SPORTS: Conspiracy Theorists "Start YOUR Engines"

If you missed the skeptical headlines three years ago following Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s win of the Pepsi 400 on the same track his father died at five months earlier, prepare for round two of NASCAR Skeptics 101 following Jr.'s Sunday win of the Daytona 500.


Dale Earnhardt Sr. died on the last lap of the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001. When his son Junior won on the same track just five months later, he was greeted by headlines like: Skeptics Question Junior's Win

Now it's three years later and Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the season opener of a new era for NASCAR on the same track, at the same race his father's death signaled the end of the old era. And the headlines already read: Planet's Align for NASCAR's Big Day

ESPN's Justin Hagey wrote "If NASCAR were writing a script for how it wanted the world to see its sport, Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500 would be it." As NASCAR moves from it's southern roots and 33 year association with Winston to it's national efforts with $70 million sponsor Nextel, a story book setting was laid in Daytona for the picture perfect events yet to unfold.

Seemingly defiant to the ever present terror threat, the President landed triumphantly on Air Force One just outside Daytona International Speedway and played in the sun with reporters all afternoon without the slightest hint of a danger. Hollywood celebrities, big-name athletes from other sports and rock stars joined the President on the long President's Day weekend mingling with fans, crew members and drivers alike. Not to let down fans accustomed to a bit of excitement, a harrowing 12-car accident took out defending race-winner, Michael Waltrip, though everyone walked away without a scratch to watch the media annointed heir apparent rise to the throne.

So following weeks of build up and coverage with countless television shots leading up to the race showing the Dale Earnhardt statue outside the speedway and speculation on how Dale Jr. would do in this new era of NASCAR on the same track, in the same race, on the same day... the story ends on that same statue the media loves so much.


Thus ending the "storybook script" of Daytona 2004, while the conspiracy theorists are just beginning. If you haven't already heard at least one person swear the race was rigged, you aren't paying attention.

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[Edited on 16-2-2004 by RANT]

I just read in USA Today, that Earnhardt also won teh Bush race today !

Umm, though this is well written and purposely intended, question RANT?
You an advid NASCAR fan?
Been to any NASCAR races?
Ever met Earnhardt or Jr?

Besides being an advid NASCAR fan....
I also did two summer internships with NASCAR.
One, the same year Earnhardt died at Daytona and another, the following year.
BTW, anyone interested in doing a college summer internship with NASCAR, simply go here and read the requirements and if you meet/fulfill them, file an application. This is also a payed internship.
www.diversityinternships.com...


As to any hints of a "conspiracy" within NASCAR and with regards to Earnhardt and Jr's winning on such and such day.....did you watch the race? Good Lord! Jr. had a car that was obviously and visually far faster than any of those who would contend against him. The Boy hero learned well from his father. DEI Corp. is so dominate when it comes to restrictor plate races, and has been for a number of years, that the mere thought of a 'conspiracy' concerning the 'win' on a particular day is a crock, IMHO.


regards
seekerof

[Edited on 16-2-2004 by Seekerof]

Jr. clearly had the most powerful engine in the race with some experts saying he was demonstrating as much as a 30 HP lead on competitors, making the whole thing a "gimmie".

I know that has more to do with his expertise in restrictor plate racing than anything else, but the people are out there just the same saying it was "rigged" for him to win. There are dozens of articles that purported just such a "wrestling/entertainment" type of scam with the Pepsi 400 Jr won years back, and the non Jr fans are doing the same now.

I've heard the specualtion from people here in the South that once "lived" the pro-wrestling circuit like it was the Olympics. Their motto now when a sport gets too big, with too much money involved: Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

Again, I'm not saying NASCAR is rigged though I'd have to be a fool not to see the media certainly has it's favorites. But some long time fans from the Winston days are certainly speculating about this new NASCAR on everything from favorite son speculation to the new points race.

As for my personal experience, I worked for Winston on the NASCAR account at one time. Knowing those people, there's ALOT of criticism of the new NASCAR. I'm just reporting on one aspect of that.

In such Rant, the "Winston days" ended when....last year? Nextel having taken over or the place of RJ Reynolds and "Winston Cup"...aka: now the Nextel Cup.

Just what exactly is defined or categorized as the "new" NASCAR? More publicity, more sponsors, more money involved? I remember the same situation being brought up and subsequently dying off, with football, baseball, basketball.....how is NASCAR any different?


regards
seekerof

Originally posted by Seekerof
Just what exactly is defined or categorized as the "new" NASCAR? More publicity, more sponsors, more money involved? I remember the same situation being brought up and subsequently dying off, with football, baseball, basketball.....how is NASCAR any different?

I'm not saying this is right, but if you're in NC suddenly NOT making money on NASCAR it's 100% different in your eyes. That's the short answer.

....for my DAMN YANKEE brain to contend with! I'm gonna take a pass on the obvious, and PLENTIFUL, sarcasm options!

Just one question SEEK: did that come with all the 'mush nuts' you could eat too?

(**Expecting the regional hackles to be raised, Bout Time sits back to scan his inbox for slams on NY'ers **)

Originally posted by Bout Time
....for my DAMN YANKEE brain to contend with! I'm gonna take a pass on the obvious, and PLENTIFUL, sarcasm options!

Just one question SEEK: did that come with all the 'mush nuts' you could eat too?

(**Expecting the regional hackles to be raised, Bout Time sits back to scan his inbox for slams on NY'ers **)

No hackles here. I'm back in NC after a decade of living like a rock star. If cannabalism were legal I'd eat my way back out of this state.

PS - For best results pour your mush nuts in RC Cola! Mmmmmm mmmmmmmm. That's good nut n' cola.