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Yesterday, political writer Michelle Malkin broke the news concerning how Dateline: NBC, said network's attempt to out-60 Minutes 60 Minutes, was planning to put together a story where they would surreptitiously film some unmistakably Arabic-appearing gentlemen attending a NASCAR race, no doubt hoping to record assorted catcalls and racist comments so the show could then issue some thundering self-righteous proclamation about the evils of trailer trash who frequent such events (direct story links here and here).  If all NBC wanted to do was get nasties on tape, they could save the trouble plus expense of hidden cameras and microphones by having Bill Weber walk through the stands of any given track.  But I digress.

Although this is hardly the first time an elitist news organization has tried to skewer NASCAR's fan base by playing the redneck stick game, it's sadly amusing to see a network that at one time thought enough of the sport to pony up a whole lotta millions for the privilege of televising it forgetting the statement goes "if you don't like the news go out and make some of your own," not "make up some."  Not to mention how condescending the whole matter is, but since as NASCAR fans we're used to being stared at down someone's nose so permanently upturned if they ever get caught in the rain minus an umbrella they're in imminent danger of drowning it almost doesn't matter any more.  Almost.

It obviously would be way too much to ask NBC for a story about, oh, Bill Lester's dignity and class, not to mention how he's a genuine hero to mid-life crises dwellers everywhere.  Or the Victory Junction Camp.  Or the Kenny Irwin Jr. Memorial Foundation and Dare To Dream Camp.  Or the Jeff Gordon Foundation.  Or any other of a dozen's dozen active, hands-on charitable works being done by drivers and teams.  Naah, much better to try and find some drunk Bubba who'll say something about some Ay-rab so we can strike a pose as superior intellectuals offended by these simpleton's antics.  (Personally, I'm offended by people whose reaction to others committing mass murder in the name of their false prophet or burning embassies because of a cartoon is whining about being picked on.  But that's just me.)

Whether or not NBC actually goes ahead and tries to film their story, originally scheduled to be done at Martinsville this past weekend but now moved to Texas this weekend, remains to be seen since its cover has been blown.  If it doesn't come through, though, the network shouldn't despair.  Want to get loathing by some self-made parody of Larry The Cable Guy's parody of a stereotyped hick, directed at innocents, on film?  No problem...

... follow a couple of Gordon fans around Talladega.

P.S.  Forgot to mention how, should NBC try such a stunt at California Speedway, the show would never air due to lack of material.  At Fontana you see white and black and brown and yellow all mixed together without a thought given to skin tone, given how all in attendance are unified by two common bonds: wondering why Earnhardt the younger never runs well here, and wishing they'd put some banking in the place.  It'd be especially amusing to see the reaction of the guy who sits down my row, on the outside a stereotypical trailer denizen complete with straggly gray ponytail and battered leather vest... who during caution periods last year pulled out a well-thumbed copy of Atlas Shrugged and started reading, this year perusing Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance.  (We are in California, after all.)