Backstretch Motorsports

A few assorted thoughts on this soggy Tuesday morning:

• The spoiler’s coming! The spoiler’s coming! Jimmie Johnson will keep on winning anyway! Because that’s what he does.
• Another crew member suspended for violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. Have you noticed it’s almost invariably someone on lesser teams who gets busted? Wonder why that is. The power players do a better job of screening job applicants, perhaps?
• Since what happens in Vegas stays on the Internet, about last weekend, starting with Saturday. Somehow, the media managed to insert itself into both the major stories. First, Danicaphobia.

  Over on the political side of things, one of the standard tactics used by the left whenever anyone says anything against President Obama is accusing them of being racist. Which far, far more often than not isn’t the case, as it is an ideological / political / philosophical divide creating dissent. Nevertheless, the charge of bigotry remains a favorite gambit. Using a chess reference, it’s something of a Sicilian Defense approach, one permitting an immediate switch from reaction to action should whoever made the first move falter. It also conveniently sidesteps any effort to actually defend against arguments based on ideology, politics and/or philosophy.

  That all said, ofttimes those speaking against Obama leave themselves wide open to being labeled racist. How? They are unwilling, or unable, to phrase their statements in a logical, factual manner. They use emotion and sarcasm for sarcasm’s sake as their foundation. This invites being tagged as racist regardless of whether it has any part of their argument.

  Now, switch this from racism to misogyny.

  When a male journalist — unlike Bumpdrafts, I’ll name a name, that being Jeff Gluck — endlessly harps on the performance of a driver in their third Nationwide race, obsessing over their every moment and cackling with glee when said driver is something other than instant Jimmie Johnson, it is difficult to not suspect the motivation is based in something outside a dispassionate reporting of the facts. While certainly all are entitled to express their opinion, there is a point when enough is enough. There’s a race going on. In case you haven’t noticed.

  When Danica Patrick and Michael McDowell had a close encounter of the unfortunate kind on the track, many including Gluck tripped over their own fingers in haste to label her as being the one responsible. When after the fact McDowell stated the entire incident was his fault, you never knew there were so many crickets in Las Vegas.

  Whether Gluck and others incessantly snipe at Patrick for reasons other than professional opinion of her driving ability and/or warranting her ride is something known only to those involved. Labeling them sexist is a serious charge. Nevertheless, that is how they’re coming off.

• As to Sunday, about all that can be said is come crunch time Chad Knaus will make the right call eleven times out of ten. Steve Letarte, not so much.

Finally, a personal note of thanks to everyone for your prayers and love during the past several days. It’s been rough. My aunt is now at peace, enjoying the fruits of a quiet life well lived. In a world where so many, not excluding myself in the least, forget to follow Christ’s teachings about doing what we are called to do without constantly calling attention to ourselves, her example is one I know in my heart is the right one to follow.