[vincesanity82]

On an XM satellite program, Jimmie Johnson recently disputed the notion that today's drivers are fundamentally different from those who came before. "There isn't a driver on the circuit, including Jeff Gordon, that isn't a beer-drinking, fun-loving guy," said the reigning Nextel Cup champion. "All of us are that, but all of us have worked our butts off from racing local short tracks, eating the hell out of fast food restaurants, sleeping at truck stops. "We're all normal guys, and that's cool about our sport. Everybody can root for who they want and say what they want, but I've always had that problem and I grew up in Southern California, going to Lake Havasu and partying on Easter break and Fourth of July and riding my dirt bike, doing all that same stuff and, you know, everybody gets labeled with something." -- Gaston Gazette

Sports: NOTEBOOK: It goes away in a hurry for Marlin, Nemechek | nascar, racing, marlin

[BringBackWilkesboro]

I seriously doubt that ANY of today's drivers worked all that hard to get to where they are, no matter how much they or anybody else believes they did. Racing local short tracks, eating fast food and sleeping at truck stops... sounds like the first 30 years of my life, and I had a blast.

Working to be a racer in my book is working some construction site in the summer to be able to buy a racecar then managing to find people who know what they're doing that are actually willing to help you out. Then you travel the southeast dirt tracks trying to make enough money to maintain the one car you could afford, then if you're lucky, you'll get some finacial help from a local area business and you'll be able to run more races (most likely working on your car YOURSELF mind you).

Most people without money who try this usually fail to get above the local short track ranks, like I did, but if you get above that these days, you just need to hope someone with big time equipment notices you. yesterdays drivers had to repeat the whole process over again, this time at the NASCAR level hoping they could do something with the inferior equipment before they got anywhere.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

I seriously doubt that ANY of today's drivers worked all that hard to get to where they are, no matter how much they or anybody else believes they did. Racing local short tracks, eating fast food and sleeping at truck stops... sounds like the first 30 years of my life, and I had a blast.

Working to be a racer in my book is working some construction site in the summer to be able to buy a racecar then managing to find people who know what they're doing that are actually willing to help you out. Then you travel the southeast dirt tracks trying to make enough money to maintain the one car you could afford, then if you're lucky, you'll get some finacial help from a local area business and you'll be able to run more races (most likely working on your car YOURSELF mind you).

Most people without money who try this usually fail to get above the local short track ranks, like I did, but if you get above that these days, you just need to hope someone with big time equipment notices you. yesterdays drivers had to repeat the whole process over again, this time at the NASCAR level hoping they could do something with the inferior equipment before they got anywhere.

http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp...p=ZSYYYYYYYYGB

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

I seriously doubt that ANY of today's drivers worked all that hard to get to where they are, no matter how much they or anybody else believes they did. Racing local short tracks, eating fast food and sleeping at truck stops... sounds like the first 30 years of my life, and I had a blast.

Working to be a racer in my book is working some construction site in the summer to be able to buy a racecar then managing to find people who know what they're doing that are actually willing to help you out. Then you travel the southeast dirt tracks trying to make enough money to maintain the one car you could afford, then if you're lucky, you'll get some finacial help from a local area business and you'll be able to run more races (most likely working on your car YOURSELF mind you).

Most people without money who try this usually fail to get above the local short track ranks, like I did, but if you get above that these days, you just need to hope someone with big time equipment notices you. yesterdays drivers had to repeat the whole process over again, this time at the NASCAR level hoping they could do something with the inferior equipment before they got anywhere.

are you refering to all drivers or just the young top guns..

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

are you refering to all drivers or just the young top guns..

Well, the only exceptions I can think of are Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott. The era of drivers doing what I talked about has long since passed.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

Well, the only exceptions I can think of are Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott. The era of drivers doing what I talked about has long since passed.

What about DJ BBW?

[kcoruol]

I don't think anyone can get to the top tier of their sport with out a heck of a lot of work, effort, & money.

Of course there may be exceptions, race car drivers who's fathers were race car drivers, through family connections.

Paul Newman had money and fame on going for him.

I'm not sure why celebrities who make millions of dollars feel they have to be seen like the guy who makes $32,000 a year working 40 hours a week.

NASCAR seems more so than other sports like the NBA and NFL where their sports celebrities seem to feel they are above everyone including our nations laws.

Can you image the same standards being applied to the NFL.
"The quarterback for the New England Patriots was found to be wearing cleats 1/100 of an inch longer than is allowed. He was fined $100,000; the equipment manager was also fined $100,000 and suspended for 6 games and the owner was given a $250,000 fine."

Getting off topic I know.
With the moral fabric of the NFL player on the same level as a maximum security inmate, I'm not sure I'll be supporting the NFL as a fan.

I'm glad I found NASCAR and am now a NASCAR fan!

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Quality88

What about DJ BBW?

DJ certainly spent alot of time fighting his way up in lower tier equipment with owners such as Emanuel Zervakis, Hoss Ellington and Eric Freelander. Once he landed the ride with Cale Yarborough, he was able to do a little more, and enough to impress the Wood Brothers.

I guess I would consider him an exception. The only thing that makes me think twice is the role his father played. He started out at Hickory Motor Speedway, owned by his father, so he maybe never made the huge sacrifice and he did had some pretty knowledgeable people working with him from the start.

It's the best drivers that can take the bad equipment and still be able to make in this sport. Even with his Dad along side him, Dale never had anyone waiting to give him a ride because of his name.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

DJ certainly spent alot of time fighting his way up in lower tier equipment with owners such as Emanuel Zervakis, Hoss Ellington and Eric Freelander. Once he landed the ride with Cale Yarborough, he was able to do a little more, and enough to impress the Wood Brothers.

I guess I would consider him an exception. The only thing that makes me think twice is the role his father played. He started out at Hickory Motor Speedway, owned by his father, so he maybe never made the huge sacrifice and he did had some pretty knowledgeable people working with him from the start.

It's the best drivers that can take the bad equipment and still be able to make in this sport. Even with his Dad along side him, Dale never had anyone waiting to give him a ride because of his name.

I never claimed him to be like the rest, but he did travel the rough road to get to where he got . Hell he wrecked a car and twisted his foot around and bouced back to go on to NASCAR.

[PenelopePitStop]

Compicated Thread. Two things:

1. Jimmie Johnson should in no way be a spokesman for his competitors' lifestyles ... past or present. To say "There isn't a driver on the circuit, including Jeff Gordon, that isn't a beer-drinking, fun-loving guy," pigeon-holes drivers as drunken and irresponsible. Clearly, this is not the case.

2. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm sure you lovely NASCAR-knowledgable fans will, but didn't Mark Martin have an issue with alcohol and the "fun-loving" lifestyle years ago? Got his act together, quit drinking, and started working out?

Jimmie Johnson should keep his mouth shut when it comes to classifying other drivers!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Compicated Thread. Two things:

1. Jimmie Johnson should in no way be a spokesman for his competitors' lifestyles ... past or present. To say "There isn't a driver on the circuit, including Jeff Gordon, that isn't a beer-drinking, fun-loving guy," pigeon-holes drivers as drunken and irresponsible. Clearly, this is not the case.

2. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm sure you lovely NASCAR-knowledgable fans will, but didn't Mark Martin have an issue with alcohol and the "fun-loving" lifestyle years ago? Got his act together, quit drinking, and started working out?

Jimmie Johnson should keep his mouth shut when it comes to classifying other drivers!

glad you said that .. I've been thinking I'm loosing it...

I can probably point to a couple drivers who don't drink anything alcoholic, much less beer, so I doubt Jimmy is speaking for them - which just goes to prove JJ doesn't always know what he's talking about.

Mark isn't the only driver who has realized the hair of the dog doesn't mix well with the sport (maybe that's why Tony seems so on edge lately?) from years of paying attention to these types of things, I've noticed most pro athletes who take care of their body don't consume "adult beverages" because they understand it isn't good for the body. If it were, why wouldn't coaches be encouraging their athletes to partake instead of just the opposite?

however, I believe JJ was trying to say the drivers are just ordinary folk though he did a bang up rotten job of it. JJ shouldn't be turned loose without a script .. he just tries to hard to be likeable and then messes up everything because he doesn't think before he speaks....

[oncea3fan]

MAYBE HE'S TRYING TO BECOMEW THE TEAM BADBOY TO REPLACE KYLE.

IMHO it just didn't go over the way he was thinking in his head, happens to me all the time

JJ shouldn't be turned loose without a script ..... I agree

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

glad you said that .. I've been thinking I'm loosing it...

I can probably point to a couple drivers who don't drink anything alcoholic, much less beer, so I doubt Jimmy is speaking for them - which just goes to prove JJ doesn't always know what he's talking about.

Mark isn't the only driver who has realized the hair of the dog doesn't mix well with the sport (maybe that's why Tony seems so on edge lately?) from years of paying attention to these types of things, I've noticed most pro athletes who take care of their body don't consume "adult beverages" because they understand it isn't good for the body. If it were, why wouldn't coaches be encouraging their athletes to partake instead of just the opposite?

however, I believe JJ was trying to say the drivers are just ordinary folk though he did a bang up rotten job of it. JJ shouldn't be turned loose without a script .. he just tries to hard to be likeable and then messes up everything because he doesn't think before he speaks....

Agreed, RD. And I do believe drivers are "just ordinary folk" for the most part. I don't have an issue with drivers having a beer or two. However, I think Jimmie's comments were over the top. As for Tony, I don't know what his drinking habits are. Doesn't really matter to me. If he, or any driver, is stupid enough to drink alcohol in excess the night before a race ... well, enough said.

If, as you say, Jimmie tries hard to be likeable, I agree he's doing a pretty bad job. Jimmie needs to find another venue to woo the fans. However, he will never woo me, no matter what he does or says.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Agreed, RD. And I do believe drivers are "just ordinary folk" for the most part. I don't have an issue with drivers having a beer or two. However, I think Jimmie's comments were over the top. As for Tony, I don't know what his drinking habits are. Doesn't really matter to me. If he, or any driver, is stupid enough to drink alcohol in excess the night before a race ... well, enough said.

If, as you say, Jimmie tries hard to be likeable, I agree he's doing a pretty bad job. Jimmie needs to find another venue to woo the fans. However, he will never woo me, no matter what he does or says.

another point we agree on .. is this habit forming?

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

another point we agree on .. is this habit forming?

Perhaps, my friend. Perhaps.