Racing Fan Club

Do you want to know why I love NASCAR? At the end of the 2007 Daytona 500 Clint Bowyer crossed the finish line on his hood (in the Jack Daniel?s car-of course). As his car came to a halt, and caught on fire, Bowyer unstrapped and calmly hopped out. Business as usual. That?s just racing, I guess.

It was entertaining to see two villains end the day for each other on Sunday. Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart are championship drivers-no one can dispute that. But they also can let their emotions get the best of them. Every driver lets emotion effect their driving from time to time-but these two take the cake. It was a bit ironic to see them crash into each other and prematurely finish the Daytona 500 together.

Most fans would admit to pulling for Mark Martin during the final laps. I know I was. He was so close, and he may never get that close again. He?s the kind of driver everyone likes. He doesn?t complain, doesn?t get in scuffles with other drivers. He even drove the Viagra car for awhile. I can?t think of a time in recent history where Mark Martin was involved in a ?payback? situation with another driver. He is probably one of the most respected drivers in NASCAR today. It?s a shame Martin never won a championship, but he will be remembered as one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. Mark still has the talent to drive, and it would be great to see him race a full schedule for at least a couple more years, or at least one more year. Same goes for Brett Favre in the NFL. I know there?s great bodily risk in what these guys do, but the selfish side in me doesn?t what to see them stop playing, because they?re fun to watch.

For 2007 I would like to see a little more of a rivalry develop between Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. It would be great to see the two of them battling each other for a lead in the closing laps of a race once in awhile. In recent years it seems like only one of the two and very often neither of the two has been in contention during the final laps. It?s great to see new stars emerge but a healthy rivalry between Gordon and Dale Jr. would only be good for NASCAR.

That?s why I love NASCAR. Guys jumping out of flaming cars like it?s no big deal, villains taking each other out of a race, respected veterans flirting with victory, and watching the world?s most talented drivers compete against each other 36 weekends a year.