NASCAR and (wink) Cheating

I admit it. To a healthy degree, I am a cynic. That's why I am laughing at NASCAR's effort to crack down on cheating. Laughing because--- NASCAR is loving this! While most professional sports shy away from controversy, NASCAR has created some during the biggest week of the season. Their PR brilliance is unmatched. They look like saints, and they're getting gobs of attention for it.

The buzz started five days before the Daytona 500. With hundreds of national media types shuffling up and down the garage area, stories about practice times and drafting partners become old-- fast. That stuff doesn't make the front pages. But allegations of cheating, crew chief suspensions, $100K fines, and "suspicious" fuel additives-- now THAT'S a headline!

I'm no fool. I've covered the sport for twenty-years. I followed its history as a kid. Cheating has always been a part of NASCAR. Only they don't call it that. It's always explained with away with a wink.

But now, NASCAR isn't winking. They make billions (of dollars) in sponsorships, merchandising, and ticket revenue. The sport has gone high-gloss. It gets international attention. With so much riding on it, NASCAR has to maintain credibility. Nevermind that forty years ago, fans loved debating who cheated and who didn't. This ain't 1967, and we ain't racin' at North Wilksboro.

Yes, hardcore NASCAR fans still care about Jeff Gordon's lap times, but news editors and news directors don't. They want controversy. And just days away from the biggest race of the season-- they're splashing all of it on the front pages of their papers, and on their network newscasts. Nope, NASCAR isn't winking. But behind all those stern looks, they sure are smiling!