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Raw Passion and
a Tale of Two Drivers September
30, 2008 Debbi
Willis - SCR
Incredibly raw passion is very much alive and well in NASCAR. Carl Edwards proved that at Kansas in his “bonsai run” at Jimmie Johnson for the victory in the closing laps of what had become
an exhaustingly boring race. That kind of spirit that is determined to try to win at any cost is rare. A few stables
are very fortunate to be graced with those drivers who possess that attribute. Owners who have these drivers are very fortunate,
because that’s what racing is all about! What a thrill it was to watch those closing laps! Edwards run at that wall
to jump around Johnson reminded me of other great finishes like Kevin Harvick over Jeff Gordon at Atlanta
in 2001, Ricky Craven over Kurt Busch at Darlington in 2003, and Dale Earnhardt Sr. over Bobby Labonte at Atlanta in 2000.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. always said,
“Second place is just the first loser.” Even though someone’s going to have to take that position and
all the rest that follow, the heart of a truly passionate competitor won’t ever settle for second because it’s
sufficient or safe or smart for the points. Carl’s “bonsai run” via the wall could have cost him more
than just losing the victory in front of his hometown crowd, and dropped him in the Chase. Still that didn’t deter him.
As Edwards said after the race, “That last lap, I just figured the hell with it, I don't want to finish second here.
I want to win this race more than anything in the world. I planned on hitting the wall, but I didn't plan on the wall
slowing me down that much. In video games, you can just run into the wall and run it wide open." Edwards went on to say
"That's what I did, but it didn't quite work out the same as the video game. I just really, really wanted to
win this race. ... But Jimmie's a smart racer. I've done that to guys, too. When they slide jump you, you just lift,
go right back by them and watch them. I didn't know what was going to happen and just had to give it a try." Now,
that’s passion!
The race at Kansas played out like a tale of two drivers. Jimmie Johnson was
admittedly enjoying his lead as he pointed out in post race interviews, “With two to go, we had a nice comfortable lead.
Thought we were in great shape. Next thing you know, that car goes flying by. …I was so in awe of how fast he drove
it in, I watched him pound the wall and jump back on the gas. I thought, Man, he's serious about this win. I better get
back on the gas myself. But still I need to go back and look at the video and understand where he came from because the line
that I'd been running, the rhythm that I had, was keeping a nice gap to him. In fact, I pulled away from him a little
bit as we got through some traffic. I thought I had it in the bag.” Might there be a lesson in here for Jimmie
Johnson? I think so. Perhaps Carl taught Jimmie that the race isn’t over til the checkers fly, so NO ONE has it
“in the bag” until the finish line, and never get so comfortable with running your line that you don’t think
anyone can touch you. Or, perhaps Jimmie actually believes that NEXTEL Championship commercial he did with Elliott Sadler?
Remember the one where Elliott tries to offer a little constructive advice and Jimmie radio orders the trophy to be brought
out again as a reminder that he’s the Champ? Get too comfortable at any point in the Chase and a driver will lose, even
a two-time consecutive champion.
Raw passion is the greatest asset a driver can possess, however,
it should not be confused with attitude or a disrespectful, cockiness. It’s passion that keeps a driver digging
his way out of a hole in the point’s standings to climb to the top and threaten championships. It’s passion that
takes drivers from starting positions in the back of the field to the front through a million adjustments fighting ill-handling
cars to top ten and top five finishes to maintain their fight in the Chase. It’s passion that never throws in the towel
until the seasons over with. And a driver can be spirited and fiery but still be “happy,” “gentlemanly,”
and very much competitive with a smile all the while. Drivers don’t have to unruly to be passionate, but if confronted
they’ll fire back, i.e. Kevin Harvick atop his car at Ricky Rudd in 2003 at Richmond. Fierce competition
will keep the sport thriving with finishes like Carl’s run on Jimmie. Kansas wasn’t
much to watch until the end when two drivers took the closing laps in two very different ways. One was leading comfortably
until another arrived with a wake-up call in a most surprising manner, then the leader realized it was his race to lose! Great
job, Carl on bringing back the passion the fans want to see on the track!
Questions, Comments: Email Debbi The views and opinions in this article are that of the writer(s) and
not necessarily that of SCR
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2006 StockCar Review.
