One of the greatest things about NASCAR is that it allows their fans to have more access to the athletes than any other sporting league. While the access is a plus for the fans, NASCAR drivers are currently not happy with it.
Come to a NASCAR race and you’ll be able to do more than you could have more access to the sport than you might have ever imagined. NASCAR fans are allowed to be in the garage area all weekend, on pit road, in the pit boxes, around the haulers and more. Obviously some levels of access come at a price, but for the most part it’s an option to all NASCAR fans.
This level of access is far beyond that of the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS or WWE. Ever try walking onto the field before a Patriots game and getting close to Tom Brady? If so, you probably weren’t allowed to stick around for the actual game. The closest that I ever got to Peyton Manning wasn’t at an NFL game or event, it was at Bristol during a NASCAR race.
While access is one of the things that makes NASCAR great, it’s also something that has become a concern for the drivers. Last week in Daytona, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin spoke about the need for change when it comes to fans being on pit road prior to the races. Earnhardt Jr. and Hamlin commented on the matter prior to a meeting with NASCAR and other drivers where they both said they wanted their concerns addressed.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"I thought that the security on pit road last week (at Sonoma) was pretty bad during pre-race. So we’ll talk about that a little bit. Some of the drivers are concerned with how messy that’s getting considering what we have going on. We’re trying to get in the cars and it was crazy down there."
Denny Hamlin
"I agree last week (in Sonoma) that it was really hard to even walk to your car, and it’s a very small pit road. Things could definitely could get done. I feel like each team should have a 10-foot-square space around their car that is just designated for the driver and team. Honestly, they’re monitoring the crew guys from touching the car before the race, but the casual fan can do just about anything they want to the side of the car. It’s really crazy how much. For example, I’ve seen guys just fall over the hood of the car and put a dent in it. That’s more than any adjustment any crew guys could make. It’s something that could be addressed and will be addressed."
Fan access was also an issue at Bristol when Kyle Busch hit a fan while trying to bring his car back to the garage area after a wreck on the track. The fan, who was in an unauthorized area, took to social media to blast Busch after the incident.
The one thing that NASCAR fans need to understand is that these drivers are at the track to perform a job. While their job might be awesome, it’s still work and the track is essentially their office. Athletes (like celebrities) have to make certain concessions to fans and supporters given their careers but those concessions should not impact their jobs. A driver on pit road before the start of a race should be focused solely on the task at hand. Heck, a driver on the track at any point during the racing weekend should not have their focus taken away by fans unless they allow for it.
must read: Mid-Season Report: The Five Best Finishes Of 2016 Thus Far
While I am not in the camp of NASCAR banning fans from pit road, I do believe that NASCAR should put some rules in place to better protect the drivers and the cars. Whether that being clearing pit road 15 minutes before the start of the race or creating a barrier between the cars and fans where only team personnel can access, something needs to be done.
Fan access in NASCAR is great but it should not happen at the expense of the drivers and teams who work hard to do what they do each and every weekend.