What Am I Thankful For In 2014?
It's the time of year again when we pause for a day or at
least part of a day, to be thankful for what we have and what we've been given.
From a strictly racing point of view, here are a few of the blessings I've been
given this year. As we sit down to feast, let's give thanks to a winless Ryan
Newman for coming within one finishing position of being crowned champion. I'm
thankful this new Chase format has been exposed for the absurdity that it is.
Oh sure, the NASCAR media will crow about the "obvious" success it
must be since the last two races sold out. However, those same yes-men won't
point out the fact that many seats have been removed from Homestead and that
Phoenix has one of the smallest grandstand capacities on the circuit. NASCAR is
only concerned about its profitability and if soap operas and professional
wrestling can make money from drama and story lines, why can't racing, right? As I reach for the turkey, I'll be thankful neither of the
Michael Waltrip racing teams and particularly the Clint Bowyer team has won a
race before Martin Truex, Jr. has. In the name of fairness and justice,
considering who committed the Richmond crime and who was victimized, it would
only be fitting if Truex could find a way to win while Bowyer continues to
struggle. Now that we're in the middle of this racing feast, be
thankful that Jeremy Mayfield is not only coming back to racing, he's doing so
on his own terms. I applaud him 100% for truly taking it back and refusing to
be defined as NASCAR wants him to be defined. He's racing and living on his own
terms and who among us doesn't wish we could do that? I have a strong feeling
that when the story of Jeremy Mayfield is written, it's going to be a tale
about a man and a racer that was a winner on more than one level. Pumpkin pie is my favorite holiday desert so as I reach for
one, I'm going to give thanks for my favorite racing venues; the local short
tracks. That's where the racing is real. I can't relate to a 20 or 30 something
multi-millionaire that flies in private jets and hasn't been around dirt since
he was a kid, if then. I know about the local mechanic and bricklayer, though.
That fireman protects my town and that construction worker builds these homes
we live in. That's just what they do. What they are, are racers and on Saturday
nights we all come together to revel in our passion, true and honest passion.
They're all about speed and finding more than the other guy while you and I are
there to cheer them on. Instead of saving for a family trip to Disney, they're
saving for a new motor for the coming season. Their wives would like to have a
new family car but they understand the husband needs a late model chassis
first. They not only understand it, they support it. They spend thousands to
sometimes win hundreds. Some people say it's not about the money. The local,
short track racer lives that creed. It's not about the money. It really is
about going faster and seeking the priceless glory holding that cheap trophy holds.
It's not about having passion, it's about living that passion because that's
who and what you truly are. Yes, I'm thankful for those guys and I'm thankful for their
track operators. Those are the guys who aren't giving in to developers who want
the land for a new subdivision or strip center. They understand most fans can't
afford to attend many if any NASCAR races in person but they know their
neighbors will spend $10 every week for great, unscripted entertainment. They
realize they're providing a service to their communities and they understand
the heritage they're a part of. They operate tracks that have been providing
that service for generations. They could make more money if they sold that land
or worked in another business but what other business would give them this level
of satisfaction and pride? As I lay on the couch after gorging myself on this feast, I
rest in the thankful satisfaction that I discovered there are a lot of folks
out there just like me. People who still love racing and realize the best
racing is no longer found at the top of the food chain. People
who might still watch NASCAR but also love late models, sprint cars or modifieds. People just like me that never did,
"outgrow it" and some wives, girlfriends or mothers thought we might.
People that still feel the same way at 44 as we did at five
when we see a race car on a trailer go by us on the road. I'm glad we
discovered each other through Twitter and blogs and websites. I'm very thankful and deeply humbled that 1,420 (and
counting) of those folks have jumped on a Twitter account born out of
frustration, have allowed me to enjoy this past racing season more than I've
enjoyed one in several years. Thank you. Now what do you think we'll give
thanks for next year?