Street Outlaws Returns
A new season of a rather controversial racing reality show is about a week away. The Discovery Channel’s Street Outlaws, which is reclaiming it’s spot on the channel’s ‘Motor Mondays’ on Monday, May 18, has reportedly been one of the top cable shows among 25-54 year-old men. In fact, last year’s season finale delivered more than 3 million viewers.
While this is good news for us race fans, there continues to be valid concerns of how popular television shows and Hollywood movies of this nature are influencing viewers. As RacingJunk.com has continued to report, the number of arrests and fatalities due to public street racing is skyrocketing.
- Street Racing: The Drama Continues
- Illegal Street Racing Gaining Attention
- Illegal Street Race Leads to Death in San Bernardino
Although there is a disclaimer at both the beginning and end of television shows like Street Outlaws and movies like the Fast and Furious and Need For Speed, there are those out there who continue to ignore these warnings and take their lives and the lives of others into their own hands.
Ongoing Street Outlaw fan and Electromechanical Technician Leon D.R. believes that although this show, like many other reality shows, is scripted these drivers will continue to compete in any fashion that they choose despite any reaction that they may receive from networks or even fans.
“They were racing before and if this show were to go off the air these drivers would continue to compete,” said Leon. “I can only hope that fans would observe that this competition is dangerous and that they don’t need to become human guardrails, ultimately putting themselves at risk.”
Motorsports journalist Amy Henderson, who has been covering the sport for more than 10 years, believes that reality shows of this nature only promotes the sport of drag racing, especially with its ‘staged nature’.
“The races in shows like Street Outlaws are clearly staged,” said Henderson. “It is not like they are telling people to go out and try this on your local highway. At some point, people need to take responsibility for their own actions and not blame what they are watching.”
Weekend short track driver David Pendergrast, even admits to street racing in the past. “People are going to street race despite the risk,” said Pendergrast. “I knew that it was foolish to do so in much riskier circumstances when I was younger, but I did it anyway.”
While I myself and I am sure many of my fellow writers/readers will be tuning in for the latest antics and competition on the new season of Street Outlaws, I can’t help but also hold my breathe hoping that the other shoe won’t drop. Be sure to share your thoughts on the popularity of street racing with Racing Junk below. Will you stop watching or will you watch responsibly?
For more information about Street Outlaws visit Discovery.com/tv-shows/street-outlaws/.