Originally Posted by cshuman:
Oh and yea, my comment about the tracks in Indiana was indeed in reference to going from Daytona, to places like Paragon or N. Vernon.. Sorry if I offended your favorite local bullring.. lol
From THIS fan's perspective, Paragon or N.Vernon would be a step UP from Daytona!:2:
Seriously, I've been to Charlotte, Daytona, Darlington etc. but it's been years since I've sent any money to the France family. However I can't wait until the next time I get to watch guys like Shu, Shane and about 20 of their closest friends get their elbows up.
So, basically, you're saying that he should be penalized for being in the spotlight once before? What if a kid runs into an issue with drugs, alcohol, or whatever, at age seventeen. What if he has some issues again at age twenty, we'll say. He turns his life around and realizes that he wants to race. He finds a great deal on a used sprint car and is ready to go racing. He comes into the local racing scene and does well, maybe even wins a few. You become a fan, like the kid and even buy his t-shirt. However, later on you find out about his troubles. Do you burn his shirt, quit being a fan, etc.? If so, what did this kid do to you, as a fan? He's a great racer, great to talk to and works his tail off.
I posted the message below after Shane won his first race "back" and consequently his first race in a midget. What I highlighted in bold below stands truer today then when I wrote it a year or so ago. A question was asked if Shane is doing anything like talking to kids about the evils of drugs ect. and while I am not sure if he is in any official capacity I know for a fact he has to every young driver he has come in contact with be it at a race track or just out on the town. Shane and his dad are a Racers racer and believe me when I say there are few who bust there ass as shane has done to get back where he is today. I didn't know Shane in his NASCAR days but I find it hard to believe that he could of been any happier then he is right now racing in Indiana on some of the shi... er I mean finest race tracks in the country.
It is me with the DMS team. Marc and I have been working on a few projects together over the last few months. Shane contacted me through a mutual friend about helping him as he made his return to racing, honestly I was apprehensive at first but after talking with Shane and his dad as well as others who are close to his situation I was satisfied That he has spent his time away from racing getting the help he needed. There was a lot of thought put into getting Shane back on track and anyone who is interested in the details feel free to contact me.
Heading to Shasta I really wasn't sure what to expect, Seeing how Shane was a former Truck winner, Busch series competitor, and had made several cup starts I was curious how he was going to adapt to our environment. There was no bright lights or adoring fans just Shane a midget a few hundred hardy souls braving the cold. While Shane put on a incredible drive to win, the story of the night was the way he interacted with the officials, the fans, the team it was clear to me he was like every other racer I have met over the years just happy to be in their element at the race track.
I hesitated posting on here at all as I am sure there will be those who will take their shots but before you do I suggest you walk up and have a conversation with Shane, ask him about what he had, what he lost, and just how happy he was driving a midget at a BCRA race in front of a few hundred fans who braved the cold. You might be surprised to find a kid who has worked hard to overcome his mistakes, a kid who is gracious for any opportunity he gets, and a kid who is one hell of a race car driver.
What most annoys me in the veil of rhetoric espoused by Mr Cowin is the defiant declaration that "I only write the Truth, Facts." That's is the most singularly false statement throughout any of this. From the acorn of truth that Shane failed some nascar-mandated substance tests, he grows a tree of opinions, innuendo, falsehoods, and accusations about a person he knows only a Wikipedia-summary about.
This type of mindset, and defense of the same, is what invalidates his argument, despite being entitled to his opinion.
I will say that when he first made his return to the short tracks, I was skeptical at best. It really is a scary thought to have a guy who had documented heavy drug issues banging open wheels with 19 other guys every night, in a much looser and less-regulated environment than was NASCAR. Being no straight-edger, I like to get screwed up most any chance I get, but any of that type of behavior around the cockpit is way beyond irresponsible. And, despite the way the world is trending these days, the liberal BS of giving people chance after chance after chance with only a slap on the wrist doesn't sit well with me. Plus, I hate all things NASCAR and "daddy's money." So yes, you could say I wasn't a huge fan of the idea at the time.
However, the only way the world makes any sense is to take most everything that's put in front of you on a case-by-case basis. And in Shane's case, you seem to have a guy who's truly remorseful about his choices, takes accountability for them, realizes he's got some rebuilding and work to do and his damn happy to be doing it. If you have any kind of compassion and ability to think logically at all, that's got to appeal to you.
I understand some of the opposite sentiment, but give the guy a break. If anybody's earned a fourth (or whatever the number is) chance, it's him.
being called a druggy.probly earned that,scientific fact-once an addict,always an addict-could be he'll be an addict who never uses again.....sleeping on a couch,racing sprint cars and midgets-ain't that every young mans dream.maybe a simple life with focus it what he needs right now...racing might save him..verify he's clean regularly [to protect himself and those he races with ]..and let him move on to the next level in his journey..
Joe,
Fortunately it has not been up to you to decide who gets a second, third or fourth chance. There may not be anyone left to race if that was the case. What pisses me off is not the fact that you get on here and make an ass of yourself...but that you have hijacked a positive thread and turned it into a negative discussion about someone that you don't even know. Get laid or something, will ya?
