Reflecting on yesterday’s
article 2007: The Silliest Season Ever?, I realize, once again how different our sport is from others. Every change that takes place in the racing world seems
to have such a ripple effect. When Michael Waltrip was found to have used some illegal substance in the fuel at Daytona,
the result was a legendary racing family suffering. When Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) started having negotiations
quickly sour, a legendary racing family suffered. When Kyle Busch was let go to make room for Earnhardt Jr., J.J. Yeley
was let go to make room for Busch and Tony Raines was let go to make room for Yeley, all of those driver's families suffer. Ken
Schrader was replaced by Bill Elliott in the Wood Brothers 21, due to the top 35 rule; the family suffers. Each weekend
when so many good teams went home due to the top 35 rule, families suffered (when sponsorship money is lost due to not making
the race, families suffer).
I think that something
that goes unnoticed about our sport is the impact that those involved have on the quality of all of our lives. These
stars that we either love or hate, give so much back to their communities, to charities all across the nation and around the
world. For those of us that are addicted to the sport, we not only get hours of joy, entertainment and excitement from
watching them on the track but we know how much good they do. I guess if I could make one point about our sport, it would
be to let everyone know how much the drivers, teams, owners and sponsors do to make life better for those that suffer. They
support causes for children, medicine, military, families, and pets. When there is a need and the NASCAR family is made
aware of it, there is action.
In a way, this
past season was a very painful one. Many things happened that made us question if these people are real or are they only
there for the money and fame. We were all disappointed to see Dale Jr. leave the company founded by his dad (with his children’s
futures in mind, I’m sure). Did Jr. leave for the money? No, he left for the opportunity to have success and to have
an owner that would be happy for his success. He needs that “family” connection that he lost when he lost
his dad. I think we tend to forget that most of the stars of our sport came from small towns and close families. They
were not born into wealth and fame. I for one still believe that any one of them has more heart than an entire team from
any other sport. Knowing that they never turn their backs on us when we are hurting, I hope that the fans will be supportive
of them when they are hurting.
The one thing that we never
think to give them is time to let their wounds heal. We expect that no matter what happens in their lives, they should show
up at the track with a big smile and stand for hours signing autographs, meeting sponsors, answering all the stupid media
questions, and then go get in the car and run for 4-5 hours at 200 miles an hour with 42 other cars within inches of them. As
soon as they step out of the car, they are back in front of the camera and they are again expected to laugh, smile and sign
autographs. I wonder if they ever wish that they could just have a break. I doubt that they do. I don't think the
word is in their vocabularies. I wish that I could invite each and every one of them and their families to come
sit with me in my home kick off their shoes and relax. Take a quiet stroll along one of our beautiful beaches and just
be normal people for a while. I think it would be just like a gathering of family and old, dear friends. No one
would ever suspect that in reality they are super heroes.
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Let us not forget those that
were lost in 2007; Benny Parsons, Bobby Hamilton and Bill France Jr. Their families will be spending the holidays with
an empty chair at the table and an empty place in their hearts. I hope they all take comfort in knowing how very much
pleasure, laughter and joy their loved ones gave to so many. Any time a NASCAR star is lost, heaven is blessed with a new
angel.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas,
a Wonderful New Year and tickets to Daytona in their Christmas stockings.
2006 StockCar Review.
