Along the way…

What’s the point? April 28, 2008

Woody had another exciting race this weekend. He was in third place trying to catch the leaders when the driver behind him decided he would try to pass. A skillful driver, who may be able to catch you and tap your bumper, will do so to loosen you car’s traction and slip pass you while you save your car from sliding. This rookie, rather than try to pass him inside (where he was given plenty of room) just flat out hammered him sending him into a spin. Woody saved his car from hitting the wall but lost third place in the process. (Rookie wrecked his car)

No problem! Woody could work his way back to the front. It wouldn’t be the first time. Well, that was the plan but as soon as the caution flag came out so did the rain. 235 laps into a 250 lap race and his chances to recover what he worked so hard for were over. He finished in 17th place (where he blended back in after the spin) because the race was officially over due to rain. What a way to make a living huh? Well, he seems to think so.

I had the pleasure of scoring the race. For reasons that escape me, this is where one person is assigned to score for each car on the track. Whenever the car passes the start/finish line the time from a central digital time clock is entered on a card for that car by the car’s scorer. This is meant to be a back-up for the computerized scoring mechanism in place. It also serves to settle possible disputes related to a car ‘s position should one arise during a race. Well…in a perfect world maybe!

The previous race Woody found himself in third place, yet again. This time lap traffic, ahead of the leaders, tangled. The leaders weaved their way through the mess but when it came time to line the cars up again for a restart they put Woody back in 5th place, behind two cars he had clearly passed well before the previous lap. This would have been the perfect time to settle the dispute with a scoring card.

NOPE! The official, all pumped up on testosterone as they sometimes are, decided his word was final. Not sure why we are saddled with this scoring job except so that maybe AFTER the race (where you should have finished 3rd but instead you finish 5th) they call to apologize for their mistake. WHAT?! 

No compensation for prize money or points. No public correction. Just a behind the scenes phone call to say “oops!” No big deal right? WRONG! At this level of racing if you are going to get noticed it has to be with money (that you have to buy your way in); a famous name (to make your way in); a connection (with someone who will get you in); or dominating finishes at the lower level of racing in hopes of getting noticed in case someone just happens to be interested in talent (which, by the way, is NOT first on the list of qualifications for making it to the top). Wow, this could be a good example of a run-on sentence:)

The cream has to rise to the top. Even then very few get picked to fill the few slots left at the highest level of racing we call NASCAR. This comes only after those with connections, money, name, and diversity have secured their place.  So something as simple a 5th place finish at the lower levels of racing can be huge. NASCAR has no idea that you work on your own car around the clock and don’t have a high dollar crew. You don’t have a professional crew chief calling the shots and you still secured many wins and championship titles. They don’t know that you did this while your competition is resting in their trailers and you are underneath your car setting it up for the race. NASCAR knows none of this. Finishing order is huge. It’s all you’ve got.

When Tony Steward spins and doesn’t get to finish a race he still makes his millions and Home Depot still sports his photo. Anyone interested can see the whole thing in instant replay and scores of follow-up interviews. When Woody Howard spins because rookie racer can’t pass him any other way no one but his fans notice. The rest of the racing world can only check the finishing order and see he finished 5th or 17th or not at all. The posted finishing order doesn’t contain apologies made because officials screwed up or explanations of how you saved your car from hitting the wall when an inexperienced driver decided the only way he could get around you was to go thru you!

If this sounds like a menopausal woman whining about a crazy sport it’s because I AM! When your son is 3 years old you can tell him not to play in the street because he may get hit bay a car. When he is 26 all you can do is score for him and pray a lot:)