Hard Turn
A NASCAR BLOG BY Jeff Owens
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As NASCAR fans, we expect too much
Jun
19
Sometimes as race fans – and observers – we get a bit jaded and expect too much. And when we don’t get it, the natural reaction is to complain, criticize and cry foul.
We expect every race to be exciting, every finish to be dramatic and thrilling. Every pass for the lead to include a shot to the bumper or a bit of door banging and trading of paint.
That’s the way stock-car racing is supposed to be, right? That’s why we watch, what we expect, right?
Yes. But that’s not always what you get.
Not in NASCAR. Not in any sport.
Some races this season have been thrilling and exciting – Daytona, Bristol, Richmond. Others have been less so.
So it is in every sport, even the big events. There are no guarantees.
We’ve been reminded of that in the last two big sporting events.
The finals of the tennis French Open featured three-time champion Rafael Nadal against world No. 1 Roger Federer. It was supposed to be a classic showdown. Instead, it was a massacre, with Nadal winning 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.
Big Brown was going for the Triple Crown in horse racing’s Belmont Stakes. Instead, he choked and finished last.
The Boston Red Sox swept last year’s World Series in four games.
The St. Louis Cardinals won it in 2006 in five games.
How many Super Bowls have been blowouts?
How many gold tournaments has Tiger Woods run away with?
NASCAR is supposed to be different, you say?
Why?
It is a sport, just like all the rest, based on competition and the performance of man and machine. Sometimes, there are going to be performances so dominant and so spectacular that they stink up the whole show. As long as human beings are running the show, that will always be the case.
That’s why it’s a game, why it’s a sport. You never know what the show, or the competition, is going to produce.
Sometimes, as NASCAR fans, we tend to forget that.
We expect every race to be exciting, every finish to be dramatic and thrilling. Every pass for the lead to include a shot to the bumper or a bit of door banging and trading of paint.
That’s the way stock-car racing is supposed to be, right? That’s why we watch, what we expect, right?
Yes. But that’s not always what you get.
Not in NASCAR. Not in any sport.
Some races this season have been thrilling and exciting – Daytona, Bristol, Richmond. Others have been less so.
So it is in every sport, even the big events. There are no guarantees.
We’ve been reminded of that in the last two big sporting events.
The finals of the tennis French Open featured three-time champion Rafael Nadal against world No. 1 Roger Federer. It was supposed to be a classic showdown. Instead, it was a massacre, with Nadal winning 6-1, 6-3, 6-0.
Big Brown was going for the Triple Crown in horse racing’s Belmont Stakes. Instead, he choked and finished last.
The Boston Red Sox swept last year’s World Series in four games.
The St. Louis Cardinals won it in 2006 in five games.
How many Super Bowls have been blowouts?
How many gold tournaments has Tiger Woods run away with?
NASCAR is supposed to be different, you say?
Why?
It is a sport, just like all the rest, based on competition and the performance of man and machine. Sometimes, there are going to be performances so dominant and so spectacular that they stink up the whole show. As long as human beings are running the show, that will always be the case.
That’s why it’s a game, why it’s a sport. You never know what the show, or the competition, is going to produce.
Sometimes, as NASCAR fans, we tend to forget that.
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Comments
5 responses to "As NASCAR fans, we expect too much"
Michael reid said:
Jun 19, 2008 at 8:01 AMMan if your trying to draw attention to yourself by puttin Jr. down and the Nation keep trying! Your article about Jr. hasen't proved anything yet was week! You said "Jr. wasen't the car to beat at the end of the race" Tell the to the 9 and the rest of the field! If your the car at the front your the one to beat! Earnhardt has done everything 1 might of hoped for with moving to Hendrick and much more quickly than he had even thought! Eury Jr. and Earnhardt Jr. have won, been consistant and had a fast car every week! When was it again Jr was 3rd in points and winning?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWorm Dirt said:
Jun 20, 2008 at 2:01 PMI understand your point here Jeff....BUT i think you're ignoring something pretty UNIQUE about this sport! Nascar fans are hands-down the single-most EXPLOITED fanbase in the world of sports!!! Take away all the commercials...the sales-pitching by announcers...corporate logo souvenirs..the sponsor name-drops..phony driver-soft-drink sipping...gimmick after gimmick... hype on top of hype etc..etc..etc and the ACTUAL PURE COMPETITION left over is but a SMALL percentage of the whole. I mean if I saw one-tenth of the effort that is made to get into my wallet, put towards IMPROVING THE RACING..... then maybe I'd be just a little more patient!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportChris Pontiff said:
Jun 22, 2008 at 11:15 PMMichael you have serious problems if you think this article was meant to put Jr down.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportKris Leonia said:
Jun 23, 2008 at 8:45 AMPut on a good show. Show me hard racing, passes for position and multiple lead changes among drivers. I honestly thought with the offseason to work on these cars they would be more competitive than they are right now. They've gone so far as "crabbing" the car so it drives down a straightaway slanted. I mean, come on now. Nascar needs to relax on their testing restrictions until they can really get this car worked on. Let them take it to tracks they need work on (Right now its the 1.5 milers that are flat out runaways with the lead car). Give me some good racing to watch and you'll be rewarded with money out your ears.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportemily bagwell said:
Jun 27, 2008 at 8:51 PMBoy, it sure would be boring if there were no tackles or head busting in football, or no cursing the ump in baseball,and we don't have many Tiger Woods in racing that run away with everything. If the many fans didn't have different drivers to watch all the way around the track---lap after lap because we are afraid we might miss something exciting---then what's the point? the sport would be like some people say:"Who wants to watch a bunch of cars going around in circles?" Unfortunately, money and greed figured into the picture and NASCAR has to keep changing things---chasing a dollar---thus, your point,Worm. If I want to sleep, I'll stay home and save my hundreds spent treking across country to watch a race. Kris L. You said it so well!!
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