The meaning of domination in the sport of stock car racing could mean different things no madder who you ask. It could mean, leading the most laps, winning the most races, or claiming the most season championships. Regardless of what you think it means we are witnessing it this year in NASCAR. The "Big 3" as everyone has labeled them has now after New Hampshire won a combined thirteen races this year. That alone is just complete and udder series domination. Week in and week out these three drivers are qualifying or running up front and its an accomplishment to do so. The thing is that there are so many fans of the sport that are continuing to gripe and complain that this kinda domination is just driving the sport to a closer grave. So, bare with me for a bit longer, I have a few facts to shed on you here. Some of these that you may even be able to use against those complaining and griping constantly.I'm gonna go back right now to a time in NASCAR when things where a lot simpler the 60's. Tracks in Atlanta, and Charlotte were just being built. CBS began televising three races live, and new fans from all over are being introduced to stock car racing. The King himself Richard Petty in the time from 1960 to 1969 had 101 wins and won his first two championships. Easily running away with this decade, but lets no forget about the likes of Ned Jarrett, and David Pearson. Those two drivers combined in the ten year span for 105 victories and three series championships. Fans were coming outta the wood works for the "new" sport on the TV at the time. I'll go a step further and briefly go over the 70's 80's and 90's. Make sure to keep up because there are gonna be some names you should know.
So, the 70's rolled around and the sport was being donned "the sport of the decade." Sponsors were coming outta know were associating themselves with drivers. Auto manufacturers were coming out with bigger, and faster car's for one purpose to win. Even with those changes once again two guys showed even though some things change they also remain the same. Richard Petty once again dominated winning five championships, and 89 trips to victory lane. David Pearson only competed in half the amount of races this ten year span and still won 47 times, and oh yeah a new face Cale Yarborough decided to win himself a measly three championships and 56 race trophies. Again you had three big dominating guys. From 1980 to 2000 would see a couple reappearing names. Names along the lines of Dale Earnhardt who would go onto tie "The King" and win seven titles. You would also get to see a young man who is gonna be entering the HOF in 2019 Jeff Gordon. Gordon would go onto win three of his four titles in the 90's. The only other driver to win multiple titles from 1980 to 1999 was Darrell Waltrip. Those three drivers were competing against the likes of Bill Elliott, Mark Martin and oh yeah each other to absolutely dominate the series. One thing each ten year period has in common though is that three driver's dominated each ten year period. From 80-89 you had Earnhardt, Elliott, and Waltrip. From 90-99 you had Earnhardt,Martin, and Gordon. So once again budding times in the sport and we had three guys who absolutely ran away with the sport. Yes I realize I am forgetting some pretty bright names such as Rusty Wallace, Terry and Bobby Labonte and heck even Dale Jarrett. Either way though that just proves the guys I listed above had to compete even harder. I've got one more recent ten year span to cover though so hold on just a bit longer.
In the ten year span from 2000 to 2010 there are a few names that just recently left the sport who dominated. Jimmie Johnson did something never before seen in the sport. I'd rather not start with that though lets start with a few guys who recently retired. Your most recent and upcoming NASCAR hall of fame class member Jeff Gordon. Jeff won his final of four championships in 2001. In the ten year span though he also amassed 33 wins. Lets move on though to the next driver. Tony "Smoke" Stewart grabbed his first of three career titles in 2002 and would again grab it again in 2005. Smokes final title was just outside of this ten year range in 2011, either way he grabbed two for sure in the ten year plan. Along with the two season titles in he made the trip to victory lane 36 times, never having a season without a win until the latter part of his career. Now, we've got to arguable one of the best driver's in the sport's history. Oh wait, I'm sure he comes the "the chase format won Jimmie his titles" or the "Jimmie will never be as great as Dale or Richard." All of those people are right though is the thing. Just like any other sport NASCAR evolved, adapted new rules, new cars, new tracks even. So your right, Jimmie will never be the driver Richard was, or Dale. Because both of those guys were the IT drivers of there time in the sport. What you can not do is take away what Jimmie did, he won 5 straight titles, won 53 times. Those are numbers that had not been seen since Darrell Waltrip won 57 times in the 80's. Once again the trend continues three drivers dominating and winning just about everything you can win.
Here's my conclusion though if your still reading. Harvick, Truex, and Busch are dominating yes. We have all heard and seen it are we all tired of it? Well yeah unless your a fan of one of those driver's. We all as fans have agenda's and want our drivers to win, but is there domination bad for the sport in my opinion no. It's historic, and NASCAR is like any other thing in history it repeats its self. Now I will say this, I believe as soon as a few of these younger driver's such as Blaney, Elliott, Jones, or even Wallace start winning consistantly I believe your gonna see a complete resurgence in this sport. Younger fans and some older fans now have to find a solid guy to root for since there drivers left, and yes even though its easy to pull for the veterans who are dominating a lot of them don't want to be in the same spot in another five to seven years having to choose again. Lets face it even those guys will have to retire soon. I mean are there way more issues oh yeah. Which I am intending to cover here within the next couple weeks, but are Harvick, Busch and Truex winning all the time hurting this sport? No plain and simple no, if anything this is nothing more than historic and if your a true race fan and love the sport you should sit back and see how this unfolds.
Picture courtesy of Nascar and NBC.com
Thoughts? Opinions? Please feel free to share them. I want this page too be an open discussion about a sport we all know and love. Until next time race fans!
