If you think the Dale/Kyle "rvialry" is bo-ring, join the club.

By Sharon Bundy
 
There has been a lot of talk about the lack of true rivalries in NASCAR. Back in the day, there was plenty to go around. But now in the day of political correctness and image, rivalries are almost extinct.
 
NASCAR needs a true rivalry in the sport. There really isn't much else going on to fire fans up. Even the rumors of the sport lack any real punch. Frankly, the sport has gotten dull, on track and off.
 
Kyle Busch has become the "black hat" driver of the sport. But even his attempts at stirring the proverbial rivalry pot are pathetic. Each week he has a new attack on Dale Jr. and/or his fans. It's almost laughable. Part of me wonders if NASCAR is trying to script this or simply trying too hard to make something out of nothing. Either way, it's not working.
 
The problem is that a rivalry must be authentic. There has to be that genuine element that draws battle lines between drivers and fans of drivers. While there is some rivalry between fans, it really isn't about fan vs. fan, it should be driver vs. driver. Then fans pick sides.
 
There needs to be that rivalry in the sport that draws fans in. The sport needs a  Duke vs. North Carolina, Cubs vs. Cards, or Lakers vs. Celtics type of rivalry. But because of NASCAR's hard line policies and the certain public image they want to convey, the days of true rivalries may be far behind us.

That could be just one of many reasons why the sport is on a decline. There is nothing really going on to get fans fired up about, to get them to tune in, call in and debate about. The sport has become too vanilla, pure and simple.

Sharon Bundy is a free-lance writer. In addition to appearing here, she is a regular contributor at insidethepitbox.com. When Sharon is not writing about races or going to races, she enjoys spending time with her two children. Sharon is looking for more writing opportunities and can be reached at sharon_bundy@hotmail.com.