A couple of weeks ago NASCAR reporter Dustin Long, one of the best in the business, gathered three men connected to NASCAR, Kyle Petty, Jimmy Spencer and Larry McReynolds
Petty and Spencer are former drivers, while McReynolds is a former crew chief. Long wanted to ask the men about the state of NASCAR and their thoughts on the sport in general. According to Long the session was supposed to last 30 minutes and went over an hour. And what the men said continues to stir emotions and controversy.
While the entire piece made for compelling reading, the part that seemed to stir up the most people was the references made to the media who cover the sport, specifically to one who recently passed away.
Charlotte Observer reporter David Poole died suddenly in April. His passing left a void in NASCAR that has, to date, not been filled. McReynolds while in the same sentence saying ‘God rest him, great friend’ mentioned that Poole ‘never wrote anything positive about our sport’.
For the most part, McReynolds was right. David Poole was often critical of NASCAR. And that’s a very good thing.
There are many reporters who write about NASCAR, but few of us have the talent to paint a picture with words like David Poole did. That’s the point. In order to be a good critic, a well-respected critic, it takes a talent few writers possess. It’s easy to tell someone they look awful, or that their painting sucks, it’s quite another to explain to them why and have them understand it.
Such was the talent of David Poole. He could rip NASCAR apart and while they may not like what he wrote, I suspect behind closed doors there was a time or two when someone said ‘damn it, he’s got a point there’.
But according to McReynolds, with agreement from Kyle Petty, critics like Poole are what are wrong with NASCAR.
The truth of course is far from that.
NASCAR like any organization or government for that matter, need critics as much as they need cheerleaders. Critics can point out flaws in an organization; whether it is its plans, ideas, practices or methods, which one else may be able to see. The people inside the organization may become so swept up in something they themselves may not actually see a problem. Until, that is, a critic points it out. And while they may never admit it publicly, the people that criticism is directed towards may just step back and see their plans from a whole new angle.
David Poole was old school newspaper journalism at its best. He was from an age when newspapers served not only their readers, but sometimes a noble purpose. They fought for the little guy, took the government to task for corruption, tired to right the wrongs of the world. Reporters from this era knew their craft and honed it to perfection. Facts were checked, phone calls made and a big story was truly a big story. And when reporters wrote critically of something or someone, you better believe that all the ‘I’s’ were dotted and ‘T’s’ crossed.
In the age of the Internet, anyone can call himself or herself a ‘reporter’. Sign up for a blog put a ‘NASCAR’ name on it and away you go. No need to check facts, just get the story out there. Get it picked up by Google, get the pageviews, the truth be damned.
In this age, someone can call him or herself a critic and whine about all the ‘ills’ affecting NASCAR without ever really saying a thing. It’s kind of like two pieces of bread with no meat, looks like a sandwich but isn’t.
Did I agree with everything Poole ever wrote or said? No. But having the privilege of being around him, watching him work, reading what he wrote, listening and heeding the advice he gave to me taught me more then any four year college ever will.
As for the assertions made by McReynolds and Petty. TV ratings are down, but not in the basement and NASCAR is still one of the most watched sporting events in America. Fans are still buying tickets and t-shirts and sponsors are still opening checkbooks. And what ever may be perceived as ‘wrong’ will no doubt work itself out eventually.
Right now however, there is one thing very wrong with NASCAR. Without anyone to fill the shoes of David Poole, there are seemingly no checks and balances. It’s like the President of the United States without a Congress. Well meaning as NASCAR may be, right now there is no one to point out any flaws in their thinking. There may be a few pretenders, but none can match the intelligence, the eloquence or the talent of David Poole.
And that Mr. McReynolds and Mr. Petty, is really the only thing really wrong with NASCAR.
Comments
Great article, and right on the money!!!!!
I like Larry McReynolds, but he is becoming a Nascar Spin Doctor just like some of the others on Speed!
They need to start thinking about us as fans, not the enemy!!!!!
All you have to do is look at the comments out of some of these Nascar Cronies and see how the message is by the ones getting paid by Nascar, and us fans who pay their salary!!!!!!!
I still believe the customer should come first!!!!!!!!
I agree. Great article. David Poole was not a NASCAR yes man..he told it like he saw it. Everyone else these days - writers and commentators don't have the balls to do what David Poole did. God forbid they say something critical of NASCAR. NASCAR has become the WWF version of stock car racing.
Way to put yourself out there Greg! But...well said. I'm wondering if all these "cronies" are simply trying to say all the right things about NASCAR to insure their next commentator job. With all the TV networks jockying for position it has thrown alot of commentators into the market. If any one of these people begin to become critical of the sport, on air, they wouldn't be on air too much longer. Most of them are playing it safe...and, playing it safe can be boring at times. We need the spirit of David Poole in NASCAR...anywhere.
David Poole hated everybody. I used to listen to his show in the mornings on Sirius radio. He just liked to gripe. I don't know if that qualifies for excellent journalism or not.
However, I do agree that maybe the media is asking the WRONG old drivers and old crew chiefs. Kyle Petty is still trying to find a ride, so he isn't going to tell it like it is. Larry Mac is still heavily involved in NASCAR broadcasting, so he will play nice. And Jimmy Spencer....who knows. I even see Rusty Wallace has been tamed by the iron fist of NASCAR media.
If you want to know the truth about the sport, ask people without a vested interest in NASCAR anymore. Like David Pearson. He'll tell you straight. Junior Johnson would probably give you an ear-full if he even still cares.
While I believe Larry Mac has some good points, Nobody should listen to Kyle Petty! After using his name to get people to listen to him as a driver he is doing the same as an announcer! As for Jimmy Spencer...Why is this idiot on TV? He can't say half the drivers names, he doesn't care for anybody outside Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart and he thinks its his place to tell drivers when they do or don't have it!! Hey Jimmy..You didn't have it..let it go!!
Larry Mac did a public service by saying what needed to be said - there is too much negativity in the print media covering NASCAR. And in my view it comes from bias and sloppiness. It is much easier to bash NASCAR than to do real reporting. There are several in the media covering NASCAR that have been bashing NASCAR for so long that it appears they no longer know how to look at anything objectively - but then a few of those writers are so biased and so sloppy that I no longer need to waste my time reading them since I can tell where they are going just from the title. David Poole was the exception. While I often disagreed with him, I had a great deal of respect for him and his talents and always wanted to know his take on the latest racing events.
Unfortunately there is little TRUTH or OBJECTIVITY in Nascar Reporting,and Larry Mac and others have become Nascar SUCKUPS like the biggest ass kisser Mickey Waltrip. The Nascar "Bosses in the BOX" have ramped up their attempts to control and censor any Media Covering Nascar's "SHOWS". This Nascar Pressure,threats, and control has frightened all Media Folks covering Nascar ,and the bottom line is they are afraid of losing their jobs. So like Larry Mac you preach the dictated Nascar "PARTY LINE" ,and march in step with all the others fearing job loss or to give an honest opinion or tell the TRUTH !!! ONE FACT IS BEING SPOKEN LOUD AND CLEAR at the half empty race tracks and in the plunging TV ratings--FANS ARE NOT STUPID and are overwhelmingly REJECTING the stupidity and totalitarian controls wielded by the few===the Nascar Big Bosses in the BOX !! The REAL PROBLEM with Nascar is the Aloof, GREEDY BOSSES--Ironically, the Big Biased Bosses have screwed up their own "SHOW" !!
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