Drivers Or Racers
|
10/25/2016
Vivian Simons |
Author's Note: My articles
are based solely on my opinions. Normally no statistics are offered. Enjoy and
feel free to comment afterwards...
For the past few weeks there
have been several discussions as to why some of us at Race Fans Forever like or
dislike some of the things that are happening in NASCAR today. I would like to
offer these thoughts even though they may not adequately explain how some of us
think or feel about the current state of NASCAR.
Most of us who contribute
articles at RFF are of an older generation. We grew up in various parts of
America during an era where most families enjoyed outings together, and
traditions were passed down to the next generation. Very often the interests
the parents became the interests of the children. It was not uncommon for the
offspring to follow in the footsteps of a parent when seeking employment. As
history shows, families had a lot in common and their core values were instilled
in their children.
What does this have to do
with drivers or racers, you may ask. You may then follow up that question by
asking what the difference is between the two.
When it comes to racing, some of you may feel there is no difference but
this person would have to disagree with you on that point. Anyone who has
visited this site on a regular basis and has read the offerings we have here
would readily remember that I have always differentiated between the two
entities. I will always see a difference in what I call a racer and the others
that I call drivers.
When I first became
interested in stock car racing, I was very fortunate to have friends and a
mentor who were very honest and what I call "pure" race fans. In
those days, anyone who drove a car in a race, which was the beginning of what
we call NASCAR now, was a racer. They raced to eke out enough money to get
their car ready for the next race. Then some of them discovered they could make
enough to support a family if they finished well enough and if the track was
paying a good purse. Through it all, they remained racers and would put their
heart and soul into each race, hoping to finish in the money, if not first.
As auto racing evolved into a
professional sport things changed. Stakes became higher as technology started
playing a bigger and better part in how cars could be set up and how they could
design all parts of a car to make them better than before. The competition
became fierce as more money was offered and lots of sponsors came into the sport
when they began to see how it would benefit their companies. During the initial
phase of this era, most of those who drove the cars were still racers, in this
person’s opinion.
As time to passed, more and
more people became interested in watching the races and the money became more
plentiful. Owners then decided they could do better if they had more than one
car on the track. So enter the two car teams, which then became three, then
four and up to five before some rules were put in to limit the number of cars
an owner could have. Owners then began
putting other family member names on the car as owner. Rules tightened but they
then discovered what are called satellite teams. I won't go into detail as to
how any of this works as most of you who are reading this already know what has
and is happening in that respect.
Somewhere along the line and
through the years, NASCAR racing became more like a show rather than a real
competition. As time passed, a lot of us longtime fans who are now older, began
to see what we once loved slowly change in the way it was presented. I believe
that is about the same time I began to differentiate between racers and
drivers. Some examples of the ones who are still active today that I will call
racers are: Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and there are others.
To me, the best racer left us when we lost Dale Earnhardt.
While watching the race at
Talladega on 10/23/16, it became very obvious as to whom I would designate as
drivers in this race. I personally feel this 10-race scenario they now have and
call “The Chase” contributes more to that description of those in the race cars
on the track. An example of this is how it has become such common practice for
some of them, in order to protect their point position, to fall back from the
competition and just ride around the track at the back. This was very evident
with the JGR cars of Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch. There were
others who did the same and because of that, some of the lesser funded teams
and lesser known drivers were able to get a better finish, but in this person’s
mind, it was just plain insulting and very insulting at that.
Along with the racers and the
drivers, the fans have also changed. The fans are just as devoted and avid
about their driver. Some of them are happy to have their favorite doing
whatever is necessary to finish well in the Chase. It does not matter to them
whether they are racing for a win or whether they are just riding to stay safe
within the group who advances on to the next round of three races. They go
along with the theory of protect your position in points no matter what it
takes. This old gal much prefers watching competition and watching racers race.
How about you? What do you think? Is there a difference between a racer and a
driver? Or are they one and the same who just approach the job at hand
differently?
Please feel free to express
your thoughts and feelings. If you have ideas about this, please share those
also. Thank you.