The New York Times has been looking back at the “Decade in Sports” as we come close to entering the year 2010. A recent story in the series was devoted to looking at NASCAR and what has changed since Dale Earnhardt died at the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001. We don’t think Dale would approve, and neither do they.
The story captures the transformation of NASCAR from a large racing series to a marketing company that happens to have a race series. While it is impossible to say that Earnhardt’s death caused a decline in the popularity of the series, because it didn’t, it is possible to say that his death brought on the “kinder, gentler” racing series we see today.
The drivers are all prim and proper, thanking sponsors, pitching products, and on occasion engaging each other in a shoving match (while wearing their helmets…tough guys). Yeah, every once in a while someting on the track that isn’t a massive wreck will draw attention, but the fact is, there is not one central personality drawing people to the sport anymore. Whether you loved or hated Earnhardt, it was lots of fun to watch him race.
We agree with the story that ol’ Dale wouldn’t be too into the situation going on with “his” series now. It sure would be nice to have him back .
