I’m going to start this post off with a brilliant “captain obvious” type statement. Racing is dangerous. There is a reason we (drivers and crew) wear helmets and firesuits, and why racecars are built to withstand violent collisions. The threat of serious injury and maybe worse is always present.
I’ve been involved in racing for a while now, and have had the opportunity to be around and work with quite a few different drivers. Some I liked, some I didn’t. I’ve worked with old drivers, young drivers, good drivers, and bad drivers. And the one trait that all the successful ones have is that they are fearless.
Being successful as a driver means running right on that ragged edge every lap. And by ragged edge I mean that fine line between being as fast as possible and wrecking. These guys need to be able to sail their cars off into a corner at 180mph and just know its going to stick. If you are afraid even for one second, it’s over.
Let’s use Carl Edwards as an example. Like him or not, this guy is a racer. He’s not scared to get up on the wheel and dig. Don’t believe me? Watch the last lap, well really the last corner of the last lap, at the Kansas Cup race a few weeks back. Jimmie Johnson had a several car length lead down the backstretch and headed into three, Carl drove his #99 in VERY deep. He knew his only shot was to drive in hard and hope that just maybe she might stick long enough to get by. Well he didn’t hope hard enough. Edwards got by Johnson for an instant, before his Ford lost grip and ended up in the wall. And this by a guy neck deep in a points battle.
Now that is fearless.
Too often lately I’ve seen young drivers, who get opportunities because of their connection to money and/or a sponsor, that just don’t have it. They are marginally fast but their fear of wrecking or getting hurt holds them back. And they get opportunities to race while guys that really can drive are jobless.
The sport of NASCAR has always been about who could get the most out of their equipment. Drivers who are not afraid to thread the needle or make a “pass in the grass.” Names like Petty, Pearson, Allison, Yarborough, Earnhardt, and Waltrip. Do you think they were scared when they strapped in? Hell no.
So to all those aspiring to be the next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart, let me offer some free advice. Leave your fear at home. In my book, its okay for a driver to run out of talent. It’s not okay for him to run out of balls.
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on Oct 8th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I’ve been coming here for some time now and enjoy your posts. This one has to be one of teh most well written ones yet. Great Job….Keep it up, we’re all listening
on Oct 8th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Ohhhh you are so right, A winning driver. (Lets restate that) A Championship caliber driver, has talent, a very high IQ and balls that drag the ground 6 feet behind him. Driving a 4000 lb car at 220 mph at Daytona or any other track is something most people can not do safely, it takes all the above to keep one of these vehicles in control 2 inches apart from the car next to you, behind you and in front of you. Alot of these youngsters coming in with a boat load of money and not enough experence make the racing that much more dangrous for everyone. NASCAR, their team owners or somebody needs to make these kids run for a championship in the busch or the truck series before they would be allowed to enter the Cup Series. Money is everything, so is life and death.
on Oct 9th, 2008 at 6:07 am
As Rowdy Burns would say “now lets see how ya do in a crowd!”
on Oct 9th, 2008 at 6:10 am
I’d add Ernie Irvan (pre-Michigan crash, of course) to your fearless list. That was one of the things I loved about him.
on Oct 9th, 2008 at 8:33 am
From one who has been to the Baker and Petty driving schools, thanks for a great post. You hit the nail on the head. I’m sure you have heard how good these amateurs think they are. Comical, is’nt it? I guess they don’t understand the fact that it never was easy.