Practically on a weekly basis, you’ll read someone’s comment somewhere on social media that they don’t care much about NASCAR since Dale Earnhardt died. It’s difficult when a hard-knuckled competitor and icon, such as Earnhardt is no longer around to energize the fan base. I get it. But that’s not what I’m writing about today.
Nope. I’m writing about rivalries, because let’s face it—it wasn’t just love and cheers for Earnhardt from enthralled fans. He had a whole faction of haters too.
I actually had a guy once tell me that “nobody hated Earnhardt.”
Except they did.
He obviously forgot the incredible rivalry between Earnhardt and that former young-gun, Jeff Gordon. Perhaps that guy needs to catch the rebroadcast of the awesome documentary “Unrivaled: Earnhardt vs. Gordon.”
But I digress. I’m not writing about Earnhardt and Gordon. Not directly anyway, but the dynamics of that whole relationship and how it marked the real climb in popularity of NASCAR and auto racing in general.
Face it—controversy builds fan bases. We just witnessed the scrappy Clint Bowyer throwing rapid-fire punches at Ryan “No-Neck” Newman in his race car after the All-Star Race this past weekend. Was it wise? Probably not, with Newman being build like a brick house—and if Bowyer thought Newman was hard to pass before; wait until next time.
You had to be living under a rock to miss that footage—even if you didn’t watch the race, because NASCAR kept replaying that money shot, stoking the fire of controversy again and again.
People were talking about it. They’re still talking about it. And whenever Bowyer and Newman are close to each other on the track, I bet you’ll hear plenty of references to it the rest of this season too.
It feeds the popularity of the sport. People like to take a side; pull for “their” driver.
Legends can be born from rivalries like these. Even at the local level.
Anyone who attended the first two nights of racing at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway witnessed the phenomenon of a red-hot rivalry between Steve Carlson and Nick Panitzke. It’s the classic match-up of veteran vs. young gun—both with championships under their belts, both with incredible fan bases. There has been contact both ways on the track, wild cheers from adoring and supportive fans, and a growing contingent of interest from casual fans.
And I haven’t even touched on the rest of the field battling in the NASCAR Late Model division at La Crosse. There are easily 10 or more drivers who could win on any given night at the track!
I’ve been blessed to be able to travel with my husband to many tracks across the country, and I can tell you with confidence—despite many naysayers who are all doom-and-gloom about our sport—auto racing is NOT dying. It just needs a shot of personality, talent, and yes—rivalries.
We have that at La Crosse, as well as a very healthy field of competition in the NASCAR Late Models—it’s stacked wide and high.
Admittedly, from my perch high above the stands where I am often videotaping, it would sound as if there is a larger contingent supporting Panitzke. But if full disclosure is to be given—I videotape almost directly above the beer stand, and that’s where a very vocal group of Carlson “haters” congregate every week.
Love him, or hate him—when it comes to Carlson, it’s all very reminiscent of Dale Earnhardt: He is a grizzled, veteran driver who has won A LOT and continues to do so. It’s that kind of career performance that grows a fan base, and ultimately generates a group of opposition, who are “sick of seeing him win.”
But Panitzke has defied the odds: An “outsider” coming to town each week from Minnesota, collecting fans, and running strong or winning each week. But more importantly, Panitzke has done what no one else had been able to do for a long time—give Carlson a run for his money as a legitimate and viable threat to the championship crown.
In his own words, Panitzke calls this season, “The Rubber Match.” He won the title at La Crosse in 2017; Carlson took the honors in 2018. Who will capture it this season? Will it even be one of those two?
These are exciting times to be a fan at La Crosse. Add the massive invert for the NASCAR Late Models—on average, a 12-to-14 car invert for the fastest of the field in a 25-lap feature—and you’ve got yourself some bona fide racing entertainment right there.
Tracks in the south would make a deal with the devil to be able to have the stout competition that rolls through the gates at La Crosse to put on a show each week. And we get to be a part of it every Saturday night. #MidwestProud
