continues to be, a sincere pleasure for me.

Just as the graduation speeches of the days of yore and today are much the same, all referencing the promise of “this” generation and how the latest class of graduates IS the future.  Maybe so, but  as we learn through racing,the future takes time to materialize.

What I have learned about the new class of race fans, let’s say those under 30 with whom I have a great deal of contact, is that they are as adamant about their favorite as we were back in the day.  I remember well the feuds we Petty fans had with all those Lorenzen fans and we could get downright rude at times.  Two of my young friends, one from down south and the other up north are at odds every race over Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch.  Some of the exchanges left of social media between these two are priceless, but it is just a return to the way things were with us.  Passion is passion and I’m glad to see it’s still there.

Further, just like our Cody, I’ve been “friends” with several of these fans for the past four years I’ve been on social media.  I have seen the 16 and 17 year olds become 20 and 21 year olds and their passion has not decreased, it has only increased.  One young fan travels from Canada to Talladega and Daytona and another young fan from up north travels to Daytona twice a year.  These are devout fans.  These are the fans NASCAR has sought and fought for, but, in talking with these guys, it is not anything NASCAR has done, per se, it is the love of racing. One was introduced to the sport by his uncle, as was I. Several others by their fathers. Some just discovered it on television and fell in love with the spectacle of stock car racing.  In talking with all these guys, it is almost certain that all will remain fans until there is no more stock car racing.  One young man is an avid fan of Hockey, Baseball, Football, Basketball and NASCAR.  He is quick to tell you that NASCAR takes precedence over everything else.  What makes that odd is that the young man lives in a city where there are major teams in all the other sports but no NASCAR race within 300 miles. Amazing to me.

My wanderings tonight are inspired by the graduations, I admit.  It had been a long time since I had attend one until two weeks ago.  As I sat there and listened to the speeches and then listened to my friend and his extended family talking afterwards, it occurred to me that dreams are good things and I totally believe everyone should follow their dream. But, at the same time, I am more aware than ever that the ability of today’s youth to dream has taken a major hit.  Why?  I’m not sure, but I do know that the commercial NASCAR is running now with all the little kids talking about “every night I dream about being a race car driver” would have fit me.  Probably would fit Jeff and Bopper as well. Many of my generation of friends for sure.

Maybe what has changed is the course by which dreams to become a race driver has changed drastically as we have discussed so many times. Time was that talent and hard work would get you there. You could go from sweeping the floor at Holman-Moody to winning races to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Class of 2015, if you believed in yourself.  Your talent was the key to the lock of opportunity.  These days, not so much.  These days it’s money, money, money, or having connections to the sport.  I personally know at least five young men who can drive a race car as well as anyone on the Cup Circuit today.  Three are no longer trying because they have run out of money and have no sponsors.  Two are pressing on but haven’t  gotten further than later models.

I think of young men like Josh Wise, Cole Whitt, and others that have talent and drive, but big time sponsors aren’t rushing to back them. I think of Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, both of whom are loaded with talent and opportunity and both will deserve to make it big in the sport but when you consider the overall perspective, it is privilege at its best.  Can’t fault them for that.  I do wish there was an equation that would recognize the Cole Whitts and Josh Wises of the sport for their talent and determination.

I guess this has seemed a strange Legendtorial for a racing show,but then I do have a way of wandering off the beaten path.  Maybe I regret not remembering the speech at my graduation. But , for those young folks who may be listening tonight, or who may read this later, I wish for you the best of the best.  My words to you, were I speaking to your graduating class, would be to believe in yourself, surround yourself with those who believe in you, and always work as hard as you can to do your best.  If you dream of winning the Daytona 500, go for it.  Sure, Tiny Lund and Trevor Bayne opportunities don’t come along every day, but whose to say it won’t be YOU who gets the next opportunity.

I would ask you all, though, to know the history of the sport. Know who Rex White, Joe Weatherly, Wendell Scott and Fred Lorenzen are and WHY they are going into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January. Know that there were races on quarter mile and half mile dirt tracks long before running at Daytona or Charlotte under the lights. Think about the early drivers who sometimes made enough winnings to buy a Coke and a hot dog AFTER doing all the work on the car and driving all night on a two lane highway to make the next race. It is, after all, from those beginnings that NASCAR has reached the level it has.

And, above all, as I end my graduation speech, I will remind you to “Honor the past, embrace the present, and dream for the future.  Always!