The Patriotism of NASCAR

Call it a "redneck" thing, but NASCAR and American patriotism go hand-in-hand.

As we honor those who died in the horrid attack on American soil on September 11, 2001, we still hear from those who question the wars we've engaged since this tragedy. Our servicemen and women fight and die for our continuing freedom, much of it because nearly 3000 people, many of multinational heritage, died while enjoying the freedom we hold so dear.

The NASCAR community honored the fallen with an incredible array of paint schemes this past weekend at Richmond International Raceway, and there is already a vast array of memorabilia for sale that will profit from it. Such is the American way.

But the American spirit runs deep in NASCAR, and has well before all of the commercialism we now easily associate with it. America's Armed Forces recognize this, and use the cars, drivers, and races as a recruiting platform. Even that goes further back than this weekend.

During the 1991 Daytona 500, NASCAR recognized the conflict known as "Desert Storm" by sponsoring five cars (already racing with minimal, to no sponsorship that weekend) representing the five branches of the military, and decals of the American flag adorned virtually every car in the field. Not as commercialism, but as a proud display of heartfelt patriotism.

NASCAR grew from the ashes of World War II. Our servicemen -- and women -- returned home and sought some kind of normalcy. American sports are a great platform for that. And NASCAR was a big part of that. American cars, and predominantly American drivers and crews fought on the "battlefield" of NASCAR competition. Many of these participants were veterans of the war, having put their lives on the line to defend their country, and now putting their lives on the line to entertain its people.

And it didn't end there. Through the years many veterans took to the track, having, in my opinion, earned a place there.

60s NASCAR veteran Larry Frank was indeed a veteran. A no-nonsense hard-charging ex-Marine, he wasn't one to back down from a conflict, and was even known to give chase, with or without a car, if he felt it was warranted. He is probably best known for his NASCAR "conflict" that is the stuff of legend.

During one race, "Little Joe" Weatherly was driving in his own hard-charging style, but seemed to focus most of his beating and banging on Larry Frank, doing a lot of damage. After the race, Frank chased ‘Little Joe' into the parking lot. Not wanting to tangle with Frank without the protection of a car around him, Weatherly jumped on a car's roof. Even that wasn't going to stop Larry Frank, so Little Joe ran across the roof of every car parked in that row, leaving a trail of dented roofs along the way. And, in true NASCAR style, both men laughed about it the next day.

Army veteran Nelson Stacy drove a tank as he served his country. That might have had something to do with the way he drove on the Grand National circuit during his brief NASCAR career.

Nowadays, many of the drivers in NASCAR's top three series started too young to have had a career in the military. But, that doesn't mean that they can't show their American pride, even if it comes at 200 miles per hour.

Never Forget.