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A NASCAR BLOG BY Art Weinstein

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Oh, say can you see

Feb 12

It's the image that NASCAR fans are raving about from the Budweiser Shootout weekend.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning in his first race with Hendrick Motorsports? No, that's not it. Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch bashing their way to a meeting in the NASCAR hauler? No, that's not it.

The image many fans can't get out of their minds is this: During the national anthem before the Budweiser Shootout, Jeff Gordon's wife, Ingrid, rubbed her hands through his hair. Many fans are very upset about this, saying it was disrespectful and inappropriate.

Although I missed that classic TV moment, I can say this: Even if Ingrid had whipped a blow dryer out and put pink curlers in Gordon's hair, I don't care.

Now, I'm big on patriotism and showing respect. I stand at attention, hand on my heart during the national anthem. I also know I'm old-fashioned in this regard. Many people in the under-40 age group did not learn these customs in school. Look around during the national anthem at any sporting event, and you'll see people yakking on cell phones, chugging beer, talking, completely oblivious to what I was taught to respect as a solemn moment. I see this type of behavior among drivers, crewmen and most notably, among race fans every time I'm near pit road before a race.

I'll never forget the time I was on pit road before a NASCAR race, and as the national anthem was being played, while everyone else stood at attention, the lead singer from a popular heavy metal band created a scene by sitting down and going out of his way to ignore the music (not to name names, but the band's name rhymes with Crotley Moo). I was furious, and wanted to yank the guy up and force the respect I had learned for our national anthem into him. Later, after thinking about it, I figured that what our country embodies is the right to freedom of expression, which gives anyone the right to sit down during the national anthem - or style their spouse's hair, for that matter.

So give Ingrid a break. This is a generational issue, not a Jeff and Ingrid issue. For those fans who are concerned about it, don't write
www.SceneDaily.com, or NASCAR Scene. Write your local congressman or school board and suggest that proper etiquette be taught once again in our schools.