Recently many media sources and members have reached out on social media to show their opinions of the Underfunded teams of NASCAR. Many weren't friendly or rejoicing. These teams are teams who work Twice as Hard with 75% less funds than the higher dollar teams have and this past weekend you may have heard some of them getting notification on television and MRN. These teams are the ones that sometimes get laughed at for finishing 20th and celebrating but deep down that's just like a win for them.
One key driver who stuck out Sunday in the field of forty was Michael McDowell. McDowell made it all the way into the Top 5 at one time but after being involved in two wrecks, McDowell finished 21st. McDowell is one of the top drivers of the underfunded drivers and can commonly be found behind the wheel of any car he can get his hands on. McDowell has drove for the highest funded teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske and some of the lowest like Whitney Motorsports and MacDonald Motorsports. Drivers like McDowell have some of the brightest talent.
Look at drivers like Jeffrey Earnhardt who have countless talent, they just never get that chance to show it in high money rides but when we get to tracks like Daytona and Talladega they can. True Jeffrey hasn't had the opportunity to race at two tracks his grandfather was so great at but I can guarantee if he had the shot he would not disappoint. These are the drivers and teams who do not have a voice in this world and that is what I am trying to do. Drivers like Chris Cockrum, Michael McDowell, Ryan Ellis, Derrike Cope, Landon Cassill, Cole Whitt and many more are drivers who need more media attention and be held to the same podium as some of the top drivers in NASCAR.
At Talladega this year these drivers proved they matter just as much as the other drivers. Clint Bowyer was a prime example of something and someone's voice about his performance next week was slightly sour in my mind. Clint finished 7th which was a great finish compared to how the rest of 2016 has gone and Bowyer of course notices that but one thing I will give him kudos for is the fact of never giving up. I guess it's that search for Happiness or just the plain and simple love for what they do that keeps not just Bowyer going but also drivers like Gase, Anderson, Cassill, Allmendinger, Whitt and many more. Jordan Anderson made it clearer to me on why these teams matter and its just the love we have for this sport. You have to go through hard times to get to those good times and when you have those Great times they feel even sweeter.These are the teams that matter. I'm not saying the others don't but we make it seem like it's just them out there and these other teams are teams too! (Koelle,2016)
Chris, all of this true but one thing you failed to mention is that a considerable number of the drivers, no not all, with the high dollar teams began at the lower levels of this sport. I remember sitting on the pit box of one of those lower funded teams (Keith Coleman Racing) in Phoenix at the 2007 Nationwide (nee Xfinity) race where a young Brad Kesolowsky was trying to work with what was provided and parlett that yeoman effort into a full-time top dollar ride. I remember this well because my son, whom was there to spectate with me, was pressed into duty as a volunteer front tire carrier.
ReplyDeleteOn that day Brad turned a good effort but problems with the left front, no doubt due to inferior parts relegated the team to a DNF.
We all know the rest of story in Brad got noticed by Dale Jr after a good showing in a truck at Memphis and was tapped as member of Jr MotorSports and the rest is history.
If most fans are really "TRUE FANS" and understand the history of this sport they will choose one of these underfunded teams to follow in addition to following the top dollar teams.
Rick Davis
Holly Oak Marketing