Commentary by: Langley Austin ~ [email protected]
Roanoke, VA(September 26, 2011) — It’s not really that often that something in the world of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing sparks an interest for me or even makes me care that it still exists.
Sunday, however was one of the those days as after NOT watching the race today while enjoying the only interesting professional sport left, the National Football League, I saw on twitter where Tony Stewart won for the second week in a row. I’ll go ahead and tell you, I’m not a Tony Stewart fan, I don’t like him or dislike him, but the fact that someone other than Jimmie Johnson has taken over in the Chase for the Championship gives me a little optimism that maybe we’ll see someone other than Philip Morris and Lee Pulliam in victory lane at Martinsville Speedway.
OK, I know, I just lost a bunch of fans, who are fans of these drivers, but you don’t understand … it’s not that I’m not a fan of Philip and Lee, in fact it’s quite the opposite, but I, like most all other fans of Late Model Stock Car racing are tired of seeing the same guys win. Don’t get me wrong, Philip at South Boston and Lee at Motor Mile, along with CE Falk at Langley and BJ Mackey at Caraway have certainly all earned everything that has come their way this season. However, no one wants to see anyone dominate like these guys have with Philip and Lee in particular this season.
You guys know that I’m not bashful of sharing my opinions with you, I’m not scared to not be politically correct and while most reporters in this industry try to kiss everyone’s butt and they tell you how everything is great …. you know that’s just not me. Hopefully, Philip and Lee both understand what this article says, it’s not a dig at them and it’s not me pulling against them to win, in fact I don’t care if they win as long as it’s a good race. Last year at Martinsville was one of the worst races on the 1/2 mile track for the Late Model Stocks in a long time and cut especially deep for fans considering the previous years race had provided such a fresh breath and so much hope.
I wouldn’t be upset if Clarence’s Steakhouse pulled off two wins in a row in a race that eluded them for so many years if Morris could win it and I can’t say I’d be particularly upset if Lee Pulliam pulled off the win after grabbing his first pole last year, running up front all race long and not being able to win the race. Both of these two drivers deserve any success that comes there way, but being greedy, I want things to go back to the way they used to be.
I long for the days when I could travel to South Boston or Motor Mile Speedway and not already know who was going to win the race barring some mishap. I long for the days when I didn’t feel like all the drivers heading into Martinsville were already beat and while almost if not all of them would tell you they feel like they have a chance to win, but the facts are stacked against them. I guess I simply long for the days before Sellers Racing found something setup wise that made their elite drivers more elite than the other elite drivers around the region.
Don’t get it twisted though, I’m proud of what that team led by HC Sellers has accomplished in the last two seasons and they developed something unstoppable with the help of Pulliam, who has since separated from them and took the technology with him to his home based team. Morris saw what was happening last season and jumped on the train, bringing his unlimited checkbook from Jim Dean with him and since he’s been almost unbeatable. It’s not the Sellers fault that they’ve turned Late Model Stock Car racing on it’s ear by doing their homework and working within the rules in place.
As I try to get back to my original point, Late Model Stock Car racing has become as predictable as the racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series, but maybe just maybe Tony Stewart’s recent success can gives us all a little hope. Maybe as we approach the biggest race of the season, someone … anyone has found something to catch up to the speed and domination that the Sellers connected drivers have found in the last season and half and like Stewart will give us die hard Late Model Stock Car fans a reason to get excited about racing again.
As I said, I don’t want to see these guys necessarily lose at Martinsville as believe it or not, I don’t care who wins, but I want it to be a great race and last year might have been great for Morris, but it wasn’t for the fans. There was little battle up front other than he and Pulliam and through the field it simply wasn’t as good as it had been in years past.
I know … I’m greedy, but I want to see the best Late Model Stock Car race in the history of Martinsville Speedway, I want to see battles up front and different people capable of winning the race, I want to see bizarre things happen and unexpected people with a chance to at least make a name for themselves without a couple of drivers hogging all the headlines. Yeah, I know I’m dreaming, but seeing someone dominate the chase so far in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing has me with high hopes for something good as we roll into the season’s biggest race.
