Posted on 11/02/2009 5:21:33 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Slow 'em down and keep 'em on the ground.
Sounds simple, doesn't it?
So why can't NASCAR do it with Sprint Cup Series cars at Talladega Superspeedway? How long do the powers-that-be think they can keep dodging the flying 3,450-pound bullets at that facility? How long do they think the public -- and more importantly, their drivers -- will sit back and accept the small Band-Aids they have applied as real efforts at solutions to problems that require more serious study and quicker action?
And while we're at it, how long does NASCAR think the healthy approach to any of its problems is to say they "have long believed in having an independent media" and that debate "is great for any sport" -- and then have a highly placed executive from its governing body publicly call for the firing of a trio of broadcasters who criticize their sport? That's as hypocritical as it gets, folks.
But that's another ongoing battle sure to be fought vigorously on other days.
This is about Talladega. Or once again, what to do about Talladega?
In the aftermath of Sunday's Amp Energy 500 -- during which the No. 39 Chevrolet of Ryan Newman and the No. 5 Chevy of Mark Martin both flipped and went airborne -- this time it's not enough for NASCAR officials to place all of the blame on overaggressive drivers and say it's all going to be OK if track officials simply add a few feet to the catch fence on the frontstretch.
Lingering questions
So much was wrong with Sunday's race that it's difficult to know where to begin, but let it first be stated that this isn't meant to be an all-out rant against the current state of racing in the Sprint Cup Series. I might be in the minority, but I happen to think much of the racing this season has been pretty darn good. I happen to agree with some NASCAR officials that there are many involved in the sport -- participants as well as media -- who are obsessed with how much better things were in the supposedly good 'ol days.
I just don't agree with trying to suppress their First Amendment rights to say so.
Let me also state that I've long believed that the racing at Talladega is some of the most entertaining on the Sprint Cup circuit. It is as compelling on television as it is live, but it has become a guilty pleasure -- because it's not safe.
And listen, we all know racing can never be completely safe -- and that NASCAR has come a long, long way in ensuring that the cars are safer and so are most of the tracks. But that's what makes the lack of initiative -- or ability -- to do anything about Talladega so doggone frustrating.
As long as the cars are running at speeds upwards of 195 mph and in close packs, with cars whose safety features otherwise are stout but cannot stay on the ground when bumped at those speeds, it's a disaster waiting to happen.
When Carl Edwards went airborne and came dangerously close to flying into the frontstretch grandstands in his No. 99 Ford on the final lap of the spring race at the venue, he bluntly stated that he supposed there would be no major changes to this kind of racing "until someone gets killed."
Let's hope that's not the case. But seriously, is there anyone out there who doesn't have a sinking feeling he might be right after what transpired there again in the latest race Sunday?
Time for real answers
In a well-intentioned but poorly played effort to make it safer Sunday, NASCAR president Mike Helton warned drivers before the race that they would be penalized mightily for bump-drafting each other in the corners.
This was two hours prior to the race. Um, here's a thought: how about letting the drivers and crew chiefs know about this intention to enforce a rule that actually already was in place (but universally ignored with no consequences), instead of laying it on them literally right before the dropping of the green flag?
You can't help but wonder is this was yet another misguided effort to "control the message." Tell drivers and crew chiefs about the change well in advance, and -- gasp! -- someone in the media might actually ask for their opinion about it. And -- gasp! -- someone might have been critical of it.
If that wasn't the case, did NASCAR officials really come up with this plan right before the race? That's highly doubtful, but would be just as disturbing if it were true.
All the surprise rule did was relegate the first 100 laps or so to mostly single-file racing that was as boring as it was predictable.
There also were some minor tweaking to the restrictor plates and something called the side wicker. Supposedly these were done with safety in mind, but obviously they were not enough to keep Newman and Martin earth-bound.
So what can be done? Three-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson (one step closer to winning four titles in a row after the 13-car wreck that took out Martin and other possible contenders on the last lap Sunday) had a grand idea.
"Get some tractors out here and knock down the [33-degree] banking," said Johnson, the idea being that drivers would then have to slow down through the turns and wouldn't bang into each other at high speeds so often.
I'm no engineer, but that sounds like it might work. Also, we put men on the moon 40 years ago. Can't some smart minds be hired to figure this out?
Newman has his engineering degree from Purdue and said he's ready to examine the problem. Maybe a special car needs to be designed for Daytona and Talladega, the only two restrictor-plate races currently on the circuit.
None of this can be done cheaply. But how much would it cost the sport to lose one of its treasured stars through debilitating injury, or worse?
That's the question that needs to be answered -- and quickly, this time -- at NASCAR's home offices in Daytona Beach, Fla. Silence not only won't be golden; it might eventually turn deadly.
Sometimes nascar bugs the crap out of me. Why dont they just put a dog leg in the back straight let the motors breath and stop whining about having to really drive the cars?
No I’m for dumping the Cali and Michigan lookalikes. Texas, Kansas, Chicago, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Homestead.
maybe adding more road races wouldn’t be such a bad thing..
Wondering if Ryan Newman would be here today had he not landed on Kevin Harvick’s car?
CoTank... definitely not meant to fly but somehow do. Lead might help .. ;-}
Michigan stays (its got 40 years seniority). California is a lookalike but I do agree we need more short tracks and more true ovals.
Back to North Wilkesburo.
Make them race on the beach.
I don’t know, that was a pretty strange wreck..
The race is exciting... but broken.
When this highly dangerous race is decided by not who is the most skillful, but who is luckiest, it’s broken.
Restrictor plate racing is a lot like liberal policy. It results in the exact opposite of the stated intent. By restricting the speed, the cars race in huge dangerous packs.
start rant>
I think that Talledega is not at all the reason why viewship is down; instead, coverage for Nascar is terrible. When baseball shows stats, analyzes how batter A does against pitcher B, allowing even the novice viewer to understand how a matchup is important.
I’ve been watching Nascar for 3-4 years and I still don’t understand some of the subtleties. The commentators don’t analyze the situation so much as describe what we’re seeing on the screen. A monkey could do that.
Instead, tell me that why Driver A is better on the high-line and Driver B is slow after 5 laps. Tell me which driver between A and B generally have faster starts. Tell me the crews that have the lowest percentage of dropped lug nuts and the drivers that are the fastest into the pits without invoking a penalty.
Show me graphically how Driver A accelerates out of a turn versus driver B and explain why I should look to turn 2 for Driver B to finally overtake Driver A, or tell me what the commentators expect for Driver A to do in the pits to help his ailing car.
Explain to me once and for all proper fuel strategy and what the crew is hoping to accomplish and what they are risking.
In the final laps, show me next to the drivers’ name the estimated number of laps left in his tank.
I could go on with the almost limitless questions I have for Brad Daugherty and his friends.
I believe that Nascar has far more subtleties than baseball (though baseball is more psychological), but for anybody watching it, it just looks like cars turning left (except for Watkin Glens). Unfortunately, that’s all the commentators seem to understand.
</end rant
Thanks for listening.
back to their roots
sand and dirt and turf
I saw something Sunday that stunned me. Dale Earnhardt Jr. IS NASCAR. I don’t think there was one fan NOT standing when he took the lead. The desire to see Dale Earnhardt reanimated by his fans is truly a creepy thing to behold.
No problem.
It’s a mystery to me sometimes too.
Geez, I get so tired of people getting this wrong. The First Amendment only applies to government action. In private affairs there is no right of free speech whatsoever. An owner of a private company could fire an employee on the spot for wearing an Obama shirt to work and such worker would have no First Amendment defense whatsoever.
The Earnhardts are a Nascar family. It’s a respect thing, I reckun.
Do you know how hard it is to win on the Cup circuit these days?
Ask Junior. ;-)
What was the take off speed of a Piper Cub?
The answer to talladega is quite simple, but NASCAR won’t do it because it will cost teams money and give them something else to have to inspect.
The solution: Take off the restrictor plates and run V6 engines. it wi slow the cars down to the speeds when Daytona and Tally were designed.
No restrictor plate will eliminate the huge packs, bring back the slingshot move, and the smaller engines will regulate the speed.
Racing will be just as it was in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s — still extremely exciting, but nowhere near as close packed.
I would love it. However, the best funded team would most likely win. It's already very much tilted towards Hendricks as other teams are getting very cash strapped. I still want to see Robby Gorden and some other small teams compete.
Also, I think the speed restrictions help keep the cars on the track during a wreck, but I really don't think restrictor plates are the solution.
Never been a Jr fan myself. He’s not his father that’s for sure.
Seems to be a good enough guy and he wouldn’t be in NASCAR if he weren’t among the best. Been a long time since his last win.
Phoenix is flat. Vegas is the other cookie cutter.
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