Guest Column

Karah-Leigh Hancock
Editor-in-Chief
kphancoc@valdosta.edu

Whether you watch NASCAR or not, you have probably heard about the event that happened this past Sunday at the Talladega Sprint Cup race. If you haven’t, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcCWhltnS2E
The news has been on shows that don’t even talk about NASCAR like “Larry King” and “Ellen.”
Here’s what happened: Carl Edwards, No. 99 was racing towards the checkered flag with rookie Brad Keselowski, driving the No. 09, right behind him on his bumper. Keselowski went up the track to fake a pass on Edwards. Edwards realized what was going on and went down the track on Keselowski to block him from going under him.
Keselowski turned Edwards who flew into the air. The back of Edwards’ car flew onto the hood of Ryan Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet and spun into the air, bouncing into the catch fence towards the fans.
The car landed on all four wheels and Edwards climbed out and ran toward the finish line a la Ricky Bobby in “Talladega Nights.”
As a NASCAR fan, I thought the finish of the race was one of the best finishes that I have seen in a long time. There was excitement; a new person who was in just his fifth start as a Cup driver won, and come on, mimicking Ricky Bobby is awesome.
The one thing that concerns me as a fan is the fact that it could have been me that the No. 99 Claritin / Afflac Ford was flying towards at 198 miles per hour.
There’s a misconception about NASCAR fans where non-fans think that people only like NASCAR for the wrecks.
Sure, there are some individuals who like wrecks, but the majority of NASCAR fans are in it for the competition.
As a fan, especially at Daytona, which is a restrictor-plate track like Talladega, I like to sit at the bottom next to the fence. I love feeling the air from cars as they drive by at close to 200 miles per hour.
After Sunday’s wreck involving Edwards, Keselowski and Newman, I’m not sure I want to sit at the bottom near the fence anymore.
I could do without a 3,400 pound race car flying at my face.
There were six injuries from debris flying into the stands, with one woman ending up with a broken jaw.
If that fence had not been there or had been just a little shorter, NASCAR fans would have lost their lives while watching their favorite drivers race to the finish line.
Keselowski has been blamed for the wreck, but in reality, he wasn’t to blame.
Keselowski, who is the latest protégée of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., could not drive below the yellow line to pass Edwards for the win. He had to fake a move up the track so Edwards could try to block him.
NASCAR has a rule that it is illegal to go below the yellow line to pass a car for position. This happened last October at Talladega when then rookie Regan Smith passed under the yellow line to pass Tony Stewart for the win.
NASCAR gave the win to Tony Stewart because of the rule. (Not that I can complain because he is my favorite driver.)
I believe if NASCAR didn’t have the yellow line rule, the wreck on Sunday would have never happened. Carl Edwards wouldn’t have hit Ryan Newman’s car and bounced into the fence. Six fans wouldn’t have gotten injured and one woman’s jaw would not have been broken.
Carl Edwards spinning into the fence may not have been the biggest wreck in NASCAR history, but it definitely turned heads if not for non-NASCAR fans, then definitely for NASCAR and their safety circumstances.
From now on when I go to Daytona International Speedway or Lowe’s Motor Speedway, I’m sitting higher up. I don’t care if I don’t get a glimpse of Earnhardt or Stewart during driver introductions.
I would prefer not to have my favorite driver take my life.
Thank you Michael for finally letting me get my NASCAR column, and go Tony Stewart and the No. 14 Old Spice / Office Depot team!