Jane Smith Responds to Readers
Once again, an article based on opinion and feelings has caused uncalled for reaction. First, yes, I am a woman but not a bitch unless you make me a bitch and then I can be Head Racing Bitch if I want to. Maybe I can and maybe I can't write, but that is up to more than just one person to decide. But, I do know what I want my child to learn from this sport and one fact that he needs to know in his young life is that you can't just do whatever you want to win.


Last night at Orlando SpeedWorld, with a packed grandstand and pits, race fans saw some very good racing. But, even though the majority of those twenty six racers ran a clean race, there seems to always be one driver who has to play mean and dirty. For the fans that were there, they know who it was. No names will be called but fans do have eyes and can see when a driver plays mean.

Even in the Florida Sunbelt and the Florida Pro Series, we have drivers that have money to blow and those that race on what they can. A lot of these guys don't have their own race teams that work day and night on their cars, they go to work every day to enable them to work on those cars at NIGHT. And when they finally get to the point that the car is finely tuned, running in the top five and really doing a great job, someone with more money, more sponsors, wants to play dirty and out they go to start once more on that long road to perfection for the track.

Once again racing is not fun. Once again hard feelings are there and what once was a good evening, turns into a hell of a weekend. And what did the driver and the fans learn? That it is okay to play dirty when you want to win or do anything to get your way? It may look that way kids but it isn't.

Joe Nemecheck got fined $25,000.00 last weekend for rough driving, too bad we can't do that sometimes to our's. But the Winston is run strictly for money, no points, and our Sunbelt and Pro races are more points and money. And this brings out the dirt and the "at all costs to win."

For most fans, the side by side, clean racing is far more enjoyable than the tuck under and take out method. Maybe someday, in time and with age, driving methods will change and the kids will see the true show in racing. You don't have to play dirty to win, you don't have to cheat to win, you just have to do your best and be fair.

--By Jane Smith

SIDE NOTE TO MOVE OVER

Once again, an article based on opinion and feelings has caused uncalled for reaction. First, yes, I am a woman but not a bitch unless you make me a bitch and then I can be Head Racing Bitch if I want to. Maybe I can and maybe I can't write, but that is up to more than just one person to decide. But, I do know what I want my child to learn from this sport and one fact that he needs to know in his young life is that you can't just do whatever you want to win.

I love racing, I am proud that I can stand up for racing. I have been on both sides of the fence and unless you have, you honestly don't understand or care how hard it is for some of these guys to race. Try working two maybe three jobs for this. Some do. You say why - because they love it. Because it is part of them and without it, they feel an emptiness that nothing else will fill. But they can't all afford to get wrecked purposely and there are some, that can never make it back from those losses.

Anyone who loves racing and their local track, will know a racing family member when they are approached. I, at least, stand up for the sport and for the little guy and for all those wonderful kids out there who need to know that racing is not cheating nor wrecking on purpose or even punching each other out. It is side by side, door to door, lap after lap one inch apart and yet never taking each other out. And if you think that is okay, then I guess you think it is okay to cheat on your wife or abuse your kids or call someone you never even met a "bitch"?

You will never see me call anyone a name or pinpoint one certain driver as a bad guy. The article can be filled in by you, you know who you think plays alittle too rough. And yes, maybe my idea of good racing is not your's but that is what we call OPINIONS.

Jane


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