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When race fans reflect on some of NASCAR's greatest rivalries, many think about Richard Petty versus David Pearson,
Darrell Waltrip battling Bobby Allison, and Jeff Gordon dueling with Dale Earnhardt.
These duels were initiated either by hard racing on the track or manufacturer bragging rights, as those racers duked it out
to the bitter end of each race to outrun one another every week. Consider, these battles took place well before NASCAR
urged today's competitors to "have at it."
The drivers of the past didn't need a race official to tell them to race hard. Rather, they went after it each lap,
trading paint, locking horns, and best of all, respecting one another after the checkered flag.
In the 1970's, Pearson and Petty were the epitome of this type of hard racing, as they would push each other to the limit
on the track. Even after wrecking each other out on the final lap of the 1976 Daytona 500, the two drivers were still
able to respect one another after a hard day's work.
Think about how Earnhardt was able to instill fear within competitors towards the finish of a race. With one look at the
rear view mirror, just the sight of the black #3 was about as daunting as swimming in shark-infested waters.
Earnhardt was able to mix it up with the best of the Cup field, whether it was a young gun or veteran talents like
Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd. Even if it meant mashing in the front end of his Chevrolet or being doled out a penalty by
NASCAR officials, The Intimidator would do whatever it took to win the race.
At the end of the race, a racer would feel honored just to have battled alongside with Earnhardt, realizing the magnitude
and importance of competing against a respected and fierce motorsports star. For some racers, it could be perceived as a
"Welcome to NASCAR" moment in their stock car resumes.
In a matter of speaking, the sport's reputation as a competitive, fender-to-fender series with racing fans across the
country was built on rivalries. After all, who watches stick-and-ball sports without even considering the competitive
battles between Boston and New York, Dallas and San Francisco, Chicago and Detroit, and Miami versus Dallas?
Lately, it seems like NASCAR rivalries are artificial in nature. In 2010, Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton
uttered the famous four words, "Boys, have at it," which essentially allowed competitors to relax and race wheel-to-wheel
without too much repercussion from the sanctioning body.
On the surface, it sounds like a return to the grassroots-style racing that was prevalent for most of the sport's history
until the new age of racing circa 2001. Simply put, NASCAR went from shirt and jeans to corporate suits and ties.
In terms of driver etiquette on the track, NASCAR transitioned during the 1990's from a hard-nosed, gritty sport
to passive, complacent action that seemed as interesting as watching an IROC race on a road course – a noble concept,
but a somewhat disappointing result.
The slightest deviation from this polite style of racing meant a fine or suspension from the sanctioning body,
which upset fans and competitors alike. When was the last time that a congratulatory tap or a friendly confrontation
after a race warranted a penalty on a Saturday night short track race? Drivers and crew chiefs were docked points for verbal indescretions on television.
This might explain the lack of rivalries in today's NASCAR. Yes, the likes of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Tony Stewart
are aggressive, solid drivers who are capable of sparking up a rivalry against Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, or
Carl Edwards. But their feuds are often short-lived.
Although fans may have a hard time agreeing on most things about racing, they know the sport needs an authentic, true rivalry – without an artificial bump draft from the officials.
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