Now, I didn't watch the banquet from Las Vegas but apparently during the NASCAR Images video highlight package they included footage of on-track crashes for the first time in nine years.
Here is what NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston had to say about it:
“We want to tell the story of bumping and banging,” Poston said. “There are moments in races throughout the season where crashes and wrecks are a key part of the story line. … There’s a balance you’ve got to take to make sure you’re not glorifying dangerous situations.”
Here is my take: the reason why NASCAR has fallen off the radar with most people is because it doesn't glorify the danger. All we hear about is the safety features of the new car, the new SAFER barriers, the new and improved safer catch fencing, and on and on. All of those things are all very good and the sport is better for having them. But for the general public, they want to see racecar drivers defying logic, sanity, and yes even death by driving on the absolute outer edge of control at breakneck speeds through dangerous situations to win races.
NASCAR needs to let the world know that in the X-Games world, its drivers are the most extreme athletes out there. Yes, danger is around every corner but it doesn't matter to men like Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon.
Crashing is a part of the game. Some of them are accidents. Some are on purpose. All serve a purpose. Do real race fans watch *just* for the crashes? We all know the answer is no. But there is no need to disguise the fact that they happen and they add excitement to the sport.
the best part of the banquet was Brooks & Dunn, Rick Hendrick choked up when he was awarded the highest award in Nascar, and the best speech was by Mark Martin.
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