wide-front-wing - 03 November 2009 10:50 AM

The drivers in the cars were making fun of the single file racing - the ABC analysts were simply doing their job and reporting on the situation.

NASCAR's biggest problem is and always has been their inability to take criticism.

Why were certain drivers making fun of it? They were driving the cars. Pull out of line and make it 2 or 3 wide. They did it all day long. That single file stuff was nothing new and was not caused by the no bump drafting in the corners.

I think the "No bump-drafting in the corners" rule made sense, in the context of superspeedway racing, which does not make sense.

What I object to about the article, is that Poston is trying to convince me that it was an intense race. I watched the whole race and taped it so I can watch it again. But I won't because only the last ten laps have any meaningful action.

The ABC announcers were calling what they saw - far less racing than at any other race. I don't even think it was the bump-draft rule. I think nine of the twelve Chase contenders stayed in the back third of the field because they knew there would be a big crash.

Jeff Gordon asked for the bump-drafting rule, but he also said he knew there would be a big crash. He knew that in the final ten laps everyone would go crazy and cause a pile-up.

That isn't racing.

Restrictor plates were a stop-gap solution after Bobby Alisson hurt some fans (and if a bunch of fans die, NASCAR will be ruined.) But in April, 22 years later, Carl Edwards flies into the fence and hurts a bunch of fans. Seems to me the restrictor-plate idea has Not improved safety and it Has crippled racing.

What I object to is Poston and the owner of Talladega also, saying that this was a great race, and refusing to admit that it was not. If NASCAR refuses to look for alternatives, sooner or later a car will hit the crowd and kill a bunch of people and NASCAR will be forced to act - it is even commercially viable thereafter.

Replace Talladega with Rockingham. Saves the teams money, as it is closer to home, less RP R&D;, less wind tunnel time...

Rockingham was a good track, I went there in 2003 and loved it.

Maelochs - 03 November 2009 11:52 AM

I think the "No bump-drafting in the corners" rule made sense, in the context of superspeedway racing, which does not make sense.

What I object to about the article, is that Poston is trying to convince me that it was an intense race. I watched the whole race and taped it so I can watch it again. But I won't because only the last ten laps have any meaningful action.

The ABC announcers were calling what they saw - far less racing than at any other race. I don't even think it was the bump-draft rule. I think nine of the twelve Chase contenders stayed in the back third of the field because they knew there would be a big crash.

Jeff Gordon asked for the bump-drafting rule, but he also said he knew there would be a big crash. He knew that in the final ten laps everyone would go crazy and cause a pile-up.

That isn't racing.

Restrictor plates were a stop-gap solution after Bobby Alisson hurt some fans (and if a bunch of fans die, NASCAR will be ruined.) But in April, 22 years later, Carl Edwards flies into the fence and hurts a bunch of fans. Seems to me the restrictor-plate idea has Not improved safety and it Has crippled racing.

What I object to is Poston and the owner of Talladega also, saying that this was a great race, and refusing to admit that it was not. If NASCAR refuses to look for alternatives, sooner or later a car will hit the crowd and kill a bunch of people and NASCAR will be forced to act - it is even commercially viable thereafter.

Very good post.
That's the thing that bothers me the most about the article, and the other article from the Talladega president, is that because there were a ton of lead changes and passes, that it must've been a great race when, to me, it doesn't even qualify as racing.

Lovey-Dovey - 03 November 2009 12:14 PM

Replace Talladega with Rockingham. Saves the teams money, as it is closer to home, less RP R&D;, less wind tunnel time...

It would never happen. NASCAR's shell organization owns Talledega. They do not own Rockingham. Therefore they would not make money, therefore it would never happen.

Here's what I saw - Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya and others raced hard all day long.

Here is what I heard: A Driver asking for someone to tell them a joke because they are bored. Someone else asking for No-Doz so they don't fall asleep.

That doesn't sound like hard racing to me.

Mr. SUKS wrote a clear, concise post.

johnalex1273 - 03 November 2009 10:26 AM

Maelochs - 03 November 2009 10:00 AM

Poston always weighs in with ridiculously biased defensive attacks on anyone who dares criticize the might NASCAR Empire. It makes NASCAR seem insecure and adds weight to the detractors - and in this case, the detractors are right.

This is exactly what NASCAR does best - it preserves the past, circles the wagons and shooting at anyone who rides by. It refuses to address problems and assumes that anyone who points out problems is the enemy.

If this year's race at Talladega is exactly what NASCAR wants to see at every race, Great. NSACR will be gone in three years and there is no need to debate further.

If Talladega was Not want NASCAR thinks is the Perfect Race, then why not admit that things could be improved? And if not, why not at least stay silent, instead of attacking anyone who ever dares to hint that Maybe a 180-lap single-file anti-race is not the best possible event?

Drivers did ask NASCAR to stop the bump drafting in the corners and Burton is right, NASCAR does care about safety and the drivers. Nothing biased about that.

There isn't bias, there is hypocrisy. Nascar is shrouding everything they do for the benefit of safety. Too much safety, and what do you have, no more racing. Racing is dangerous, you can't have it both ways. Nascar doesn't want their anyone to say anything negative about their decisions or their exclusive club. Those who bad mouthed the new car, (i.e. Kyle Bush) got fined. Those who complain about the chase get fined, those who say even anything negative will be punished. Nascar is so uncaring about its employees its sickening. And I cannot believe that fans have stuck around as long as they have. TV ratings have slipped, and they now have to 'spin' things. If Nascar would allow them to race, instead of trying to punish and regulate to death, there wouldn't be as much of problems. And then Nascar says they are looking into ways to make things better. #1 Fire Mike Helton, guys a menace. #1a Get rid of the new car. Seriously guys take the PR hit and get the old cars back, work on allowing teams to make their own cars or real stock setups. #3 get shorten the season, shorten the races, 3+hrs for one race is too long, and give the teams more control over the car. period.

hendricksuks - 03 November 2009 11:00 AM

I have not read anything anywhere that suggests what I think is being overlooked. The Dega spring race, fan(s)were injured as we already know. This raises a MAJOR LIABILITY ISSUE for Nascar. The sanctioning body had no choice but to make something "different" (changes) such as the smaller plates, higher catch fences, as well as the enforcement of the rule that has always been in place to NOT bump draft in the turns to avoid the possible liability that they would face had they done nothing! Think what the headlines would read if the same, very possible, outcome had occurred with nothing in place in an effort to avoid it?!!! IMO, this is one of the times we should all have faith in the ones who run it to continue the effort to make it a better & safer race. Safety had to come first this time. Clearly the jury is still out on whether they got it right or not, but at least they made an effort to address a major issue & for that I commend them. Patience fans, patience! Drivers have to have it too, right? Have a great day everyone!

Nicely put....