Shelby Manning (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shelbycobra) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
muserevival2017-02-11 05:42 am
shelbycobra) wrote in muserevival2017-02-11 05:42 am
Entry tags:
141.2.3 - quote
"For every good reason there is to lie, there is a better reason to tell the truth."
I've never lived my life in controversy. I carry a responsibility on my shoulders to my family, as a teammate, as a representative of the Verizon IndyCar Series and as a public figure. Every time I step outside my front door I'm always aware of the fact that people are watching everything that I do and I need to behave accordingly. That's something I take very seriously, and I also take pride in knowing that I can stand here with my head held high.
I know there are people who don't feel the same way. Who think they don't need to be a role model just because they're famous. I understand that but I have to respectfully disagree with it. I know what it's like to be on the other side. I remember sitting on my couch watching Sarah Fisher race and definitely looking up to her. I remember cheering for Scott Dixon and looking up to him. Even now there are people around me, including Scott, that I still look up to. If there is one person out there, male or female, who's looking up to me I want to give them a good example.
And even if that isn't the case I have people who are counting on me to present a strong public image. I have sponsors that need me to be somebody they are comfortable being associated with and a team owner who needs me to represent his organization appropriately. If I can't do those things then I don't have a job. It doesn't matter how well you can drive if you can't get your shit together; just ask Sage Karam about that. Or even ask me because I learned very quickly in 2015 that it is not permissible to get into a public argument with your strategist no matter how right you are.
So I'm always keeping an eye on my public image. Sometimes to a fault. When I was assaulted last year at Madison Square Garden, I have to admit my first thought was about if it would make the papers and how it would look to Mr. Penske. That sounds so stupid now to say. But I didn't want the trouble. Even though I should have remembered that everyone's only concern was my health and that I was taken care of. But even little things, like being asked to pose in ESPN's Body Issue. I was flattered, but it wasn't for me. I want to be known as a great driver who happens to be a woman. And if I'd been mostly naked in a magazine that would not have been the conversation.
And honestly? It's not a huge concern with me. I'm just not prone to what one would call bad behavior. I wasn't raised that way. My idea of getting into trouble is going for a drive. I will rarely drink, unless it's a local beer I haven't tried or the champagne in Victory Lane. I can never stay out that late because I usually have somewhere to be the next day. My biggest problem is that I forget to call my mom. I guess you could call me boring, if my job wasn't to drive a car at almost 190 miles an hour in traffic.
When it comes to my job I show up on time, if I'm not early. I treat everyone with the utmost respect. I make sure that I go to every autograph session and stop when a fan asks for a photo, even if it means I have to take time out of my lunch or get a little less sleep. I say yes to the league requests and the charity events. I stay late to help the team load. It's not in my job description but to me it is. I care as much about my life off the track as I do the one on it, for all the reasons I've just told you above.
But if you want to know the primary reason that drives me to always make sure that I'm beyond reproach? It's because of where I am right now.
I love this league with a passion. I love the people in this league like family. I am so blessed to do what I do for a living, to say that I get paid to do the thing I love when many people are just as passionate and yet can't make it happen. And I care so much about every person I get to see every day. Not just the people I work with, but my fellow drivers who have grown up with me and spent time with me and been here for some of my biggest moments. I want them to be proud of me. I want to represent this league with the integrity that it deserves.
There's a number 1 on my car right now. At least for another year I am the public face of IndyCar. And you know what, I'm not only okay with that, I actually kind of love it. Because I couldn't imagine being anywhere else so I could never think of doing anything that would ever get in the way.
--
Shelby Manning
Need For Speed OC
866 words
I've never lived my life in controversy. I carry a responsibility on my shoulders to my family, as a teammate, as a representative of the Verizon IndyCar Series and as a public figure. Every time I step outside my front door I'm always aware of the fact that people are watching everything that I do and I need to behave accordingly. That's something I take very seriously, and I also take pride in knowing that I can stand here with my head held high.
I know there are people who don't feel the same way. Who think they don't need to be a role model just because they're famous. I understand that but I have to respectfully disagree with it. I know what it's like to be on the other side. I remember sitting on my couch watching Sarah Fisher race and definitely looking up to her. I remember cheering for Scott Dixon and looking up to him. Even now there are people around me, including Scott, that I still look up to. If there is one person out there, male or female, who's looking up to me I want to give them a good example.
And even if that isn't the case I have people who are counting on me to present a strong public image. I have sponsors that need me to be somebody they are comfortable being associated with and a team owner who needs me to represent his organization appropriately. If I can't do those things then I don't have a job. It doesn't matter how well you can drive if you can't get your shit together; just ask Sage Karam about that. Or even ask me because I learned very quickly in 2015 that it is not permissible to get into a public argument with your strategist no matter how right you are.
So I'm always keeping an eye on my public image. Sometimes to a fault. When I was assaulted last year at Madison Square Garden, I have to admit my first thought was about if it would make the papers and how it would look to Mr. Penske. That sounds so stupid now to say. But I didn't want the trouble. Even though I should have remembered that everyone's only concern was my health and that I was taken care of. But even little things, like being asked to pose in ESPN's Body Issue. I was flattered, but it wasn't for me. I want to be known as a great driver who happens to be a woman. And if I'd been mostly naked in a magazine that would not have been the conversation.
And honestly? It's not a huge concern with me. I'm just not prone to what one would call bad behavior. I wasn't raised that way. My idea of getting into trouble is going for a drive. I will rarely drink, unless it's a local beer I haven't tried or the champagne in Victory Lane. I can never stay out that late because I usually have somewhere to be the next day. My biggest problem is that I forget to call my mom. I guess you could call me boring, if my job wasn't to drive a car at almost 190 miles an hour in traffic.
When it comes to my job I show up on time, if I'm not early. I treat everyone with the utmost respect. I make sure that I go to every autograph session and stop when a fan asks for a photo, even if it means I have to take time out of my lunch or get a little less sleep. I say yes to the league requests and the charity events. I stay late to help the team load. It's not in my job description but to me it is. I care as much about my life off the track as I do the one on it, for all the reasons I've just told you above.
But if you want to know the primary reason that drives me to always make sure that I'm beyond reproach? It's because of where I am right now.
I love this league with a passion. I love the people in this league like family. I am so blessed to do what I do for a living, to say that I get paid to do the thing I love when many people are just as passionate and yet can't make it happen. And I care so much about every person I get to see every day. Not just the people I work with, but my fellow drivers who have grown up with me and spent time with me and been here for some of my biggest moments. I want them to be proud of me. I want to represent this league with the integrity that it deserves.
There's a number 1 on my car right now. At least for another year I am the public face of IndyCar. And you know what, I'm not only okay with that, I actually kind of love it. Because I couldn't imagine being anywhere else so I could never think of doing anything that would ever get in the way.
--
Shelby Manning
Need For Speed OC
866 words