Alright, alright, settle down now. Here we are, rumbling down the memory lane of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs, dragging our feet through tales of past winners and their so-called’ legacies.’ Why? Well, because the past informs the present, or so they say.
Ah, Todd Bodine, the big cheese of 2006, grinding through the season with such aplomb. A lot of these young upstarts could learn a thing or two from him. Always thought he had more grit in his left tire than most have in their whole trucks.
Let’s not forget that young whipper-snapper Erik Jones, showing up in 2015 like a bull in a china shop. He thought he was hot stuff, and well, he wasn’t wrong. As Caleb Whisler of Speedway Media noted back then, “Jones, a wolf among sheep, laid down a precedent for youngsters in the sport.” Sure, sure, I’ll give him that. But can’t say he did it with the same flair as the old guard.
Then there’s Matt Crafton, the one they call the ‘craftsman.’ Crafton indeed. As Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press said back in 2013, “Crafton, a true craftsman of the track, spun a tapestry of victory that will remain woven into the history of NASCAR for years to come.” Good old Fryer. She knows what’s what. He might not have been a Bodine, but Crafton knew how to drive a truck alright.
These fellows, these ‘legends,’ their victories might be etched into the annals of NASCAR history, but what’s it worth? Seems to me each year, it’s the same old dance. Another young buck grabs the trophy; we snap a few photos, pat them on the back, then send them off into the sunset. What’s the point?
Bah, maybe I’m just a grumpy old man. But as we’re on the verge of another NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs, I can’t help but think: who’s going to be the next ‘legacy?’ And will they actually have the mettle to leave a lasting mark, or just another fleeting moment in the spotlight?
That’s it. I’m done rambling. Until next time, keep your engines revved and your tires on the asphalt. It’s a mad world out there on the track.