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August 13, 1999 -by Rick Anges The Calls
As a reporter and associate editor for Florida Stock Car Racing I have
been around the state to watch and report on racing. I also have been a fan
and a racer of all forms of racing. Every year I make the trek to Sebring to
watch the 12 hours. For years my father and I drag raced around the state and
into south Georgia. But since I have been able to get to the inside of our
great sport I have been noticing a lot of discontent among drivers and fans
about calls on and off the track.
Every track has its problems that's for sure but also people have to realize that everyone that goes to the tracks is an individual in his own right. The regulars who come to the track every weekend have their favorite driver they root for with such intensity that their coworkers or even some family members would not recognize them on a Saturday night. Sometimes that driver is sent to the rear of the field for a problem they did not cause but most of the time the officials are right. Its really hard to do a job without support of the cast and crew of the people that you are supposed to be working with. How many of us would be willing to stand in that flag stand week after week? How would you like to be the tech guy who never gets to watch the race? Think these guys are high paid?
Think again this is something they do for the love of the sport they represent. No, they don't do it for free but they aren't rolling in the cash either. They
have to listen to hundreds of complaints week in and week out and do what
they think is right in making the right call. How many times have you been
watching a race following the drivers going into turn 2 when a huge wreck
occurs in turn 4 and you missed the whole thing? Or what about when you are
watching the wreck and your just not sure which driver caused the problem you
just know your guy was in it and you don't want to see him go to the back.
I'm not saying there are no bad officials out there but I know for a fact
that most track management knows that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch and do their best to weed them out as quick as possible and if they don't
then they will lose their most valuable asset, the ones who ultimately pay
the bills.....you the fans!
Tracks should listen to the fans there is no doubt about that but the competitors should also listen this is an entertainment business all the top drivers in their respective classes do what they can to please their fans on and off the track the ones who don't think the fans matter will never go anywhere in this sport. NASCAR is where it is today because of the fans no more no less. It's us who buy their products, pay the admission to the race tracks, and watch every week to see how the race is going to turn out. Bad calls are going to happen but before you jump down the throat of an official remember what it takes to get up in that flagstand,sit in that tower and score,tech the cars every week.
If you have a problem with a call let them know most race tracks have a Web site and we have the message board that believe it or not almost all of them read. But don't be bashing with name calling it will get you no where I guarantee that.
The Speedways and racers that don't listen and appreciate the fans that come
week after week and spend that hard earned buck are the ones that wont make
it. The ones who treat us like we are part of the family are the ones that
will succeed. Support your favorite drivers sponsors, go to that restaurant
that you see in the program buy that 50/50 ticket it will all pay off in the
end with some great home town racing! No other sport in the world can compare
to racing you don't have to go to college with a scholarship to make it all
you have to understand its the fans who make a difference
..........Rick Anges Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
or send a letter to the editor! |
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