Is There A Double Standard In The Bleachers?

After 16 years, you’d think a guy would be able to shake an image problem. A couple of the neighbor boys, ages 11 and 9 came over early this Fall to introduce themselves to my son. If you step through the doors of our place, it is readily evident with the NASCAR magnets on the fridge, the race tracks in the play area and even the caps my wife and daughter wear, we are a NASCAR family. The oldest neighbor boy asked my son “Who do you like?” My son replied, “Dale Junior is my favorite.” The oldest boy replied, “Yeah, we like the ‘88′ too.” Wanting to be a part of the conversation, I proudly stated, “I like Junior, but Jeff Gordon’s my favorite.” “Jeff Gordon?” the youngest boy replied with disdain, “he’s a big baby, he cries every time he loses.”

They’re still selling that line out there? Call me blind, and yes, my NASCAR resume is relatively short, but still, I have yet to see Gordon cry, except for when I see footage from when he won one of his four Cup titles, and geez, you’d think a guy would be entitled under those circumstances. Even “Mr. Toughness” himself, Dale Earnhardt proved he did not have an “Iron Heart” when admitted brushing back a tear of two when he won the Daytona 500 on his 2oth try.

I’m just asking the question, and I welcome your input. I am wondering what separates being brutally honest from being a crybaby? What is it that makes one driver “aggressive” and another driver “dirty?”

If I try to use an objective standard, I can’t find one. Let’s take Tony Stewart, for example. In my opinion, he is blunt, he lets his temper get the best of him sometimes, and he gets carried away and says things he regrets later, like his “anti- Goodyear” diatribe at Atlanta. Granted- he had a serious point, the tires weren’t good at that track. In my eyes, where he crossed the line is when he went on and on about how horrible the tire manufacturer was and maybe the contract with NASCAR should go somewhere else. Again- I don’t blame Tony for being upset about his fortunes that day and one could understand why he would feel that way, but in that moment Stewart let it go too far, and he forgot something he remembered later. Behind that brand name, behind the factory walls are men and women who bust their butts to do the best job possible. Over the years, there have been few problems, but it has been suggested that Goodyear has been as challenged with the new generation race car as the teams have. To Tony Stewart’s credit, and I believe of his own volition, he apologized to the workers at Goodyear within days of the remarks.

Now, for a moment, imagine Jeff Gordon or Kyle Busch or Carl Edwards make the remarks. Say what you want, but the reaction by some fans is a little different.

Why is it fans cry for more emotion and less politeness on the track, and then there’s an uproar when Kyle Busch puts a fender on Junior? Or what about Edwards and Busch at Bristol?

It seems like it just comes down to whether or not you like the guy to begin with. If you go in as a Stewart fan, you can say, “I like Tony Stewart because he tells it like it is. He’s honest and there’s not all the politically correct crap.” There are also those, people who didn’t like Smoke to begin with, who say’ Tony Stewart’s just a big baby. He should just shut up.”

It looks like an emotional argument with no real basis in reason, if you ask me.

For my part here’s how I see it: Most reporters ought to just leave a driver alone after an incident for a moment to cool off and see the replay if there’s any doubt. How many times do you hear a wrecked driver say, “Well I gotta see the replay, but…..” Speaking for myself, I can get real pissed off and think some things I’d be better off not saying and then five minutes later, I’m over it. If a driver says something a little outrageous in a moment of passion, let it go. He’ll probably do the same in a few moments. Give the guy a break I say!

As for the on track business, contact is as much a part of NASCAR as it is the NFL. The guys on the track know where the line is drawn and there are places you can deliver the chrome horn or a retaliatory love tap and it’s probably appropriate. There’s also places where you don’t even think about it, because the risk for something really bad to happen is too high.

I say let them talk and let the boys be boys. Given that, if a fan roots for Kevin Harvick..let him,. I can figure he’s not into a racer like Gordon, and he doesn’t need to get all over my butt for who I root for. And while we’re at it, the remarks about wishing some gets killed, or making a remark about a driver’s sexual preference is just stupid in my opinion. Trust me, I’ve seen the remarks. Mostly by immature idiots, but they’re out there. I mean- look at some of the remarks on the Elliott Sadler post. Most made passionate, well-reasoned arguments without being nasty, but some clearly crossed a line in my opinion.

Ya’ll are good to express an opinion, and pretty strongly I may add at times….

What do you say? What is the standard? Where is the line drawn between brutally honest and the big crybaby? The dirty racer and the aggressive driver?

I’m curious….. now you’re not a race car driver putting his livelihood and life on the line, so be passionate, but be civil.

Is it Speed Week yet?