As a race fan, you have to accept that there are going to be things happen on the track that cause controversy. More often than not, there will be an incident that makes drivers angry at other drivers and cause fans to argue with other fans.
There are always two sides to every story. In racing there may be 5 or 6 sides. There is no other sport that can leave you as bewildered. Often, even if it appears to be very clear, the real story can be confusing, at best.
Watching the ARCA race at Kansas, a series not sanctioned by NASCAR but a series known for its diversity. There are drivers who are not yet of legal age to drive in a NASCAR touring series racing against drivers who could easily be their grandfathers, or even great-grandfathers.
The ARCA race in Kansas on Friday night highlighted the wide range of ages and experience among the field of drivers. From James Hylton making his final start at age 79 to Corey LaJoie age 22, making a rookie mistake to Frank Kimmel, at age 51 ending the night as race winner and series champion.
The interview with James Hylton was touching and real. If you were guessing the man's age, I suspect that many would think that he is much younger than he actually is. He had this sparkle in his eyes that shown through the television screen. There was life in him that makes you believe that he will continue in some role in racing for many years to come.
Champion and race winner, Frank Kimmel is no spring chicken at age 51 but he showed everyone that he has what it takes. The win was his 80th which put him in the record books for the most wins in the ARCA series. The championship, his 10th will most likely stay in the record books for a long, long time.
The young driver who took the spotlight for a moment was Corey LaJoie. Unfortunately, it wasn't shining on him for his achievement during the race but for the fact that he took out the leader while running second.
The move appeared to be a total rookie mistake and it left you scratching your head saying "What was he thinking?" It was one of those moments in racing that can leave you dumbfounded. It would have been a really bad move and could have hurt Corey's chances going forward in his career, except for one thing. The interview afterwards.
I have never seen a driver so upset with himself, so apologetic to the other driver and just downright disgusted with what he had done. By the time the interview was over, you could not help but forgive him and hope that he has many opportunities to show what he can do. I don't think this young man will ever let his brain become disengaged from his foot again. (His explanation of what happened).
