Whether or not you like NASCAR is not the issue here. I’ll publicly admit I watch it, (OK, like everyone else, I sit patiently waiting for the ‘big one’.)
However no matter what you think of the sport of turning (mostly) left at 180 mph in a car that kinda resembles something you might purchase at your local dealer, you’ve got to give the NASCAR folks credit for minding the store. They keep their drivers, their teams, and their owners on a short leash. In the process, they present an image that keeps the sponsors that spend ga-millions of dollars supporting the sport, very proud of the integrity of their investment.
Take this past weekend when one owner had two of four team cars fail inspection because of “modifications” to body panels. It can be argued that rules might be a bit gray…but, NASCAR’s point is black and white: if we catch you trying to ’stretch the rules’, we are going to lower the boom.
There’s something refreshing about a sport that is run by the sport — rather than the players. Screw up in NASCAR and you will pay in terms of driver points, owner points, dollars, and/or suspensions. You can almost count on it. Screw up in a lot of other sports and you’re on the front of a Wheaties box. Go figure.
I’m not sure that professional baseball, football, hockey, and basketball wouldn’t be wise to take a lesson or two from the governing body of NASCAR. Nagghhh, they could never risk doing that…as the superstars might go on strike. I’ll take you all to lunch the day NASCAR teams start a union and go on strike. It will NEVER happen!
