Chicken Or The Egg?
Written by George Katinger · June 9, 2004
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Are the current top 10 points leaders there because of the new scoring system or in spite of it? Interesting question, but ultimately meaningless.
usatoday.com: Veterans left out of points race
Why? Because if you race well, win a race or two, you will be in the top ten, same as all of the prior NASCAR seasons. The more relevant question is why have all the veteran drivers fallen off the pace seemingly all at once? Don’t rightly know, but I’m thinking hunger has a lot to do with it.
At a certain age, with a degree of success behind you, a measure of financial security and a family waiting for you at home, it is only natural that you become less willing to risk your neck racing against “Young Guns” who have everything to prove and nothing to lose. And the ultimate legacy of the unfortunatly early demise of Dale Earnhardt Sr. in a racing accident may be that even legends aren’t bullet proof. Why should I press my luck against no mind kids who have no respect for nothing but speed and winning?
I guess that is what “racing” is all about, isn’t it? Taking risks and pressing the edge of the envelope, in test pilot speak. With the institution of the Hans Device and safer walls, the younger set of drivers feel relatively secure. The veterans will never forget the ultimate price of failure, and if the choice is between a risky move and preservation, it’s difficult to overcome that survival instinct.
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