Dustin Long

In the “things that occasionally cross my mind to do” department is the notion of reposting all the back catalog of posts I have written since this blog’s inception in August 2003. It’d be a fairly lengthy task, as the number is well over a thousand posts presently languishing in site backups and such. Also, how many of them would be of the slightest interest is highly debatable. That all said, it’d be sort-of nice to have them online again if for no other reason than to prove that yes, I really have been at this for a while.

An area that wouldn’t be nice at all would be how many of my posts from the days of yore were anything but gentle, meek and mild. (Like I’ve ever been, but that’s a topic best discussed in my personal blog.)

One of the blog’s calling cards in its early years consisted of withering fire aimed in the mainstream media’s direction. At the time, doing so was highly in vogue among us of the blogging persuasion. It was our self-appointed duty to speak truth to power, calling out those who sneered down at us from their ivory towers which we were determined to turn into Ivory soap, with us aiming fire hoses at their foundations.

This was before the days of blogging and professional journalism reaching an uneasy detente, with the latter adopting some of the former’s form even as bloggers strove to be more, well, professional in how they carried themselves online. Not that there is presently true peace between the two groups, especially in the political realm. However, in at least NASCAR land the two sides are on speaking terms. The sport itself giving bloggers its official nod of approval has gone a long way toward moving at least a few members of the blogosphere and the MSM toward acknowledging the other as something other than unwelcome twerps. Twitter has also done much toward breaking down barriers not only between the fans and NASCAR’s traveling journalistic corps, but between bloggers and journalists in terms of leveling the playing field. After all, on Twitter as elsewhere online no one can see your résumé. If you can write well, you’re in. If not, you’re not. Simple enough.

Still, as mentioned above it’s not like bloggers and the MSM are bosom buddies all of the time. Then again, more than a few members of the MSM aren’t exactly enamored with each other. But I digress. The point is that when a member of traditional media willingly reaches across the aisle to welcome a member of new media as a fellow participant in this rather oddball world we both inhabit, it’s a welcome moment by those of us in the new school.

Enter Dustin Long.

I have no idea how or when Dustin and I first met. Most likely it was through an e-mail; we didn’t meet in person until last year. Dustin has always been one of the NASCAR reporters by whom I was most impressed, with his philosophy of avoiding opinionative journalism, instead sticking to the story and digging deep to tell the entire story. He also impressed me with both his economical use of words and skill in interviewing, bringing out interesting information from drivers and the like who often came across as robots when speaking to the media yet when he talked to them revealed genuine thoughts and personality.

Yet even above these things, what impressed me the most about Dustin was how he took the time to be gracious toward yours truly when he had every reason to do otherwise, given my prickly relationship with other media members. He was always a true gentlemen, complimenting me when I wrote a quality piece yet unafraid to read me the Riot Act when I was needlessly getting into it with someone. Through watching him work, I learned a great deal about what it takes to be a good reporter. How could I not learn? He was, and is, one of the very best.

Disappointingly, at the present time he is off the NASCAR beat, being let go in a cost-cutting move by the newspaper for which he worked. Traditional media is shrinking, with fewer readers, listeners and viewers translating into fewer advertising dollars which are the lifeblood of any non-event funded (movies, theater) media. It is lamentable in the extreme that Dustin is now a victim of this cold reality.

While I don’t wish anyone to lose their job, knowing myself the feeling of doing so all too well, it is my literal prayer that someone will catch the vision and offer Dustin the plum reporting job he so richly deserves, the sooner the better. I hope to have media credentials for next March’s NASCAR appearance at Auto Club as well as for Infineon in June. It would be an empty feeling to walk into the media center at these events and not have one of the good guys there to whom I could say hello. And learn a few things too.

Taking this into NASCAR Land, a similar scenario as far as favoring an individual in a story where two people are involved has reared its ugly head, the incident in this case being the confrontation between Richard Childress and Kyle Busch this past Saturday in Kansas. Whether it’s Jenna Fryer recalling the nice things Childress said about Busch when he was a free agent, Marty Smith wondering why we all can’t get along or Bob Pockrass raking NASCAR over the coals for not doing the same to Childress, the media has made it more than apparent its sympathies lie with Busch, not Childress. Which is their right.

To a point.

One would like to believe in the media maintaining at least a semblece of objectivity when reporting the news. That said, when the constant comment is variations on a theme of poor widdle Kyle vs. big bad Richard it’s difficult to not wonder whether Busch’s status in the media as a charming rogue is clouding its ability to be fair and accurate. Which leads to the topic of whether the media is ever fair and accurate, but that’s a debate for another time.

Adding fuel to the fire is how much of NASCAR media is also engaged in social media, thus exposing themselves directly to the members of NASCAR Nation whose overwhelming sentiment is that the only thing wrong with what Childress did is not punch harder. Granted, there are times when members of the fan base embrace a position firmly rooted in the lunatic fringe; an example of this occurred earlier this year at Daytona when Fryer skipped a tweet-up due to a physical threat by an overzealous fan, offended by a perceived slight against their favorite driver. Inexcusable and unacceptable fan behavior, period. Fortunately, fringe-dwellers are few.

One of the inescapable fundamentals of social media is that it is two-way communication. There is no lording over others. If you are going to be expressing opinions, or attempting to shape the debate in your favor, you are going to hear from those who disagree, especially when the subject is one strongly felt about as is the case with NASCAR. The “don’t like it, don’t read it” whine is a pathetic attempt to divert attention from inability, or at best unwillingness, to defend what was so boldly said a moment ago. One is well advised to grow a pair and buy some skin thickener, as you will need both. As an aside, over the years I’ve been writing this blog I’ve been called every name in the book and a few new ones to boot. You have to learn how to shrug it off, or at the least respond with both barrels a-blazin’. Complaining is a complete waste of time.

All of this leads to the odd yet tangible connection between Andrew Breitbart and Richard Childress. Both have been at the heart of a major news story in their respective fields. Both have endured a less than friendly reception from the media as a result of actions. And both, to their credit, have been unapologetic. Breitbart, of course, has nothing about which to apologize, while Childress has spared all of us the non-apology (“if I have offended anyone…”) since he’s not sorry in the least for pounding on Busch. It’s quite refreshing in this era of political correctness to have a couple of genuine rogues, as opposed to Busch who never progresses beyond talking the talk, taking care of business.

Keselowski, understandably frustrated after a day which saw him playing a fuel mileage gamble into a lead entering the final lap only to have a cut tire relegate him to a third-place finish behind winner Mark Martin, was miffed by what he saw as disrespect when he was not interviewed on TV following the race. Meanwhile, Patrick was surrounded by media after recording the highest finish by a woman in any of NASCAR’s major series in its sixty-three year history.

Keselowski, who won the Nationwide championship last year, started by saying:

Before broadcast ends I’ll go ahead and say tv skipped me for Danica. Imagine that…

Shortly thereafter, Keselowski attempted to make light of the situation by tweeting:

haha I hope! “@davgrant: @keselowski Well you probably don’t look as good as her in a bikini!”

Keselowski followed this with an exchange on Twitter with Allen Bestwick of ESPN. Bestwick asserted that the reason Keselowski wasn’t interviewed on ABC’s post-race show was because the crew sent to interview him was unable to locate him. Keselowski asserted he was at his car for a few minutes following the race’s conclusion, subsequently walking past an ESPN crew on his way to the track’s media center to talk with assorted print media members and then left the media center while the television broadcast was still on air.

Keselowski next “went there” with this tweet:

haha In fairness, She did run really well. “@charlotte_11N14: @keselowski they can’t admit they all have a hard on for Danica ~

From there, Keselowski apparently realized he needed to swiftly tone it down:

I truly am happy for her She ran well. “@smokinace88: @keselowski So you didnt like Danica getting a good place finish today?”

that’s for u the fan to decide… exactly y tv must treat us the same “@SpTfN: You don’t think she’s a bigger story than your flat today?

I concede, Def. A gr8 story But not the call out about being unavailable @JowersRN: I think Danica deserved the camera time over you today.

Interspersed with these tweets were retweets by NASCAR writers such as Tom Jensen, editor-in-chief at SPEEDtv.com, supporting Keselowski’s opinion.

The subject of whether Danica Patrick receives more publicity than is warranted has been a hot-button issue since she first came to prominence in IndyCar, intensifying since she added NASCAR participation to her racing resumé last year. A fact often lost in the furor over whether it’s how she handles the curves on a race track or displays her curves in assorted magazines that brings her the most attention is how Patrick is indeed a talented driver. Her greatly improved results this year in Nationwide, including her fourth-place finish yesterday in a race where even without a successful fuel mileage gamble she would have placed solidly in the top ten, provide ample testimony to this fact.

Keselowski is justified in feeling slighted by not making a post-race appearance on television yesterday. However, he would be well advised to keep his disappointment strictly a matter between himself and the broadcast networks, leaving Danica Patrick well out of it.

(Cross-posted at Examiner.com.)

Anyway, I’ve been observing from afar the brouhaha over what took place in Daytona. Not on the track, mind you. In the media center, where at the race’s conclusion the sacred seal of silence was broken by the apocalyptic acidity of applause. By some, anyway.

Ever since the sordid, or so it is said by several, incident more gallons of electronic ink have been spilled on the matter than on Trevor Bayne. Speaking of the Knoxville lad, if the hype is beginning to turn you off, don’t let it. The kid is genuinely nice, sincere, and a talented young driver with a tremendous upside. But enough racing talk; back to what really matters — pontificating pundits. (Yes, I am being sarcastic.)

There are two schools of thought as to what happened, reminding one of the old joke about there being two theories on how to argue with women, neither of which work. One side says it was a one-time, spontaneous response to a magic sports moment and therefore no big deal. The other side says, and says and says and says, that it violated the holy oath of impartiality, unacceptably debased the sports journalism brand and highlighted the scurrilous nature of those irresponsible, unprofessional, unethical, uneducated and most likely unwashed cretins from the crass lagoon that is the (ugh!) blogosphere. Oh, and get off my lawn, you meddlesome kids.

Were this a simple case of differing opinions, all would be fine, well and good. Both sides’ argument have merit. Personal example, if I may: last year at Auto Club, during the October Nationwide race I said more than a few words out loud that would have made Richard Pryor blush when James Bueschler took out Danica Patrick. Was I rooting for her? Certainly and unashamedly. Then again, I was also the only reporter in the skybox press center at the time, yet even with that I kept all other comments strictly on the audible only to self volume level. Had I had company, as was the case during the Sprint Cup race the following day, I wouldn’t have said anything. Out loud, anyway. I’m not going to stop being a fan, but subjecting journalists to distractions such as cheering and the like is unprofessional. Besides, I was there to report, not root. Not that it stopped me from rooting; rather, I rooted just as hard as ever on that weekend. Just silently.

Indulge me expanding on this.

To this not-so humble scribe, on those unfortunately rare occasions when I’ve entered the press box and/or media center I have viewed them as a workplace. I’m there to do a job, namely write accurately and fairly about the people, place and event that together make a weekend of racing. I also feel an obligation to be something of a fan advocate, a representative of and for the people who passionately love racing. They will most likely never have the opportunity to work a race as a media member. I have been given that opportunity, and I take seriously the belief that I should use the opportunity to provide insight and put a human face on the faces known to most solely through a television set. I’m not going to stop being a fan because I’m wearing press credentials that weekend.

That all said, when I am attending a race as media I’m working, and the areas set aside for the press are my office. In that weird and occasionally wonderful world known as the day job, I work in an office. Work is what I’m here to do, and while I do take breaks, when I’m working I hate being interrupted by the behavior, or more accurately the lack thereof, of others. This makes for many interesting moments each day, for around my office silence is golden only in that it’s as scarce as gold, or if you prefer a NASCAR illustration scarcer than Kyle Busch t-shirts at a Junior Nation rally. One swiftly learns to ignore that which distracts, or else the prospect of responding in a fashion resulting in you being the lead story on all major network news programs plus CNN doing a live feed looms large. That, to put it mildly, would be overreacting on your part regardless of how justified it may feel. Keep that “overreacting” word in mind; it’ll come into play later.

When I’m at work, no matter how much in vain it may be, my hope is there will be a professional environment. That said, far too often the definition of what is professional is far too limited. (Rather like how for many of us, our definition of God is too small.) Professionalism isn’t strictly a matter of how we conduct ourselves. It’s our interaction with others at the workplace. It’s how management treats employees both publicly and privately. And it’s how we interact with our customers and/or clients. An illustration of these points is how some feel closing the office door is full license for any subsequent behavior, including ranting and yelling. No, all it means is you’ve made it slightly more difficult for everyone else to overhear you being a clueless, classless jerk by ranting and yelling.

Traditional and new media (i.e. bloggers) have had a relationship over the past years veering from open hostility to uneasy acceptance. Generally speaking, bloggers think of themselves as peers to traditional media, with occasional forays into dismissing it as a refuge for bloviating dinosaurs. Meanwhile, traditional media thinks of bloggers as at best enthusiastic amateurs and at worst over-caffeinated self-inflated punks ignorant of proper journalistic practices, such as fairness, neutrality and decorum.

Clichés aside, there are clear differences between the two. A blogger has far more range within which to approach a given subject. They have no prohibition against weaving opinion throughout any discussion of facts. They can say what they like when they like however they like, involving themselves in the story whenever and however they like. It’s gonzo journalism without apology. The trade-off is how for the most part, blogging is limited to drawing on traditional media for source material rather than having direct access to news sources themselves. At least this has been the case.

Today, with growing acceptance by news sources of blogging and bloggers as legitimate conduits of information, we’re seeing direct invitations to bloggers to sit in the same seats as traditional media, covering events directly as they transpire. Taking this into the realm of NASCAR, bloggers — not all, but some — are being granted permission to participate in press conferences and access to areas that were previously strictly traditional media’s realm. With privilege comes responsibility; when so invited, bloggers are expected to conduct themselves professionally. No asking for autographs; no cheering; be polite and respectful to both the people being interviewed and those doing the interviewing. You’re there to write about the people and the competition, not say “look at MEEEEE!”

Fair enough. But playing the Queen of Hearts yelling “off with their heads” about members of new media when there is the slightest misstep on their part is ridiculous. The hysteria and histrionics with which what happened in Daytona has been written about is pathetic; a very poorly disguised unleashing of the fear-fueled contempt with which members of traditional media, simultaneously resentful of perceived amateurs being allowed among their ranks and terrified of how the ever-shrinking traditional media realm could well make them next in the unemployment line, see their world.

Was Tom Bowles wrong to cheer in the Daytona press box? Yes, and his hot mess of a post at Frontstretch defending his actions is thin gruel. But did his actions warrant losing his gig at Sports Illustrated, or even the volume of written tirades about how he committed what to some is the ultimate unforgivable sin? No. A simple, directly delivered “don’t do that” would have sufficed.

Finally, a quote from an earlier post:

While threats against a reporter, or anyone for that matter, over such a trivial matter as perceived bias against a favorite athlete are without excuse, the incident points out the danger all media members face when engaging with their audience via social media. A reporter’s obligation is to be neutral in the face of any story regardless of their beliefs or persuasion. It can be safely argued that regardless of actual intent, anything a reporter says or does publicly factors into the perception of that reporter’s fairness. They do not have the luxury of saying whatever they want whenever they want without it being used against them. In an era of ever-increasing open communication, comments made in jest are ofttimes best not made at all. It’s not fair, but it is reality. 

In short, while it is appropriate for journalists to remind bloggers that when they are in the journalistic environment they should conduct themselves as journalists, it is equally appropriate for bloggers to remind journalists that there is no parallel for when journalists go a-bloggin’. So chill out.

I was all set to put together a post on the return of Carl Edwards to the winner’s circle yesterday at Phoenix, assuming he’s finished high-fiving everyone in the crowd by now. Well, that’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Which will give him more time to finish high-fiving everyone in the crowd. Reports have him currently on the hill behind the track high-fiving assorted horned toads, gila monsters, roadrunners, coyotes and the occasional collared peccary. But I digress.

Anyway, the aforementioned topic was preempted when Kevin Harvick took to the Twitterverse for some quality kvetching. Harvick, currently in a tight points battle with Tony Stewart to see which one will lay hold of this year’s Driver Least Likely To Send Any Given Member Of The Media A Christmas Card award, opined that he and his team have been Rodney Dangerfield for the past ten weeks as far as the press was concerned, so the whole lot of them could… well, go someplace rather unpleasant. Into the fray charged SBN’s Jeff Gluck, tagging an “oh please” in front a retweet of Harvick’s snipe. To which Harvick replied in a pure positively 4th street moment, “I was talking about real media people not you..”

Ouch.

Given that Gluck’s preferred method of dealing with people who disagree with him is sending them direct messages on Twitter to which they can’t respond, since he doesn’t follow them, and subsequently blocking them on Twitter, it’d be quite easy to take Harvick’s side in this cyberspace dust-up and let it be. However, far better to step back a bit and take a broader view of the matter.

I’ve done “the reporter thing” a couple of times on behalf of the fine folk at On Pit Row a couple of times this year. It was an eye-opening experience to see the amount of sheer work involved in dashing to and fro around the track, be it for pre-qualifying press conferences and other public relations meetings on Friday, hustling around the garage for post-qualifying quotes, then deciding how to cover the races that weekend. I don’t know how it works at other tracks, but at Auto Club Speedway where I went you as the media have two choices: 1) sit in the press room behind the pits, from which you can see only a sliver of the track and have to follow everything else on television but have access to the garage and media center for post-race interviews, or 2) sit in the skybox atop the stands from where you have the best view of the race, but have to conduct any post-race interviews blind as there’s a camera into the press conference area, but none allowing the people being interviewed to see you. For the record, I chose the latter. I can only imagine the grind of doing this weekend after weekend from February through November, adding to this the hassle of traveling to and from each track. The wonder is that a straitjacket isn’t mandatory workplace attire for NASCAR beat reporters.

This duly noted, regardless of the difficult work conditions, plus how when you’re covering the same individuals every weekend it’s inevitable that at some point people will rub each other the wrong way, it’s imperative for every member of the media to remember they’re not the show. It’s the drivers, crew chiefs and team owners. It’s the racing itself. These are the attractions. A quality reporter is invisible to their audience, and deliberately so. Their job is to gather facts and information, then present them through whichever media outlet is being used in an accurate, engaging manner. I’ve used the umpire analogy before. The best umpires are the ones whose names you can’t recall even after watching them call a game. Why are they so unmemorable? They called the game correctly, thereby ensuring you remember the game and not them.

It would be nice if everyone in NASCAR was gregarious in nature, always mindful of the Golden Rule in how they interact with the media. Same thing for the media in its dealings with the drivers and so forth. However, as long as human being are part of the equation, there will be conflict. People can snark, snipe and strike poses all they wish. It serves little.

Well, little other than making for an interesting morning on Twitter.

Anyway, quite the weekend to start off the season, what say? First there was the truck race… which became second due to the weather. Instead, first there was the Nationwide race, the only thing missing from which by ESPN’s perspective was Brett Farve as the grand marshal. All Danica, all the time.

It’s more than a little amusing to watch assorted members of the MSM pontificate about the overkill of Danica coverage even as they incessantly feed the machine. If said people were serious about such matters as promoting equal opportunity for female drivers, they’d be standing on street corners beating the drum 24/7 for Chrissy Wallace to get full-time sponsorship and a quality ride. Nothing against Rick Ware Racing; it’s terrific they’re giving Chrissy Wallace an opportunity. But we’re not talking championship caliber team come Nationwide time here.

Back to Chrissy, who last Saturday suffered a very premature exit from the race courtesy of John Menard Jr. over-indulging his son’s passion for auto racing by refusing to end his gifting of same to the child at the slot car level. It’s easy, all too easy, to hitch a ride on whichever bandwagon is currently barreling through pop culture town. Looking to be one of the Kool Kidz while doing so? Portray yourself as a vulture sneering at the soon to be carcass when its fifteen minute life span expires. In fact, you’re far more a leech than a vulture, clinging to every minute of the ride while it’s alive so as to gain maximum exposure basking in the glow of a short-lived candle belonging to someone else. Nevertheless, there is always a plethora of passengers on this carriage pulled by the dog and pony show. A far rarer animal is the one striving to shine the spotlight on those one believes truly deserve attention. Why? In the final breakdown, it’ll all about the ratings baby. Journalistic integrity? Meh. It’s implied by the byline, isn’t it? Uh… isn’t it?

That all said, Danica Patrick’s first turn at Nationwide warrants some mention from the racing aspect. She did all right before getting caught up in a wreck not of her own doing, driving cautiously and neither forcing the issue nor getting in anyone’s way. As to the race itself… what, Tony Stewart won the February Daytona Nationwide race? Wow. That never happens…

Back to Mrs. Hospenthal for a moment. A far more interesting test in her fledgling NASCAR career will be this coming weekend at Auto Club. How will she adapt to a flatter track where picking the correct line and getting the car right is of maximum importance? We’ll see come this Saturday. Regrettably, we won’t see Chrissy Wallace; she’s not scheduled for this race. Instead we’ll have the legendary Kenny Hendrick attempting to make the show. Thrillsville.

And for the record…

Chrissy Wallace is cute.

Next up was the truck race, which swiftly gave the impression most all participants had spent the twenty-four hour delay forgetting how to drive. Among those who had their evening plans unwillingly modified by others perfecting the art of brain fade was Jennifer Jo Cobb, who after a few years on the occasional guest appearance list is devoting 2010 to becoming a regular member of the NASCAR family. As a driver, not merely photo op.

Thankfully, Jennifer Jo Cobb can drive.

And then there was the Daytona 500.

To say the breaks in action courtesy of the track breaking were unfortunate is putting it as mildly as possible. Yes, drivers love worn-out racing surfaces. However, fans have the right to see a race in its entirety sans the broadcast crew interviewing everyone up to Digger in order to kill time. Certain delays are unavoidable, such as weather. That duly noted, this is the second straight year NASCAR has been unable to present its premiere and premier race either in its entirety or without interest and momentum-killing pauses. Not good.

Fortunately, the racing itself was sublime. No Big One, a slew of lead changes, and a last lap featuring Jamie McMurray hanging on to the lead for dear life as Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally showed the fire he’s been missing for the past year plus by blasting his way around and sometimes seemingly through fellow competitors en route to a second place finish he immediately labeled unsatisfactory as it wasn’t first. Good thing yesterday was a holiday for many, as the Junior Nation needed time to recuperate.

On to California.

A life lesson all too often learned too late is the wisdom of listening to your elders so you can benefit from their wisdom obtained by life’s lessons, the ones only experience can teach. This is especially true when the ones speaking are veterans of your vocation and/or avocation. Those who have been there, done that, read the book and bought the t-shirt are far more often than not ready and willing to share what they’ve learned along the way. This is one of the core elements of the human experience. As we are taught in Ecclesiastes there is nothing new under the sun. It behooves us, should we be in the mood to be behooved, to take in what has been absorbed by those who precede us.

Said all that to set up this. Recently, Dustin Long who is a top-notch reporter gathered together Kyle Petty, Jimmy Spencer and Larry McReynolds. He switched on the microphone, asked a few questions, and has been dodging shrapnel ever since. From direct challenges by Randy Poston to Brian France noting he was less than amused by the discussion, Long’s looked like the lead car at Talladega with one lap to go and no one behind him willing to push him along.

In the course of the aforementioned discussion, McReynolds made some pointed comments about the late David Poole. I interviewed Poole once, and read his work faithfully. Sometimes I wholeheartedly agreed with him, other times the response was an eyeroll and a ‘whatever.’ He called it as he saw it; consider it as you will.

McReynolds’ view was that Poole was excessively negative about NASCAR. Which is where Engle chimes in. In his view, the only thing wrong with NASCAR is that no one has taken Poole’s place as…

… exactly what?

While Engle’s strong defense of Poole is understandable given his open admiration for the man and his work, the assertion that with his passing there is a dearth of honest examination when it comes to all things NASCAR is absurd. No sport rises or falls on the basis of its reporting. The fans in the stands, as well as those watching at home who to a one have the ability to tune out the announcers should they choose to do so, are the sole true judges of any sport. They like it, they’re there. They don’t, they’re not. For a reporter to believe their words or those of a compatriot have the ability to significantly sway a large enough group of fans to make a difference in any direction grotesquely overestimates their influence. NASCAR’s sniping back at those who take potshots in its direction notwithstanding, no one is going to stop following the sport because of anything any reporter says.

Another element of Engle’s premise that falls apart under scrutiny is the notion that no one has yet assumed Poole’s mantle. Mantle of what? Media criticism has hardly dwindled. There isn’t a major writer covering NASCAR, be it Long or Lee Spencer or Jenna Fryer or anyone else, who has not severely taken it to task more than once this season. Absence of criticism by the media is not an issue. The very series of articles Engle points to contains a tremendous amount of honest critique based on the wisdom that comes solely through experience. Petty has experience on both the ownership and driving side. He’s won races. Spencer has won races. McReynolds has as a crew chief won races. When they speak about NASCAR, they know what they’re talking about. Engle reacting badly to McReynolds speaking plainly about his opinion of Poole’s tack when covering NASCAR doesn’t negate the rest of the conversation.

Ask the fans what they don’t like about NASCAR and they’ll be more than happy to tell you: too many dull races, too many dull drivers. They don’t need journalists to tell them this.

David Poole was a fine journalist, one whose memory deserves respect and honor. However, his absence isn’t what is wrong with NASCAR. Saying this is so ironically highlights something that actually is wrong with the sport: journalists who think too highly of themselves and/or hold fast to the delusion they are far more important than is actually the case, in the course of doing so dismissing the insight provided by those who’ve done the deed.

Bob Dylan said it best: “You can’t listen to critics.” Listen to your elders. First and foremost.

What the hell.

Seriously.  What the hell.

You’ve run some industrial strength steer manure in the past.  Bad reporting, bad writing, opinion columns with 99 44/100% less understanding of NASCAR, racing or anything else than Paris Hilton has about the value of chastity.  But today… well, today you’ve reached new heights in sinking to the lowest depths.  This one will be hard to top.  Or bottom, depending on how you look at it.

I refer to the article by Raygan Swan that starts out with this deathless prose:

“I love you man.”

Those were the words I mused Ryan Newman had cried into teammate Tony Stewart’s ear during the driver’s first Victory Lane celebration in the No. 14 last weekend at Pocono Raceway.

Elated with pride, Newman was the first guy to congratulate Stewart with a full on man hug during the post-race festivities.
Getty Images

Not since the Jimmie Johnson-Casey Mears tearful, man hug when Mears won his first Cup race back in 2007 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway have NASCAR fans witnessed such a ‘bromance’ bloom between two drivers.

Like Shrek and Donkey, Sam and Frodo or better yet Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton Jr., Stewart and Newman are in the midst of a notable bromance best described, unofficially, as the admiration and man-affection shared by two heterosexual males which doesn’t cross a line or put into question said manhood.

And you printed this.

Really.

Seriously.

You printed this.

I must say, to a degree congratulations are in order.  You’ve outdone yourselves in providing fodder for the NASCAR haters out there.  Oh, the jokes that will fly based on this one!  Look at dem dere rednekks going Brokeback Mountain.  Must be lonely in dem hills wid dem drinkin’ all that moonshine and no wemmens around.  Yuckle yuckle yuckle.

You know there’s a race this weekend, right?  You’ve heard about the manufacturer support that’s going away, correct?  You have some slight familiarity with the controversy over a crew chief being suspended for allegedly uttering a racial slur, I assume?  Am I correct in any of these beliefs?

And your response?

Running a powderpuff giggle-goo piece of drek any given tabloid would turn down for being too amateurish.

Nice going, Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network, lords and masters of NASCAR.COM.

Thanks for making NASCAR and the people who follow it laughingstocks.

Really.

Thanks.

And what the hell.

Seriously.  What is Kyle Busch’s problem?

His latest tirade against Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the stuff of which studies in petulance are made.  Whether it’s a deliberate attempt to reinforce his bad boy image or sniping on the level of a jilted former boyfriend dissing his replacement, Busch continues to embarrass no one but himself with his words.

What does he hope to gain by this?  He’s the one who’s said loud and long he could care less what the fans think.  His actions state otherwise.  They are those of someone who’s aggravated beyond belief that someone else is popular despite their being, at least in the view of the one feeling slighted, not worthy to walk the same earth as the injured party.

It’s been well over a year since Busch was dismissed by Rick Hendrick in favor of Dale Jr.  Since then he’s won a score of races in all three of NASCAR’s premiere series.  Get over it already and console yourself with your trophies.

Busch has also proven himself quite capable of self-destructing at most inopportune times on the track, thus depriving himself of even more wins.  If there is anyone at which he should be directing his anger, it should be himself for being his own worst enemy.

Why should he care if Dale Jr. is struggling?  That much less competition for him.  His delighting in Earnhardt’s woeful performance as of late reveals an inexcusable character flaw: the poor winner.

In short, Shrub is an ass.

He’s not alone.

Enter Ed Hinton, a worn out garrulous hack who’s everyone he’s ever loved that pukes philippics at every opportunity about The Way Things Ought To Be.  Rather like print journalism’s answer to John Daly.  Naturally, Hinton is employed by ESPN, the network that believes sports exist for the sole purpose of self-promotion.  His ringing endorsement of everything Shrub said plus tacked on rips against Dale Jr. (no link, he’s not worth it) was a classic example of what happens when a tired old man who still believes he’s the show decides to play the role of sports writer as tough guy.  Oooh, look at me!  I’m ragging on NASCAR’s most popular driver!  I’m edgy and provocative!  No, you’re just another bozo with bees up your butt, smarting because your sad sack sorry self got shown the door by the newspaper business and blaming Dale Jr. for all your self-inflicted wounds.  Why doesn’t he admit his thought process is “if he was doing better NASCAR would be more popular and I’d still have my old job!”  Probably because he’s afraid he’ll lose his ‘voice of the fan because I say I am’ status.

Kyle Busch and Ed Hinton.  So richly deserving of each other.

Okay, kids, you’re stuck with the rodent.  Deal.

And there was this gem (note the corresponding poll):

Poor widdle Johnny.  Everyone doesn’t read him and wuv him to itsy bitsy pieces!  Oh the humanity.