Someone PLEASE Make it STOP!
Ok, we get it, NASCAR is double X chromosome challenged. But still…
It’s arguably the biggest race weekend of the year with one of 2-3 premier NASCAR events being held at Lowes this weekend, the Indy 500 and the Monaco GP where the F1 Circus will attempt to avoid Max Mosley while simultaneously negotiating Loews hairpin.
Despite what the racing calender says the racing fans are “treated” to endless stories about the lack of NASCAR drivers of the female persuasion.
What follows is just a small sampling of the latest headlines, I could have pulled at least a dozen more but only at the risk of losing my lunch at the lack of originality.
NASCAR has no Ashley, Danica, et al. to promote.
Females face vicious cycle in NASCAR.
NASCAR still looking for its Patrick or Force.
NASCAR still seeks a female star.
NASCAR still a mans world.
Sprint lacks feminine touch.
NASCAR still a guys club.
Glass ceiling intact for NASCAR’s top series.
Gender equality escape NASCAR.
NASCAR still looking for female racers.
I’d be the first to admit most if not all these ledes head a wire service report by the AP’s Jenna Fryer, but I’m sorry, NASCAR not having a female within it’s top ranks is hardly breaking news.
I could see if Fryer’s headline read, “Kyle Busch has Close Encounter - Early Reports Suggest Abduction by Aliens,” it might warrant all the coverage.
I mean really, if I can publish this post that amounts next to nothing, surely those that get paid for this can come up with something, anything newsworthy.
Hey, I’m easy to please and would accept a story on NASCAR Umbrella Strollers before another avalanche of “females not in NASCAR” page stuffers.
Know what I mean?
Nascar needs a cross dresser! Now thats a story!
AP moves a NASCAR feature story each week for Monday’s papers. Sometimes they have to look hard for something they haven’t already written to death from the weekend’s coverage.
And since so many papers have scaled back or eliminated their own racing beats, a whole lot of papers run whatever AP chooses to write about, which is why you found it in so many papers.
NASCAR could use a woman behind the wheel. Who might sponser her ride? Maybe Victoria Secrets? Maybe Tampax? Maybe Fullthrottle?
Okla - Be careful of what you wish for.
I know how it works Doug, but this story isn’t one pushed via NASCAR Media.
Yeah, but it actually says more about the sorry state of racing coverage by the media. AP stories are used more and more by papers trying to cut expenses.
Agreed Doug. One interesting side note to that, early in the season the Tribune Co. decided it was dropping all NASCAR coverage to concentrate of “local sports.”
It wasn’t but 2-3 weeks after that was announced some coverage returned to the pages of many of the Trib’s newspapers.
It was especially crazy that the Orlando Sentinel — just down the highway from Daytona — said it was dropping its NASCAR coverage, resulting in longtime reporter Ed Hinton quitting. Then a few weeks later the paper sent somebody else to cover the annual NASCAR Media Tour in January.
We have but one problem.
It isn’t a question of being gender biased, a good ol’ boys club, or anything of the sort.
It is purely a question of talent. Of which, there isn’t any at the top ranks of a female variety. It’s not discrimination, by far.
As soon as a gal has the skill, she’ll be there. I’m sure any potential candidates coming up in the ranks will tell you that they want to earn their ride, and not just fall into it as they “fall out” of something else.
Exactly Luke.
I’m thinking sometime, barring Chrissy Wallace breaking thru first, within the next 5 years a competitive female will be in Sprint Cup and reel-in a big bucks sponsorship while doing it.
i think the media drones would be better occupied finding out why women in general do not really seem interested in competing in motorsports. that appears to be the reason they aren’t there. of all the sports out there i’d say motor racing is one of the few that really hasn’t had a serious bar up. it is truly annoying to this girl to suggest that a series or any team in that series should give preference to someone because their gender (or their race, come to think of it)fills a demographics (ie:marketing)void.
Veraski, you need to read FT more often.
I have been pretty consistent in chronicling the exploits of some of the younger female racers around the country as they make their way up the ladder.
Another source is Ask Patty’s “Women in Motorsports category that she adds to each week.
oddly enough, that’s why i started reading this. and continue to. well, it helps that you’re just a fun read as well. i wasn’t actually calling you a media drone. you are anything but. thanks for the source. i don’t get much free time these days to look for things on my own.