Where's My Ribbon?  

I think DNQ's are an essential part of the sport, and if the sport has reached the point where it can't survive because drivers/teams won't show up because they aren't guaranteed to start the feature, then the sport (weekly short track stock car racing) no longer needs to exist.

Think of the drivers and teams that created short track stock car racing.  Do you think they were a bunch of guys that would only show up if they were guaranteed a ribbon?  

About 15 years ago when my kids were involved with Little League, at the end of the season, they had a special "Awards Day" where every kid on every team got some kind of ribbon or something.  I guess the idea is that it built up some participants self esteem, but looking around our country these days, I think we've got a few too many folks out there, full of plenty of "esteem".... that never learned the difference between "everyone gets a ribbon no matter the results", compared to those who actually earned a trophy, or for those brave enough who threw their ribbon away and dug deeper to work on what they needed to do next time around to actually earn something.

The sport (short track racing) wasn't made up by drivers and teams that were guaranteed anything other than the hope that with determination, skill, and being able to avoid some bad luck...., that if they did things a little better than their competition, they had an opportunity to earn a spot in the feature for their division, and would be part of the big show... And if they didn't...., then they went home disappointed, and even more determined to figure out what to do differently next week to earn a spot.

On a national level, we see what has happened with the joke now known as "The Twins" at Daytona.  We see what happens when there are only 33 entries for the Indy 500.  The Daytona 500 and the Indy 500 will be just fine because they are "events", and although true fans of the sport miss the excitement and the COMPETITION and elimination process of the event leading up to the main event, we still watch the "main event."  But for me, pretty much knowing the starting field before qualification has even begun takes away what was once a very big part of the overall show/days leading up to "the show."  

As a former weekly fan in the stands..., at a local level... guaranteeing feature starting spots for all just doesn't work when it comes to a regular Saturday night show.  I understand why it is done.  I understand how you can't have a show if you don't have participants.  But I also understand that there is a correlation between "everyone gets a ribbon" and why less old time fans (like me) go to the weekly races anymore, and also an often unacknowledged reason why the sport isn't as compelling, or unpredictable enough for anyone to become fans of weekly stock car racing... as we all did.

How many of you remember the nights your favorite driver, or dad... or brother, or maybe even you (former racers)... didn't make the feature because of bad luck, flat tire, engine issue, accident.... or maybe they just were out performed on that particular night.  Did they demand a feature starting spot for the following week or else....., or did they go out there the next week and earn one?  (While we're at it, how many laps was your favorite driver guaranteed if during a race, they would slow down... causing a yellow.... so they could dart into the pits?)

Attending a short track show where everyone is guaranteed a starting spot in their feature, regardless of redraws... regardless of "getting their handicapping back,"....  feels like less than a complete show for an old time race fan like me.

I appreciate current race teams/drivers, but do so only if they don't feel entitled to anything other than what their performance has earned.  

There is an honesty to that, that I can't help but respect.