Road Rage on the Racetrack

I'd be the first to admit that I have a temper. I try very hard to keep it in check and do so with success most of the time. When I'm tired, that's when I'm at my weakest for self-control. I'll even own up to having "thrown the bird" or tossing off a string of ear-burning, four-letter words on occasion. Unless your name is Sister Mary Margaret, you probably have done the same at some point behind the wheel.

Despite fantasies of right-rearing an idiot on the public roads, I would never do that. That would be just plain heinous. Unfortunately, it would seem that road rage has reared it's ugly head at the La Crosse Speedway for some drivers.

There's been a flurry of this kind of stuff as of late. I've caught much of it on tape, as I record the races each week. Sometimes, it's hard to tell if it was just a product of hard racing gone awry or if it was deliberate "road rage" on the racetrack. Regardless, it's horrifying to watch, knowing that one wrong move could spell a very serious situation for any of the combatants. People could get maimed or killed. It's not like that hasn't ever happened at a racetrack.

If someone drives you crappy, it doesn't give you the right to wreck them. And while you might feel the need to retaliate, you're only showing that you've stooped to their level. Nobody likes a reckless driver on the track and videos will immortalize those stupid actions forever.

Finesse is what separates the asshats from the pros. There are ways to handle situations on the track without engaging in road rage and without wrecking another racer. It's the ability to move a guy who is being a road hog, without it looking like you did anything. That's a talent that comes with time and patience.

Then there's also the option to actually go and talk to a driver you have an issue with after the race. Talk. Not scream or act like a moron, as that doesn't solve a thing and will just exacerbate the situation. If two people actually discuss the bone of contention between them, many times they find that it was just a misunderstanding. Sometimes a lot can be solved over a beer or two, with honest discussion.

Road rage doesn't belong at the racetrack. Period.