NASCAR drivers give up time with their families, a lot of money, and potentially their lives to have a career in racing. What kind of passion motivates them?
Imagine what family time is like for a NASCAR driver. Testing begins in January and races don’t end until mid-November. That’s racing or practicing almost every weekend and the week is the time for race preparation. Lack of time together strains even the strongest of marriages. That’s why Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has chosen to stay single for now. He says he has seen half a dozen marriages fail and expects to see another half dozen end because of racing. The long and brutal schedule doesn’t leave much time for family life.
NASCAR racing is an expensive sport. Someone has to pay for entry fees, travel expenses, and racing gear. It’s not uncommon to hear of parents taking out a second mortgage to get their kids to the track so they can be discovered. Being a big name in the NASCAR news is the ultimate goal for these families. For some families, like Denny Hamlin’s, it has really paid off. Denny has been able to give back to his parents everything that they gave up for him to succeed and them some. Not everyone is so lucky.
Although NASCAR is cracking down on safety, racing is still a dangerous sport with the death toll at a startling 32 since the inception of NASCAR. Dale Earnhardt, Sr. left not only a nameless faceless nation of NASCAR fans in mourning on the fateful day of this death but people who loved him and called him friend. Drivers crave the speed and the thrill of racing. Do they ever feel fear when they strap into their seats and get ready to travel at speeds close to 200 mph? If they do, they’re not telling.
What kind of passion compels NASCAR drivers to take the risk every time they get on the track? Does the possibility that they might lose their life ever cause them to rethink their decision to be a driver? Is it worth it? To be able to do something every day that they love and have a passion for is enough for these guys. The fever that drives these NASCAR stars is something that causes them to make sacrifices and never look back. And the millions of NASCAR fans are grateful.
What is NASCAR? It stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. They are a sanctioning body that evaluates the various stock car racing in the US. NASCAR is one of the most popular sports today in the US. One of the reasons why its popularity boomed is because of media exposure. The top three racing series the association sanctions are the Craftsman Truck Series, Nationwide Series, and Sprint Cup.
The sport has also made celebrities out of their car drivers. Among the most famous riders NASCAR has is Dale Earnhardt Jr. He started his car-racing career at the young age of 17. Now he races in the Sprint Cup Series. His father conquered this same series in his years. For five consecutive years, he received the NASCAR Most Popular Driver award from 2003 to 2007. Fans are responsible for choosing the recipient for this award.
You can say that racing is in the blood of Earnhardt Jr. He has close relatives who are also driving other racing series. Others have business related to NASCAR. One of the most noted Earnhardt is Ralph, his grandfather. He started a long lineage of car racers in his family.
Ralph Earnhardt is a legend in the sport. He won his only NASCAR Sportsmanship Award in 1956. However, various groups in the industry have recognized his contributions. National Motorsports Press Association inducted him to the Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1997, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame did the same. The Oceanside Rotary Club of Daytona Beach Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame inducted him in 2004. Finally, in 2007, National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inducted him.
Dale’s father, Ralph’s son also became a racecar driver. Ralph wanted his son to take on a different path. However, Dale Sr. was determined to follow into his father’s footsteps. He dropped out from school and pursued his dream.
He became successful in the Winston Cup Series, now known as the Sprint Cup. In 1979, he became the Rookie of the Year for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He became a champion in the series for seven years. The Motorsports Hall of Fame inducted him in 2002. In addition, the International Motorsports hall of Fame inducted him in 2006.
It was evident that someone from his kids would assume his role. As it turned out, he did not only influence Dale Earnhardt Jr. but his other oldest son Kerry Dale as well. Although Kerry did not spend a lot of time with his father while he was growing up, he ended up doing the sport his father loved. Racing is probably strong in Earnhardt blood, because his son, Jeffrey, also began racing in 2007.
Jeffrey Earnhardt was impressive at Wythe Raceway, Hornet Division. Here, he won the Rookie of the Year award. He also made it to the General Motors’ search for the next best thing in the car-racing field. In 2007, he competed in the Busch East Series where he placed fifth. By the end of the season, he won the Most Popular Driver award.
