Semi-Monthy Racing
Commentary with
LEW BOYD

Email Lew at lewboyd@coastal181.com
 

“Front Row Joe” Nemechek

Photo by Richard Swanner.

It snuck up on us kinda through the back door. I never really thought about it too much until that moment Geoff Bodine announced nationally that henceforth he was to be known as Geoffrey. Then the name trend started getting scary.

Why are nicknames and colorful handles out of favor? Isn’t it a neat thing when an announcer can ham it up and slide a good one through the microphone: “And, Ladies and Gentlemen, bringing up the rear in the #69 car out of Worcester, Massachusetts is none other than Mario ‘Fats’ Caruso, the Shrewsbury Flash!” What kids don’t have those wonderful names burned in their brain from the first time they sat on the edge of a seat board?

Sure, there are some left. There is “Front Row Joe,” acknowledging Nemechek’s former knack for pole shots. Of course, as you would expect, there is some zaniness from Kenny Wallace, “Herman the German” or “the Hermanator” for short. And there is the refreshing sound of no real name at all. Just call him “Smoke.”

But, fact is, nicknames are falling off as quickly as roll bar padding from Robby Gordon’s car. It seems that drivers now need to be identified with a yuppie-like seriousness. Have you seen how many initials are now used instead of first names, imitating the silliness of investment bankers? And there are lots of Jr.s and IIIs these days, as if adding such a suffix makes the person more important.

Recently Ed Duncan, a researcher on our HOT CARS COOL DRIVERS and PAVED TRACK DIRT TRACK books, made up a list nicknames used by racing folk. Karl Fredrickson of Speedway Illustrated added more. Of the ones we have so far, my personal favorite goes to a seriously hard-charging kid who manhandled a huge, finned Cadillac around the grimy oiled dirt of New England’s Lakeville Speedway in the seventies. His calling card – “Sewerside Harriman.”

Here’s our list so far. Got any more? Please drop us a line so we can keep it going.

Email Lew at lewboyd@coastal181.com

Note:  Lots of folks have suggested additional handles since we first posted this list.    Keep them coming!

Thanks

Updated 5/5/08