Move of the Race Last Night at NSS... Not what you would think...

[Mark Keeler]

I had to come on here and post this... I saw something last night I thought may have been lost in short-track racing... I've heard about it many times but last night I witnessed it first-hand... A true "gentleman" move in a short-track race...

On lap 29 of last night's Bright House Challenge Series 50... Daniel Webster and Jeff Scofield were racing hard inside the top five... Scofield tapped Webster sending him for a spin... Initial call was for #07 and #33 to the rear (as it should have been)... and then it happened... Scofield took responsibility for the incident so that Webster could get his spot back...

Looked like hard racing with Scofield being maybe a little aggressive at best (based on my vantage point)... but in a truly classy move... Scofield took responsibility for the incident (which he didn't have to do)...

I had heard that Wayne Anderson recently did the same thing a couple times and I have heard of others doing the same periodically in the past but last night was the first time I witnessed it first-hand...

My only comment was "Why can't they all do that... don't they realize how much more fun racing could be if everyone took responsibility for their own actions"...

In my opinion, in a race that featured some of the best racing for the lead that I have seen in some time by two legends of the sport (Anderson / Rogers), that stuck out in my mind as the "move of the race"... and that is not to take anything away from Anderson and Rogers as they put on one hell of a show for the fans right down to the finish...

Scofield came back to finish 3rd but I have gained a whole new respect for him after what he did on lap 29!

As I said, I know other drivers have done it, and even recently, but it was refreshing to see it first-hand!

All in all it was a great race by all of the competitors in last night's Bright House Challenge Series 50 and I can't wait for the next one!
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[ocalasp76]

Thumbs up for Scofield for acting beyond what we see in racing now-a-days.....and then to come back and finish 3rd...awesome driver..
-JIM-

[Boneman]

And the rest of the story....remember how Jeff went after David Rogers on the front straight what David passed him? Sure, Jeff thinks David started it, but that is racing. Mark, you are correct, Jeff Scofield owned up to his mistake, but that doesn't make him any less aggressive.

The 50 lapper had good racing, but the rest of the night was kind of a snoozer...

[MW68SS]

You think Balough, Pletcher, Jimmy Cope, Pete Orr would have ever admitted to causing a wreck. I doubt it. Not saying its a bad thing but the racers from back in the day would let the track figure it out. Racing today is very very vanilla compared to what is used to be and things like this is one reason why.

[Edm]

Honestly I cannot see Jeff making a habit of being a gentleman unless he is trying to win back fans after his infamous walk down the front stretch a few years ago with is middle finger extended towards the crowd after a wreck.


Several years ago Ken Schrader spun someone in at the end of an Arca race. He slowed on the final lap and waited for that driver to cross the finish line ahead of him. He gained my respect.

[MW68SS]

I know this is hard to say it without coming off like an a$$. But all the hero's we had of past racers would win at all costs no matter what advantage they could get and would never admit they did anything wrong. It's not wrong to show that sportsmanship but its not what made our hero's our hero's. I seen Richard Brinson and Eddie King years ago at Auburndale trade the lead 4 or 5 times in the last 10 laps simply knocking each other out of the way. The fans were going nuts at what they were seeing and neither one of them was apologizing for anything.

[carolwicks]

Just my opinion...

Jeff Scofield is one of the best drivers around. He is aggressive... he is what makes us sit on the edge of our seats....EXCITING!
No matter what these guys do someone will complain because we all have different ideas of what is proper. Jeff isnt known for "charisma"... lol He is known for HARD DRIVING! he must have had a good reason for apologizing.
How fun will racing be when they have bumper pads on the cars and the drivers all get out to apologize to each other? rofllllll. it wont be very exciting but occasionally its nice to see one of the "bad boys" show they have a polite side. GO JEFF..... Nice gesture.
carol aka oz

[Mark Keeler]

This cracks me up... there is a difference between racing hard or "moving" someone out of the way and wrecking someone...

So let me get this straight since everyone on here has the answers...

Sportsmanship is killing short-track racing?

Well I will say this... with all the other "reasons" I have heard on hear about what is wrong with short-track racing... this is a new one!

and btw, my "Heroes" growing up were some of the most aggressive, hardest-driving racers I have ever seen, but they weren't so stubborn and egotistical that they were afraid to admit a mistake... if Scofield was racing Webster for position and it was just hard racing that caused Webster to spin, I doubt he would have said anything... It wasn't a "racing" move, it was a mistake and he owned up to it... If that makes one of the hardest racers in the State "vanilla" than I'll take an entire field of "vanilla" drivers please!

[Edm]

This cracks me up...
So let me get this straight since everyone on here has the answers...

Sportsmanship is killing short-track racing?

Lol, and here I thought it was the economy.

[MW68SS]

You look in the stands and see the racing fever in the peoples eyes. More than likely its not there. Ricky Wood was leading a late model feature at OSW once. Gary Balough was 2nd and Pete Orr was 3rd. Going into one Pete Orr bumped Gay Balough into Ricky Wood. Balough spun Wood out and Balough and Wood had to go to the rear. Do you think Pete Orr tapped his roof and said "Sorry guys my fault". No he didnt cause that was what he had planned the whole time. And once again the fans and at that time there was quite a few at OSW were totally into it. Im not saying showing blatant disrespect but I'm saying if a racer gets an advantage no matter how he gets it he takes it. I don't know maybe I'm just way to old school for racing now-a -days.

[carolwicks]

then you didnt understand...

i hate when drivers intentionally put a racer in the wall with no regard for their safety or expense. but i think rubbin, bumping & spinning etc is part of this sport. is it wrong for a boxer to punch a guy in the nose and knock him unconscious? of course it is... on the streets. but in the arena it is expected. if people are going to run dangerous sports, support dangerous sports , pay for dangerous sports... then dangerous sports will survive... thats just the way of the world.
im all for drivers being safe but i also know they chose this sport knowing of the dangers and they need to take some responsibility ....
we do what we can to keep people safe in all walks of life, but sometimes life throws curves. its sad...
what im really pissed about is the lack of celebration to honor our troops.... every track should have had a color guard, prayers and memorials for ppl from their track who served and serve. hardly heard a thing. too busy with BS... i know sometimes im not right but sometimes i am... just like the rest of you. so bear with me...lol
TODAY this board and every other one should be strictly for remembering the ppl who make it possible for us to race, pray, salute, LIVE!!! everyone should be saying THANK YOU and giving tribute to someone they know who has or is serving.
I thank Chris Jericka... not only did he serve in Iraq and Africa but he came home and continues to serve in voluntary projects. He has never been in trouble. has been a wonderful son and brother and a good student... Chris is a man we should all celebrate. there are many like him. Jim Higginbotham has a grandson who is on his way to serve. Lets remember him and pray for his safety.
Have i gone off on another subject. yes and it was intentional... setting priorities ... TODAY IS A DAY TO REMEMBER our soldiers past and present. Nothing else is as important.
Please honor someone you know in our military and pray for ALL of them. We have major problems in AMERICA but we never waiver from protecting our freedoms. thats what makes us different... we are THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Land of the free and home of the brave!!!! GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS and the families and loved ones who suffer losses and grieve and others who simply miss their daddies, moms, and children while they are in other places.!!!!
carolwicks aka oz

[Rick Williamson]

It's just one more sign of what's wrong with the USA everyones right and nobody is wrong! Jeff did the right thing.