Quotes From Reader
E-mails
These are snippets from actual reader e-mails
that we received and felt they were worth sharing
...Hi Rob, this is Mr France from NASCAR, well, not really, but you have been
put on probation for the rest of the season. It's the only thing that I
ever assign to my drivers as a punishment and it seems to be a pretty cool
thing to be given in the sport these days, so I thought you might like to
be given this kind opportunity too. You see, I cannot put my drivers on
suspension because their sponsors are needed greatly out on the race track
each weekend, which means I get more money in my wallet. So a safe way to
punish them to make the fans think I am actually doing my job is to issue
them scary probations so that they would NEVER think about doing it again.
I probably could have suspended him if I wanted to, but I lost quite of
bit of money in my NFL commissioner fantasy league last week, so I needed
the money this weekend. Enjoy, and have a pleasant evening.
Sincerely,
The internal mind of Brian France.......
From The internal mind of Brian France in reply to Has Everyone Forgotten Robby Gordon Last Week At Richmond? Or Last Year At Loudon? This Was Strike Three.
By-Rob Faiella
... I've been to 47 races since 1988 and I find my interest in NASCAR fading more and more in the last 2-3 years. The money it takes to go, the MTV-like representation of the drivers, not letting Jeff Burton have Diago on his car (when "we" desperately need sponsors), things like the DW store on every Fox show, Darlington (my fav) fading, one of the few remaining real race tracks (to me), inconsistent "rule" (rules...ha! that's a joke, are there really rules) enforcement, this rule change, that rule change, ugh! I believe NASCAR is heading the way of CART, lucky to get a SPIKE TV deal, because we'll all be washing our cars or playing guitars on the back porch on Sundays........
From Johnny D in reply to Are You Kidding Me? NASCAR Fines Johnson, Loses Mind! By-Rob Faiella
...Comments: You speak to those of us who, though we love "living" and all that entails, also have some sense of morality and have become, quite frankly, overwhelmed with this society's rampant disrespect for right and wrong. It's not okay to continuously bombard us with violence, sex, and plain old immorality and call it freedom of speech, or civil liberties. This past year was the first year I've ever followed NASCAR and was really disappointed that it too seemed to be boarding the bandwagon of "do whatever to get ratings". When the "well endowed" young female bared her breasts for Mr. Earnhardt and some media people it seemed to be the biggest reported story the next day and quite frankly the attitude "hey look at that" made me sick! Work with teens and young adults for any length of time and you realize what this "stuff" does to society as a whole. I continue to hope that NASCAR doesn't fully sell its soul and I find your column a breath of true fresh air. Thanks
name: Sarah.......
From Sarah in reply to Miscellaneous Observation, Opinions & Rants By-Don Hamm
...Comments: Don, The only thing I would accuse you of lately is being prolific. You have always told it like it is and I'm sure I'm not the only one who appreciates that rarity in your field. Please continue this as I'm sure you will. If you ever get the hankering to visit Alaska and do a little fishing please feel free to look me up. I'd love to have you on board for a couple days to talk racing and fishing and the fishing's on me. Thanks again for the good job you do.
Sincerely Mike Neuneker.......
From Mike Neuneker in reply to Pointing Fingers By-Don Hamm
...Comments: Don,
Thanks for your great articles!
"Queer Eye, Paris Hilton..." was the funniest article I have ever seen written about NASCAR, and one of the funniest about anything!
You have also stood up for diversifying the sport. It's an area of special interest to me, because I am black.
I also stand for traditional values. I want to see the kind of NASCAR that made it the fast-growing phenomenon that it has become. What are they doing to it?
Maybe some day, "real" NASCAR racing will be as phony as Buddy Wayne Barefoot.
Who's he, you ask? Good question, and one I can answer: I made him up to symbolize the values that all entertainers and athletes (not just NASCAR drivers) should live up to.
His "web address" is http://www.webspawner.com/users/bwbarefoot/index.html. I invite you to take a look at it, and maybe you can mention it in a future column.
Desmond Hobson
Lakewood, CA
name: Desmond Hobson
.......
From Desmond Hobson in reply to Paris Hilton, Queer Eye, OJ & Jesse By-Don Hamm
...Hey Rob,
I'm with you 100 percent on this one. Here's some more "Ideas" for NA$CAR.
1. Viewer voting for field inversion (ie: the Winston Open) before every race.
2. Pit Box selection decided by "Crew Chief Rasslin'"
3. Give Dale Jr. the Pole Position for every race
4. The final 10 weeks let the drivers outside the top 10 "Vote someone out" of the playoff.
Finally...(not a joke, I bet they do this eventually)
5. Pay Per View .......
From Steve Pleshe in reply to NASCAR's New Point System is Step 3 of 5 in Splitting into 2 Leagues By-Rob Faiella
... I couldnt agree more. Jr showed a lot of class and confidence all at the same time. He knows he will be back in the hunt next year, and chose not to force the issue this year. He also knows what it is like to win a Championhip (in the Busch Series)and what it feels like to watch one fade away (as he watched happen to his Dad). Kenseth had always been a worthy opponent of Junior's, and nothing less should have been expected.
About Roush- what a joke! He may as well be named the owner. It is no secret to NASCAR, other drivers, or the fans. Yet nothing has been, or will be, done about it. Why is that?!.......
From Mark S. in reply to Dale Jr Shows Class as Kenseth Clinches Title By-Rob Faiella
...I agree NBC STINKS!!! Its funny how when a football or baseball game goes long its no problem but if its NASCAR Well thats a different story, When will the NBC suits get their head out of the sand and figure it out?
.......
From Bob in reply to Opinions, Observations and Complaints This Week: NBC Stinks By-Heather N. Tygrett
...Here he is, Matt Kenseth, the man that is having one of the most unbelievable seasons in recent NASCAR history. You'd think we'd find a slight air of satisfaction about him now that he's al but locked up the championship. Instead, he goes on about how ashamed he is of having yet another top 10 finish. I realize that the man wants to win, but so do 42 other guys out on that track. So Matt, get over it. You are having by far the most amazing season, even your bad days have been better (so far) than most of your fellow competitors good days. It's okay to have a satisfied grin on your face, and still go about the business of trying to win every race. If you're going to be a Champion, and by the looks of it, you will be by a large margin, then you need to start acting like one. Being ashamed of having finished in a position ahead of 33 or so other drivers is no small accomplishment. Being disappointed in 9th when you were wanting the win is ok, but don't ever be ashamed of it. .......
From Demio in reply to Put the Lapped Car Rule in Perspective and Quit Whining
By-Rob Faiella
...I just wanted to say that the first lapped car is the closest to the leader of the cars only one lap down. AS for those more then one lap down they will have to get there laps back the old fashioned way and pass the leader for it. AS for Ryan getting his lap back and winning, I have very little doubt that he would have gotten his lap back anyway, as he has before. Todd Bodine was a perfect example of how giving a free pass doesn't really matter if you don't have the car to back it up. Seems to me if it had been Rusty or DJ or someone who hasnt' won or had a good race lately they wouldn't be crying so much. Seems Ryan is finding himself in the same boat as Jeff Gordon did when he was winning everything.
Just my thoughts........
From Camille in reply to Put the Lapped Car Rule in Perspective and Quit Whining
By-Rob Faiella
...Thank you for being one of the few writers to remember the events of 2 years ago. I may only be 34 years old, but have enough wise enough in years to know what freedom means to me! I read all your articles, but this one is worth passing on! Great job and God Bless the US!
Karin M_____
Illinois.......
From Karin in reply to 911, Racing And Beyond By-Don Hamm
...I was at the race. My seat was directly in front of the 15 box. Let me tell you that Chad Knaus did not check the fender, he was checking to make sure that there was no one under the car! Nascar made the right call.
Until Nascar decides that they are going to take safety seriously, such as not allowing cars to race back to the stripe or making needed changes to entering pit road than this will happen again.
I believe some big issues came out of Sunday race. The issue of the phantom caution that was thrown by Nascar to bunch the damn cars back up! This happens all the time. My hope is that Brian France is smart enough to know that all the marketing in the world is not going to help this sport if there is another fatality.
Nascar needs to listen to Dale Jarrett's voice on the radio after he sat on the track like a sitting duck while Casey Mears bore down on him doing 130mph. He sounded terrified. Thank God his spotter was smart enough to tell him to stay strapped in! No soft walls would have saved him from that hit!
Until Nascar makes safety and not money the biggest priority and the "young guns" stop with the attitude of "win at any cost" then the veteran drivers will not feel compelled to follow suit because that is the only way to win. Compare Bill Elliots attitude with that of Kurt Busch who was racing to get his lap back. Bill said that he slowed down because DJ was sitting there, Busch saw he had a chance to get his lap back. Bill ended up losing. Busch ended up gaining! What is wrong here???
.......
From Elizabeth Cushing in reply to Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson Should Have Been Penalized; NASCAR Needs New Pit Road Rules By-Rob Faiella
...Comments: Thanks for another thoughtful article. I look forward to them. I especially appreciated your comments about 'luck'. I think you can make two equally true statements about winning the Cup championship:
1. You don't win the championship by being lucky.
2. You don't win the championship without being lucky.
They are contradictory, but they are still both true. It's just the way it goes.
Just my two cents. Keep up the good work.
Rick.......
From Rick in reply to Miscellaneous Observation, Opinions & Rants, What Were They Thinking? By-Don Hamm
...Article (What they wanted to say)
Dear Mr. Hamm,
Thank you for wasting your time to voice your concerns and for giving us
the opportunity to practice lying. Some of the news you are reading
about the BAM racing team is pretty damn accurate and I'm happy to lie
to you. First, you may know that RJ Reynolds is --and has been -- the
exclusive sponsor of NASCAR in its product category. Nextel's
sponsorship agreement calls for exclusivity as well. However, in the
interest of ourselves and our stock options, it's important for us to
discourage existing sponsors, especially those in telecommunications.
The BAM team is welcome to continue its existing relationship with the
AT&T consumer group (1-800-call-att) for as long as they like or until
the 2004 season starts. When we will turn our attention to discouraging
them with the help of NASCAR's tech inspectors.
Nextel is committed to the future of NASCAR, the teams, drivers -- and
most of all the fans who we are counting on to blindly buy our product
as we were promised they would by Mr. Farce and Mr.The hell you will.
That's why we made the single largest financial investment in the sport.
Working together, we will all thrive in the future to bring great a
experience to the mindless masses in our target demographic.
I understand you feel strongly about this. Please know we will always
act in our best interest and with a strong sense of fairness to
ourselves.
Thank you again for wasting our time about this.
Steve Sierp
.......
From Steve Sierp in reply to Miscellaneous Observations, Opinions & Rants II (More Words I Hate) By-Don Hamm
...give em' hell Don,
this is scary I have been reading you articles for awhile and I agree with about 99% of what you have to say.
you don't have any old girlfriend's in Tennessee that may have had a kid do you? LOL
again great article
Ric
Note: I spent two years in Clarksville, TN but I know nothing. Don.......
From Ric in reply to Miscellaneous Observation, Opinions & Rants (Words I Hate) By-Don Hamm
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