Will recession cause driver aggression?
I just talked with an old friend who is so excited about the new season that he could barely contain himself.
“There are so many drivers in desperate situations, without sponsorship, trying to save their jobs, there’s going to be some real beating and banging going on,” he said. “People are going to be trading punches. It’s going to be great. I can’t wait for the season to start.”
There’s no question these are tough times, and a number of teams and drivers enter the season on a shoestring budget, without full sponsorship. Today, more than ever, sponsors will demand results before committing money to a race team. With more pressure to perform, we could see emotions flare as desperate drivers jockey for position.
Without naming names, I’ve long suspected there are some drivers who know they can make a good living just riding around, staying out of trouble and finishing 30th or so. They’ve gotten complacent. It can happen to anyone who has been in a job for several years.
These drivers may push a little harder on the track if they know their job is in jeopardy. If another driver crosses them, they’ll be more likely to react.
Would such hard racing and emotional outbursts boost attendance and NASCAR’s TV ratings? Probably, and that would obviously be good for the sport in these troubled times.
That said, do I need to see crashing and pushing and shoving to enjoy NASCAR? No.
I think we have enough intriguing story lines heading into this season that we don’t need fisticuffs or demolition derby racing to have a good time. I can’t remember the last time there were so many drivers and entire teams whose preseason prospects were such a crapshoot. In no particular order:
Mark Martin will probably make the Chase For The Sprint Cup, but can he (finally) win a championship?
Can Dale Earnhardt Jr. do enough, short of a championship, to satisfy his fans as well as silence his critics? Can he become a Sprint Cup champion this year?
Was a winless 2008 the beginning of the end for Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth or a bump in the road between championships?
Is Tony Stewart an instant Chase contender with his new team, or will there be growing pains for the two-time series champ and teammate Ryan Newman?
Can phenom Joey Logano make the Chase in his first year? I would not be surprised, but I think he falls a spot or two short.
What about old faces (Clint Bowyer, Casey Mears, Bobby Labonte, etc.) in new places?
Merger mania mayhem: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Yates Racing and Hall of Fame Racing – can the new combined teams make a dent in the win column or put a driver in the Chase?
So many questions. I can’t wait to see what happens. If there are a few altercations along the way, hey, that’s OK with me.
