Letter: Racers are good sports

Ron@vegas.com

Friday, Feb. 25, 2000 | 10:47 a.m.

Columnist Dean Juipe ... assumes that auto racing is a not a sport ("Auto racing mystifies its detractors," Feb. 21) but he should just ask the drivers how many workouts they have to do just to stay in shape to survive any of the races. Some even do it with injuries -- boxers, football players, basketball players, etc., do not show up when they have even the most minor of injuries, like a pinched pinkie. The guys driving those cars show up with neck, leg and back injuries 34 times a year in NASCAR.

And it's nice to talk to them out at the track without being cursed ... and you never see them in jail, etc., as happens in other sports.

Race car drivers are sportsmen both on and off the track.

-- WERNER CRAATZ

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