A Voice For The Fans ~ Look Who's Talking, Again
1/14/2014
PattyKay Lilley
I bid you welcome, gentle readers, to the return of your Voice For The Fans columns after giving this a rest for the Holiday season. A warm welcome is also extended to our assigned reader from the NASCAR ranks, probably reposing somewhere within the Fan and Media Espionage Center in the beautiful Queen's City of Charlotte, NC. Note* "We kid because we care." - Chris Myers. I do hope that everyone enjoyed a festive and love-filled Christmas season, and gave at least some thought to the reason why we celebrate. Now back to our regular racing season, already in progress...
Yes race fans, as I type this, they are already testing on the high banks of Daytona and it's only 16 days to the Rolex-24 and the beginning of SpeedWeeks. Let the racing begin! Over the "break" we here at Race Fans Forever have been regaling you with bios of some drivers others tend to neglect, and this scribe added some mirth-filled, laugh-inspiring pieces guaranteed to keep you smiling as winter drones on. But now, it's time to get back to talking racing, which isn't always a laughing matter... but can be under certain circumstances.
Right on schedule, the clarion horn has been sounded, calling all race fans to come listen to the Great One speak, and speak he did, on MRN Radio's NASCAR Live show on Tuesday evening.
First, allow me to digress for a moment to say "Hello" to Mr. France. I do hope you enjoyed your Holidays Sir, but might I remind you that you owe us a letter? One was sent back in November of last year, in answer to your earlier missive, and to date an answer has not been forthcoming. Might we, the race fans, take that to mean you are in agreement with our suggestions and likes? Ah, would that it were so.
In all honesty race fans, I missed the show in favor of two others this fan prefers on Tuesday evenings, but Mr. France's words have been amply repeated again and again, and quite frankly, they weren't even new words, but a rehash of what we spoke of last year. "We think we can make some tweaks that continue to incentivize risk-taking, racing harder and so on. We're looking at that. We'll undoubtedly be coming with things that put the incentive on winning races and competing at the highest level."
Race fans, this man once "tweaked" the point system, and the Chase came into existence. At that time, a decade ago, your scribe didn't understand that "tweak" had such diverse meanings, and had always taken it to mean a small or tiny change, but that is obviously not the case. Now, when I hear that word pass his lips, it's time to either run and hide or stand up and fight... and fight is useless, since he makes the rules and referees the game.
Still, there are questions to be asked, even if they are never answered, and this is a topic on which I'm capable of arguing both sides. I have long been a proponent of offering greater incentive for winning a race... not because I feel that any of our drivers lack the desire to win, but because with the year-end prize having grown to such huge proportions, the trees obscure the view of the forest, and winning individual races can take a back seat to winning that chunk of sterling at the end of the year, and the check that goes with it. In that aspect, Mr. France and I seem to be in agreement... but wait.
He got it all wrong the last time, and made the incentive to win all about the Chase. It should have nothing whatever to do with the Chase, and only with the single race at hand. Under the old point system, where he condescendingly offered a race winner an additional 5 points (the equivalent of one position then), I would have opted for 50 points. Make that single win important enough that teams will overlook that "Big picture" and go for it. If this is what he means, then this writer is all for it, and has been from the beginning.
If however, he is in any way insinuating that the drivers of today are not giving enough effort or taking enough risks to suit him, then we are of polar opposite opinions. Having been around for the reign of both his Dad and Granddad, it's difficult for this aged fan to take seriously this man that has never to my knowledge driven a racecar, when he attempts to define the degree of risk a driver traveling in a pack of cars at 200 mph should take to make the race interesting or exciting for him.
Sir, might I respectfully remind you that those are human beings whom you are asking to risk perhaps more than they are capable of giving, only for your amusement and enrichment? That seems to be a big picture that is being left out of the equation as you prepare to "tweak" just a bit more. Human beings Sir... with mothers, fathers, siblings, spouses and children... exactly how much risk should their lives be at to excite you? We, the race fans, the ones that pay to watch them race, are happy with a good race, and we neither need, nor do we ask for anything contrived through the gimmicks you promised you would not employ. Just back away slowly and let them race. More incentive to win through increased points is a good thing, if we are talking of each single race, and not only the final ten. About those final ten Sir, you'll find the fans are not one bit interested... if you will only listen. Our number is legion and our roar is deafening. #ERASETHECHASE!
All right gentle readers, that's quite enough of listening to me for the first column of the year, though news seems to be breaking earlier than usual in 2014. Richard Buck, who boasts managerial positions in IMSA, CART and other series, will replace John Darby as Sprint Cup Series Director, it was announced on Thursday. This should not come as any major surprise, as it was announced four years ago that NASCAR was seeking a replacement for Darby in order to put him in a managerial role at a higher level. Sometimes, too many words can be confusing, so let me hasten to explain that this job is the one long referred to as "Top Cop." Think Bill Gazaway, Dick Beaty, or Gary Nelson and you'll recognize the position. It does seem though, that since the departure of Bill France Jr. and the appointment of Mike Helton to the position of President of NASCAR, the Top Cop doesn't get his name in the news nearly as often these days.
A quick note of thanks to the alert reader who was kind enough to correct me for calling it "Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing", when it has now reverted back to Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. I'm sure you realized that my piece was written some time before Thursday morning, when it appeared in our Season Preview. It was, in fact, written over a week ago, as I tend to be quite prompt when asked to do something. The announcement was made Thursday morning, so I congratulate you for being an earlier riser than I am.
Yes, Chase Elliott will race the entire season for JR Motorsports; yes, he will drive a Chevrolet, not a Ford and yes, NAPA will be the sponsor on the hood. Having loved watching a pair of Dads connected to all that, I wish them all well and look forward to seeing the #9 back on track with an Elliott behind the wheel. Now we get at least a year to wonder if they can talk Richard Petty Motorsports out of that number when the time is right for a move to Cup. Let the speculation begin!
One last thing race fans! I would be lax in my duty to serve you if I neglected to remind you of Speedway Benefits, the program designed to give aid and comfort to the grass roots of racing that we all loved from the beginning. This program is the brainchild of the greatest race promoter of all time, Humpy Wheeler.
Follow on Twitter @SPDWYBenefits
Like Speedway Benefits on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/speedwaybenefits
"We Grow Grass Roots Racing"
See their banner here on Race Fans Forever!
Friends, when the 1.5-mile tracks become boring and the prices too high... or when NASCAR leaves us to become the new darling of Europe... and it will... your local track, be it paved or dirt, built for stock cars, modifieds or dragsters, has the best racing in the world just waiting for you. Get on board with Humpy and his son Trip. You'll never regret it; I promise!
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
~
PattyKay
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