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Fan Fighting
After last nights MLB game I thought I would share a story on a past fan fight at Charlotte after the Winston. It was 2002 and we had just won the Winston race at Charlotte. It was an awesome race, we held off Jr. with 5 laps to go to win the race. After the race there was a Newman fan drunk as ?%$# running his mouth about the race. Just so happened he was mouthing off to a Jr. fan that happened to be about 6'3 235. This Newman fan was about my size, which ain't that big. So as I recall, the story went like this. The Newman fan was yelling about a Ford winning the race and that no Chevy could compete with the 12. The Newman fan was obviously real proud of the Fords and had a major dislike for the Chevy's. So the argument went from Ford and Chevy, to Newman and Jr. If there is one place you don't run your mouth about Jr., its at Charlotte. So I didn't think anything of it and went on outside the track. About five minutes later i see this guy running out of the tunnel in turn 3 with blood running down his face. I started laughing and asked, "what the hell happened". He said," Dam Jr. fan punched me right in the mouth". "No shit, why would he do that", I asked. The guy said, "all I did was tell him that Jr. was a no driving son of a bitch who didn't have the guts to punt Newman to win the race". I told him he had it coming from the start but the beer should make the pain go away in no time. The guy looked up at me and smiled. He was missing his two front teeth. Man that was funny. I figure some of the Jr. faithful would like that.
April 15, 2005 in Race talk | Permalink
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Comments
You were polite. i'd have shrugged and told him "well, you f**K with the bull you get the horns buddy, you asked for a beating and you got one."
Posted by: mayorjimmy | Apr 15, 2005 4:36:22 PM
I've read many accounts of fans behavior such as dumping their beer over heads (what a waste), keying cars, poking backs, kicking, and shouting obscenities for no other reason than disliking the driver the other fan supports. I don't believe Nascar fans are any different than other professional sports but makes me wonder about sport fans mentalities. Watching a sporting event should be fun but many fans turn abusive. Could be the beer more likely it's society in general. Very ironic how a sport that began with PC crowds watching rough and rowdy drivers has turned into rough and rowdy crowds watching PC drivers.
Posted by: Jack | Apr 15, 2005 6:02:19 PM
Jack, I don't think the majority of Nascar fans have ever been PC, which is the way it should be. I don't give a shit if a guy boos my driver or not, but I was at Bristol a couple of years ago and booed the hell out of Gordon after he punted Rusty for the second time to win there. This Gordon fan two seats down didn't have the balls to say anything to me, but he did say something to my 5' tall girlfriend. I quickly did the calculations in my head of how many rows down we'd probably go rolling down if I went at it with this guy, and decided it was worth it; however, being that I'm a teacher and would probably lose my job for kicking some Gordon fan's ass, I decided I'd better not do anything drastic. Fortunately, he didn't say anything else to her after that to provoke me.
Posted by: Ironman | Apr 15, 2005 6:38:02 PM
Ironman, I think what is part of the problem is what one person finds not significant others find very significant. The boos for drivers do not bother me but for others they are very offended. I'm not a long time Nascar fan but I've been told the "Art of the Bash" has changed dramatically over the years. Fans do not know how to do it right... whatever that means. But in the original comment one fan beat the face of a drunk man. Are comments about a driver really that offensive that another fan would punch him? What's even more disturbing is that others find that amusing. Society has become more violent. As a teacher you know that back in the fifties fights were with fists now kids bring guns to school. It stands to reason that if society has changed so has the race fan.
Posted by: Jack | Apr 15, 2005 7:34:22 PM
Jack,
Trust me, I'm not one to instigate anything, but people need to develop thicker skin. Jesus, if they get that upset because someone merely boos their driver, that's pathetic. As for society changing, it's too bad in some ways that it's not like the fifties. Now people have to be pussies and fight with guns instead of fists.
Posted by: Ironman | Apr 15, 2005 8:30:40 PM
It's not worth it to argue or yell at a person because they are decked out in "some other driver who you despise" livery. What does it get you? Other than a busted lip if they are bigger / drunker than you, not much.
I'm not a Junior fan or a Gordon fan, (Ricky Rudd, Marlin Mears and McMurray if you are scoring at home) and yeah, I'd get pissed if someone punted my driver, but why would I get hot at someone just because they are wearing a t-shirt?
However, Marlin Mears McMurray and Rudd are no where near the front these days, but thats another story...
Posted by: Jason | Apr 15, 2005 8:59:41 PM
Half the fun of going to the races or watching the race with other people, or just talking about the sport in general is poking fun at the other drivers. Your not gonna hurt my feelings if you talk about my driver but you better be able to take it as well though.
Posted by: Kevin | Apr 15, 2005 9:58:52 PM
Kevin,
You're exactly right.
Posted by: Ironman | Apr 15, 2005 10:37:02 PM
another redneck jr fan strike again
Posted by: jeff | Apr 17, 2005 12:20:48 PM
no jeff, another jackass running his mouth thinking that "freedom of speech" means "freedom to mouth off and not take the consequences"
would you walk up to someone on the street run your mouth and insult them and NOT expect to get your ass kicked? you'd have to be pretty stupid.
Posted by: mayorjimmy | Apr 17, 2005 2:06:19 PM
Next to racing, the biggest sport around here is ACC men's basketball, and you have similar and equally passionate rivalries. There's a certain etiquite (?) to trash talking that you learn pretty early on. For instance, it's tacky to talk trash only AFTER your team/driver has won. If you don't have the balls to stick up for your guys from the get-go, then you've relinquished your right to enjoy the spoils. The main rule, though, is to be willing to take whatever you dish out. I think that at the heart of that is the understanding that it's a GAME. No matter how much we love it or identify with it, it's just a game. (Although if you pull out that excuse only after your team has choked grandly and repeatedly, you're a bit of a dick. Yes, mid-late 90s Tarheel fans, I'm talking to you.) Keep your sense of humor, and just don't be an ass. Pretty simple.
Posted by: Sara | Apr 17, 2005 11:12:00 PM
What do you expect from a newman fan? DUMBASS!
Posted by: Craig Vanderbeck | Apr 18, 2005 11:11:24 AM
I am sorry majorjimmy but, since when does trash talking another driver constitute a personal insult. Now, if the drunk guy had specifically said something about the other guy's girlfriend, wife, kids, etc., I would say that you are correct. He would deserve what he gets but, there are no "rules" when it comes to attending a race. The tracks will generally let in anyone who pays for a ticket. When there are thousands of fans attending, chances are you aren't going to be spending the evening next to someone that shares your opinions about anything. If everyone shared your ideas about punching out those with differing views, I think that "the greatest spectator sport" would soon fall to the bottom of the list. I have been a race fan my whole life and to me, yelling and cheering is part of the fun. Most true race fans know that.
Posted by: Bob | Apr 18, 2005 12:55:30 PM
Trent, Any truth to the rumor that Roger Penske is buy Don Miller and Rusty Wallaces share of Penske Racing?
Posted by: Baker | Apr 18, 2005 1:11:47 PM
I am a HUGE Gordon fan and I was at a Richmond race a couple of years ago, and of course luck would have it, I was sitting next to some Jr. fans and when they were doing driver intros and making their lap around Gordon came around and they started booing and calling him gay and sorts. I was wearing my Gordon stuff and they were ribbing me and my brother and we just sat there and smiled at them. To me it is just a race and fans having fun. Of course I am not going to take it personally because it is a sport. We are all fans of different teams or drivers and such but in no way does it ever come down to being violent because I don't like Jr or Stewart for example. I don't hate or wish upon any driver bad luck or something serious to happen to them because this is supposed to be fun for us fans. I don't like any driver who is ahead of Gordon in the race or the standings but this doesn't mean I hate them. It's all in my competitive nature. Most fans that I have been around at races have been really good about taking jokes. It's all about give and take. If you are willing to give a little crap be ready to take some. The altercations that do happen are mostly caused by someone who has been drinking way too much and not using their head wisely except as a punching bag sor someone they pissed off. I can remember one time being in L.A. when the Raiders were there and I went to a Cowboy/Raider pre-season game. I am a HUGE Cowboys fan and I noticed fights happening all around because a Raider fan and a Cowboy fan were at it. I just sat there and ENJOYED the game just like I will sit there and ENJOY a race. The Cowboys whooped their asses in that game.
Posted by: Darren | Apr 19, 2005 8:42:50 AM
Baker there are so many rumors going around at our shop about whos going where and whos buying who out, i honestly cant tell you what is going to happen. Im sure some is true and most isnt, but i dont know whats what. Wish i could be more help.
Posted by: trent | Apr 19, 2005 12:33:54 PM
Saw something similar @ Talladega in the early 90's between a SR fan and a Gordon fan. SR fan was older, Gordon fan was younger and screaming that SR was washed up or done for and that he needed to head to the nursing home, Blah blah blah. Obviously intoxicated, he was close to falling out of his seat. The SR fan never said a word, just turned around and rabbit punched him dead off in the face. Even some of the Gordon fans cheered, he was just annoying as heck. All drivers/teams have annoying fans. It's a fact of life.
Posted by: Serena | Apr 19, 2005 1:47:28 PM
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