Defending NASCAR drivers

Sun., Sept. 26, 2004

The Spokesman-Review

I would like to respond to Vince Tarr’s uncertain letter regarding NASCAR drivers (Sept. 19, “Drivers don’t qualify as athletes.”) Unfortunately, this gentleman has no idea what it takes to drive a car at 190-plus mph for more than 500 miles in conditions of extreme heat, banging on other drivers’ fenders and trying not to cause a wreck.

What these drivers endure is something I cannot even imagine, nor could Tarr. All these drivers work out, exercise and have strict diets they must stick with to ensure they can sustain these capabilities to do what they get paid to do. Most drivers would be able to run laps around most other athletes, such as baseball and basketball players. So instead of wasting your time writing about something you do not understand, maybe you could read up on the sport just to see what it really entails, and what the sport of NASCAR is all about.

Jason Brown

Colbert

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Defending NASCAR drivers

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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