The two hot topics from last Saturday’s Nationwide race at Bristol, neither of which have anything to do with Bristol Palin, dealt with two drivers who finished thirty-third and not at all since she didn’t drive that day. What, you thought Kyle Busch winning the race was news? That ranks right up there with Lindsey Lohan seen partying in shock and awe value. But I digress.
First, the driver who finished thirty-two places behind first. That would be Danica Patrick, who before Ryan Truex demonstrated how his older brother hasn’t been sharing much of his NAPA know-how was having a day much like every other driver has during their first visit to Thunder Valley. Namely, rough and tumble in the concrete jungle. Given that short tracks are admittedly the weakest item on Patrick’s résumé, that she couldn’t hang on the lead lap is hardly an indictment bringing the charge of lacking driving ability. Speaking of same, isn’t it odd how the same pundits who last year were calling Patrick an over-hyped, uncommitted hack are now singing her praises? Either she dramatically improved during the off-season, or there’s some serious sucking up going on in order to curry favor with the ESPNs and Sports Illustrateds of this world.
Now, the curious case of Ms. Cobb. It’s a he said/she said scenario, with her stating she was told to be a start and park ten minutes before the race started and chose to do the honorable things by not starting at all, while the team owner insists he told everyone including her the day before. My inclination, given how she’s pretty much put her life on hold in order to pursue a racing career, is to believe her side of the story.
Cobb could easily carve out a nice little niche for herself in the racing world via cheesecake alone. Instead, she’s grinding it out minus the bump and grind, throwing herself wholeheartedly into eking out a place in NASCAR based on how she drives. Is she the greatest driver there is? No. But her desire and determination to improve is unquestionable. Cobb is no ones Twinkie, and when she says no to a race day consisting of waving to the crowd during driver introductions and then waving bye-bye to the track as the green flag waves it’s because she came to race. Period.
No matter how anyone or anything tries, it takes much more than what happened at Bristol over the weekend to break these girls. Women, to be precise.
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