A response to Talladega track bans 14 fans for life

I guess my first thought is 14?  out of more than 300 in the section?

Wow!  I thought based on the reaction of some that there must have been hundreds behaving horribly at Sunday's race.  So, this is shocking.  I didn't watch so I'm wondering if this number of individuals are the total number or if someone out there believes there were more involved?

My second thought is, based on the titles of this weeks blogs, such as Earnhardt Fans Need to Clean Up Their Act, #3 Fans, and Show Some Class (not to pick on any one, just taking them from memory)....but how can ALL fans be called on the carpet for 14 people's actions?  Isn't that like saying all Republicans are rich, or all College Grads are smart? 

My third thought is really a product of the rants and raves and bickering I've read lately...but after reading almost all entries, I haven't read that any one person gave any consideration to one very important group of individuals -- I've seen comments about NASCAR Mgt., Track Officials, Drivers, Fans, Kids, Coolers, ####, Whitetrash, REAL Fans, Classless Fans, etc. but I've seen where no one has taken into consideration Track Workers.  I know they're getting paid to watch the race in some folks opinion, but when your day of fun at the track is over and you head back to your freshly made hotel bed, or your own home (where you'd never throw trash on the floor or yard and leave it), these folks have to clean up the mess.  So, here's to all Track Workers.

And lastly, cheers too ALL the fans that didn't participate in such disturbing, embarrassing behavior, all 149,986 of you that were estimated to be in attendance.  GOOD JOB!

Well, make a liar out of me first jump out of the box. While I did attend Dover last fall (as a business guest), here I am heading to Richmond. What is wrong with me? Its like trying to get out of a bad relationship...you want to walk away and be done with the entire thing, but then something drags you back in.

I was all prepared to curl up and watch La Hoya and Merriweather this weekend, and my Dad calls and says he has 10 tickets to Richmond -- so much for Fight Night! Guess my family obligations take precedence.

Its one of those damned if you do’s and damned if you don’ts....my Dad is now 71 and I treasure all the time I have in this world with him and mom. He and I work together daily, along with one of my brothers, in our family construction business. So I get a lot of time with each of them. But that’s not the same as getting out somewhere that they each enjoy themselves so much and having a good time.

I know my brother won’t be able to go because he is working on a house for his fiancee’s daughter, and my better-half is planning a trip to visit family...so I suppose I’ll take the opportunity to hang out (some more) with Mom and Dad and watch the (race)...(show)...

I wish it were something that made me all tingly inside like it used too, 20 years ago I would’ve been counting the minutes till we left for the track...smelling rubber...feeling the seats vibrate when the engines roared to a start –

Well, it’s just not as fun anymore folks...sorry to say but that’s just the way it is. I cannot understand how something so wonderful went so wrong. WOW, it does sound like I’m talking about a relationship. Nope, talking about racing! If I had to say I have a driver, I’d have to say Jr out of respect for his daddy...but I’ve always like Tony’s overbearing attitude and don’t mind a bit if he wins Richmond – but since Mom is with us and I have to humor her to avoid upsetting yet another (and the most important) Gordan fan, hell they can orchestrate another victory lane visit for him too I suppose.

Wish me luck...I’ll post the outcome of the trip next.

As I sit here at my computer, I am reminded of days gone by...days filled with excitement, energy, anticipation, shivers up my spine.  I remember when I was very young, someone asked me what church I went to on Sunday mornings, now remember, I said I was very young -- but my answer was honest, and heart-felt, it was simple, "I go to the races".  For many people, church is their solice, their faith is the guiding light that walks them through a week long with impurities based on their morals.  Racing for me was exactly that.  Racing was my religion.  I realize this may strike a chord with many folks out there, but before passing judgement, walk a moment in my shoes.

Here are just a few of the things I learned as I grew up spending Sunday's at the track -- I learned to respect my mother and father; I learned that an honest day's work could provide for a family; I learned that blood was thicker than water; I learned that the more you supported your friends, the more they supported you; I learned to say what I mean and mean what I say; I learned how important it is to love your enemies as well as your family and friends; and most of all, I learned to never take for granted a moment of our time here together, for no matter your age or greatness, we can lose the opportunity to share a life with some very special people.

So, yea, back then to outsiders....Sunday's at the track might've looked like a bunch of shirtless Southern #### with beer cans in one hand and a Winston in the other, it may have appeared to some back then that a Sunday at the track was just an extension of Saturday night at the bar, but the truth is...we stood up, shut up and proudly saluted our country during the playing of the National Anthiem, we screamed and hollered and supported our driver's with more passion than any congregation I've ever witnessed, and yes, people out there may say we were celebrating a man, we were praising a fake-god... but the truth of the matter is, the Lord had to be with us at the races on Sunday's because I assure you there was a LOT of praying going on.

So you may wonder what I'm missing in my life at this point...I miss racing!  NASCAR isn't racing anymore, for those who have known Stock Car racing from back in the days of King Richard's rule, Darrell's naughty tactics, the Bama Gang's dynasty, Dale's rise and reign, I could go back even further and tell stories that my daddy told me and we could talk about Fireball, but my point is, it was really about what you could do on the track -- it was fair, unless you got caught cheating, and cheating wasn't rocket science.  It was RACING.  If someone didn't finish one Sunday cause they were wrecked, it was tallied somewhere along another track.  It was okay to be rough and rowdy.  It was expected that a driver could say what me meant and mean what he say.  It was a rule that the talking stop and the driving start to set the record(s) straight.  And it was a sport that fans could be truly passionate about.

Today, its a business, a corporation, a marketing ocean, a media hayday.  It's not racing anymore, and I'll tell you when it changed!  When Dale was lost.  He was the real deal.  He was the last of the real racers.  Was I a #3 fan...I used to go the races and boo him everytime he came around the track!  He wasn't my driver.  But he was a hero.  He ensured that the fans were rewarded racing.  He never allowed officials to forget where we all came from and was proud that racing was his sport, his life and he expected the integrity on Sunday's that he lived by the other six days of the week.  He didn't sell out to officials, he didn't take #### from NASCAR big-wigs -- he commanded respect by showing them values.  There is none of that left in NASCAR today, and while I haven't even bothered to turn on a TV on Sunday's to watch them drive around in a circle for a few years now...my mom and dad and brothers hardly ever miss a race.  They fuss and fued over their drivers just as we all used to, but there aren't any spine tingling moments when the engines fire up, there isn't any great anticipation when the green flag drops, and we certainly don't make the drive to any of the tracks anymore on a weekly basis.  Maybe Bristol or Martinsburg...but the last time I was at Martinsburg, Dale ran. 

I did go to Dover last fall, I sat looking around at all of the hats, jackets, coolers, t-shirts, shoes, pajama pants (yes -- people where them to races), shorts, sunglasses, wallets, everything imaginable -- even radio's with a drivers number, name or colors plastered all over.  When looking out at the crowd it looked like a rainbow of advertisements, an endless sea of commercialism. 

I miss racing, I miss my Sunday families, I miss the ole' days.  I know they're gone forever, and am glad that I was fortunate enough to know them, and experience the commorodery that enveloped them.  I was a real fan, not one that buys into today's hype, and YES, I know I just offended a lot of people out there....that's not my intention, I'm sure you love the sport as you know it today and that's a wonderful thing!  But for me, it's like trying to replace that dog you had as a kid that was better than Lassie, with one today that looks so similar.  Its just never the same!

I believe that when Tony Stewart compared NASCAR to Professional Wrestling, he was right on the money (and NO, I'm not a Stewart fan).