Drivers, Cars, Teams, Series, and Personalities that Don't Get Enough Respect

[JohnBM01]

It's time for something different. This thread is all about personalities and series in racing that don't get enough respect from the general motorsports media. What qualifies as "not enough respect?" Here are some of the criteria:

* usually bashed in the media, but disregarded for talent
* usually bashed by general public, but underrated in racing ability
* series that provide great racing and work successfully, but underlooked by general media (series only)
* motorsports personalities who are actually much better than what people take them for (personalities)
* manufacturers who build solid race cars and not really credited as much (teams)
* cars that are actually much more capable than what people take them for
* star-crossed tragic heroes of racing that can still race and win consistently

The theme here is that of underappreciation. You think something or someone is underappreciated in racing? Here's your chance to convince us all that we should really have better respect for that racer, that car make, that series, that motorsports personality, or even underrated talents every racer must have to be successful or the like. They're underappreciated. Help us better appreciate some things in racing.

 

[Jim Prower]

Biggest one I could think of is gone....the North American Touring Car Championship. Might've had a chance, though, If the CART/IRL split hadn't happened...

 

[kart racer]

One of the most abused person at any track is the race offical.Having been a flagman for many years I have had my share of abuse from fans and teams alike.They are there to keep everyone safe and some times,what we have to do is not popular with everyone.Like when you D Q a driver for rule infractions or poor driving on the track.One year I was flaging a stock car race at our local track and through the black flag at a driver for ruff driving.Well, his fans were on me like flys to stink.It got so bad I had to tell the driver that if he did not control them that he would be done for the night.(Most of them were his familly and freinds)So the next time you see something that a race offical dose and you don't agree with.Just remember that they have info that you don't and they only do this for the safty of others.