There is an affliction in racing...I call it Joel Kauffman Disease. In case the name sounds, familiar, Joel Kauffman was a young driver who signed on with the Fitz/Bradshaw racing team in NASCAR’s BGN division a few years ago.
After a short unsuccessful stint, he was cashiered and disappeared into racing oblivion. The last time his name came up was in this column a couple years back when I told his tale.

Young drivers get a quick trial by a NASCAR team and then are forgotten. One of the reasons for this is Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin. Because these fellows found instant success, some think all drivers should progress that fast. Impatient owners and multi-million-dollar sponsors want results.

This seems to be common. Young drivers get a quick trial by a NASCAR team and then are forgotten. One of the reasons for this is Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin. Because these fellows found instant success, some think all drivers should progress that fast. Impatient owners and multi-million-dollar sponsors want results.
I was thinking about Boston Reid. Actually, it took a day — and some help — for me to remember his name. Three years ago, Reid was a top open-wheel racer. He was nice looking and gave good interviews. The whole package.
He became a Hendrick developmental driver. After a shaky year in NASCAR, he was gone.
I checked his Web site to see if there was any news. The site has been stagnant for two years. At 26, is Boston Reid washed up as a driver?
This is becoming a big problem. Everybody is trying to latch on to NASCAR. There are only a couple of openings there every year. Now, with NASCAR taking on Indy car drivers, it’s getting tougher.
Meanwhile, young drivers have nowhere else to turn. Both Indy circuits refuse to hire young drivers, especially Americans. In 1991, Jeff Gordon was the best 20-year-old prospect in history. Jeff never got a call from an Indy car team.
Thirty years ago, Ricky Rudd’s father Al, put together a Cup car for his son. The experience Ricky got helped him have a long career.
It’s not possible today. You can’t field a Cup car from the family garage. If you go into hock and buy a used Cup car, it would be fruitless. Because of NASCAR’s top 35 millionaire’s club, a new team can’t make a Cup race.
So what’s a young driver to do? I wish I had an answer. It looks like Joel Kauffman’s disease is in epidemic proportions.
n It’s very sad to lose another friend. Jerry Karl apparently was stricken while driving on the highway and died at age 66. Jerry, who used to live here in Valley Stream, started racing as a 16 year old in Freeport’s novice division.
The climb up the ladder was tough for him but he never gave up. Jerry made us all proud, as he eventually drove in six Indy 500s. Years ago, he moved to Central Pennsylvania and after he quit driving. He fielded a sprint car for his son Scott. Another son, Jimmy, died in a plane crash.
My last race as a car owner ended abruptly when Jerry spun my guy out. Whenever I saw him, I kidded him about it. Jerry was a great guy who will be sorely missed. My sympathy to his family.