Who says they're not athletes?
By Liz Allison, Turner Sports Interactive
October 11, 2001
9:36 AM EDT (1336 GMT)
COMMENTARY
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Liz Allison
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If I hear one more time that "race car drivers aren't athletes," I think I will scream. So what are they if they aren't athletes? Just a bunch of car happy guys out cruising on Sundays. NOT!
Race care drivers are every bit of the word athlete, and, in fact, they epitomize the definition of an athlete. They could not perform on the level that they do week-in and week-out and be anything other than that.
The typical Winston Cup race day consists of the minimum of three hours in a race car in every type of weather imaginable. You can go from 20 degrees outside to 100 degrees. The temperature inside the car can reach up to 120 brutal degrees. These guys have to be able to race at the drop of a hat in either condition, be it cold or extremely hot.
The heat factor on those hot and humid days is unrelenting. Let's not forget the heat from the pavement as well as the fire retardant suits that these guys wear. Every part of their body is covered in thick materials used for safety precautions with the exception of minimal facial area. Just adjusting your body to the elements is a feat in itself.
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Ken Schrader (46 years old) and Mike Wallace (42).
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How about the attention factor that it takes to drive a race car for several hours at speeds up to 200 mph? Knowing that if you let up for a half a second it could be the time that it takes to wreck you or somebody else. I would hate to think that a half a second makes a difference, but it does with speeds like these. Whew, no pressure there.
Race day is not just about driving. It is about studying every aspect of the car with your team. Discussing every possible avenue to have the best car on the track at the drop of the green flag. This does not come easy. Many manhours have to go into race day to have a competitive car. So now throw in the research and practice time to reach that competitive level.
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Elliott Sadler
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These guys have to train year round to keep their bodies in the best physical shape that they can to be able to withstand the tough conditions of race day. Most drivers have professional trainers to help keep them in shape. Some guys do their own training and then others feel that race day is grueling enough to keep them in shape week to week. Whatever the case may be, they have to stay on top of the game to keep up and to be competitive.
Speaking of top of the game. Where else do you see professional athletes competing at the top of their sport in there 40s? Not many places.
Bill Elliott, Brett Bodine, Bobby Hamilton, Ron Hornaday, Dale Jarrett, Terry Labonte, Sterling Marlin, Mark Martin, Robert Pressley, Ken Schrader, Mike Skinner, Jimmy Spencer, Rusty Wallace, and Winston Cup championship contender Ricky Rudd are all in their 40s racing at the top of the game.
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Dale Jarrett in victory lane at Texas
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Even "The King" -- Richard Petty -- did not even retire until he was 55 years old.
So next time someone says, "race car drivers aren't athletes," I say ... Baloney. You better check the definition of athlete. In my dictionary it reads: Athlete -- a Winston Cup driver.
NOTE: Liz Allison's column appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com. The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer.
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