Emotions run high during a race, but a driver who gets angry enough to throw a bumper at another car on track is danger to himself and others.
In a NASCAR race at Richmond Raceway this weekend, two cars tried to occupy the same space at the same time. The No. 4 of Dawson Cram put the No. 35 of Joey Gase ‘into the wall’ totaling the race car and almost ripping the rear bumper off. When the yellow flag came out, Gase walked across the track and threw threw the fiberglass bumper cover at his rival.
Four years ago, a go-kart racer named Luca Corbieri was suspended for 15 years for doing exactly the same thing. During a top-level kart race, Corbieri got ‘taken out’ and took revenge by throwing a bumper at a live track.
Granted, these aren’t apples to apples comparison. The go kart bumper probably weighs close to 10 lbs, and there’s no windshield to protect the other drivers head. It could have killed the other guy. Whereas the NASCAR bumper was just a flimsy piece of fiberglass that flopped over the car. It wasn’t getting through the roll cage.
The series may still decide to penalize young Gase if there’s enough backlash, but as of Monday morning, he was a viral sensation making the marketing department giggle with glee.
But this is indicative of the real problem in racing today; a lack of respect for competitors, or their safety, all in the blind pursuit of racing glory. And the way that some series capitalize on it. This problem is bigger than one racer. The culture of racing needs an attitude adjustment.
A lot of what you said applies to society at large. We need a societal attitude adjustment. The worst part is when people suffer no consequences for bad behavior. I can think of a very prominent example of this . . .
I was only focused on racing, but perhaps this is indicative of a larger problem in society as a whole. When the punishment for transgressions is NOTHING then why would anyone follow rules?
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I spent years at the kart racing track when my son Daniel was younger. The behaviour of some of those kids was outrageous. Ten or twelve year old racers throwing their helmets after a race. Or worse, yelling at their mom/dad for not preparing the race kart perfectly (blaming them for the results).
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The same parents would tell little Johnny how incredible he is; like the second coming on Ayrton Senna. The kids become so arrogant that they lash out when things don’t go their way. Threatening other racers in the paddock after the checkered flag has fallen. Criticizing race officials when penalized. Just a complete level of disrespect for competitors or racing organizations.
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And then these kids grow up, some become ‘professional’ racers, and act like children, which is what was on display in Richmond Speedway this weekend.
As Crosby, Stills, and Nash urged us: “Teach your children well.” Childish behavior from adults often gets the attention, which isn’t how it should be. Dammit.
You know what I find even more troublesome than that racer’s behaviour?
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It’s how the series organizers has glorified the behaviour by putting out highlight packages of the ‘bumper throwing; from three different camera angles and a slow-motion replay.
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Why would that driver believe he did anything wrong if his behaviour made him famous?
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By next week, he’ll have a new sponsor: Rust-Eze Bumper Ointment.
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He’ll have a nationwide commercial saying “Don;t throw your old bumper away. Just apply some Rust-Eze and you bumper will look new again!”
Yes that glorification and attention is a huge aspect of the problem. No one writes articles like, “Suburban woman loves her family for another day, being a careful and considerate driver all the while.” 🙂
Interesting thought. This is all about the desperate desire for attention. My kids would call it ‘thirsty’. Everyone wants the limelight, and if they have to act like goofs to get it… so be it.
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Nobody ever talks about a driver with 100,000 km driving (or 10 years experience) accident free who lets other cars zipper merge at the highway on ramp.
Slow and steady may win the race but it definitely doesn’t make headlines.
I used to have a bad driving record when I was in my 20’s. Then at some point I grew up, got married and had a family. My driving style really changed.
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The only ones that recognized it was my insurance company. They told me I was a Seven Star driver (7 years without a ticket or accident).
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That deserved a headline somewhere
Damn right. That is an accomplishment! If I had a newspaper, you’d be on the front page of the lifestyle
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WOW!!!! That is crazy!!! In my opinion, the NASCAR driver should get a 15 years suspension as well. We all know it is NASCAR and the “show” comes first for them and as you said, they must enjoying all the fuss. But it is still a sport and the competitors should behave like professionals.
The off season from F1 and IndyCar is so long, I started watching a few races each year, and I always hated NASCAR for these antics. It is terrible how they glorify (I don’t want to say ‘promote’) crashes and retaliation.
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But you are 100% correct, Rubens; a big, long suspension is in order. And consistent application of the rules for the next guy who engages in the same stupidity.
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This is still a professional racing league and must follow rules that protect the competitors and the integrity of the sport.
I used to listen to stock car racing as a youngster. It seems that they were a lot more forgiving. If they lost, they shook hands and tried harder the next time.
Agreed, Jerry. In the not too distant past, you’d shake the hand of your racing rival and hope to give his a run for his money the next time.
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This behaviour of throwing gloves, helmets or bumpers at other racers is insane.
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The one part that should not be forgiving is the sanctioning body (the series) when drivers make actions that endanger themselves or others. Just look how close the driver had to get to throw that bumper. One wrong step, and it could have been him that ended up hirt (or worse).