NASCAR, NRA race buddies; fans take sides

Texas Motor Speedway (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I hope there were plenty of empty seats at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday night, as NASCAR decided to partner with the NRA as its race buddy. It isn't surprising that these two entities would team up, given their corporate mentality to better the bottom line no matter what the cost, but I'm glad to have stood my ground. I hope others did as well.

I chose not to watch this race. By allowing the NRA to sponsor the Texas race at a time when Congress and the entire country is debating gun safety measures in light of the tragic killing of 26 people including 20 little first graders in Connecticut last December, it was simply distasteful to me to be a participant in any way. I have made no secret of my dislike for NASCAR's corporate behavior in the past for many reasons, but for me, this was something I couldn't ignore.  

When I declared my decision to forgo this race, so did many others. I was actually surprised by the number of people who felt as I did. Then there was the other side--those who love that NASCAR supports the NRA. The trouble with them is they, more often than not, used such hateful rhetoric that ranged from unplaced paranoia about someone knocking on their door to take their guns away, to those that spoke about their firearms in the same way a small children describes its beloved security blanket. Then there were the racist zealots who simply can't get over having a black man in the White House and blame President Obama for everything wrong with the world.

I understand that the culture in the south, where I live, by the way, includes guns for hunting, target practice, and protection in remote rural areas. I have no problem with that; but neither does anyone else. For cripes sake shooting is an Olympic event. And there is certainly nothing wrong with supporting this activity.

NRA Headquarters, Fairfax Virginia USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The NRA has crossed the line, however. Their reaction to the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre is in my view extreme at best. It demonstrates a desperate attempt to maintain its hold on the power it has amassed in recent years, reflected on humongous salaries and its big, shiny corporate office building in Fairfax, VA. While I recognize that not everyone shares my view, I have no problem talking about our differences.

That doesn't seem to be the case however, with the irrational comments posted on social media by NRA supporters/NASCAR fans who apparently feel somehow threatened by non-gun owners' opinions. Their comments were rude, insensitive, racist, demeaning, and insulting. It is frightening to think that these quick-tempered, irrational people own guns. Not only can they not accept a divergent point of view, but they have trouble expressing their own ideas in an intelligent manner. The Hatfield/McCoy mentality is a real danger in our rapidly-growing population, which we see in the headlines every day. Guns should not be used for settling a personal dispute or making a point. Too often times, innocent people die. 

On a brighter note: Congratulations Ryan Newman who is obviously back in top form, with a 10th place finish at Texas. While I didn't actually see his performance, reading about it was just about as sweet. 

NASCAR and NRA; bad combination for me

National Rifle Association (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I haven't missed a NASCAR race since I became a fan--somewhere around 2004. My friends and family know not to call me on race day because I refuse to answer the phone. 

I have been a devout fan, although admittedly, not always pleased with certain aspects of the sport, which I've detailed in this blog, but I enjoy the racing, the driver personalities, the technical advances in the equipment, racing strategies, etc.

But when I first heard that the National Rifle Association, (NRA), the lobbying arm of the gun manufacturers, was planning to sponsor the NASCAR race at Texas, I decided not to watch. While I am heartened by the many fans that have opted to pass on this race, as I have, I am appalled at some of the comments by certain die hard NASCAR fans on social media displaying absolute ignorance about the gun safety issue, which has been the focus of national debate since 26 people were slaughtered in December at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.

The fact that NASCAR allowed an NRA-sponsored race is telling, but that it would occur at this time is appalling. NASCAR says it wants to appeal to a broader audience, but its actions indicated just the opposite. I happen to love the south; I live in the south. I love that NASCAR embraces its rich history. However, I am not in favor of ignorance, which is what has been displayed by too many NASCAR fans on various online venues that have dealt with the NRA flap, as Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has called it. 

It is cool to have an opinion. It is okay to express that opinion. It is not alright to be a racist, small-minded, insulting idiot. So many of them who claim to be trying to preserve their constitutional rights fail to recognize the constitution is more than the portion of the second amendment they like to quote. 

The debate about gun safety has become a nationwide conversation, as it should be. Of course everyone won't always agree, but that's okay. At least the conversation should be civil and hopefully constructive. 

In my view, the arguments supporting the NRA are simply specious. The NRA isn't an organization that supports gun owners; it supports gun manufacturers. It is all about the money; it isn't about what is right and beneficial for people. It isn't even about the people who support it. They are merely pawns. It is said they don't realize they are being used.

My rant against the NRA has little to do with the ongoing gun safety issue. The NRA isn't talking about safety; they are just talking about selling more guns. There is nothing wrong with owning a gun. It is a guaranteed right of citizens to protect themselves and to use firearms for hunting, and other types of sport. But what is going on in this country today is totally insane. Doing nothing will not stop the killing. Since the Sandy Hook massacre--December 14, not even four months ago--there have been more than 3,000 people killed by a firearm. I used to live in a town that had less people in it. I find that number shocking. Everyday headlines scream about another murder, suicide, or accidental gun-related death. I saw three just today. This has to stop. There has to be a rational discussion and viable solutions we can all live with.

For my own small part, I am taking a stand against all the violence; refusing to participate in something I thoroughly enjoy, with the hope that it will make some kind of a difference.

Perhaps it has. NASCAR has reportedly decide to scrutinize its race sponsorships in the future. That is a small thing, but I believe change takes time and is often incremental. At this point, any step is a step in the right direction.

Time for NASCAR to re-"tire" its rules

Used Tires (Photo credit: www.ericcastro.biz)

During the race at Martinsville, Ryan Newman blew a front tire. He tried to get to pit road, but was unable to weave his way from the top to the bottom of the race track. He made a judgement call--to stop on the track to wait for traffic to clear rather than to drive around with a damaged tire.

NASCAR said he intentionally causing a caution. What?! 

NASCAR made the decision to hold him in pit road for three laps, totally ruining what could have been a very good day. Newman lost more than 30 points, not to mention the positive momentum, which will undoubtedly affect his entire season. Newman was the previous winner at Martinsville and was running in the top 10 for much of the day.

I suppose the safety-conscious sanctioning body would have preferred that Newman drive around the race track with a flat tire at full speed threatening the safety of all the other drivers. 

Once again, Ryan Newman is the beneficiary of NASCAR's seat-of-the-pants ruling. Frankly, I'm sick off  it.

 

No fines by NASCAR--how consistently inconsistent

NASCAR failed to issue a fine following the California race at Fontana Sunday, March 23, 2013. This is surprising and totally inconsistent given that a fight broke out between Tony Stewart and Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin ended up in the hospital with a potentially serious injury.

With all that going on, NASCAR decided not to issue any fines. What?

Just after the race, Stewart got out of his race car and went after Logano, fists high in an obvious attempt to clean his clock. Then during a post-race interview, Stewart used some pretty colorful language in his criticism of the way Logano blocked him on a restart after according to Stewart, Logano spun his tires.

The more serious incident was the way Logano raced Denny Hamlin on the last lap sending Hamlin's car head-on into a concrete wall. There was no safer barrier where he hit, so his body took the impact, which has resulted in his cracking a vertebrae in his back. Hamlin is expected to be out of the car for the next six weeks, missing five races, at least.

Little would be made of this beyond calling it simply a racing incident, had it not been for the remarks Logano made after the race when he told reporters, Hamlin got what he deserved. To be fair, there was no way Logano knew Hamlin had suffered such a serious injury at the time.

No one will ever know if Logano hit Hamlin on purpose, following up on previous incidents and some sniping via Twitter, or if his car simply got loose and drifted up the track into Hamlin. I suppose as far as us race fans are concerned, it doesn't matter. Everyone will believe what they want anyway. What does matter is that Hamlin will recover, Stewart let Logano know how not to behave, and all is good.

In my opinion, NASCAR was right not to issue a fine to any of the participating drivers. But that is only because they have been wrong all the other times  they issued fines.

See the following headlines that have appeared in the last couple of years;

• Hamlin fined $25,000 for post-race comments
• NASCAR fines Jeff Gordon $100,000, docks him 25 points...
• NASCAR fines, penalizes Robby Gordon for New Hampshire temper tantrum
• Gordon, Keselowski fined, placed on probation
• NASCAR fines Kurt Busch $50,000 for behavior
• Keselowski fined $25,000 for in-car tweeting
• NASCAR fines Kyle Busch $50,000, warns of indefinite suspension...
• NASCAR fines Kyle Busch $25,000 for gesture
• Secret fines shrouded in mystery...Ryan Newman and Brad Keselowski were beneficiaries of these

These are not inclusive--they were obtained through a quick Google search. With all this fining going on, it is no wonder there were expectations that fines would have been announced in the way of fines after California. But that didn't happen.

If there is one thing NASCAR is consistent with, it is inconsistency!

I'd like to know where all those thousands of dollars in fines have ended up. The bucks have obviously not gone toward installing safer barriers around race tracks. Why is that, since NASCAR boasts about its keen interest in safety? At the California race track, NASCAR definitely has a corporate connection.

The California track is called the Auto Club Speedway. It is owned by the International Speedway Corporation, (ISC). Brian France, NASCAR's CEO and Chairman sits on the board of that corporation along with other family members. His brother James, also a NASCAR board member is President of ISC.

I can't help but wonder why members of the media haven't bothered to ask the France brothers why there are still places on race tracks they own that are not fitted with safer barriers.

At least one thing is known for sure. It is good to know that Denny Hamlin was not more seriously injured than he was, though a broken back is nothing to sneeze at. Ouch--I can't imagine that!

Related articles

• Auto Club 400 Ends With Denny Hamlin In An Ambulance And Tony Stewart Brawling With Joey Logano
• Hamlin has lower-back compression fracture
• Busch wins Fontana after Hamlin-Logano wreck
• Auto Club 400 Recap
• Denny Hamlin airlifted to hospital after NASCAR crash
• Angry Tony Stewart goes after Joey Logano after race at California
• Tony Stewart Punched Joey Logano At The End Of Today's NASCAR Race [VIDEO - UPDATED]

Ryan Newman showed finesse at Fontana

Photo, courtesy of Jerry Conner

This season's California race was the best I've seen in years. While it was not without drama, it was filled with excellent side-by-side racing and passing, which is something that races have lacked of late. Not the case Sunday at Fontana.

The finish was in the hands of the drivers, which was all too evidenced by my fave, Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Wix Chevrolet. Newman had a hard day at the beginning with a fast car but some handling issues. He overcame a speeding penalty on pit road as well as a boneheaded mistake when his pit crew that not only negated the chassis changes he needed, but they turned the track bar the wrong way, worsening the handling. Newman and his team persevered though, turning it around with a tenth-place finish. Not only that, his crew chief Matt Borland won the season's first MOOG Problem Solver of the Race award. The award is sponsored by global vehicle components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corporation.

According to Market Watch in the Wall Street Journal, "the award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the greatest improvement in average lap time during the second half of the race while finishing on the lead lap. Newman and the 39 Chevrolet topped the field with a 0.354-second improvement over the final 100 laps to finish 10th at Fontana."

Congratulations to Ryan Newman and Matt Borland, his crew chief. The two were reunited at the end of last season. Newman, with Borland on the pit box won 12 races together at Penske Racing between 2002 and 2005. 

Since coming together at Stewart-Haas Racing, the duo has earned three top-10s in five starts - including a fifth-place finish in this year's Daytona 500. They have much to overcome however, since the races at Phoenix and Las Vegas ended with DNF's due to tire issues and an engine failure. 

Newman now stands in 20th position, up three spots and on the rise.