Saturday, February 18, 2006
The Darkest Hour
Tomorrow, NASCAR begins another season with the annual Daytona 500. The best way to describe this even is imagine the Super Bowl being played opening day.
Now the growth of this uniquely American sport, and I do consider the drivers athletes; you try driving a 3200 pound at 170 miles per hour for 500 miles and deal with 42 other cars of like weight, traveling at the same speed, is a study in clever marketing and possibly a reaction to the overinflated egos of many of todays stars.
But this race will also mark the 5th anniversary of the tragic death of one of the sport's true superstars.
I can't help but wonder if the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr sparked many of the safety changes that the sport has seen since; walls that can absorb impacts, and a neck restraint system among them.
Of course, his spirit lives on even today, especially in his son. Dale Jr. seems to be fired up and showing a lot of the same fire that made his father such a feared competitor.
Also, much like the tracks these drivers race on, things have a way of coming "full circle". That, though, is for another day. . . ¶ 7:24 PM
Tomorrow, NASCAR begins another season with the annual Daytona 500. The best way to describe this even is imagine the Super Bowl being played opening day.
Now the growth of this uniquely American sport, and I do consider the drivers athletes; you try driving a 3200 pound at 170 miles per hour for 500 miles and deal with 42 other cars of like weight, traveling at the same speed, is a study in clever marketing and possibly a reaction to the overinflated egos of many of todays stars.
But this race will also mark the 5th anniversary of the tragic death of one of the sport's true superstars.
I can't help but wonder if the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr sparked many of the safety changes that the sport has seen since; walls that can absorb impacts, and a neck restraint system among them.
Of course, his spirit lives on even today, especially in his son. Dale Jr. seems to be fired up and showing a lot of the same fire that made his father such a feared competitor.
Also, much like the tracks these drivers race on, things have a way of coming "full circle". That, though, is for another day. . . ¶ 7:24 PM
