Drivers react to canceled race
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
September 14, 2001
2:22 PM EDT (1822 GMT)
CONCORD, N.C. -- The decision by NASCAR to cancel racing activities for the Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck Series for the weekend of Sept. 14-16, due to terrorist attacks on the United States, is being viewed by its drivers as a good one.
The only drawback may be the proposed rescheduling of the Winston Cup race for Nov. 23, which would make that date the season-ending race as opposed to the Atlanta race on Nov. 18.
The Truck Series race, which was to be run at Texas Motor Speedway, has been rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
However, the Cup circuit has no open dates from now until the Atlanta race and is currently midway through 20 weeks of consecutive racing -- therefore the New Hampshire date has to be made up at the end of the season.
"They did the best thing, I think, by canceling the race for sure," said Rusty Wallace. "With everything that has taken place this past week, racing doesn't seem to be as important as it did last weekend.
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Rusty Wallace
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"I think if they totally deleted the New Hampshire race everybody would totally understand. Money should be refunded to the fans and just cancel this particular race."
As far as the proposed rescheduling, Wallace feels running the race in November isn't the answer.
"I'm not really liking what I'm hearing about it being rescheduled for the end of November after Atlanta," Wallace said from California, where he went out to see a Madonna concert on Monday and has been grounded there since.
"I mean, come on -- they open the ski slopes that weekend in North Carolina. What do you think the weather is going to be like in New Hampshire that time of year?"
Johnny Benson agrees with Wallace regarding the cancelation of the NHIS race.
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Johnny Benson
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"I'm glad that we decided to postpone Sunday's race," said Benson, driver of the No. 10 Pontiac. "At times like this we need
to think about our country and the families involved in what happened in New York and Washington. As much as I love this sport, I really didn't feel like racing this weekend."
But, when it comes to the proposed rescheduled date, Benson says bring it on.
"This is a tough time for our nation," Benson said. "But we have been through tough times before and I know we will get through it. We will put on a heck of a show in New Hampshire in November and reward those fans for their patience.
"Terrorists aren't going to stop this country or our sport from going forward."
For John Andretti, the attack on Tuesday caused him to have an inner-reflection on where one's priorities lie during times like this.
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John Andretti
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"Under the circumstances, this is the right thing to do," said Andretti, driver of the No. 43 Dodge. "There were a lot of choices that could have been made but, in my opinion, this was the way to go.
"Outside of my family, nothing on earth has meant as much to me as driving a race car since I was a little kid. That’s all I’ve ever done and all I’ve ever wanted to do. When somebody like me is wondering whether I really want to race on a weekend or not, then a lot of people must be having some pretty serious doubts."
James Ince, Benson's crew chief, sent his entire shop home after hearing the official word from NASCAR regarding this weekend's events.
"We were in a mad push to get home from Richmond, then we hurried to Kansas City for testing Monday and then drove home on Tuesday after it was canceled," said Ince. "Yesterday and today we were getting ready for New Hampshire.
"Now that we don't have to go to New Hampshire, we can take a step back and take in what has happened. I told
our team to 'Go home, be with your family them come back Monday.' "
Tony Stewart agreed: "Normally, I'll race anywhere, anyplace at anytime. But
nothing's been normal since Tuesday morning. NASCAR made the right decision
to postpone this Sunday's race at New Hampshire because there are a lot more
important things going on in the world right now.
"I'm still in shock, to be
honest, of what has happened, just like everyone else.
"I don't believe that we should go hide in a corner or something, because
that's exactly what these terrorists would want us to do. But taking this
weekend off was definitely the right thing to do. It'll give everyone some
time to heal before we start returning to our way of life."
Said Jeff Gordon in a statement: "I support NASCAR's decision, postponing the race was the proper thing to
do. There are far more important things going on in this country right now than running a race.
"We have all been deeply affected by this tragedy and our thoughts and
prayers are with the families and friends of the victims."
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