AS THE SUN STARTS TO SET
As the sun starts to set on the 2000 Winston Cup season, it also starts to
go down on some of our favorite drivers. Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jarrett trail
Bobby Labonte in the championship race and maybe more importantly in the race
against time.
Dale Earnhardt has seven titles under his belt, while many had written him
off, he has come back this year with a desire not seen in three years. But at
49 years old time is not on his side. How many years of competitive driving
could the man in black have left?
Dale Jarrett has not been in NASCAR as long as some, but he quickly showed
that he was a star shinning bright, winning a championship in 1999. But stars
only last so long, then they burn out.
Lets not forget Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Terry Labonte, Ricky Rudd and
the other older guys in NASCAR. These men and their battles on the track, are
what built NASCAR. But time is running out. Drivers get older, they start to
use their heads instead of their right foot to keep them in the race. While
that may be wise at some tracks, their are some that a heavy right foot and
the inexperience of youth are need to go fast at others.
Rough riding set ups take a toll on the back. 3400 lb.. cars hitting a
concrete wall, will bend more than sheet metal. But all of this is lost with
youth.
Many car owners are starting to look into the future. Richard Childress,
Rick Hendrick, Jack Roush all are looking at younger men. Bringing them into
their Busch and Winston Cup teams. Drivers are starting to build teams for
their children, such as Dale Earnhardt. All looking forward knowing that a
time to retire will come.
Dale Jr., Matt Kenseth, Steve Park, Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson are the
future of NASCAR. Ten years from now stories will be written about these men
and their championship fights. Stories of how Bobby Labonte is washed up will
surface, and new names will be added to the list of rookies.
Yet for now Earnhardt still has the the title as the intimidator, Terry
Labonte is the iceman, Awsome Bill has a new ride, Rusty still wins races, and
fathers tell sons about Darrell Waltrip and Junior Johnson.
But as the sun starts to set, it gives off a beautiful glow.