Keeping it Off The Wall

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Rubbin' me the wrong way
 Ed Donath 
February 22, 2001  
Editors Note: The opinions expressed herein by the author are not necessarily that of AutoRacing1.com. 

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"Were you watching the Daytona 500 when Dale Earnhardt crashed, Ed?" 

This is the annoying constant query that I have been forced to answer dozens of times during these days since The Intimidator was killed. When my "NO!" response finally registers with these folks they are shocked to discover how far removed people like myself -- whom they so accurately perceive to be preoccupied with motorsports -- actually are from any interest in NASCAR. 

They seem as shocked to learn that some auto racing fans couldn't care less about the "Good Ole Boys" as they are over the untimely death of an American icon.

"Geez, as wrecks go it didn't look that serious at all…not nearly spectacular enough to have KILLED somebody!" That's the standard follow-up remark to the original "were you watching when?" question.

Learned racing safety advocates -- Mark Cipolloni is certainly at the forefront of that group -- have redoubled their efforts in pleading the case for such reforms as universal HANS usage and "soft walls".
While all engineers love to take out their slide rules, Cipolloni goes a step further. He shares his knowledge of the Laws of Physics as they apply to speed and graphically illustrates the consequences of its often too-sudden cessation. 

Don't get me wrong -- safetyniks have certainly earned my admiration and respect for their sincere concern and innovative suggestions. However, to my way of thinking, they have completely missed the boat in attempting to define what it is that makes NASCAR so inherently anti-safety. It will take far more than failsafe devices and additional engineering to make American stock car racing a less deadly motor sport. 

Why? Because this isn't a technology issue at all…it's a "mindset" thing. Human nature and peoples' sports/entertainment philosophies must ultimately change before any meaningful safety improvements will ever take place in NASCAR. Frankly -- unfortunately -- I would not recommend holding your breath while you wait for such sociological morphing to occur. 

The history of this particular genre of racing dates back more than 2,000 years to speedways like the Coliseum of ancient Rome. Chariot races at the world's first bullring with grandstands were no-rules affairs that were quite heavy on rubbin' and wheel bangin'. Race weekend support events included extreme sports that featured gladiators in the prototypical form of "The Winner Retires from Rasslin' " matches. Later, slick promoters devised even bloodier sports to satiate the ever-escalating thrill quotient of race fans.

Probably, it was the predictability of those Christians vs. Lions contests that helped primitive, bloodthirsty chariot race fans evolve into the sophisticated connoisseurs of ultra-competitive modern Winston Cup racing who populate the grandstands of our Twenty-first Century bullrings and superspeedways. 

Certainly, and to NASCAR's credit, Christianity is now quite well accepted -- even encouraged -- in American motorsports. But that's a whole 'nother story.

Back on point, it is -- plain and simple -- the crashes have helped to increase interest in Stock Car racing; case in point - when Earnhardt spun out Terry Labonte to win at Bristol in 1999, NASCAR did not take Earnhardt's win away, they let him keep it. The fans in the grandstands were going wild. They were emotional, it was controversy and NASCAR loved every minute of it, although they would probably never admit it publicly. Any driver can spin another driver out to win. The real skill comes when you make a pass without touching the car you passed. 

While evolution has brought the sport all the way to a level at which such elements as pit strategy, re-starts, and tire/fuel management have been added to the interest of today's NASCAR fans, it is the expectation that there will be plenty of rubbin', paint swappin' and bang-up action to punctuate those endless boring single-file laps that helps perpetuate NASCAR's popularity. 

Have you ever seen a "NASCAR's Fastest & Cleanest Laps" video being marketed on TV or sitting on the shelf of your local Media Play? Of course not. Yet, those "Crash and Burn Highlights" are plentiful.. Likewise, the famous chariot-racing scene in Ben Hur is not at all about speed and horsemanship. Rather, it deals with intimidation, dangerous wheel-banging maneuvers and the racing fans' lust for blood.

Rest in Peace Dale Earnhardt. 

In death The Intimidator has become as much a latter day martyr as he was a latter day charioteer in life. And if you think that's a paradox then try to fathom the oxymoron that is "driver safety" in a bump and bang form of motor sport.

Ed Donath would like to hear your feedback…

Contact Ed Donath via e-mail: speedwriter@hotmail.com

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