One of the things In the world of racing that defines Macho verses survival is the amount of armor on what you race.
Each type of car raced has included in it from zero to Macho weapons and armor which can be used to attack other cars for racing position or to gain a spot or spots in the racing pecking order.
Dirt oval racing sprints have the least armor to absorb attacks from weapons used by other drivers. Every sprint car driver knows their right rear is far superior in strength and survivability then the left front of the the car their doing a "slide job" on. Hence the driver being passed has to make a decision of trust that a passing driver will recognize if his "slide job" is faulty or will succeed. In any case right rears are bigger then left fronts so the outcome is always going to be determined by what the car being passed does.
A sprint car race is more like a gun fight at the "OK Corral" then any other type of dirt oval racing. Because of the lack of armor you don't pull your Macho Guns out and shoot just for the sake of shooting.
If I presented a correct case in point above the difference between winged and non winged sprint racing is about speed and how the differences in cars allows for weapons to be displayed to other drivers. The only reason fans can tout about the great side by side racing with non winged sprints is because without wings and the slower speeds, drivers have better opportunity to both display their weapons and position of authority and to see what threats are being presented.
Take away the "massive bars" between the front and rear wheels of non winged sprints and you will still see side by side racing, but the racing will not be in the close quarters you see now. Though drivers do make mistakes their basic instinct on the track is to survive and win.
Macho and armor in any form or appearance is as likely to lead to disaster as it is a win. Because of the speed ability to put hp to the track and lack of armor Winged Sprints are the ultimate of Dirt Oval racing.
edit: You don't see great Macho race car drivers. You hear and read about them and their difficulties.
Edited by dirtstudent2, 20 May 2018 - 12:43 PM.
