“State of the Sport
2008” …According to Rusty Wallace
January 25, 2008
Debbi Willis - SCR
Milestones are monumental
moments. This year NASCAR is embarking on a dual “milestone” season with the 50th running of the Daytona
500 in the 60th Anniversary year of NASCAR. Everything is pointing towards this season being THE super season for all fans.
The media hype has begun. The historical facts are being gathered and everyone remotely historical is being positioned to
be part of the season. More importantly, if last season was the season of Dale Earnhardt Jr., then, this season promises
to be the season NASCAR recaptures the hearts of its old fan base. At least that might be what one would think after hearing
what Rusty Wallace thinks in what is akin to a “State of the Sport” address.
In typical Wallace style, Rusty
has finally said what fans have been screaming the past ten years but NASCAR wouldn’t listen. On Tuesday, Wallace
went on record in Scene Daily and pretty much covered the gamut of the sport’s ills, to tell the world and NASCAR that
they have “… alienated the original fan, the country and western fan, and
I could see the day that changed, and maybe it was a coincidence, but it all appears to me that when we lost Dale [Earnhardt]
Sr., it's like somebody flipped a big switch in the sky, and all the sudden the sport changed. We went after that new fan,
but we forgot the old fan, and that's a mistake." Though Wallace would like to say it all began when Dale Earnhardt
Sr. died, as that is an obviously easy moment of trauma to target, I would suggest it began slowly before that. With the popularity
of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the desire to draw in that West Coast Hollywood market of the California
wine and cheese crowd, NASCAR tried to become everything to everyone and disposed of their roots in the process. Dale Earnhardt’s
death only removed the unrelenting, roadblock of common sense that would call Bill France with whatever Earnhardt Sr. thought
about NASCAR’s decisions and actions.
Furthermore, Wallace says NASCAR’s
going to lighten up on penalties and fines so drivers can be more themselves. As Wallace stated, “I think all that stuff has hurt the sport also. I think we need to see a lot softer side of NASCAR. Every time
anybody does anything, everybody is getting penalties. We're getting penalized for everything in the world, and people are
cooped up and camped out and afraid to do anything right now. And so the controversy and excitement that we've seen in the
past is not there because drivers are scared of fines and points and monies. So NASCAR, I don't know if they've told you,
but they've told me they're going to back off all these fines. They're going to be more lenient and stuff right now because
they realize that all these fines are going to really hurt the sport.” What baffles me about this part of
Rusty’s comments is the future tense of his comments as though it’s going to happen but not yet. Furthermore,
why the sudden change of heart by NASCAR? Still, NASCAR has stated that they want drivers and teams to be themselves, and
they’ll take that into consideration in the future in regards to penalties, but they’ll still rein in any actions
getting out of hand. Exactly what did NASCAR just say? 1) Be yourself. 2) We’ll think about that when we consider
penalties and 3) we’re still going to rule with an iron hand. Nothing’s changed in my opinion. They’ve just
widened the controversial gray area so they’ll have more room for interpretation. Yet, Wallace just said the sport needs
its personality back which is in the drivers and teams being able to be themselves. This should prove very interesting as
to who NASCAR deems has an acceptable personality and who doesn’t. How coincidental is it that this thinking comes on
the heels of the open-wheel migration to our sport? Has NASCAR realized some of the biggest dogs in open-wheel stardom just
won’t kowtow to NASCAR’s penalties, points and fines for “behavior unbecoming or detrimental to the sport?”
How convenient.
Not too long ago, Rusty Wallace
was reputedly nicknamed a “whiner.” So much so he was known for “whining” about everything, that
little character boy decals would show up in rear windows of trucks and cars springing tears with their little 2 helmet beside
them. Rusty soon realized his reputation harmed his credibility and slowly changed his tone in the late 90’s. Eventually,
he was making sense with the way he spoke and other driver’s became known as whiners instead. Wallace has been on all
sides of the fence: a Champion, Contender, and definitely penalized. He became an announcer after retiring at the age of 49
as he had promised himself, his family and his fans, and when he speaks, folks listen. For the 2008 season, Wallace moves
into the position of lead analyst for “NASCAR Countdown” and will also appear on “NASCAR Now,” ESPN’s
news show. Taking Wallace’s place in the broadcast booth will be another fellow Champion, Dale Jarrett but while
DJ is racing the few races he’ll finish this season with, Wallace will call those races for him. Now that Rusty’s
part of the media, he has a voice and he’s using it to tell NASCAR what’s wrong with the sport, but nicely. Tell
it like it is Rusty, NASCAR needs to hear it. The “original fan” would appreciate knowing someone is telling NASCAR
that they lost sight of their roots, penalized the sport until it was vanilla and regulated the personality out!
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In the big picture,
Wallace’s overall assessment is absolutely correct. Though Wallace’s optimism for the sport’s recovery is
commendable, I don’t completely share it. I suspect many of those “original” fans have discovered the TIVO
is a fine way to recap a race so as not to have to endure the endless commercials, mindless antics or the music they can’t
relate to. With the advent of the Car of Today here now and a more than ever level playing field, very little will separate
the teams. The cars look a lot alike, they all virtually drive alike, and the games the same on the track until the last few
laps. What’s to bring the “old” fan back? Some have even discovered the NHRA where there is still a great
deal of personality to enjoy! NASCAR, stock car racing needs its personality back. Stock car racing was built on the fire
and will of the drivers who earned fans loyalty because week after week they earned their victories. The fans want racing.
Racing involves rubbing, bumping, communicating with sheet metal and threading needles with vehicles. Drivers worth their
salt know how to do this. If NASCAR wants the sport to come alive, get out of the drivers’ faces. Let’s the rivalries
begin. Let the driver’s race!
2006 StockCar Review.
