Does NASCAR Need a Drivers Union Like IndyCar and Formula One?

No way. Won't happen. No need.

That's the prevailing consensus on whether NASCAR drivers will ever create the type of drivers organization formalized in the IZOD IndyCar Series a couple weeks ago and that has long existed in Formula One and even the National Hot Rod Association.

There have been concerted efforts over the years by some of NASCAR's biggest names, like Richard Petty, and even a rarely-talked-about effort in 1997 by the late seven-time champ Dale Earnhardt, but nothing sustainable. More often, it was a hush-hush, backroom suggestion that a committee or association was even necessary. The idea of anything resembling a union, pure blasphemy.

And that's from current and former drivers, not just the sanctioning body.

"It's pretty simple, NASCAR is the destination of choice for almost every driver in the world so if you don't like it, there's someone that will be right there on your heels ready to take your place,'' driver Carl Edwards said this week. "Maybe that's why they (NASCAR) have been able to do their own thing for so long.''

Or as 1989 champion Rusty Wallace puts it, "Having some sort of committee like that would just screw everything up.''

"If I ever felt like I had a problem I'd pick up the phone and call Mr. (Bill) France (Jr.) or Mike (Helton) and you know what, they always answer,'' said Wallace, who competed in the Cup Series from 1984-2005 and is currently a Nationwide Series team owner and race analyst for ESPN.

"You just have to have common sense about the way the sport is operated and it's always worked all right.''

The question is whether that's merely good fortune or truly efficient management. Or does it even matter?

"I don't have a big enough complaint right now to say, 'Hey, we have to form some sort of drivers' union or something.' '' Edwards said. "I feel that I have enough of a voice right now.''

That was the case for Indy car drivers too, but former series champ Tony Kanaan, along with reigning series champion Dario Franchitti and veteran Justin Wilson, felt a more formalized means of presentation was necessary.

And the Indy Racing League has actually embraced the idea.

"Anything that can be done to present it in a more organized fashion, I fully support,'' said Brian Barnhart, president of competition for the series.

"If we have a unified voice coming to speak to us about any concerns in terms of safety, facilities or anything like that, it is welcome.''

Few people realize that little more than a decade ago, Earnhardt rounded up a mix of NASCAR stars including Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte for a meeting with NASCAR's then-CEO, the late Bill France Jr., and other NASCAR executives to talk about a drivers organization that would speak as a unified voice about drivers' concerns.

"Earnhardt was the voice and it was pretty much his idea and Mr. France listened and was very attentive,'' said Jarrett, the 1999 Cup champion, now a NASCAR race analyst with ESPN.

"Of course Mr. France did say, 'Y'all are flying in bigger airplanes than us, maybe we need the help.'

"But he was honest and he helped us understand that some things were more complex than realized. And even though we didn't create an organization then, we always felt we had a voice.''

That 1997 meeting in Daytona was primarily to discuss the idea of creating a trust fund for drivers and secondly to ensure drivers felt they had input in the future of the sport, according to Jarrett.

But ultimately, as he sees it, "You know going in you are on your own. You are an independent contractor and it's up to you to structure your contract, get your insurance, plan for long-term medical situations.

"If you buy every new motor home and have all these airplanes and all these homes then, no, you won't have the money when you retire.''

While Major League Baseball and the National Football League have powerful unions to lobby on behalf of players, it hasn't been a popular idea with auto racers despite the fact they are putting their lives on the line to compete in their sport.

The closest NASCAR came to forming a true union was in 1969 when Petty presided over the Professional Drivers Association after an earlier attempt by driver Curtis Turner to form an union ended in a lifetime ban (later rescinded) from NASCAR.

The most famous focus of Petty's group was the 1969 inaugural race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The group of big-name drivers had serious concerns about tires and track safety at the new superspeedway where speeds neared 200 mph, creating what they felt was an unsafe situation.

Most of the sport's biggest names like Petty and David Pearson boycotted the race, which NASCAR President Bill France Sr. vowed to run no matter what.. Winner Richard Brickhouse still says he feels somewhat ostracized for crossing the "picket line."

A couple of races later, the PDA dissolved, but the point was made.

As was the case during NASCAR's formative years, officials have always hung their hat on an "open door policy" for any driver with a legitimate concern. In the past year NASCAR has even taken the unprecedented step of holding "town hall" meetings with owners and drivers to give them all an informal forum.

Just this summer, NASCAR team owners came together on their own to discuss the state of the sport and the direction it was going.

And it's apparently enough progress to satisfy those most significantly affected.

"I feel that for all the frustration that we have with NASCAR at certain times, in the end, they have done a good job through dictatorship of creating this sport we have,'' Edwards said. "It's still by far the most successful sanctioning body on planet Earth.''