The Evolution Of NASCAR From Sport To Game

Ernest Hemingway once wrote, "There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games."

No other summation of sports has been as accurate for those are the only three where the individual is truly risking their life at every moment. There is no chance to relax and one must always be on their toes in order to survive.

It is truly a stark contrast when compared to the popular stick and ball sports in this country. In a lot of ways, it is part of what gives motor racing appeal for so many people. They are, in effect, a modern day gladiator taking part in the battle of a motorized beast in the contemporary coliseum known as the race track.

For most of NASCAR's existence this was merely a fact of daily life. When Terry Labonte surpassed Richard Petty's seemingly unbreakable record of consecutive starts, it was a wonder to all those involved that someone would accomplish such a feet. Ricky Rudd's passing of Labonte a few years later was even more well documented due to some of the extremes Rudd went to in order to keep racing.

Many people have forgotten how common it was for a driver to miss large stretches of the season due to injury. Darrell Waltrip missed six races in 1990 after a harrowing practice crash at Daytona. Kyle Petty missed 11 races in 1991 due to a broken leg from an accident during the spring Talladega race.

This was not an uncommon occurrence during this period. That was part of the thrill for both the drivers and fans, knowing lap after lap each driver was literally knocking on death's door.

In today's NASCAR, the common occurrence of injury is... well not so common anymore. Would you believe that only full time three drivers since 2002 have been sidelined by injury? The first was Sterling Marlin during his successful 2002 campaign, Jerry Nadeau's career ending injury in 2003 and Ricky Rudd in 2007 during his final Cup season. Three full time drivers sidelined in eight years of racing is an utterly remarkable feat.

So often it is discussed the strides the sport has made in safety as a result of Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001, but few take a look at the larger picture of just how safe the sport has becoming. Rising from the ashes of despair, the sport rebounded by dedicating itself to improving driver safety to a degree that was never before attempted.

Soft walls and the Car of Tomorrow  are things that were thought of as innovative and helpful, but that were not needed in a hastily manner. Earnhardt's death lit a furor under the sport as it quickly tried to right wrongs which never should have happened.

Twenty years ago when a driver was injured, we almost nonchalantly acknowledged it and went on our way. Now when a driver is injured we act with surprise and concern, as it is a situation we are no longer accustomed to.

That fact alone is something which NASCAR should be applauded for.

The greatest gift of Earnhardt's legacy is the sport we see today. Ricky Rudd's consecutive starts record will no doubt be broken in the future.  Drivers are able to barrel harder in a corner than ever before knowing there is a good chance they will come out on the other end alive.

In essence, Hemingway's quote no longer rings true. There are only two true sports left in the world.

And I'm okay with that.