Here it comes. Like it or not, this season is going to be the year of the ladies. In case you haven't heard, perhaps you've been hiding in a cave somewhere, Danica Patrick has won in the IndyCar Series. Marty Reid made an awesome call as Danica came to the checkerd flag. "Move over boys, the lady is coming through. Danica Patrick wins at Twin Ring Motegi."
My take: Danica's win was no fluke. The women of racing are as alive as ever. It's not that uncommon to find women winning big on the dragstrips across America. Well, folks, get ready to hear a lot more about them, like it or not.
RacingForTheWin.com will be covering the women of the sport in depth. In the coming weeks, I'll introduce you to Alli Owens and Chrissy Wallace.
But, first, a special comment about Danica Patrick's landmark win in the Japan Indy 300.
Now that the hype is gone, the excuses are coming. Folks, fuel strategy is part of racing. I didn't see anybody taking anything away from Jimmie Johnson, who didn't even run in the top 5 at Phoenix, when he won that race.
Why is it any different with Danica?
There seems to be an old school biological stereotype clogging the ways of thinking going here. In the past, yes, women have not been as physically fit as men. It's genetic. Since the dawn of civilization, it was the man's job to work and the woman's job to clean and take care of the kids.
But, now, in Real World America and in this world, things have changed. Thanks to recent-century additions to the United States Constitution, women have the same rights as men in the workplace. That has only left the male with the field, the ice and the racetrack.
Times are now changing in sports. Women have risen to great successes, through much harder work and a great deal of discipline, in drag racing.. Laurie Cannister has swept the IHRA Alcohol Funny Car races this year. Ashley Force is making a big deal over in NHRA, she leads the points. And, now, Danica Patrick has won at Twin Ring Motegi.
Marty's quote may have said it all. "Move over."
There is a monumental task ahead for Chrissy Wallace and Alli Owens as they try to make the same strides in NASCAR. They will recieve harsher criticism than anyone. And, at their young ages, they will have to work out a great deal physically and emotionally to withstand the storm.
It's bitten Alli, I'm sure of it. A few weeks before the ARCA race at Iowa, she had a motorcycle accident, and some editors predicted it would spell the end of her career. She pulled through, and did what she needed to at Iowa.
Unfortanently, pre-programmed stereotypes will probably keep Alli Owens out of NASCAR.
Chrissy, on the other hand, has a backing. She's got sponsorship. She's got a Wallace name. She's got Tony Stewart on her side. Tony may be a pompous ass at times, but he sure does make a damn good ally. Chrissy's going to come on strong, and it will hurt those who want NASCAR to remain a mans sport.
But, to say the only reason these drivers are successful is because these drivers are female is a inane way of thinking. I have talked to some of those women. They've had it harder than most. The sponsorship isn't there for a woman trying to pull through. They must make it big, and do so quick.
It takes grit and determination to make it into any league of auto racing. These drivers are better than ever, and they all cross from all breeds of auto racing. That makes it especially tough to succeed. And, when one driver is on fire, you are always at risk of falling behind the curtain.
The good news is Danica has won, and nothing the haters say can take that away from her.
From Maryland, I'm Andy Marquis, saying thanks for checking us out, and be sure to read my many articles on the way. For now, good night and good luck.
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