WELL HE FINALLY MADE IT

-------------------------------Jaws has finally made it to the podium, he has been inducted into the hall of fame.
I know some are going to disagree with this and some may agree but look at the facts.
One he did win a race or two ----and a championship or so in the process.He never learned to dance as was evident on TV in front of Stevie even.
He could drive and was aggressive with the desire to win. He was as good as the others in the 80's but slowely he was bettered by the new kids---and some veterans. He has done a lot for our sport--sometimes he makes a lot of noise too. But he is somewhat an ambassador for Nascar--I did leave the door open there for a reason.
On Fox he fits in with Larry and Jeff on most occasions but then his attitude jumps out in front and then -------well then I think its usually time for a commercial. He is passionate about our sport and he truly wants the best for the future of racing---he just has a poor way of showing it sometimes.
His values are very high as racing goes so lets see how this hall of fame works on his head. If you remember he said he was disappointed last year when he was not the chosen one. True he is tied with Jeff Gordon and Bobby Allison (only because nascar didnt recognize one win). I dont know how that percentage factor was achieved though.
All in all he is in the mill now so maybe his voice will come down an octave or two and become a worthy inductee.
Still some will not like him ,some for his mouth,some for his attitude,some for his blunt description of the happenings on the track,and then you have those that cant digest the Boogity-Boogity-Boogity-lets go racing boys saying thats growing in popularity.
All in all Darrell is a racer at heart and I believe his blood has a tint of Nascar Red-White-and blue in it. And for that I will have to say YAAAA FOR JAWWS
Now for the rest of the story!!!

"He could drive and was aggressive with the desire to win. He was as good as the others in the 80's but slowely he was bettered by the new kids---and some veterans. He has done a lot for our sport--sometimes he makes a lot of noise too."

hmmmmm...........sounds a lot like his "favorie son" Kyle Busch. Guess he'll be pushing for a change in the rules so Kyle can get in the HOF before he even retires.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I'm sure Tim Leeming must have this one posted on his fridge by now!!

Mr Leeming, I checked into the legality of the aforementioned documentation while I have been absent from R/R and yes it is totally within the limits of pornographic material. So I guess you will have to just grin and bare it.

Brian is lonely up there in the podium or glass office so now he and DW can meet more often.

So in a sense the warning was needless unless you wish to have more litigation bestowed upon you for being out of order in the chambers of you-know-who

have a great day ; -----------------------------------------------------------------memories

I must admit that I was not always a DW fan but after meeting him and having some dealings with him while Race Director at Georgia International Speedway a number of years ago i came to have a lot more respect for him.

As for some of the detractors of the HOF I wrote this on another forum to those questioning Richie Evans and DW and such going in beforeFred Lorenzen, Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly and Tim Flock and others.

Richie Evans was one of the greats of the sport of racing and deserves to be recognized for his achievements. If the NASCAR HOF is that and not the NASCAR Stock Car HOF then he deserves to be inducted. I think they should induct a certain number from each division each year. Say five each from Stocks, Sportsman (as they used to be called) and Modifieds. That would be fair. If you will remember most of the early drivers in the "strictly stock" division were old modified/coupe/sedan racers. There are many early drivers that should be inducted before the likes of Rick Hendrick, Roush and Penske are even considered. The Curtis Turners, Joe Weatherlys, the Flocks and such should not be by passed just to put in the later drivers. May be there should be something like two from each decade or era inducted. I have no problem with a Waltrip along with a Lorenzen and Tim Flock and/or a Yarborough with Turner and Bob Welborn or Frand Mundy ,Buddy Baker with a Buck Baker and Red Byron, and so on.

But then again I have about given up on NASCAR anyway. If they will go back to racing at North Wilkesboro and tracks like that I will start going again.

This is like putting the all the Swindles in the Sprint Car HOF (if there is one) and not including Jan Opperman.

Tim does not have this pic on his fridge. He goes to it when lookin for a bite to eatand seeing that shot may make him lose is appetite. Tim has this photo on his dart board.

Behind Darrell's 'flashy' exterior is an extremely caring and giving man. We we never close friends, but I was close enough to see and actually witness some of the giving and sharing that he and Stevie did for a multitude of folks. Behind the scenes, they went out of their way to help, give and support and help in numerous ways. They would go about doing this in the way it should be done, without fanfare, without bragging and no telecasting or show boating.

You just can't see any of this from the far side of television.

Dale Sr. was the same way. The only folks that did not like Dale Sr. were the folks that did not actually know him. He spent time and effort to promote his persona, but behind the scene, he was an extremely giving man.

As far as Darrell was concerned, some of the stuff you only got to witness on the TV and read in the papers was a result of things that occurred behind the scenes, in the garage area and in the haulers.

Back in those days the perception you got from the papers and the TV were far from the actual circumstances. Some of those drivers worked at night, or drove long distances and did not stay in fancy motor homes and had to compete without air conditioning, power steering or rest stops and time outs. I personally applauded Darrell for his honesty even when I did not actually see his point of view.

Back in those days, how you finished sometimes made a difference in getting bills paid and payrolls met. It is not like it is currently.

Hooray, for the past racers of days gone by. I salute you all.

I am just not believing some of the things I am reading on this subject of DW going into the HoF.

Believe me if I had just been selected to go into the NASCAR HoF I would kiss and hug the first, second, third, etc., etc.. You do get the drift of my comment. Right???

As for DW going in this early I don't agree. Neither should Cale. Let's get some of the PIONEER's in like Raymond Parks for instance. Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, (probably never happen), Joe Weatherly, Buck Baker, etc., etc..

But it is a fact both DW and Cale are going in. It wasn't fixed. It wasn't bought. NASCAR didn't rig it. My gosh folks look at DW's overall record. Look at the work that he has and is still doing to promote the sport. Sure he run's his mouth but he backs up what he say's. On the track and off.

And on another note. All of this bad talk about NASCAR. How about giving them some credit for all of the good they have done for racing. All of the safety innovations that have been placed on the cars and driver's have made this and all types of racing safer for all involved.

If you have never been inside one of these cars and felt the impact of your body against the safety restraints and saw asphalt, sky, asphalt, sky several times and when it finally settles down and the smoke clears you climb out unscathed then don't slander NASCAR. I have experienced what I just described and I THANK NASCAR.

I don't agree with some of their rulings etc., but I do say thank you NASCAR for what you have done. At one time auto racing in general was on the verge of being banned because of the danger involved. But because of NASCAR and it's implementing safety requirements and still doing so auto racing has survived. Thank GOD.

ha ha ha Tim is my hero anyway---even if he cant throw a dart

This you wrote Tommie is very true. The old of Nascar as you and I know and remember it was totally different from todays. And I truly agree on the induction to the hall of fame---Some others should have been among the second if not the first to be inducted.

Mr Parks should have been at the or very near the top of the podium on the Hall of Fame.

Now as far as Brian goes he has as a person went against the game but as a whole there have been great and wonderful progress made in the safety dept. I do not go along with this new policy that everybody has to look alike as far as the cars go. Rules should have a top and bottom line as well as a lateral dimension on each side to hold design in check but in between the lines its a free goal for invention. A cap on money should be there and if you stop and think those simple rules will make it a more exciting go for it race. Discussions both verbal and physical are part of any contact sport but it should have a place and time---not like Vancouver BC just did.

My feedback to this---now more is to come Im sure because yes we are a open minded class of racers here-------------------------------------------memories
Tommie Clinard said:

I am just not believing some of the things I am reading on this subject of DW going into the HoF.

Believe me if I had just been selected to go into the NASCAR HoF I would kiss and hug the first, second, third, etc., etc.. You do get the drift of my comment. Right???

As for DW going in this early I don't agree. Neither should Cale. Let's get some of the PIONEER's in like Raymond Parks for instance. Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, (probably never happen), Joe Weatherly, Buck Baker, etc., etc..

But it is a fact both DW and Cale are going in. It wasn't fixed. It wasn't bought. NASCAR didn't rig it. My gosh folks look at DW's overall record. Look at the work that he has and is still doing to promote the sport. Sure he run's his mouth but he backs up what he say's. On the track and off.

And on another note. All of this bad talk about NASCAR. How about giving them some credit for all of the good they have done for racing. All of the safety innovations that have been placed on the cars and driver's have made this and all types of racing safer for all involved.

If you have never been inside one of these cars and felt the impact of your body against the safety restraints and saw asphalt, sky, asphalt, sky several times and when it finally settles down and the smoke clears you climb out unscathed then don't slander NASCAR. I have experienced what I just described and I THANK NASCAR.

I don't agree with some of their rulings etc., but I do say thank you NASCAR for what you have done. At one time auto racing in general was on the verge of being banned because of the danger involved. But because of NASCAR and it's implementing safety requirements and still doing so auto racing has survived. Thank GOD.

D.W., You are not always right, you are always opinioned, you can bemore aggravating than ''Digger'' at times. That is what the public sees.

Sounds like how many more of us? Confession, I fit inthat mold a little more than I would like. So.....

D.W. you are loved as the child of God you are, but as the Georgia Sattellites so eloquently sang..."Don't feed me no lines and keep your hands to yourself"...Is that not correct B.F. Jr.?

B.F. if that is not correct then that just may explain the divorce situation. Just a thought.

Appearances can be deceiving.

D.W., You are not always right, you are always opinioned, you can bemore aggravating than ''Digger'' at times. That is what the public sees.

Sounds like how many more of us? Confession, I fit inthat mold a little more than I would like. So.....

D.W. you are loved as the child of God you are, but as the Georgia Sattellites so eloquently sang..."Don't feed me no lines and keep your hands to yourself"...Is that not correct B.F. Jr.?

B.F. if that is not correct then that just may explain the divorce situation. Just a thought.

Appearances can be deceiving.

Semi off topic.

(1) At five a year, they will never catch up with those who deserve to be in the HOF before some are forgotten, as you said folks like Raymond Parks.

(2) For all its problems, NASCAR is what it was when Big Bill was in charge, a dictatorship. Perhaps that is what is needed to keep the number of owners, drivers, crews and sponsors in line. Although, I applaud the advances in safety, I detest the direction NASCAR chose when it abandoned its' roots and went after the wine and cheese crowd. The Wall Street and boardroom crowd will only hang around as long as the bottom line says to. A good old Southern Red Neck, I can say that because I am one, will still fight you for the right to call stock car racing "Their Sport". Look at the stands at a race today, even with the economy as a factor, there should be more attending. Who can afford to pay the prices today to take their families to a big race? When you play with the money crowd it's hard to go back to the normal people and ask them to pay your bills.

Why do the teams need several semis to haul their gear to the track, a couple of planes to get the "Sunday Crew" to the track, a half dozen or more cars and bags of money to compete?? I guess it's our fault, we let them by continuing to buy over priced tickets to watch over priced cars go around an over priced track.

(3) As for DW and such, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly and earlier the Flocks came along when racing needed folks that showed excitement and were from the same background as the fans were. Richard Petty came along when racing needed a hero that would stay for hours after a race and greet fans and sign autographs and was just a little bit larger than life. DW came along when racing needed a DW, there was a need for an outspoken person to give the crowds someone to shout at, Dale, Sr. came long when racing needed someone whos very presence in a race made it exciting. The Ford, Chevy and Mopar battles of old brought out those who drove one "Just Like" their favorite driver the divverences kept the fans shouting for their favorite car/driver. Many were like me, I thought so and so was a pretty good guy when he was in a Ford but hoped he would get out run if he was in a Chevy or Mopar. I don't know where the sport will be in the coming years with cookie cutter cars and cookie cutter drivers driving for cookie cutter mega buck owners. I don't know of anyone driving today who would make the same HOF and the drivers of old.



Enough out of this feeble mind for now, soap boxes are cheep and easy to fall