Dan

When you and I were kids you had to be 18 years old to get into the pits, and women of any age were frowned upon for even thinking about getting into the pits. That is not to say we did not manage our ways in. Green on a race cars and peanuts were also taboo.

Times change and the way people view priorities also change. Now we are a youth based culture. we are obsessed with youth and beauty. TV has a lot to do in what the entertainment people decide is a good investment for drivers. They must have some talent but they must also be good looking enough to sell a product. Perhaps some very good drivers have been passed over in the search for the perfect selling machine. Being a stand out driver is not enough.

The biggest proponent for the young good looking driver is NASCAR they depend on sponsors and TV revenue to support their business. Indy car has chosen to place its priorities on the money the driver can bring to the table as opposed to their looks. It seems like some parents in their quest for their youngsters success just don't know when to start. Jeff Gordon has always been the poster boy for young drivers and rightly so. But before him we had many other young kids fighting just to be race drivers. The names Critter Malone and Sleepy Tripp come to mind.

To slow down the influx and demand for young the big time sanctioning organizations will have to be the ones to step in and place a reasonable age for competition. With the Jeff Gordon also came a legal loop hole for parents. It is called "Emancipation" The parents get a lawyer and go before a judge and "Emancipate" their kid. Once meant as a way for the parents to be free of a troublesome kid it is now the way that they skirt the age rule in racing. By being "Emancipated" the state recognizes the youth as an adult with all the responsibilities of an adult and they are allowed to race under age.

Kids all mature at different rates. Their driving ability matures very rapidly as seen in Quarter Midget> Jr Sprint and Go Kart competition. It is much easier to teach a 7 year old to race than a 37 year old, they take to it likes ducks to water. However it is the emotional maturity that bothers me. What do they know about life and death at 12 years old, what do they know about serious injury, Even at 30 years of age I have witnessed drivers do some pretty immature moves, is a 12 year old likely to make more of these moves and do they fully recognize the possible results that could come from these actions.

Like Chris Economaki I say let them all race. BUT why not slow them down just a little. Make the age for racing on Half Mile tracks and larger 18 years of age. On quarter mile tracks down let them race whatever they want, and let Mom and Dad take responsibility for their kid.

Honest Dad himself