One of Those Racin' Deals'
When drivers are flying around a race track at break-neck speeds--mere inches apart, contact is likely to happen. And carnage is bound to result at some point too.
Ask any driver and they'll tell you that wrecking is an inherent risk of racing. Admittedly, sometimes wrecks happen out of pure stupidity, but often, it's just 'one of those racing deals.' Talk to a driver after they've watched their ride come back to the pits on a hook and they'll likely not be as diplomatic with their word choices. At least not immediately.
Emotions are the fabric of great racing. Whether your a fan in the stands, a driver or a crew member, it's the passion that builds support and rivalries. As someone who is all too familiar with the cost of rebuilding a destroyed car, I'm empathetic to those who end up on the short end of the stick of racing after 'one of those deals' goes down. But like the phoenix rising from the ashes, it's incredibly satisfying to watch someone come back after a terrible mishap on the track and taste success once again.
I'm hoping that will be the case for Brad Powell at the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. He's likely grateful the track has scheduled this weekend off, as it gives him the extra time to rebuild his machine, without having to burn the candle at both ends to get it done. However, I know that funding can be a challenge for all drivers too.
Time and money--in life AND racing, we never seem to have enough of either. I'm hopeful that Powell will find the funding to piece things back together and be the competitive contender that he's been.
If you viewed the "Wreck Reel" from opening night on the RacingNuggets.com website, you saw a constipated cluster of NASCAR Late Model drivers in turn three, that ended with Powell going driver-side into the outside retaining wall. The photo above is the end result of the incident. That shot is courtesy of Ultimate Lap Photo.
