It has almost two weeks since open wheel icon Bryan Clauson died Aug. 7 after a racing accident at Belleville. His death, as well as several others in motorsports, is a gloomy reminder as to why racing is dangerous.
Driving deaths may be common, but not as common as it was throughout the 1960s and1980s. Then, about one driver a month would crash resulting in a death.
Each death become more tragic than the other and at times it hinders the joy of watching my favorite sport.
From the shocking death of Dan Wheldon in 2011, months after winning his second Indianapolis 500 to Formula 1’s first death since Ayrton Senna in 1994 last year with Jules Bianchi, these deaths are still very alarming and saddening. Those feelings often take the fun out of racing.
If deaths occur every once in a while, why do I still watch racing?
As I’ve grown up, I’ve begun to view racing in a different light, primarily for the stories I haven’t found in any other sport. Also, racing has been a part of my life since 2003 and I respect the sport through the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.
I watch it to see legends rise like Jimmie Johnson or Lewis Hamilton. I watch it to see who will be the next true underdog and shock the racing industry like Chris Buescher or Peggy Llewellyn.
Above all, I watch racing to witness the next great moment, whether it’s on the high banks at Daytona or a dirt track in Knoxville. Good or bad, there’s something to pay attention to when watching a race and the joy comes back after coping with the loss of another driver.
People often watch racing for the crashes. I say that brings excitement but it’s not what true racing fans watch it for. I don’t want to see drivers get hurt, that’s not what I’m invested in. Millions of racing fans, including myself, watch the sport because it’s a different environment that you won’t see at a football or baseball game.
After watching racing for a long time, there’s always something to look forward to. Two wheels, four wheels or even 16, the adrenaline rush climbs up the charts. The feeling grows if people have the attention span to follow it for over ten years.
Plus, who doesn’t love watching fast cars or rooting for a car manufacturer that your fellow countryman or woman drives?
No matter the distance of the race or how many times the finish line has been crossed, it’s always fun to watch.
Racing is more than just accidents or deaths, it’s a way of life that people watch for the sake of quality competition.
The dangerous aspect in racing will always be there. It just won’t go away no matter how many safety ramifications are made. The sport has come a long way in safety but there’s always room for improvement and Clauson’s death is an constant reminder.
Deaths shouldn’t take the joy out of racing, it should allow one to appreciate what a driver has done in their time on earth. The show will always go on moving forward and the joy comes back in no time.