Monthly Archives: May 2012

Cup Regulars Should Stay Out of Nationwide

Posted on May 28, 2012 | 5 Comments

Memorial Day weekend is a big event for NASCAR; along with the special paint schemes and pre-race ceremonies, the drivers get to sleep in their own beds. Charlotte Motor Speedway is home for many racers and their teams’ shops. They get to honor our military men and women, and we get to watch some good racing.

Saturday afternoon, however, wasn’t a success. Although I didn’t get to watch the Nationwide race, I know that Brad Keselowski won and four of the top five finishers were Sprint Cup regulars. The other driver, Elliott Sadler in fifth, is an ex-Sprint Cup competitor.

No offense to Brad or any of the other guys, but why are you even running?

Frankly, the Big Boys being in the NNS and Trucks races is annoying. It ruins the entire race for me. The two lower levels of NASCAR are meant to help young talent grow into better drivers. Sprint Cup drivers raining on their parade isn’t helping at all. Some of you think it is needed to draw attention to the smaller series, but that’s not how I see it. Most of the time, the NNS races are more exciting than the big feature on Sunday, so are the Truck races. Watching guys crash and burn, yet knowing they could be the next Earnhardt? I like that. It gives me the feeling that I’m witnessing history in the making.

There are situations I understand, like the Keselowski/Parker Kligerman and Kasey Kahne/Brad Sweet deals, where the Cup guys are gradually letting them in and showing them the ropes. Being a mentor is a way to help the youngsters.

There is another reason the Cup guys should stay away; if they overexert themselves, there is no way they will win a Sprint Cup championship.

Carl Edwards, for example, proves my theory: running NNS one day and Sprint the next wears you out. Flying from Road America to Sonoma is tiring. Stretching himself too thin is a reason Edwards didn’t win a championship, I believe. You have to focus and give all your dedication to The Chase and championship if you want to claim that top prize. Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski run well and are talented, but racing an extra race puts them at a disadvantage.

Maybe they want the money, or maybe they just love to race, but seeing Cup regulars dominate lower series is boring. I want to get them out of there ASAP and watch the kids learn on their own. Where’s the fun in watching a race when you can almost bet on who’s going to take the checkered?

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What Really Matters: Family

Posted on May 26, 2012 | 4 Comments

Racing is notorious for badass drivers, horrific wrecks, and flaring tempers. Nobody remembers handshakes after a race or a nice, calm talk between two racers. That’s not what passionate driving is about, right? It’s rubbing being confused with real racing, a tragic ending to someone’s life turning into a legacy.

Actually, it goes deeper than that. Way deeper. A son winning at the place that took his father’s life. Drivers winning in the memory of their grandmothers. The little brother, who is mentally challenged, watching his older brother win and feeling accomplished. Families have played a large part in developing NASCAR: the France family, the Earnhardts, Allisons, and Pettys. Where would we be without them? Somewhere completely different.

Family is important in any situation. I learned that the hard way.

Losing my grandmother wasn’t necessarily surprising; Marilyn had been sick for a long time, battling with many diseases and pulling through most of them. Even if she was growing older by the day, her spirit was always strong. She stayed on her toes with crossword puzzles and Bingo. Some days, all she wanted to do was sit by her window in the nursing home and watch the birds. Most of all, she was brash. If something was on her mind, it was said. She would tell you to shut up if you began to ramble, or if you were being too ungrateful. Marilyn was a spitfire, which is where I get my attitude and confidence from. No doubt she was a fighter, and that’s why she was around as long as she was.

When you hear someone in your family has died, people say you go numb. That’s what happened to me. I went numb to the core, falling to my knees and just letting it all go. I had never lost anyone before, and it hurt like Hell. My dad held me as I ran dry.

Nothing was right for those next four days leading up to the funeral. The car broke down, our bathroom sink rusted out, and nobody was in their right mind. Mom scrambled around to help with the arrangements, so she wasn’t close to being stable. My dad rushed to work everyday, not showing much feeling throughout. Caught in the middle, I went through the motions, running on no sleep: went to school and play practice, came home, did my homework, and ate. Being only fifteen, all I knew was that the entire world was crumbling in around us.

Marilyn could survive multiple marriages, car accidents, and losing a child. I knew there was a way to survive this.

We drove down that Wednesday morning, the 13th. Everyone was gathered, ready to put this strong woman to rest. My older brother and I stood together, my nails digging into his arm. People kept coming up to me, telling me how much I had grown since they last saw me. As soon as they walked away, I rolled my eyes; at that particular moment, I was emotionally at Square One, no progress made at all.

The preacher ruined the ceremony. He rode up on a Harley fifteen minutes late. When he began, my grandmother’s name was replaced with ‘Mary.’ The last line of The Lord’s Prayer was a jumbled mess. It was hard to take the man seriously until he read the obituary from the local paper. I guess that’s where it hit everyone that the moment was actually happening. I didn’t expect to feel so alone in a crowd of loving people.

I didn’t expect to grow up so quickly.

Everyone has that moment where they realize what really matters, and that was mine. Like breaking the surface after getting caught in an ocean’s current, a jolt went through me. Nothing else was more important that the people who cared and loved you. The ones who raised you and taught life lessons. They lay down the foundation, and you build from it. The least you can do is thank them for doing so.

I didn’t tell this story to make you feel sorry for me, or so I could get it off my chest. No, that’s not even close to the real reason.

Family made me gain courage and strength. Family made NASCAR possible. Without all those Pettys, Earnhardts, and Frances, what would be watching every Sunday? As you have noticed, many drivers are close with their parents, wives, children. When my mom sees drivers with their moms by their sides, she calls them a ‘Momma’s Boy.’ I think that’s the best title in the world, even greater than being given the nickname of ‘Champion.’

We race on a foundation made by those drivers who drove long ago. Their children run today, keeping their family name alive. That’s the real depth of racing.

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Loosen The Leash, NASCAR

Posted on May 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Imagine if Twitter had been around back in Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s day and he liked to tweet. Wouldn’t that be an interesting situation. It would pretty much go like this:

@TheIntimidator_3: All I wanted to do was rattle that sumbitch’s cage! He was in my way, so #NoRegrets.

Okay, so I doubt he would’ve joined Twitter, but it would’ve been cool to see what he would type. Since he was outspoken, he would get fined a lot for saying whatever came to mind. But, in today’s NASCAR setting, The Intimidator wouldn’t be able to say much, if anything, bad about a race or a competitor.

Two seasons ago in 2010, NASCAR was promoting the philosophy of ‘Boys Have at It.’ Not only did that apply to the style of racing, but it pushed drivers to speak more freely and voice once-silent opinions. The motto was an attempt to excite the fans and make the racing more thrilling to watch. This worked for a while, the big moment being when Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton getting into a physical altercation at Texas that year. Fans ate it up, young ones intrigued, older ones reminiscing about the years long before. It was a winning combination.

Then, lines began to blur; what was acceptable, what wasn’t? How did you determine what was intentional or on accident? This was the first bump in the road.

Drivers’ opinions was the next issue. Twitter is, as defined, a social media site. Interaction is key. People were ready to see the real driver, the personality that came out once the firesuit was off. Fans wanted the connection that was found back in the day, where a driver was their hero because they could relate. People such as Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Newman voiced their thoughts on EFI and ‘phantom’ cautions. It was a refreshing point of view. However, NASCAR didn’t see it that way, and all three drivers were slapped with fines.

This begs the question if NASCAR is becoming too strict and controlling. Can ‘Boys Have at It’ make a comeback?

Bringing the motto back would help, no doubt; lately, there have been less cautions, long green flag runs, and not much action. Fans are vocal. They want excitement, something NASCAR tried to create with the idea back in 2010. A looser leash on drivers’ thoughts and on-track scuffles.

Sounds good, right?

Not so fast.

I don’t think NASCAR realizes that they are the cause of some current struggles, like track attendance. If our sport would stop hovering, fans would start filling the tracks’ stands. Bristol, for example; our economy and hotel prices, combated with hum-drum racing, made the venue pretty bare. Bristol is one of the most hyped-up places on our schedule, and there is was back in March, seats not filled. Back in the day, if nobody came to the race, the drivers and their families didn’t eat. Attendance is still crucial as it was back then, for different reasons, of course.

Personally, I am amazed with Old School NASCAR. The fist fights, the white-knuckle racing, how it was easier to discipline; it took the worst to get in trouble. I like that. It was the core of our sport. Things have changed, of course, but wouldn’t it be nice to see drivers go against each other, not afraid of consequences or probations?

In no way am I supporting no control at all. If you wreck someone intentionally, and the crash is severe and causes injuries, punishment is deserved. But the small stuff shouldn’t be sweated, like Twitter comments about a new fueling method. Then, the rare times drivers get in each others’ faces. It doesn’t happen a lot, so, when it does, why make a big deal out of it. I would want the two to settle it on pit road through a heated conversation than ruin good racecars.

Instead of trying to perfect the sport, highlight the flawed moments. The extra breathing room could help NASCAR, which it needs at the moment.

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#QforK: All-Star race, Jeff Gordon’s luck, and pancakes

Posted on May 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

This week’s edition of Questions for Kristen is here! Let me tackle the All-Star race, Jeff Gordon’s luck, and pancakes!

Do you think Mr. Jeff Gordon will get his miserable (to be nice) luck out of the way and, if so, when? -@folzybear16

This is an issue that puzzles me. Jeff Gordon is, no doubt, a future Hall of Fame inductee. A sudden streak of bad luck has plagued him, though. It’s hard to see him struggle, but he isn’t bitter about it. If you watch the post-race interviews, you’ll notice he just says it’s bad luck.

Everyone gets a black cloud over their heads, like Kasey Kahne did earlier this season. I can’t tell you when it will stop, but Jeff’s luck will come around.

How to fix the All-Star race? -@ourpoppy

The All-Star race has been changed a lot over the years, but there are still flaws. We saw them Saturday night; Jimmie Johnson winning the first segment, hanging back, and then being placed to the front and getting the win.

I think NASCAR should make the final stop require a four-tire change and extend the last segment to 25 laps. That should solve some issues.

Who do you like better? Kyle or Kurt? -@Nascar_Jason_

No contest: Kyle Busch. The guy may not be that likable, but he’s too talented to ignore.

Who was your first favorite NASCAR driver? -@BKmillertime2

When I first got into NASCAR, I listened to my dad to learn. Trying to be like him, I cheered for his favorite driver, Jeff Gordon. Of course, I still cheer for him, but he’s not my favorite.

Since 2008, my favorite has been Kasey Kahne. I was only twelve, but I was amazed by his ability to run the high line so well. He has the mindset of a future champion, and he will get there one day.

As a girl, how do you feel about all the overexposure of Princess Sparkle Pony? -@jesse6524

For those who don’t know, Princess Sparkle Pony is what I call Danica Patrick on Twitter during the races. I don’t mean any harm by it; it’s just funny to shout at the TV sometimes. Besides, it’s catchy.

Patrick is subject to a lot of spotlight, which I think is dangerous to her image, as I have written about before. Just because she is a woman doesn’t make her special. I get that it’s historical, and I’m proud to have a female racecar driver out there, but do we need to talk about her when she’s running four laps down? Nope.

It especially hurts with the sexually-charged Go Daddy ads. We get it, she’s pretty, thirty, and ‘marketable.’ What about the other women coming through the ranks, like Jennifer Jo Cobb, the Cope twins, and Johanna Long? Are they expected to sashay around on TV, wearing nothing? I don’t like that it may force other female drivers to go to that level just to be noticed. But, since I’m a girl, it doesn’t appeal to me as it does to male fans. Men make up a chunk of the NASCAR fandom, so I guess that means sexy commercials and Princess Sparkle Pony stay.

If you were a driver’s wife, what do you think your routine would be for a race weekend? -@KaitlynKait

Three words: chocolate chip pancakes.

I can make some pretty good chocolate chip pancakes, so I would make those every morning before a race, with some bacon. Who doesn’t love bacon, right?

After breakfast, I’d give him a pep talk to get his confidence up. Then I’d hold a Twitter chat because I’m addicted.

Other than that, I’d just pray he would be safe. The rest is really out of my hands, right?

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It’s Time For Change, Kurt Busch

Posted on May 20, 2012 | 11 Comments

“Come one, come all to the Southern 500! Where there will be sparks, rough racing, and Round Two of Busch vs. Harvick! Saturday, Saturday, Saturday!!!!!”

Ever since Darlington last year, the track has been preaching that, trying to drum up business. It fell flat when Harvick stated he wanted nothing to do with it, though. It’s obviously referring to Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick’s dust-up on pit road, where Busch turned the #29 into the wall on pit road when Harvick attempted to get in his window.

Even if the two weren’t game, a Busch still made waves last Saturday night during the historic Southern 500. Want to take a guess at who it was?

It started when Kurt blew a tire and smacked the wall. He began to shout that NASCAR needed to throw the caution, and, then, the car spun out. Ryan Newman received slight damage during this, and Kurt went into the inside wall. When Newman and Busch went down pit road, both were trying to beat the pace car to stay on the lead lap. However, when Kurt gunned it out of his stall, crew members of the #39 team were almost hit, apparently. Afterwards, the gas man Ryan Newman’s team got into it with Busch, screaming and shouting. The gas man was fined for roughing up an Official in the process.

Fast-forward to this past Tuesday, where I’m watching Race Hub. Since Kurt was livid on the radio, we get an edition of Kurt Busch: Radio Sweetheart, which is entertaining yet disappointing. Why highlight someone’s toughest moments? I didn’t support it, but I usually got a good laugh. The audio was laced with censorship. Every other word was literally bleeped out. Even I was blushing, and, if you know me, I’m not that bashful. Besides, if you make Jimmy Spencer speechless, it has to be pretty bad.

The line that struck me the most was, “Every (bleep)-ing week! I hate my (bleep)-ing job!”

When Busch was ‘released’ from Penske during the off-season, we all felt like saying, “No way!” and “I saw that coming!” in the same sentence. His outbursts and foul language were most likely the reason, and I saw it as the end for his career. Then, James Finch came in and gave him a chance. Now he’s saying he hates his job. He’s lucky he wasn’t shunned by the sport altogether. People are saying he deserves to race, being a past champion and all.

Here’s the truth: the sport doesn’t need Kurt. I hope he understands this; I don’t like seeing people getting kicked out of rides for whatever reason. But I feel that his firing is inevitable if he continues down this path of self-destruction. There is so much talent coming through the ranks that Finch can find a driver that will actually be proud to drive his cars. Young guns like Ryan Blaney, Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.? They would do amazing in the Hendrick-based equipment Busch hated to run. I’ll tell you right now, if Kurt Busch doesn’t get his act together, he’s done. His anger issues are a black-eye to him, his driving ability, and those who have hired him. This is unacceptable. Does he realize how close he was to falling off the face of the NASCAR universe? You’d think he would be thankful to actual have a ride, at least.

Kurt, go see your therapist again. Go workout. Take up knitting, I don’t care: Get rid of your excess anger and save yourself before it’s too late. If not, you’ll find yourself with nowhere to go.

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Keselowski, Unfiltered and Relatable

Posted on May 19, 2012 | 2 Comments

Last night was the first race of All-Star week, the NCWTS race, where rough racing and cautions played major parts in how it turned out. On the final restart with five to go, Brad Keselowski was ready to pounce. His truck was fast, the high side was his best friend, and it was his chance to capture his first win in the Trucks Series. Unfortunately, that didn’t get to be because of a bump from Ron Hornaday Jr,, a veteran driver who says he received a push from behind that caused a chain reaction. Keselowski ended up second, still charging as the final flag flew.

Afterwards, Hornaday came up to Keselowski to discuss the situation, and Brad gave him an earful of swear words, caught uncensored by the SPEED crew.

As soon as I heard Brad, I shook my head and laughed. “Oh, Brad.”

If you follow the Cup driver/Truck owner on Twitter, you understand when I say that this is typical Keselowski behavior, saying what’s on his mind. But he hit it on the head, which he does quite often, and he did it with class.

His post-race tweet stated, “ . . . sorry TV aired some choice words, NOT sorry I said them.”

I’m glad he didn’t apologize. It’s refreshing to see someone back themselves up and not be sorry for their opinion. Everything is blurry nowadays, what’s acceptable and what isn’t, so drivers are usually extra careful with post-race interviews and saying what they really think. Keselowski is an exception.

The Truck incident made me realize how much us race fans can relate. He is one of the more open drivers out there, with his Twitter addiction and consumption of his sponsor. I find it hard to dislike him; he always make me laugh, and whatever he says comes straight from my thoughts. Brad’s a normal guy with loud opinions and a wild side. He just happens to be famous.

NASCAR and Twitter are now teaming up, and the deal cites Brad’s Daytona 500 tweet as a key factor. He is helping our sport merge with the mainstream culture. Keselowski represents the current generation of NASCAR fans perfectly. We are Twitter-obsessed, stubborn, honest, and hilarious, everything Brad brings to the table. Who else would tweet a photo of a burning jet dryer from his racecar? I don’t know about you, but that’s something I would’ve done.

Whether he realizes it or not, Brad is the one driver we can look to for the truth, minus the PR filter. We thank him for that.

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Overexposure Hurts Danica

Posted on May 16, 2012 | 3 Comments

I’ll set the scene for you: here I am, sitting on the couch Saturday night, watching one of my favorite races of the year. The Southern 500 is something I look forward to, especially since I love Darlington. To me, it’s one of the greatest venues on the schedule. Armed with my iPhone, I am tweeting like crazy as I usually do. The TV broadcast on FOX is talking about a battle on the track. Life is good.

Then, we get our update from The Back of The Pack. I can’t hold back the urge to roll my eyes as Mike Joy says the magic word.

“Danica.” Ugh.

Patrick came over to NASCAR from Indy, now running a full Nationwide slate with JR Motorsports. Danica Mania is now full-force. She’s in every commercial for a Nationwide race, her commercials play constantly during the broadcasts, and, of course, we get updates about her running position when she isn’t in the top twenty.

The reason I said, ‘Ugh,’ is because it feels like everyone’s cramming her down our throats. If she’s running in 32nd like she was Saturday, I don’t want to hear about her. They don’t talk about Landon Cassil or David Reutimann when they’re running back in the thirties. If she’s having a good run up in 11th or 12th, then I can see the commentators talking about her, saying she’s doing a good job and getting a gold star for her efforts. But 32nd? Really?

Don’t confuse this with hate, however. I don’t hate Danica; she’s bringing attention to the sport and to female drivers. I applaud that. I hate how they’re using her as a promotion.

After the announcers stopped talking about Danica and went to commercial, I tweeted about this, how Danica didn’t really need to be shown. The response I got was, honestly, laughable. Some told me to stop hating on her. Others said I was right. An angry fan lashed out, stating I was jealous because Danica’s prettier than me.

I worry about some of these NASCAR fans sometimes, don’t you? Crazy people.

Being the third woman to try The Lady in Black, Patrick had a real task at hand. If you watched the Nationwide race Friday, however, you saw that she drove smart. She didn’t wreck or get a Darlington Stripe. Managing a 12th-place finish, her interview afterwards was understandable this time.

I never said she couldn’t drive, did I? It’s hard to focus on her talent when we hear about her every five minutes, and it’s even more ridiculous when she’s running six laps down. She may blossom into a championship-caliber driver one day, but it seems that Danica Mania is hurting her. There was so much pressure on her when she came into NASCAR, people wondering when she would win. Everyone needs to step back and take a deep breath. It’s her first year; she needs to learn and run more. Danica will get better as she goes along, and she’s bound to make mistakes in that time. The craziness needs to subside for a bit.

Do we have to hear about her when she’s no where near the lead lap? Not at all. When she earns the publicity by running up for and in contention, then I’ll understand.

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#QforK: Ricky Bobby, sarcasm, and Danica!

Posted on May 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Here is this week’s installment of Questions for Kristen, which Ricky Bobby, sarcasm, and, of course, Danica! Danica, Danica, Danica!

Excuse me for that little lapse. I’ll try to contain myself as I answer your questions.

As always, I thank everyone for their submissions! I enjoy answering each and every one of you!

If you were a driver or owner, what number, sponsor, colors would your car be? -@Nascar_Jason_

First off, I would be a driver; for the longest time, I wanted to drive Sprints. Dad didn’t endorse that idea, so I went with writing. The number wouldn’t really matter to me, as long as I had a ride, but I like the number 40 for some odd reason. My sponsor would be Hawaiian Punch; that stuff is crack for me. Every since I was a kid, I drank it as if it was water. Then, the colors would be blue and red to go with the product.

If you got to interview Brian France, what would you ask him? -@scottaltimaman

Just the thought of conducting that interview is mind-blowing, but I hope to do it one day.

What a tough question, I must say. If I ever got to interview Brian France . . .

A few things I would ask: Is NASCAR being policed too strictly? What are your thoughts on female drivers coming through the ranks? Did you realize that ‘Boys have at it’ was too dangerous, or is there another reason it isn’t endorsed as much? Who do you think is the standard in today’s competition?

What did you think of Kurt Busch’s Ricky Bobby paint scheme, and do you think someone else could’ve pulled it off? And I know you refrained for this when it happened, but what is your take on the Hornish/Patrick thing? -@KaitlynKait

“I wanna go fast!” You don’t know how many times I said that Sunday during the race. Talladega Nights is one of my favorite movies, and it was cool to see the ‘ME’ car actually on the track. We must thank Kurt’s girlfriend, Patricia, for making it happen. It was especially funny to hear Kurt recite lines from the movie on the radio. Maybe they should script his lines more often.

If anyone else could pull it off, it would’ve been Brad Keselowski. The guy has a great sense of humor, and he’d carry the charade over onto Twitter, most likely. But, Kurt was perfect. You know, until he hit the wall.

The Hornish/Patrick issue: I had to bite my tongue pretty hard after that happened. We had just seen Eric McClure wreck, and, then, Patrick knocks Sam into the wall on the last lap. So, I immediately blamed her. I looked back at the clip and realized Hornish hit her first. Danica just retaliated. Many were upset with her, but it was just a racing deal. Now, should she be sent to the NASCAR hauler first thing at Darlington? No. It was her first offense. Besides, if they don’t bring her to The Hauler right after the event, why wait a week? I hope she survives her bout in The Cave of Crushed Dreams, and maybe NASCAR will just slap her on the wrist.

What do you think about Tony’s post race . . . Aaaaaah . . . “comments”? -@Halebent

If you haven’t seen Tony’s post-Talladega interview, look it up. My sides hurt so much afterwards. The summary? With the most serious face, Tony stated he loved wrecking cars, losing money,  and he suggested splitting the field and sending them in opposite directions. Since it is what the fans want.

A lot of people wondered if NASCAR would fine Mr. Stewart, but I just shook my head; it’s classic Tony. He was obviously upset; he had a great car but was caught up in someone else’s mess. There was no way the media wouldn’t hear about his displeasure, but the way he did it was pure gold. Some people don’t appreciate sarcasm (like my Danica spasm at the beginning of this article). Conclusion: it’s just Tony.

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The Line Between Racing and Wrecking

Posted on May 7, 2012 | 1 Comment

During the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Talladega Saturday, fans were on the edge of their seats as the finish came down to a green-white-checker. On the first attempt, however, things got squirrelly, and a wreck ensued. Eric McClure shot down the apron and hit the inside SAFER barrier almost head-on. Afterwards, a 19-minute red flag was flown so emergency workers could get McClure out and life flight him to a nearby hospital.

First off, I want to give my thoughts to Eric and his family; he is doing well, talking and being kept for observation. Secondly, this is exactly why we don’t wish for wrecks.

When people say/tweet, “Come on, give us a wreck,” I have to shake my head. Given, crashes and crumpled sheet metal is part of our sport. It’s a staple at many tracks, like Bristol and, especially, restrictor plate races. NASCAR is a controlled chaos, but, when it wavers, bad things are sure to happen. This is not an easy sport to master; not just anybody can jump in a 3,450-pound mechanical beast and go win races. To be successful in racing, you have to be talented and graced with mental stamina. But, more importantly, a lack of fear is needed. Going around at 200 mph isn’t for the light-hearted. No matter what others say, NASCAR drivers are athletes, and they have the most dangerous job in the world.

Much of the fan base is filled with people who watch just for the wrecking, and, frankly, it’s disappointing. Just because a race has only two cautions doesn’t make it boring. There is potential for some really good racing, the type we saw way back when. That was the real thrill, old-school excitement. When someone crashed into the wall, nobody cheered. Fans had respect, and they didn’t encourage these dangerous situations.

I understand; this is the new generation of NASCAR fandom, so it obviously won’t be the same as it use to be. However, there’s a point where we start to get away from it all, where NASCAR is too controlled and less chaotic, pulling apart from what it truly is. Everyone is calling for cautions, track owners are worried about filling the stands, and the higher NASCAR beings are trying to restraint the Boys Have At It policy they started. All of it gets in the way of what should matter: the racing.

We watched one of our sport’s greatest drivers go in what seemed like a simple wreck at Daytona in 2001. Dan Wheldon lost his life last year at Las Vegas. Some don’t realize how risky racing is, and crashes shouldn’t be taken lightly. Those who say NASCAR is ‘too safe’? They are wrong; it may become too regulated, but you can never be too careful.

Our sport is full of talented people, and I pray none of them get taken away in the blink of an eye.

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