TPhoto: Elmer Kappell
op: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images; Bottom: Walter Scriptunas
THE GREAT ONES I’m writing in response to Craig Curtis’ letter that
ran in the July issue. Richard Petty, with his seven championships and 200 wins, can probably be regarded as the greatest NASCAR driver in history. Has Jimmie Johnson done what Petty did?
No, not yet. But no other driver has won fi ve consecutive championships. Johnson has certainly earned the right to be called a fi ve-time champion and must be considered one of the greatest drivers in history.
ERIC H. MCGAHEY, Rochester, N.Y.
out there and do what you are supposed to do: race hard. CHUCK PALMER, Concord, Calif.
HALFTIME SHOW Do you think the races are too
long and too boring? NASCAR should split each race into two halves and invert the fi eld. Distribute half the prize money based on how the drivers fi nish the fi rst half of the race, and distribute the other half based upon how the drivers fi nish the second part. KEN MCKEE, Fort Worth, Texas
CHANGE FOR BETTER There is only one thing wrong
with NASCAR: the fans. Every month, all you ever read are letters from people complaining about all the things that are “hurting” the sport. The letters are usually about Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, the Chase, Toyota, TV coverage or the races being too long. What’s really wrong is that
fans are unwilling to accept the fact that the sport has changed over the years. The Chase makes the sport
very exciting and gives people a reason to watch the races through
the fi nal laps. NASCAR also has great personalities like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick. We also have great champions like Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. So NASCAR fans, shut up, sit
back and enjoy the sport. EDWARD BEATRICE, Fremont, Ohio
FIRST MUST FINISH After eight months with the
new point system, I am convinced now more than ever that the Chase should have its own point system. The new system is fi ne for the
fi rst 26 races of the season, but it won’t work in the Chase. It’s a lot tougher for drivers to make up any ground with the new system. If a driver has one DNF in the Chase, he’s fi nished. MARK LIND, Algonquin, Ill.
A DUD I have fi nally weaned myself
off NASCAR. I went to my fi rst race, the Firecracker 400 at Daytona, in 1964. That was when racing was racing. Since today’s regime took over, NASCAR has gone downhill. HAROLD THOMPSON, Taylors, S.C.
CAPTION OF THE MONTH Please send letters and captions to:
NASCAR Illustrated, Attn. Jon Gunn 120 West Morehead St., Suite 320 Charlotte, NC 28202 Or e-mail to:
jgunn@amcity.com
Please include the writer’s full name and mailing address as well as the writer’s two favorite drivers. All submissions become the property of NASCAR Illustrated and will not be returned; submissions may be edited and published, or otherwise used in any medium. *One winner per household per year. **Expect delivery of prize in 4-6 weeks from publication date.
OCTOBER 2011 17 YOU COULD
WIN
a Dale Earnhardt Jr. die-cast courtesy of Lionel NASCAR Collectables.
Submit your answer by Oct. 15 and check back in the December issue to see if you’re our winner.
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