Commentators
I love watching NHRA.TV, but I’ve been wondering if I’m the only one who finds it odd how the commentators talk about passionate young female racers.
Maddi Gordon is a breath of fresh air for the sport. She’s got the kind of genuine excitement that can bring in new fans (I’m one of them). Yet every time I tune in, it feels like the guys in the tower subtly mock her for being so fired up — like they’re poking fun at the exact thing they wish they were doing instead of calling the race.
For example, tomorrow in Chicago when Maddi and Krista Baldwin go head-to-head in round one, Courtney called them both “sensitive.” What part of strapping into a 12,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster exactly makes someone “sensitive”?
It might sound like nitpicking, but this kind of commentary sets a weird precedent. When talented, excited women do well and show real emotion, they shouldn’t have to deal with patronizing or diminishing remarks from the booth. NHRA has a chance to celebrate these drivers and grow the sport — why not lean into it?