"Grand" Marshals

Topics:  NASCAR

Jeremy T. Sellers
Jerm's Joint
July 13, 2008

This one is easy to answer and in a sad way. As NASCAR grew, the commercialization theory took over as each venue solicited high- profiled figure heads to give the command and eventually wave the starting green flag. It was part of the Hollywood allurue that has taken NASCAR to where it is now.

However, as many writers have commented recently, tracks are bringing in the big names to give the command or start the race, simply to sell tickets. I don't know about the rest of you, but I could give two shits who is giving the order to fire the engines or wave a piece of green fabric unless it's me! lol...as long as the race starts, who cares?

Now, Crown Royal and many other top-name sponsors are trying to get back to the working class guy. (ie: The (insert name here) 400 presented by Crown Royal at Richmond) They hold a contest entered by fans like us, and the winner gets to do the the command or the flag waving. It's not a bad idea. However, I would like to see this done at the higher profile races like Jim is referring. (The Daytona 500 would be a great start) C'mon, do you think President Bush gave a rats ass about being in Daytona in '04?

...and it's safe to say I think we all hate drivers with the last name of Busch!