Subscribe to this blog's feed« Observations through 5 year old eyes. | Main | Oh, by the way, there's a race Sunday... »
June 21, 2007
Just Shut Up and Lose The Road Courses!!
By Mark Young
Stock Cars do not belong on road courses, period. I don't care what you say there is no plausible reason why these 3,500 pound machines should be trying to do things that other types of race cars weighing half as much with tires twice as wide do all the time. Yes it is a different type of track that challenges drivers and separates the men from the boys boys darn it if you want to be a great road racer go to F1 or the Champ Car series (or whatever they call themselves this week).
U WANT SOME?
The two road races on the NEXTEL Cup schedule have a flavor of most Busch races. The Busch-whackers are replaced with Road-whackers who come crawling out of the woodwork as teams try to get as many points possible to help them either find the top 35 or stay there. I respect the Ron Fellows', Scott Pruett's, Boris Said's, and P.J. Jones' of the racing world but this is ridiculous.
I wish they would drop these two races and go to Kentucky, Iowa, or Rockingham instead. I sympathize with the fans out there that only get an opportunity to see NASCAR when they come to the road courses, but I can't stand them and will only watch (or DVR it actually) because I need to stay on top of things in case someone out there gives me something to tell them to JSU about.
That's what I think, what say you?
June 21, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
I think that you're really struggling with this week's JSU.
While it might not be your favorite type of track, road racing definitely has it's own place in Nascar for a good reason. Besides being a test to the drivers, it is a nice change of pace for the fans. Also, it does help a little to alleviate non-Nascar fan's criticism of 'round and round' racing. While I can see how some might not like the road courses, running only two in the whole season is really the least that Nascar could do.
I agree with you, though, about 'ringer'drivers. Hiring 'one race ringer' drivers by the teams is an abuse of the rules to get points, IMO.
And yes, Nascar really should add places like Kentucky, Iowa, and Rockingham. But, not at the expense of the road courses. There are PLENTY of tracks on the current circuit the DO NOT DESERVE two dates. By doing a fair and equitable review and reassignment of those dates to new/differing tracks, Nascar could accomodate many more fans. In that respect, I hope that the Kentucky speedway's lawsuit winds up forcing Nascar do divest themselves of their track ownership. That could be one of the best things that ever happens to the sport.
Posted by: racefan | Jun 21, 2007 8:42:44 AM
Nascar's claim to have the best drivers in the world is based on and supported by the fact that it challenges those drivers on a wide variety of track types -- Short tracks, mile tracks, and superspeedways. Flat tracks and high-banked tracks. Unrestricted and plate. Asphalt and concrete. Oval tracks and road courses.
Additionally, road courses are fun to watch. They share many of the best features of the short tracks as drivers try to outbreak each other in the turns and aren't afraid to muscle an opponent to complete the pass. And they have their own, unique element of pit strategy that can make or break a race.
On the road courses the driver really matters. Its skill, not mere equipment, that brings a driver to the front. The big, heavy, lumbering stock cars aren't designed to run the courses designed for smaller, lighter, more nimble open-wheel and sports cars. And there lies the charm -- because only the most skillful racers can make them work anyway to overcome all the challenges and end up in front.
Rather than dropping the road courses Nascar should add two more -- bringing the number of road races even with the number of plate races (with one of each in the Chase). That would require that the Cup Champion prove his mastery of every track type Nascar runs and thus support his claim to be the best of the best.
Posted by: M. B. Voelker | Jun 21, 2007 9:04:20 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Advertisements
