As Race Fans, We Take So Much For Granted

No matter what racing series they are in, each and every driver takes the greatest of risks when they strap themselves into their car on race day. Their family and loved ones watch, anxious, that they don’t pay the ultimate price in such a hazardous profession. The second the green flag waves leaves room for anything to go wrong. All it takes is the simplest of errors to cause a tragedy. Many racers across many series have lost their lives doing what they love the most. Last Sunday, the IZOD IndyCar Series lost one of its biggest stars, two-time Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon.

The loss is one that hit home for so many people. In fact, it hit home for more than just the IndyCar community. The entire racing community was stunned by his tragic passing. On Sunday, nobody watched the IndyCar drivers get into their cars knowing that it would be the last race Dan Wheldon would run. Nobody even expected that such a horrific incident would occur. A day that was supposed to end in triumph with a champion being crowned turned into a day that left the racing community trying to comprehend how a life could be cut short so unexpectedly.

No, I’m not about to start talking about changes that could be made to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. And I’m not going to point fingers or go over hypothetical what-if scenarios.

Instead, I want to talk about how what happened Sunday should open our eyes as fans of such a dangerous sport.

Austin Dillon Visits Bristol, Gives Some Lucky Fans a Ride Around the Track

Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon, who pilots the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado in the Camping World Truck Series, came to Bristol Motor Speedway to help promote special ticket package that is available at the track for the O'Reilly Auto Parts 200/UNOH Perfect Storm 150 double header to be held on August 24, 2011. The $33 package includes a ticket to the Wednesday races, a No. 3 Bass Pro Shops hat, and an exclusive Q & A session with Dillon in Bristol's Hospitality Village prior to the race.

Through the Eyes of a Ragan Fan: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway

David Ragan celebrates with his crew after winning the
Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway
on July 2, 2011. (Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

Any David Ragan fan can tell you that Daytona International Speedway has always been one of his best tracks. Knowing how well he runs there, I was beyond excited for the 2011 season to begin. I knew that Ragan would get his first Cup Series win in 2011, and I had the feeling that it would come in the Daytona 500.

February 20, 2011 is a day that will forever be burned into my memory. With just two laps left, Ragan was penalized for changing lanes on the previous restart while leading the race. That penalty cost him the potential win and left me completely brokenhearted. To see him come that close to winning and have it all taken away in a matter of seconds was one of the worst feelings I have ever had as a NASCAR fan.

I had many sleepless nights after that, and I can only imagine how hard it was on Ragan. Somehow though, I knew deep down that when the Cup Series returned to Daytona in July, things would work out the way I felt they should have in February.

Heroes and Heartbreak: Choosing A Favorite Driver Hasn't Been Easy

The No. 6 UPS Ford of David Ragan and the No. 17 Ford of Matt Kenseth
on pit road prior to Coca Cola 600 qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In any sport, every fan almost always finds a team to cheer for above all others. It’s no different in NASCAR. Some fans choose a favorite driver simply because his car has their favorite number on the side. Others choose a driver based on their sponsor. A few choose their favorite driver because he is from the same state they are from. For me, it was none of the above.

 

As a kid, I spent many weekends at my grandparents’ house. They had a television, but it did well to pick up the local TV stations. Luckily, it did pick up the local FOX and ABC affiliates, which meant most Sundays and the occasional Saturday were spent sitting in the living room of my grandparents’ trailer watching NASCAR races. That was in the late 90’s.

 

In 1999, just before my 9th birthday that June, I became a Dale Earnhardt fan simply because he was my grandfather Frank’s favorite driver. I cheered for Earnhardt every race I watched. Then, in 2001, the entire community was rocked to the core as Dale Earnhardt tragically passed away in the Daytona 500. NASCAR lost a legend, and I lost my favorite driver. My grandfather stopped watching NASCAR after that fateful day, and so did I.

 

For over a year, I didn’t watch a single race. Then, in October 2002, something compelled me to turn the race on. I honestly don’t remember much about the race other than it was at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Jamie McMurray was filling in for Sterling Marlin. McMurray earned his first career win that night and surprised a lot of people. The excitement I felt that night watching McMurray win made me realize something about myself. NASCAR was my passion. And I had truly missed watching the races.

Now that I was a NASCAR fan again I was left with the problem of finding a new favorite driver. Of course, like so many of Dale Earnhardt’s fans, I chose his son as my favorite driver. Again, I was just twelve, and I really didn’t know too many other drivers so I went with who I knew.

So, how did I go from being a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fan to becoming a die-hard fan of all of the Roush Fenway Racing drivers? It’s kind of a funny and unique story.

Whit's Picks: Michigan Results

Denny Hamlin celebrates in victory lane after winning the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400.
Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

All eyes were on the Ford drivers on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, but in the end, it was a Toyota driver who took the checkered flag in the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400. There were 21 lead changes in the race that lasted just over 2.5 hours. It was the shortest race so far this year, but that didn't mean it was short on excitement.

Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick were finally off probation following the incident between them at Darlington Raceway. While nearly everyone expected something to happen between those two, nothing did. Could Harvick be biding his time? After all, he did say Busch has one coming. Fan favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who hadn't won a race since the race at Michigan on Father's Day in 2008 had a run-in with teammate Mark Martin late in the race, ruining his chances of a good finish. Young Landon Cassill, in the No. 51 Security Benefit / Thank A Teacher Today Chevrolet finished 12th, earning his career-best finish. Trevor Bayne, who returned to Sprint Cup Series action for Wood Brothers Racing after being out for over a month due to illness, finished 16th in the No. 21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford.

Of course, the race might not have seemed that exciting to those who watched the race on television. The TNT broadcast lacked any enthusiasm from the commentators, and the network went to commercial more times than I can recall. But I digress.

On Friday, I shared with you my top 5 picks to win on Sunday plus 3 other drivers to keep an eye on. How did my picks do? Read on to find out!

Whit's Picks: Michigan International Speedway

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Brooklyn, Michigan this weekend. So far this year, we've seen two first time winners, unbelievably close finishes, and even seen a fan favorite lose a race due to fuel mileage. And at Michigan International Speedway, fuel mileage will no doubt play a major factor once again. In June 2009, Greg Biffle was bit by fuel mileage when his car coasted to the finish as it ran out of fuel on the last lap, and Mark Martin brought home the win.


New fuel cans were implemented in the Sprint Cup Series at the start of the 2011 season. The fuel cans, which were already being used in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, were meant to be easier to use and eliminated the need for a crew member to use a catch can. Still, some Cup teams have struggled with getting enough fuel in the cars. With fuel mileage on every driver's mind, teams will have bring their A-game for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400.


But it'll take more than just making sure the car has enough fuel in it for a driver to win on Sunday.