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September 12, 2002
Last week I wrote a column suggesting access to NASCAR garage areas should be limited to teams and officials only. I did not expect this to be a popular opinion. In fact, I advised readers who only wanted to call me an idiot to save their time and not write. And I’m sure many that disagreed followed this advice. However, I was surprised how many people agreed. To date I have received 78 emails agreeing it is time to take this step. The majority who wrote said they were long-time NASCAR fans who had followed the sport for decades. These are my people; they love the sport, respect the participants and are distrustful of the sanctioning body. Shortly after the column was posted it was announced Tony Stewart was being investigated for assaulting a "fan". Some pundits will say Tony brought this on himself. He did not. If the Daytona Gang would restrict access to the garage area drivers would be spared this nonsense. However, exhibiting their usual aplomb NASCAR has turned a blind eye to the situation. Don’t forget that Stewart’s alleged assault occurred after the Bristol race. If NASCAR were to restrict only one garage area on the entire circuit Bristol would be the one. At this beloved little track quarters are extremely close. Race teams already have very little space in which to work. Add to the mix hundreds of fans milling around and you have a recipe for disaster. There is a valid reason your mechanic will not let you into the work area at his shop. It’s dangerous back there. It’s so dangerous in fact that his insurance company won’t cover him if he doesn’t restrict the area. This is a risk insurance carriers are not willing to assume. Imagine how dangerous it is when there are 43 cars being serviced. If NASCAR is unwilling to completely close the garage to outsiders, they should restrict this area while cars are on the track. If cars are on the track there will be cars hastily exiting and entering the stalls. New seat designs and restraint systems make it difficult for drivers to survey the area for pedestrians. And there are no spotters to guide the cars around danger. With only ten races left this season we are in the midst of the closest Winston Cup points battle in history. Competition is too close for teams to be anything but completely focused on the job at hand. Even well intentioned visitors can a distraction. Do you want your favorite’s team to be distracted while his car is prepared? I certainly do not. This is a situation that should not be tolerated any longer. NASCAR needs to restrict access to the garage area and do it quickly. Fans, drivers, teams and officials are in danger at every event. Why are they ignoring this issue? TO THE WOODSHED: I’ve got to send the Dupont team out to the shed this week. What the heck happened to Bugs Bunny? After qualifying tenth Jeff Gordon and Bugs lost an altercation with the wall during practice. When the Dupont team rolled out the back-up car it had the familiar flaming rainbow paint job. That "wasscaly wabbit" was no where to be found. "Ehhhh, what’s up, Doc?" Earning another trip to the "shed of dread" is Ricky Rudd. It was apropos for Rudd to appear on TV sporting a shiner. He has been giving the sport a black eye for months. RHETORICAL QUESTION: Why do so many individuals find it impossible to remain sober until the start of a night race? KUDOS: Many thanks to Richmond International Raceway for the wonderful opening ceremonies at Saturday’s race. The tribute to the heroes of 9/11, the card stunts and having fans give the command were simply wonderful. It was a privilege to be part of this display of solidarity and patriotism.
Other articles by Orlena Miller.. The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing.
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Do Not Enter..Garage Area Should Be Off Limits
