Full Throttle

In this week of NASCAR Nation’s exercise in self aggrandizement in NYC the fans are for the most part left out of the equation.

Yeah sure they get to vote on the most popular driver (who cares, the “fix” is in apparently) but beyond that the $2,000 per seat tab to attend Friday’s festivities preclude any fan participation by anyone of modest means.

That said, there was an event Friday night that was based on fan participation. Not only that it was free except for the cost of an internet connection and the effort it takes to click a mouse.

Tony Stewart announced the winners in the first annual “Stewie Awards.” (Winners list here) The winners were decided by fans around the country who voted “for the best, boldest and funniest moments of the 2007 NASCAR season.”

Cantankerous ole fool that I am I HAD to take exception to one of the awards recipients.

Under the category of the Golden Stewie Award - Honoring a legendary driver from the Golden Era of racing (1960-85) - the fans selected A.J. Foyt as the winner.

Paaaalease! Admittedly A.J. is a racing legend when his career is viewed in total, but in the context of NASCAR, his accomplishments and it’s fans? Sorry, it just doesn’t compute.

In the years covered Foyt had 98 starts with 7 wins (a win percentage of 7% and change) and 36 top tens. During the same time frame Richard Petty had 200 wins in 985 starts, a percentage double that of Foyt. And did I mention David Pearson whose win percentage rivals Petty’s and he was a part-time driver with the exception of four years? (’66-’69)

Sorry fans, you got this one wrong. The rest of the selections are spot on, but Foyt’s selection is out to lunch. (but at least it was a “free lunch” and not one costing 2 G’s)