[Sirrotica]

Since I doubt that there is anyone on this board that has raced with women on a closed course excluding a drag strip, yes I do pay attention because of the preferential treatment females get by most any racing organization, sponsor, etc. They have a fan base and support financially and in other areas just by their gender alone. Male drivers are judged almost solely by their performance on the track, not their gender. IMO this is reverse discrimination that a minority (in racing) gets special treatment by media, and all the other entities involved. Talent as a driver takes a backseat, and gender is first and foremost.

If they run on a level playing field I have no problem with it, problem is the cards are stacked in TPs favor as soon as she appears on the NASCAR scene just by gender. Not only is she a second rate driver she has caused numerous wrecks by poor judgement, trying to retaliate for a perceived slighting. One of the times she was after revenge there is a radio transmission from her boss saying if she didn't stop trying to wreck Sam Hornish he'd take her out himself.

I'm a fan of equality, but it's a two way street, you want to be treated as an equal on track then you play by the same rules off track. Taking advantage of her gender for financial gains and preferential treatment by all entities involved in racing isn't how equality works.

Take this example, suppose NASCAR is run by women and the majority of all drivers except one is female. A new male driver comes to NASCAR and is considered attractive to the members of all entities involved and is given a first rate ride with all the expenses involved in sponsorship taken care of by a big name sponsor. The driver in question has come from another racing series where in many years of competition stumbled on a win in a fuel mileage race.

In 4 years he has no wins, most of the laps led are under caution and 6 top 10 finishes due mostly to attrition or bad luck by the other drivers. Average finish is right around 25th for 4 years running. Should this guy be rewarded with another multi year contract when sponsor number one takes a leave? Now bear in mind there are a dozen other female drivers much better qualified to sit in that first rate seat, but because of their gender are at a large disadvantage. Did I mention that the Waltrip sisters drool anytime this driver passes another car?

Now bear in mind other women, much more qualified are struggling to just stay in a halfway decent ride. They far exceed the male driver in stats and talent, yet he gets all the breaks and passes because he is a male in a female dominated sport. Is there any hint of equality here? I doubt many of the other female drivers have a snowballs chance in hell to advance upward just based on their talents and not gender.

If there is equality in NASCAR the touring princess would either be out the door, or running in a back marker, or a start and park ride. Since the gender card is being played over and over she gets a ride again for years more of a lackluster performance because of gender.

In this day of political correctness and equality among the sexes this must be the most backward poor example of any equality in sports.

When this happened in professional tennis years ago at least Billie Jean King was a top talent and trounced her detractor at the time, Bobby Riggs. I never see that happening in NASCAR with the TP.

In the mean time a top notch car is funded to an undeserving driver because her gender. I don't make the decisions on keeping her in this ride, but if I was intent on having a female driver, there are a pool of much more talented women I could see in that car that would give the sponsor more exposure through winning or at least in the top 5 consistently plus having a woman driving the car, rather than seeing your name on a wrecked car being towed to the garage area. But life ain't fair, is it?