Now, I wasn’t there, but I’m willing
to give Bazemore the benefit of the doubt for several reasons.
First of all, sitting in a Funny Car has been likened to
driving from inside a closet, where the only thing you can
see is whatever’s straight ahead. So if some track
official is wildly waving for him to slow down, even just
a little off to one side, it’s entirely conceivable
that Bazemore didn’t see him. Besides, how fast could
he really be going after coasting and making a 90-degree
turn in a car that’s not exactly known for its corner-carving
capabilities? Plus, I’ve been to a lot of different
types of racetracks, and one common denominator is that
the racecars always have the right of way.
I’ve always considered the shutdown
and turnoff areas to be “hot,” just like the
racing surface, and I firmly believe everyone in those areas
has to constantly be cognizant of the presence of racecars
containing drivers with limited visibility that were just
going 300-plus mph. And who’s to say there’s
been no brake malfunction? Unless a driver is deliberately
aiming for the crowd, what’s the real problem? Just
stay out of the way and let the guy stop the car. He’s
not going anywhere.
Of course, no one condones accosting and abusing
race officials with profanity, as NHRA claims Bazemore did
to chief starter Rick Stewart while complaining about the
blatantly bad right lane at Pomona. If that’s the
case, then sure, hand Bazemore a fine and put him on probation
specifically for abusing an official. But the murky “unsportsmanlike
conduct” label potentially opens him up to being penalized
simply for speaking his mind.
For instance, will it be unsportsmanlike for
Bazemore to aggressively challenge his competitors’
tactics, just as Force did last season to Bazemore’s
crew chief, Lee Beard? Somehow I don’t think that
particular confrontation--prominently featured by ESPN and
NHRA this year in the intro promo to each TV show, by the
way--went along the lines of, “Excuse me Mr. Beard,
but I have a bone to pick with you about the way you’re
staging your car.” Again, I certainly wasn’t
within earshot, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all
if a few profanities were involved. Will Bazemore be afforded
the same latitude in similar instances, or will his competition
license be on the line? Like I said, he’ll probably
just chill, man. Why take the chance?
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Similarly, will it be unsportsmanlike to openly
lobby for better safety measures or track conditions (as
Bazemore successfully did a couple of years ago about the
previously marginal strip at Seattle)? Will it be unsportsmanlike
for Bazemore to ever question or criticize the sanctioning
body? NHRA will decide these answers for at least two years,
which undoubtedly will chill Bazemore’s opinions even
more.
And that’s a shame because we need guys
who speak out to keep this sport colorful and compelling.
That’s not to say I want to hear salty language spewing
from every racer’s mouth come interview time, but
please NHRA, don’t make them fearful of launching
tirades and showing true emotion. We don’t need a
bunch of Barney the Dinosaurs in firesuits and helmets;
we want real racers, tough, outspoken, and not afraid to
lay it on the line. We need guys like Whit Bazemore when
he’s not muzzled like a greyhound. So just chill,
man, and let him race in peace.
Race safe,
