The world of NASCAR exists in its own bubble where the usual rules do not apply. The “winning is everything” motto is considered not only acceptable but trumps everything else. If you buy into it, all the normal rules of society do not apply. Bring up the concept of fairness in racing and you will more likely than not be greeted with laughter. If you complain about a driver roughing up a competitor on the track, you will be met with “rubbing is racing.”
Not even teammates are off limits when the checkered flag is in sight because everyone knows that “second place is just the first loser.” Whatever you do, never utter the words, “It’s not whether you win or lose it’s how you play the game.” NASCAR fans take their racing seriously.
Do you have a problem with cheating? Then NASCAR is probably not your preferred weekend entertainment. Cheating is a time-honored tradition in the sport because all racers know that “rules are meant to be broken.” To be fair, there will be penalties if those rules are broken. But the all-important wins are never taken away regardless of the infraction, so it’s really a matter of risk versus reward and as we’ve established, winning is everything.
If you truly want to understand racing and the concept of fairness in racing, Smokey Yunick has the answer. The renowned mechanic, car owner and crew chief had a knack for thinking outside the lines.
“Trying to figure out NASCAR’s rule book threw me at first,” he said. “Then, after studying the rules from all sides, I realized I’d made a colossal mistake. I’d been reading the rule book to see what it said. And all along what I should have been doing was finding out what it didn’t say. After I started doing that, racing became fun in a big way.”
Perhaps, in the end, it’s all about perspective. NASCAR is a sport that throws all of our traditional conventions out the window to entertain us with a “ride on the wild side.” If you’re looking for role models on the track, you’re looking in the wrong place.
