A Race Fan's Christmas List
With only ten shopping days left
until Christmas, I figure I shouldn't wait any longer to put together my wish
list for Santa. This is what I hope he brings.
If Santa
is a race fan, I still hope he brings us a Martin Truex, Jr. victory before we
get a Clint Bowyer victory. He gave us half of this request last season as
Bowyer was winless. Unfortunately, 2014 wasn't what a lot of fans hoped for or
expected from the Furniture Row Racing/Truex combination. Here's hoping Martin
can taste victory again soon and earn some vindication.
Speaking
of wins, hopefully there's at least one in Santa's bag for Rookie of the Year
Kyle Larson. His rookie season was as impressive as any we've seen in several
years. He made us pay attention to him in 2014 as early as the Fontana race. He
appeared to be close to a win a number of times but it just never came together
for him. There are questions about whether his Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix
Sabates team is capable of giving him winning cars but I don't think there's
much doubt they have a winning driver.
This seems
like a mighty big request, but how about a healthy return both on and off the
track for Tony Stewart? There's no doubt the sport is better off when Tony is
engaging and competitive. It might be ludicrous to think he'll be the same
character he was before the accident at Canadaigua.
It's not possible to be a part of something that tragic without it changing
your outlook and attitude to some degree. Hopefully, watching one of the teams
he owns win the '14 title will help jump start his competitive juices.
If
that last request isn't too much, let's press our luck and keep hoping for big
gifts. How about a quick resolution to the Kurt Busch/Patricia Driscoll case?
On one level, there are no real winners in a situation like this. However, it
would be a real shame if these allegations against Busch are true. Over the
past two years, we've witnessed a man take control of his life and emotions in
a way that many of us thought was impossible. I'd like to believe the charges
are unfounded. Regardless, for the sake of everyone involved, this
investigation needs to be completed quickly.
I realize
there are dreams at Christmas that even Santa can't help us realize so I won't
ask for the impossible in hoping the Chase format goes away. I will hope that
after the finish Ryan Newman had, that someone like him will win it all in the
coming season. What better way to highlight the ridiculousness of this
"playoff" than for a driver to fly under the radar, survive until the
final race then be crowned the season's champion?
Since
NASCAR announced their pleasure with the system and isn't changing the format,
let's hope we have some more underdogs make the field. In a sport seemingly
controlled by the big money, multi-car teams, I think everyone took pleasure in
seeing Aric Almirola and A. J. Allmendinger make the field of 16. Whether it's
those two or someone like Casey Mears, David Gilliland or Reed Sorenson among
others, how much fun would it be to see those Chase
spots taken by second tier teams while at the same time, helping amplify the
absurdity of this current format? Don't think it can't happen. Who had the 43
and the 47 cars slotted for Chase spots when the last season began?
They say
Christmas is a time for kindness so let me extend some good wishes for Roush
Fenway Racing. I've personally never been a fan of Jack Roush or most of his
teams and drivers over the years. However, the sport is better off as a whole
when at least some of his teams are competitive. 2014 had to be the low tide
mark in the history of that organization so I hope 2015 brings them enough
success that they're no longer a punchline on the
circuit.
I know
my Christmas list is getting long but since I feel like I've been a good boy
(mostly) this year, I'll press my luck and ask for more. I hope the coming
season brings humility to Brad Keselowski. He's beginning to resemble Kurt
Busch prior to his Homestead meltdown two years ago. No one doubts your talent
Brad. If your attitude matched your driving ability, you'd be a true champion.
I also
hope 2015 brings Dale Earnhardt, Jr. another shot at the title. The process
wasn't always pretty but his metamorphosis from partying funny man to serious
racers seems to be complete. I know all his fans were ready to build cases for
the multiple championship trophies they all assumed he'd win when he signed
with Hendrick. Now that Junior seems comfortable as
his own man, he's a pleasure to watch. Even though he won't have Steve LeTarte guiding him, I hope he's a fixture in the 2015
Chase. As a matter of fact, with a new crew chief, a title run by Dale might be
even more impressive.
Finally,
I'm going to hope Santa brings Jeff Gordon another championship in 2015. The
driver that defined a decade seemed to verge on the cusp of being an also ran
for a few seasons. Things started to click again for him in 2013 and he became
a serious championship threat again this past season, for the first time in a
few years. The end of his career is looming ever larger and I get the idea
Gordon appreciates his success more now than he ever did in his heyday. Another
title run by the 24 would give all of us who rooted against him in the 90's a
chance to applaud his legacy before he decides to retire. I just don't think
even then though, we'll be able to understand how two decades were able to
sneak by us as quickly as they have.
I could
continue but if even a few of these Christmas dreams come true, I'll be
somewhat content in 2015. We can reassess a year from now. Most importantly
though, here's hoping that all drivers and spectators at all levels of racing
remain safe at the track in the coming season. I'll take that above all else.