Why Today's Sports Experts Need Racers Reunion

A couple of years ago I pointed out that a writer for the Orlando, Fla newspaper, part of the McClatchy Newspaper empire, called Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and second generaton race driver. That really got to me as I remember so many races where I had watched Dale, Jr.'s GRANDFATHER compete and win. Although I am not a specialist in geneology, that would make Dale, Jr. a THIRD generation driver.

Today, I turn to my sports section in The State, another McClatchy rag, and find a great write up about Darrell Wallace, Jr.'s victory in the truck race this past weekend and how he was able to get the trophy at the race, rather than 50 years later as was the case with Wendell Scott's Victory in Jacksonville in 1963. It was a well written article by George Diaz, although a little overly dramatic in emphasizing NASCAR's Diversity Program. But, and here we go again, George tells us that it was Buddy Baker who was given the win and the trophy that day in 1963. Really? Buddy Baker? Damn, George, if you are so great in going back 50 years in an effort to once more point out the disservice done to Wendell Scott that day, the very least you could have done was note that it was BUCK BAKER who received the trophy and was credited with the win until several hours later.

All of this is a part of racing history which we here at RacersReunion work so hard to preserve. It's a simple error really, just looking quickly at the report from 1963 and exchanging the name Buddy for Buck, and Lord knows I make my share or errors in the History Minutes, but to me it is inexcuseable for a professional writer being paid for his writing to make such an error.

George, if you read this, get it right next time please. Call me, or Bill Blair, Jr., or a couple dozen other folks on here and we'll help you.

Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future

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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.


updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM

Thanks for posting Tim, Since i am the Ambassador of Racersreunion, I have sent George an invitation to join RR.

The old PR cliche has always been, "At least they're writing about us."

But you're right, of course, Tim. We see this kind of error all the time.

Nice move by our Ambassador, Jimmy Johnson to invite the writer to join our community.

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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"

That's not the sad part.Most of these guys are not racing fans and have no knowledge of the history of the sport. They rely on press statements to get the articles written.The sad part is that the mistakes they make are duplicated from official NASCAR sources. If this were an article on football, both the newspaper writer and the publicist would be fired within a day. The problem goes deeper than the kids running the Twitter feeds. I'd be willing to bet that Brian France can't tell you who was the Winston Cup champion the year he took his present position. I'll give him a hint: the same person as this year's champ.