Backseat Blonde - Chaos Reigns in Cup Racing

June 14, 2004

Chaos Reigns in Cup Racing
By Allison Wagda

There’s a new sheriff in town, and it seems he has an
itchy trigger finger.

Since Brian France took over the leadership of NASCAR
last September, we’ve had changes to the cars,
changes to the schedule, changes to the point system,
changes to tradition, changes to the rules, and even
changes to the rule changes.

Apparently, nothing is off limits in NASCAR today.

Perhaps the most irksome thing about all these changes is the way they are
implemented. While I applaud NASCAR’s desire to make racing both safe for drivers
and exciting for fans, for every reactionary alteration there are consequences. Cup
racing is a pro sport with millions of fans and perhaps billions of dollars on the line,
not some whimsical hobby.

When Bill France Jr. stepped down, fans expected some changes. The general
consensus among fans was that Brian would bring a fresh new management style
to Cup racing yet protect long-standing traditions. The Nextel sponsorship was
poised to take NASCAR to new markets, the series had a whole bevy of personable,
highly-marketable drivers to attract new fans. NASCAR was looking more polished
than ever, and things never looked rosier.

Instead, stock car auto racing is now stuck with a leader whose so-called vision is
clouded by his own agenda. We thought we were getting experience. After all, he’d
served for years under his father’s tutelage. But we’ve ended up with a man who
insists on “fixing” every perceivable problem without extensive forethought or
planning. Even NASCAR doesn’t know what’s what half the time.

Based upon the race at Dover and this weekend’s race a Pocono, the most flawed
change has been the end of racing back to the caution. I applaud their intentions,
since it was becoming increasingly clear that drivers were unable to police
themselves any longer under the old “gentleman’s agreement.” It had always been
one of the most dangerous aspects of racing, since it often turned into a free-for-all
as drivers threw caution into the wind (no pun intended) for track position.

The new rule was hastily thrown together last season, just five days after Brian
France gained control, when Dale Jarrett found himself helplessly stranded in the
middle of a groove as cars raced dangerously close at New Hampshire. NASCAR
decided the very next race to “freeze the field” as soon as a caution was called. Little
consideration was given to exactly how NASCAR would determine the running order
(they said they’d review the videos), and a new “lucky dog” free pass would be given
to the first car a lap down, effectively handing the driver their lap back.

Disregarding the fact that the lucky dog pass is a total sham, NASCAR blew this one
in a big way. Rather than institute a new rule on the fly, NASCAR had the chance to
consider many different options to protect driver safety. Lap after lap, drivers are now
forced to parade around the track as officials stare at videos to determine the running
order at the moment of caution.

Instead, NASCAR should have investigated GPS technologies to set the field. Or
issued penalties to cars that failed to fall into their anointed place in line, and simply
addressed disagreements as they arose. But alas, even with so-called new
technology implemented this week (yes, thanks to the 24-lap caution last week), fans
are now treated to races like Pocono where over a quarter of the race is run under
the yellow flag.

Additionally, in a reactionary move related to a relatively boring championship battle
(or lack there of) last season, NASCAR threw together a new point system with
something akin to a playoff series. Merely 14 point races into the season, it appears
to be over for all but perhaps 11 or 12 teams. That will help bring new sponsors into
the series for sure (sarcasm).

Again, had NASCAR taken the time to consider the future of the sport and the
enjoyment of the fans, a playoff scenario could have been devised that would keep
all drivers eligible right up until the end. For example, to put more weight on winning,
a victory could have guaranteed a spot in the playoff. Now those fans without a
favorite in the top ten might as well tune out.

NASCAR also altered the 2004 race schedule, and then the 2005 schedule,
banishing Darlington and Rockingham for western venues far from racing’s
southern roots. No amount of fan dissension seems to matter when competing with
the almighty dollar.

But perhaps the worst part of all this is NASCAR’s unwillingness to admit they were
wrong. During a recent Craftsman truck series race at Charlotte, Carl Edwards was
poised to win when the yellow caution lights blinked briefly. Officials said Edwards
was mistaken, and awarded the victory to Dennis Setzer. Even though several other
drivers backed up Edward’s story, NASCAR insisted the lights never flashed. Until
video footage proved otherwise. I don’t believe for a second that NASCAR didn’t
know, they just didn’t want to take the blame. Edwards still wasn’t awarded the victory
he deserved.

I can think of countless other examples of NASCAR screw ups this season that
caused a driver a top finish due to their own confusion. Not throwing the caution at
Martinsville when the track began to disintegrate (until it took leader Jeff Gordon out
of the race), not throwing the caution when Casey Mears dropped oil on the track at
Dover. And yesterday’s disgraceful pit road fiasco when Jimmie Johnson was
almost cost a victory when, yes, yet another quick-fix rule change caused him to
correctly stay on the track yet lose positions to cars who pitted early.

If the message boards and chat rooms are any indication, NASCAR is facing a major
fan revolt. This new policy of changing everything on the fly is destroying the sport
and all faith fans have that NASCAR will ever do the right thing.

I can only hold my breath to see what happens next. I’m sure right now they are
debating all sorts of new changes. Maybe France will shrink the field to remove all
but the biggest and most competitive teams. Perhaps cars that have gone to the
garage for repairs won’t be allowed back on the track to gain points, even if they can
meet minimum speeds.

Or perhaps it’ll be more drastic, and France will shorten all the races to 300 miles as
Dale Earnhardt Jr. suggests. Or implement restrictor plates at all tracks (after all,
speed is a safety hazard, right?). Oh wait, the "Car of the Future" should take care of
speed. Or put an age limit to force some of the veterans to retire in order to “sex
things up.”

I can only hope that some level of common sense invades the boardroom at
NASCAR and any future changes are debated, carefully considered and
implemented with care. Otherwise, football season is coming. At least in the NFL, a
touchdown is still a touchdown.

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