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It was the type of audience response that most tracks dream about. Last Saturday night, most of the fans at East Bay were on their feet, and were either cheering for one side or booing for the other! Everyone was excited, everyone was loud, and I am sure most everyone was having a great time.
The East Bay sprint feature was the stage for a "throw down" between 3'rd generation driver A.J. Maddox and the track management. A.J., and the East Bay champion Billy Boyd, had lots of contact in the first lap of the heat, and it left A.J. in the second turn wall and out of the race. That incident, coupled with some long-term frustration among many people close to the scene, boiled over in the feature when A.J. climbed into third, and was accused of jumping a restart. Naturally, A.J. didn't see it that way, and refused to go to the rear of the field. Instead he mashed the gas (while under yellow) and was black-flagged.
After much discussion on the raceceiver, A.J. idled around and would not leave the track, despite a "blockade" of people trying to block the track and force him into the pit exit. Even a law enforcement joined the blockade at one point. A.J. pulled bluff after bluff of heading to the exit, and then turning back to the track for another lap. To the delight of the crowd, he waved at the fans to get on their feet and show him some love. Many responded too, and had a blast cheering for the bad boy, while booing for the heavy hand of track management!
I know it was serious business for those involved, but I didn't have a dog in the fight, so from my spot in the stands it was great fun. It was theater for us, and I found myself "booing" a track that I love and management I respect. Just a few hours earlier, we were all showing lots of appreciation for their celebration of the starters 75'th birthday. THAT was real! The non-sense during the sprints was just for fun, IMHO.
Who knows what happens next? Sometimes there is more to it than meets the eye, so let the chips fall where they may.
The East Bay sprint feature was the stage for a "throw down" between 3'rd generation driver A.J. Maddox and the track management. A.J., and the East Bay champion Billy Boyd, had lots of contact in the first lap of the heat, and it left A.J. in the second turn wall and out of the race. That incident, coupled with some long-term frustration among many people close to the scene, boiled over in the feature when A.J. climbed into third, and was accused of jumping a restart. Naturally, A.J. didn't see it that way, and refused to go to the rear of the field. Instead he mashed the gas (while under yellow) and was black-flagged.
After much discussion on the raceceiver, A.J. idled around and would not leave the track, despite a "blockade" of people trying to block the track and force him into the pit exit. Even a law enforcement joined the blockade at one point. A.J. pulled bluff after bluff of heading to the exit, and then turning back to the track for another lap. To the delight of the crowd, he waved at the fans to get on their feet and show him some love. Many responded too, and had a blast cheering for the bad boy, while booing for the heavy hand of track management!
I know it was serious business for those involved, but I didn't have a dog in the fight, so from my spot in the stands it was great fun. It was theater for us, and I found myself "booing" a track that I love and management I respect. Just a few hours earlier, we were all showing lots of appreciation for their celebration of the starters 75'th birthday. THAT was real! The non-sense during the sprints was just for fun, IMHO.
Who knows what happens next? Sometimes there is more to it than meets the eye, so let the chips fall where they may.
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