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Got a chance to read up on this years inductees earlier today, and the list says a lot about how the sport has evolved;
Bill Elliot - obvious candidate
Rex White - the circuit's oldest living champion
Fred Lorenzen - overdue and unable to attend due to Alzheimer's disease
Joe Weatherly -- we remember; what more need be said
and Wendell Scott - a man who forced the circuit to face the embarrassment of racial issues
If the list says anything, it serves as a reminder that NASCAR, like all the other big-time sports venues, has no choice but to adapt itself to a changing world. It can't hide and escape the fact that, as with both basketball and hockey, it is geared to a specific segment of the population, and if it has, on occasion, allowed its darker side to surface, it has also developed the maturity to "own up" and allow its positive side to speak for itself.
It's not a matter of us/them; some years ago, upon the death of Banjo Matthews -- Fireball Roberts' mechanic, a pretty fair driver in his own right, and the person who became the "point man" on a lot of safety issues after Roberts' tragic death, Matthews' obituary was broadcast on the supposedly-unfriendly airwaves of National Public Radio.
The nature of automobile racing probably lends itself to confrontation more than any other major sport, but that doesn't mean that a sense of heritage and dignity won't be allowed to further develop.
Got a chance to read up on this years inductees earlier today, and the list says a lot about how the sport has evolved;
Bill Elliot - obvious candidate
Rex White - the circuit's oldest living champion
Fred Lorenzen - overdue and unable to attend due to Alzheimer's disease
Joe Weatherly -- we remember; what more need be said
and Wendell Scott - a man who forced the circuit to face the embarrassment of racial issues
If the list says anything, it serves as a reminder that NASCAR, like all the other big-time sports venues, has no choice but to adapt itself to a changing world. It can't hide and escape the fact that, as with both basketball and hockey, it is geared to a specific segment of the population, and if it has, on occasion, allowed its darker side to surface, it has also developed the maturity to "own up" and allow its positive side to speak for itself.
It's not a matter of us/them; some years ago, upon the death of Banjo Matthews -- Fireball Roberts' mechanic, a pretty fair driver in his own right, and the person who became the "point man" on a lot of safety issues after Roberts' tragic death, Matthews' obituary was broadcast on the supposedly-unfriendly airwaves of National Public Radio.
The nature of automobile racing probably lends itself to confrontation more than any other major sport, but that doesn't mean that a sense of heritage and dignity won't be allowed to further develop.
All good choices and glad they were all inducted before anymore of the France family gets in. Is Brian France or any of his kids in line for the Hall?
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
