What are all those losers still doing in the big leagues?

I have said for a number of years now that if I ever win big money in the lottery, I will take Otto Sitterly to Indianapolis.

Otto Sitterly? Last Sunday, he won the 56^th Budweiser International Classic 200 for supermodifieds at Oswego Speedway in New York. It was his second in a row and his third in four years.

He had stiff competition. Indy 500 veterans Davey Hamilton and Joe Gosek were in the field, as was NASCAR’s Johnny Benson Jr.

When we shook hands afterward, I asked him if he ever thought about a one-off shot at the 500. “Of course,” he said, “but I don’t have the money.”

What a terrible state of affairs: “I don’t have the money.”

What the hell should money have to do with it?

Once upon a time, Sitterly would have been off to Indianapolis in a heartbeat, simply because of his talent. Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford, A.J. Foyt, the Unser brothers – they all made it to the big time because they could drive and race better than just about anybody else and not because they had the gift of the gab or a pipeline to a Swiss bank account.

I know, times have changed, etc. etc., and employers now look for the total package — race car smarts as well as boardroom savvy.

But the racing has suffered. You can be sure of that, because no longer do drivers have to win in order to feed their families; they’re all under contract and their money goes into the bank after every race whether the finish first or last.

And once they get to the bigs, it seems as if they have jobs for life regardless of how successful, or unsuccessful, they are.

So even if an Otto Sitterly could somehow get close to the top, it’s unlikely he could take the last step because of this tenure system that seems to exist in today’s racing.

Although I like him because I like old guys, being one myself, I have to ask: what is Mark Martin still doing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series? And just so nobody thinks I’m biased, I will now turn to a young guy. What has Joey Logano done to rate being hired by Roger Penske to drive the No. 22 car next season? Joe Gibbs (and Home Depot) can’t wait to get rid of him and Penske rolls out the red carpet?

What are, in no particular order, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray, Dave Blaney, David Gilliland, David Ragan, Bobby Labonte, Regan Smith and about 10 others still doing occupying full-time rides in the top stock-car racing series in the United States?

Because they smile nicely?

I mean, it has to be that because they're certainly not proving anything in their racing cars.

The worst is Casey Mears. How does that man keep getting himself hired?

And it’s not just NASCAR. What is Oriol Servia still doing in IndyCar? And Rubens Barrichello. I mean, they have done nothing. No-thing. Yes, they are  “steady performers,” but they don’t win races and that is what auto racing should be all about: winning.

If you don’t win, you shouldn't get to continue playing.

I know a whole bunch of drivers — Ryan Coniam, Kyle Larson, Michael Adams — who are ready, willing and able to take their places.

They all have one thing in common: they are winners.

Starting with Otto Sitterly.

Norris Note: The photo of Otto Sitterly in this column was taken at Oswego Speedway by Lauren Long of the Syracuse Post-Standard.

Comments

[John JR Revelle]

Very true Norris,there are too many seat fillers in todays racing while a true wheel man like Otto Sitterly cannot even afford a shot at INDY sad but true.

[david guarino]

Interesting take on things, but it feels like you are assuming all cars are equal, which they are not. Many of the drivers you've taken issue with are not in equipment capable of winning. So should those car owners give up too? You've stated drivers that don't win should go away, well then so should the car owners right? Hmmmmm so now what? 5-10 cars left capable of winning everyone else goes home?

Yes, racing should be about winning but more than winning its about competition. And competing is harder than winning. Would Dave Blaney/Tommy Baldwin love to win, yes, but they won't. But they aren't giving up either and are getting better... competing. The guys running 15th - 25th are racing harder than anyone gives them credit for. It's much easier to drive a fast car that's handling right than a car that's twitchy and running in the back of the pack, scaring you to death every other lap. Driving into a corner @ 150mph, knowing the car is going to stick is a lot easier than driving into the corner @145 and having no clue what the car is going to do when you get there. Ask ANY driver and they'll confirm it. Competing is taking whatever you have and getting the best possible finish. If you're close to the front then you go for the win. If you're at the back you go for the guy one spot ahead of you, and after getting past them, aim for the next one.

So bash the guys who aren't winning if you like, but most of them got where they are by racking up big win counts in lesser circuits. Not to say some haven't overstayed their welcome, but even the guys at the back got to the big time by winning, a lot.

[Andy D]

It's the Peter Principle. You keep moving up the ladder until you reach a level where you're no longer competent. Then you hold on to that spot so that the next competent person doesn't have a place to go.

It's bad for racing and it's bad for business, but a lot of people are rich because of it. All the way up until their top heavy company goes bankrupt.

It's killing Richard Childress' team right now. Earnhardt-Ganassi must be a tax write-off for Chip because he makes no effort to get good people. An eager rookie wants to run races but the start-and-parks would lose money if they go more than twenty laps. It's all about car owners making money, not winning races.

[Luke]

Well said JR Revelle. Bravo!

[Jim Russell]

I like a columnist who says what he thinks. I also think the comments by david guarino are on the money as well. This leads me stating my belief that, at least in NASCAR, there are at least 10 too many cars in the field. While I agree that all the teams in the CUP series are worthy competitors, at least 10 are strictly there for the payday. They have no delusions of anything else. The older drivers in that bottom ten are there based on past performance, the younger ones are there to try and keep their face in front of people. Trouble is, a start and park team only provides a paycheck. The younger drivers would be much better served competing sucessfully in a lower series. I think a 30 car field in Sprint Cup would be better for all concerned

[Mike Amoruso]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Robert Wickens as one of the drivers you know who deserves a shot at the bigs. Put him in a half-decent Indy car and he'd be better than 2/3 of the current (very sad) crop in that series. Put him in a half-decent stock car and he'd smoke that overrated Danica in both Nationwide and Cup week after week. Robert should give up on his F1 dream and come home. Better to be the big fish in a small pond.