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Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007

Harrison: Getting sick of anti-NASCAR comments

As far back as I can remember, I've never gotten sick at a race, at least not seriously ill, unless getting sunburned counts.

In fact, the sickest some fans of racing get at the track is when their most-disliked driver wins enough to make them sick at their stomach.

The House Committee on Homeland Security, on the other hand, would likely argue otherwise.

Last month, before the department sent staff members to visit health facilities at Talladega Superspeedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway during the respective race weekends, an official with the Committee suggested that those visiting the track should be vaccinated for various diseases such as hepatitis A and B, tetanus and influenza, according to The Associated Press.

The intent of the visit was to gauge the response to emergencies where large crowds are gathered, especially at the health facilities there.

Instead, it was shown just how ignorant some individuals are in their views of NASCAR and those fans at the track each weekend. It insinuated that being close to a NASCAR race might as well be as hazardous as a visit to a third-world country. In short, it was a below-the-belt shot at NASCAR. And those who have recently disparaged the sport owe racing fans everywhere, especially in Alabama and North Carolina, a huge apology.

If being immunized before going to a NASCAR race is needed, why not wear a gas mask to go to the grocery store. There's no telling what kind of germs are in the air in public places these days.

To some, suggesting immunizations are in order before going to a NASCAR race is hilarious. But what if someone made the same comment before going to an event which a minority group made up most of those in attendance? It wouldn't be funny then, would it? It would be appalling, and there would be an uproar about it from now to Christmas.

Apparently, however, it is OK to poke fun at NASCAR, sort of like that elected official earlier this year in Washington who joked about Richard Petty being "that guy that got pulled over for a DUI."

Using NASCAR as a whipping post is getting to be an old, tired routine. As someone who has followed racing for more than 18 years, I'm getting pretty sick and tired of it.

As a sport, NASCAR has worked very hard to pull itself out of its checkered past. When comments like last week's are made, it cuts the sports' legs out from under it quickly.

Detractors can knock NASCAR all they want. But the fact is all of these advertisements courtside at NBA games or behind the plate at Major League Baseball games are rooted in NASCAR, which had the zany idea of placing advertisements at the racetrack or on cars where many sets of eyes would see them.

Sure, NASCAR may not be for everyone. But it would be hard to find a sport that recognizes family and country prior to each event like NASCAR does. It would also take awhile to find another sport that doesn't have athletes with rap sheets longer than the bathroom line at Daytona.

Sticks and stones may break NASCAR's bones, but words will not hurt it.