The 2021 Running NASCAR/IMSA/other racing things thread

The Andrettis would like a word.

 

Larry Pearson had a respectable Busch career but wasn't cut out for Cup.

 

In fairness, Kerry Earnhardt didn't go by Kerry Earnhardt for many years.

 

He’s doing more with the family name than his stepmother is.

 

Yes. He is. As is his step-brother.

Teresa is cashing the really big checks, though.

 

Teresa = Yoko

 

For the love of Pete, nobody wants to see Teresa naked.

 

Nobody wanted to see Yoko naked either.

 

Speaking of nepotism, I ran across some Busch Series lineups from c. 1999-2002 and it seemed like half the field was a Cup driver’s kid.

Dale Jr.
Jason Jarrett
Barry Bodine
Steadman Marlin
Justin Labonte
Larry Foyt
Ronnie Hornaday
Bobby Hamilton Jr.

I think Stephen Wallace came along a bit later. I’m sure I’m forgetting someone.

 

It's really weird how the path to major league racing has evolved, particularly in the past two decades. The days of running bullrings in either a Late Model or a sprint car and getting a big-time ride are all but over. That path has been broken for some time. Kyle Larson may be the only one I can think of recently who had that kind of ability.

Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne showed that front-engine, high-horsepower, low weight-to-horsepower ratio sprint cars were a great training ground for today's NASCAR (although Stewart and Gordon would have been great in anything).

Almost every kid now -- whether they go the NASCAR or open-wheel route -- starts out in karts or quarter-midgets before they even get to first grade. Then things split, with the kids heading for hardtops getting into Legends cars, followed by ARCA rides (where you can still drive before you turn 16), Trucks and "Busch." The guys who want to run open wheel usually wind up in Formula Fords, then F2000s and Indy Lights. There are similar European ladder series as well.

So all these young drivers have a dozen years of competitive racing experience before they ever set foot in a Cup or ICS car, which amazes me.

Marcos Ambrose and Scott McLaughlin are two notable exceptions -- having been outstanding SuperCar champions Down Under before coming to America.

 

Not unlike what began happening with women’s tennis 40 years ago. That’s how you get the Casey Atwoods and Jennifer Capriatis of the world who wash/burn out before they’re 25.