Or how about all those surfin’
B-movies, many with hot rods making the obligatory trip
to the local strip? Heck, drag racing even got a real movie
star out of that scene when “TV Tommy” Ivo parlayed
his on-screen popularity to even greater heights as a match
racer on par with the likes of Garlits, Muldowney, and Liberman.
(We’re seeing a little of that crossover now with
Jesse James of Monster Garage fame, and that’s good,
but he’s involved only as a sponsor, not someone the
sport can truly promote to the masses.)
But back to Bristol. As I watched that race
on TV in the wee hours of the morning, I realized that it
kept me up for the simple reason that I wanted to see what
would happen. It was just like the old days when drag racing
caught a lot of peoples’ imaginations. The race was
unpredictable, with several unlikely names making it to
the late rounds after the Schumachers, and Bernsteins, and
Dixons, and Forces etc. had all been sent home early.
Yes, the track probably was not up to par.
It certainly wasn’t providing the Velcro-like surface
these teams are used to, but you know what? That was the
best part. The track was the great equalizer, the one thing
that having more money couldn’t overcome. The drivers
really had to drive that day and their talents were on display
and plain to see for even the most neophyte fan. They either
found a way to get down it first, or they didn’t,
and it looked like the teams that typically don’t
have the power to run consistently with the big dogs were
benefiting the most.
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Sure,
there were exceptions (Funny Car winner Gary Scelzi with
crew chief Mike Neff comes to mind) and the cream eventually
did rise to the top, but it was still fun to see Jack Wyatt
going rounds, Jeff Arend making it to his first final in
nine years, and Rod Fuller almost pulling off the upset
of the season over Doug Kalitta in Top Fuel. That’s
great stuff. You can’t help but love it as a fan when
the “underdogs” have their day.
I don’t want to see this kind of race
all the time, as I realize it can lead to mishaps and accidents,
and I do like to see a good, fast, close race, but I still
believe there’s nothing wrong with watching the teams
face a little track-related adversity every once in a while.
I liken it to when the NASCAR series visits Bristol’s
half-miler just a stone’s throw away from the dragstrip’s
tower—you go in knowing it’s going to be difficult
to win, but it’ll be a great show and whoever comes
out on top will certainly have earned it.
Race safe,
