SouthernWorldwide.com – Stephen A. Smith has ignited a debate within the NASCAR community by classifying drivers as non-athletes.
Smith’s controversial statement, made on his SiriusXM show last month, asserted, “Come on, man. That don’t count. You driving a car!” He further elaborated, “I’m being honest. It’s a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same.”
He added, “You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud.”
NASCAR stars Kyle Larson and Jeff Gordon have since responded to Smith’s remarks, challenging his perspective.
Kyle Larson, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, pointed out that Smith “doesn’t know a whole lot about the sport” and underestimates the athleticism required in motorsports. Larson emphasized the significant mental fatigue involved in racing for hours, the intense competitiveness, and the physical demands that make drivers true athletes, albeit in a different context than traditional stick-and-ball sports.
Larson extended a challenge to Smith, or anyone else, to endure a single lap in a race car at speed. He suggested that the experience would quickly reveal the extreme nature of the sport, stating, “without feeling like they’re going to die.”
Read more : Ex-girlfriend Accuses Massie of Arranging Her Job, Then Offering Payout to Drop Suit
Larson acknowledged that definitions of athleticism vary. “Everybody’s got a little bit different definition for what an athlete might mean to them. So his definition is different than the way I would feel about it. Do I get worked up about it when I hear somebody say that we’re not athletes? No.”
Jeff Gordon, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, interjected, stating, “I do,” indicating he does get worked up by such comments.
However, Larson maintained a more understanding stance. “I just accept that they won’t understand, because they will never be able to strap into a race car that goes 200 miles an hour. If they did, I don’t think they would be able to make it a lap without feeling like they’re going to die,” Larson continued.
Larson further elaborated on the physical exertion. “And then you factor in three-and-a-half-hour-long races and a 150-degree car with an elevated heart rate of probably 150 for three hours, with a peak of, for me, would be 190. I think then they would quickly realize that although you’re not shooting a ball into a hoop, this is definitely a sport and definitely a tough one where you have to be an athlete — maybe more on the endurance side of things.”
Gordon shared an anecdote about inviting Jason Kelce, a prominent figure in another sport, for a similar experience. “I’m pretty sure he’d have a different opinion about it,” Gordon said. “Just ask him.”
