Happy Tuesday. Today In Nascar History Nov. 3, 2001: Willy T. Ribbs finishes 18th in the Auto Club 200 Truck race at Fontana in his last NASCAR start. Ribbs competes in 23 of the Truck season's 24 races and finishes 16th in the standings. It is his only season in the Truck Series. In 1986, he competed in three Cup races. Quote of the Year There's an unwritten rule in NASCAR: Thou shalt not take on Dale Earnhardt Jr. --Terry Blount/espn Vote for your driver! www.chexmostpopular Comments from the Peanut Gallery From Chip Dear NASCAR Momma: I have some "fodder" for NASCAR's next closed door town hall meeting. Look at the footage of Ryan Newman's accident and consider after mandating the roof flaps to prevent cars from flipping are they now ineffective when a car is turned backwards with the Bat Wing spoilers on this supposed wonderful new car? Did that car not gain altitude from the spoiler? Does it not do the reverse of holding the rear end down when traveling forward when a car gets turned at higher speeds? It sure looked that way. Do the rear flaps need to be as big or bigger than the spoiler to keep the cars grounded. Or is all this just the continuation of problems that have been created since the inception of restrictor plate racing? Bobby Labonte called the impending mayhem more than just a couple years ago when he expressed his disgust with the whole Talladega "Big One". It was and has been referenced by those in the booth every time the cars run on that track and that is one of the biggest things that NASCAR does not seem to get. They thought they addressed it at the drivers meeting by not allowing bump drafting in the corners, which many claim is a result of restrictor plates. The drivers showed NASCAR what it all boiled down to when they ran so many of those laps nose to tail which is about as exciting as watching paint dry or grass grow. Maybe they should concern themselves a little less with the manipulation of rules that they think will make the sport better and concentrate on filling the seats at the tracks with more affordable prices. Between the Chase, the COT and restrictor plates it is obvious that they are not even doing things for their own profit margin let alone doing positive things for the sport. Wake up guys and realize that when you stop messing with the sport you may just see the fans come back to the tracks if they can afford it. Most of all and lastly Kudos to Ryan Newman for hitting the nail squarely on the head. Chip Bits and Pieces Keselowski To Replace Stremme at Penske Immediately By Greg Engle, CupScene.com, NASCAR Examiner
Penske Racing announced Monday that Brad Keselowski will compete in the final three NASCAR Cup Series races of the 2009 season. Keselowski will replace driver David Stremme in drive the No. 12 Penske Dodge in the upcoming races at Texas (Nov. 8), Phoenix (Nov. 15) and Homestead (Nov. 22). In September, Penske Racing announced that Keselowski would join the team full-time beginning in 2010. The 25-year-old native of Rochester Hills, Mich. will drive the No. 12 Penske Dodge in the Cup Series next season and he will also compete for the team in the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge in the 2010 Nationwide Series. Over the final three Cup Series events of 2009, Keselowski will step in for Stremme and work with the Penske Dodge team in the car that will become his full-time ride next season. "Penske Racing wants to give Brad an opportunity to work with the team and get to know the race car as we prepare for the 2010 season," said Roger Penske. "These three races will provide a good base for both Brad and the team as we head into next year. Penske Racing also thanks David Stremme for his contributions to the team this year. We wish David the very best moving forward." Keselowski has competed in 12 Cup Series races to date this season, posting four top-10 results, including his first series win as he captured the checkered flag in April at Talladega. "I am very excited to begin working with the Penske Racing team and I look forward to competing in the No. 12 Penske Dodge in the final three Cup Series races of the year," said Keselowski. "We all have high expectations for next season and beyond and being able to race with the team this year will only help us as we look toward 2010." In addition to his Cup Series success with limited seat time this season, Keselowski is also currently ranked third in the Nationwide Series championship standings. With four wins, two poles and 20 top-five finishes, Keselowski trails only Cup Series standouts Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards in the driver rankings. Earnhardt Ganassi to Toyota? So, what's the holdup in EGR's decision to remain with Chevy or move to Toyota? Perhaps it's the "E" in EGR. Can anyone really imagine the Earnhardt name associated with Toyota? Since Teresa Earnhardt is not at the racetrack on a weekly basis, that might be a tough answer to get. And with the current General Motors situation, Chevy is in no position to offer EGR a new and improved deal. Maybe Chip Ganassi believes delaying the decision will prevent the current engine builders from sabotaging the cars? But since Ganassi didn't want to answer the question of manufacturers on Sunday, what do we know? Richard Childress Racing's engine department which supplies motors for EGR was expecting a call on Friday from the Ganassi camp regarding their status for next season. It never came. Principals at EGR are expected to meet with Toyota again on Tuesday. EGR has had discussions with Joe Gibbs Racing about supplying engines for next season. Apparently Toyota Racing Development, which provides Michael Waltrip Racing and Red Bull Racing with engines, does not have the capacity at this time to be a supplier for EGR.(FoxSports) New driver of #1 announced this week? An announcement on the driver that will replace #1-Martin Truex Jr. could come this week, sources close to the situation said. Jamie McMurray, who is losing his ride at Roush Fenway Racing because the organization has to reach the four-car cap, is one candidate. Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion, is the other. EGR co-owner Chip Ganassi wants McMurray. Bass Pro Shops, which will sponsor the #1 for 20 races next season, isn't sure he fits the image.(read more at ESPN Insider) UPDATE: It's no secret that Bass Pro Shops has a contract to sponsor the #1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing car that McMurray is slotted to drive next year. And it's no secret that Bass Pro Shops wants to move to the #39 car with Ryan Newman. Now, this is not a knock on BPS, which has offered tremendous support to many racing programs in and beyond NASCAR. But McMurray's contract with EGR has been prepared but lacking signatures for some time. No, McMurray is not going to apply for his NRA membership any time soon, but he will go above and beyond for his sponsors whether it's Bass Pro or anyone else.(FoxSports) TRG would like Labonte to return: Torrey Galida, a former Ford and Roush Fenway Racing executive who most recently was president of the motorsports division for sports marketing company Millsport, has taken a new job as executive vice president and chief marketing officer of #71-TRG Motorsports. One of his main priorities will be finding sponsorship so the team can race every race in 2010. Galida said the team plans to make its first partial-season sponsorship announcement in a few weeks. TRG Motorsports has run the full season, mostly with David Gilliland and Bobby Labonte in the driver's seat. Galida said the team would like for Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion, to drive next year.(SceneDaily) Robby Gordon running Baja 1000: The Southern California construction industry remains in the doldrums. And violence in Mexico is still a problem. Despite that double dose of bad news, officials of SCORE are looking forward to a strong Baja 1000 off-road race Nov. 19-22 to complete the 2009 season. More than 275 entries are expected for the 42nd edition of the desert classic, which will start and finish in Ensenada for the 20th time. The star of the show will be Sprint Cup driver Robby Gordon, who leads the overall and TrophyTruck points races going into the 673-mile season finale. For the past decade, Gordon has run SCORE events when his NASCAR schedule permitted. This year, breaks in the NASCAR schedule enabled Gordon to run in three of the first four SCORE events. H skipped the Sept. 12 Sprint Cup race in Richmond, Va., to compete in a SCORE event at Primm, Nev. Gordon won that race to widen his SCORE points lead going into the Baja 1000. Gordon will fly from Ensenada after finishing the 1000 to compete in the NASCAR season finale at Homestead, Fla.(San Diego Union Tribune) Overnight Talladega TV ratings down: ABC's broadcast of Sunday's Amp Energy 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway earned a 3.8 overnight rating from Nielsen Media Research, Street and Smith's SportsBusiness Daily reports. The rating is 5 percent lower than the 4.0 ABC earned overnight for its broadcast of the fall Talladega race in 2008, when the event was run on the first weekend of October. The 3.8 is 11.8 percent higher than the 3.4 ABC earned overnight for its broadcast of the Texas Cup race on the first Sunday in November of 2008. (SceneDaily) NASCAR honored with two awards for listening to fans Fan Council recognized for reaching out for input, advice By Official Release DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The fans are making their voices heard. NASCAR is listening. And experts in the field of social media now rank NASCAR No. 1. When NASCAR formed a Fan Council for fan input and advice on important topics related to the sport, the last thing anyone expected was an award -- let alone two awards. But in recent weeks, this unique "advisory board" of the sport's most avid fans has earned national acclaim by winning the Forrester Groundswell Award in the Business-to- "The outside attention is flattering, but we're most happy about the inflow of smart and passionate input from a group of our most dedicated fans," NASCAR chairman Brian France said. "NASCAR fans are known to be vocal about the sport they love. They want to be heard, and we want to hear them. The NASCAR Fan Council is turning out to be an extremely valuable platform that enables NASCAR to consider fan feedback in key decisions about the direction of the sport." NASCAR introduced the Fan Council in 2008 to gain a better understanding of its fan base. In 2009, regular consultations with the council, an online community of 12,000 avid fans, resulted in two important changes to the sport: • Double-file restarts, shootout style: When fan sentiment ran high for a new restart format -- in which the leaders line up side-by-side following cautions to restart the race -- NASCAR picked up the comments, validated and initiated a new double-file restart rule, to overwhelmingly positive reviews. • Earlier and consistent TV start times: When fans voiced their opinions about event start times, NASCAR listened and quantified sentiment, resulting in earlier and more uniform start times for Sprint Cup Series races in 2010. Every time NASCAR reaches out to the Fan Council for input, the first question asked is, "Is there anything on your mind you'd like to share with us about NASCAR?" This is an opportunity for these fans to share their thoughts with NASCAR leadership amongst other questions asked of the members. "Every year the quality of business social applications goes up, and marketers have become more sophisticated, Jennifer Reid, Vision Critical's senior vice president of strategy and a judge for the Panel of the Year Award, said online panels like the NASCAR Fan Council give people a true voice in the decisions being made by large organizations. "Online panels add social media and community engagement to research in a way that really provides a channel for consumers to voice their ideas and opinions," Reid said. "The NASCAR Fan Council empowers fans in a powerful way that gives them a true voice in the direction of the sport." "The Fan Council has created a shift in company culture as it relates to consumer research with nearly all departments embracing insights from our most avid fans," said Brian Moyer, NASCAR's managing director of market and media research. "It's an honor to be considered a leading brand as it relates to listening." David Poole's Words Ring True When It Comes to Talladega Mary Jo Buchanan/bleacherreport. Shortly before his passing at the age of 50, David Poole shared his feelings about the April race at Talladega Superspeedway in his Life in the Turn Lane column for the Charlotte Observer. "The problem is and always has been this race track," said Poole. After watching the Amp Energy 500 at the Superspeedway, many would agree that Poole's words again rang true this weekend at the fall Talladega race. In his April 26, 2009 column, Poole shared his concerns about the track, especially in light of the terrible crash involving Carl Edwards. Brad Keselowski and Edwards were racing for the win when they wrecked. The wreck sent Edwards airborne and he crashed into the catch fence. Although Edwards was able to get out of the car and run across the finish line a la Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights , several fans were hurt from debris that came through the catch fence. Poole railed against NASCAR for allowing this kind of racing to occur. He hearkened back to the 40-year history of problems at Talladega, from the tire issues in the inaugural race that caused the drivers to boycott the competition, to Bobby Allison's terrible crash that sent him flying into the catch fence. "The real problem is the same as it has been for the 40 years this track has existed," Poole said. "From the very first weekend of racing held there, when speeds were too fast for tires to withstand and anybody with any regard for what's really safe would have called off the race, the problem is and always has been this race track." Poole continued, "It was crazy—and I mean that word literally—to ever let things get to a point where Bill Elliott could run 215 mph here. It was crazy to react to Bobby Allison's wreck into the fence, one that looked entirely too much like the wreck Carl Edwards had here Sunday for the comfort of anybody with good sense, by trying to write rules and change the cars to make this place safe." But NASCAR seemed to do just that, trying to make the racing safer at Talladega. From the practice session, where the sanctioning body black flagged Michael Waltrip for aggressive driving, to the drivers' meeting where they warned drivers that they would be penalized for bump drafting in the turns, NASCAR appeared to be warning the drivers that hard racing that might cause "the big one" would not be tolerated this time around. The drivers seemed to heed NASCAR's warnings at the beginning and through the mid-point of the fall race at Talladega. The field went single file around the track, logging laps and causing several of the drivers like Tony Stewart to beg his pit crew to either tell him stories or find him some "No Doze" to keep him awake. But as the laps turned and patience wore thin for many of the drivers, it was just a matter of time before someone got racy and the wreck was on. The first major accident of the day was not the "big one" per se, but was a terrible crash nonetheless. The wreck involved a number of cars, including Kevin Harvick and Marcos Ambrose. Ryan Newman, however, bore the brunt of the crash, pirouetting wildly, flipping and flying through the air, and sliding all over the track and the infield on his roof. With the top of his car pancaked in, Newman came to rest upside down. For many long and excruciating minutes that seemed like forever, the safety crews were able to peel away the "top/bottom" of the car so that Newman could safely crawl out. Of the April race, Poole said, "It's crazy to ask drivers to participate in the kind of racing that goes on at Talladega today and it's crazy for them to willingly do so." After this weekend's fall race at Talladega, several of the drivers echoed Poole's sentiments almost word for word. "I knew I was going upright," said Ryan Newman of his crash. "Damn near did a pirouette and came back down on four wheels." "I respect NASCAR but I just wish they'd respect me," he added. "You can't ask 43 human beings to be perfect for four hours at a half inch apart from each other," Elliott Sadler said. "We hate it that we're in this box but there's no alternative. "As long as we keep the banking here at Talladega, we're going to have to keep racing like this...it's not fun by no means," continued Elliott. "The happiest day of the weekend is when you can walk away from this place when the race is over." With the race red flagged for Newman's wreck, the field was set for a green, white checkered finish. Several drivers ran out of gas and others had to pit in order to make the additional laps. In the final laps, Brad Keselowski got into Kurt Busch and the "big one" was on. This wreck sent Mark Martin, who was sitting second in the points, flipping through the air. "I don't know what happened," Martin said. "That's what we do here." "Congratulations to Jamie McMurray, I'm pretty sure he won," Martin continued. "And that's about all I know about the race." Poole not only ranted about the racing at Talladega, but also about the reactions of the fans. "It's also sad that fans who profess to love this sport and the people who compete in it not only tolerate this madness, but embrace it and celebrate it," Poole said. "Instead of talking about how 'cool' Sunday's race was with all of its wrecks and the near disaster that happened on the final lap, fans ought to be screaming their demands that NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation do something to make this race track safe to race on." It will be interesting to hear the fans' reactions to the racing at Talladega this weekend. If Facebook and Twitter postings are any indication, it would seem that fans are beginning to share their disgust and their concern for the safety of the drivers that they follow so fiercely. But as Poole so wisely concluded his column on the spring race at Talladega, written shortly before his death, he urged all to dialogue about this problem. In Poole's words, "If you want to talk about the problem, that is the only conversation worth having." Poole, I couldn't agree with you more. Let's get this conversation started. Talladega and Chase need fixing ... fast By Terry Blount/ESPN. Talladega, always one of Sprint Cup's most anticipated events, appears unfixable. The Chase, at least for 2009, is a complete failure for producing any season-ending drama. So where does NASCAR go from here? "I don't know. I really don't," Elliott Sadler told reporters about Talladega after the race Sunday. "I think NASCAR and all the drivers should sit in a private room, lock the doors, and have a discussion and try to fix this together." For many fans, the Talladega debacle and the snore of a Chase are not minor issues. Both are significant problems that need solutions. Or are they? Is this an overly critical assessment of both situations? Maybe it's an overreaction to Jimmie Johnson's dominance (something that deserves praise) and another typical Talladega day of destruction and danger (something drivers have experienced and griped about for years). One could argue that the best answer is to do nothing. Enjoying Johnson's historic run to a fourth consecutive title is good enough, even if the Chase playoff doesn't produce a points battle to the end. And Dega is Dega, as the saying goes, restrictor-plate racing with a strategic waiting game followed by out-of-control moments. Just leave things alone and they'll get better? Sorry, that's not good enough. It's the easy way out, the lazy response of expecting a different result from the same action or inaction. NASCAR took action at Talladega. In Sunday's case, too much action. NASCAR officials told the drivers that bump-drafting in the turns would result in a serious penalty. So the drivers obeyed, basically saying, "If that's what you want, that's what you'll get." The no-touch policy turned Cup's most exciting venue into cruise-control on the Interstate. An important race in the Chase was reduced to a show in which 90 percent of the event was virtually meaningless. "I'm as bored as [the fans] are," Denny Hamlin said when the race ended. "It could be 15 laps, and you would have a better show than it was at 188 [laps]." And bumping on the straights, which wasn't banned, was enough to produce the same horrific crashes at the end. NASCAR also reduced the opening of the plates, which slowed the cars down a little but accomplished nothing. "It was just kind of a terrible race today in general,'' David Ragan said after his 17th-place finish Sunday. "There was a lot of single-file racing. I know it's exciting at the end, but when NASCAR slows these cars down, they're too easy to drive and everyone just gets kind of crazy." Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, said Sunday's race wasn't much different from most Talladega events, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Through more than two decades of restrictor-plate racing at Talladega, this endless game of minor rule changes has proved futile. But NASCAR is in a difficult position. Reducing the banking in the turns -- the logical step that could eliminate plate racing and make the races safer -- also could eliminate the excitement and drama at NASCAR's biggest track. Pack racing is dangerous, but it also is fun to watch at times, especially for the casual fans NASCAR needs to attract. Sunday's race had 58 passes for the lead among 25 drivers within the shifting parallel lines of cars. And no one wants to turn Talladega into Auto Club Speedway. Officials at ACS in Fontana, Calif., have lobbied for changes to become more like Dega. But maybe there's a happy medium, forcing the drivers to brake in the turns while retaining the ability to race closely and make passes up front. Changing the banking at Talladega would cost several million dollars when International Speedway Corp. already is spending $13 million to renovate the grandstand seating at the facility. Even if money isn't a factor, it's a big gamble. What if the changes don't work? What if it makes NASCAR's bad boy track into a boy scout? In some ways, this happened Sunday. Drivers, reporters and some fans insisted that changes take place after the April event when Carl Edwards' car flew into the catch fencing and injured some spectators. So changes came, as they always do at Dega. Higher catch fence, smaller plates and the no-bump-drafting edict. The result? Many fans, and even some drivers, complaining about how boring most of the race was, blaming NASCAR for over-regulating things. Now no one is happy, so something has to change. And a band-aid won't cure it. Twenty years of this proves that tweaking things doesn't work. NASCAR has had only five years to tweak the Chase, but a major overall might be needed there, also. Johnson has a 184-point lead: "I am good with that," Johnson said when reporters told him of his advantage Sunday. "That is a good number." He could clinch the title in Phoenix, one week before the season ends. In the old system of total points for the year, Johnson would have moved ahead of Tony Stewart on Sunday to hold a 7-point lead with three races to go. The Chase format was designed to produce a championship battle and bring more attention to NASCAR in the fall months after the NFL season started. Some have suggested the Chasers have their own points system. The top Chase finisher each race would receive 12 points, and the worst Chase finisher would earn one point. It's no good. That plan would keep the points closer, but it also would make it harder to gain ground on the leader. Johnson still would be comfortably in front. No matter what mathematical formula you employ, Johnson would run away with it because his average finish in the Chase is 3.4. The next best is Jeff Gordon at 7.7. One plan that could help is an elimination system, in which three or four drivers go to the last race with a shot at the championship after the other Chasers were knocked out earlier in the 10-race playoff. Talladega and the Chase should be two of the biggest and best things in NASCAR. But both are broken and need some smart people with good ideas to fix them. I think I'll have my own town hall meeting by Darrell Waltrip/foxsports. You know folks, after each week's race there seem to be things that we at home see that still go unnoticed by those at the track. If you watch TV, listen to the radio or read the newspapers and blogs, there clearly is a lot of disagreement with the direction the sport is going. There's concern about this new car and how it runs. There's concern about how it doesn't look like race cars we are accustomed to seeing. There are folks questioning NASCAR, especially recently about their calls on cautions. Was there debris or wasn't there debris? There just seems to be a lot of issues these days. NASCAR has had a couple of these town hall meetings as they call them. Have you been invited to one? Well I haven't either. So that's why I was thinking I would have my own town hall meeting and I can promise you it would be a little bit different. My meeting would include a cross section of NASCAR fans. Trust me, they will be non-denominational fans. They all won't be Dale Jr., Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart fans, etc. The other group that I am going to invite is a contingent of TV and radio broadcasters. They see and cover the sport differently than others. I am also going to call in some sponsors because obviously they are the ones footing the bill for this sport and they have a vested interest in what the fans care about. Additionally, I would call in some PR people because they are the middlemen between the owners, drivers and sponsors. I think it is important that their voice is heard too. I probably would invite the TV executives too from FOX, Speed, Turner, ABC and ESPN. It's the money paid by these folks that is a large portion of the money that the sport has, so I am sure they have some opinions that need to be voiced. Also, for my first town hall meeting I would invite drivers -- but in this case, retired drivers and not current ones. I want drivers that aren't trying to protect anything and aren't worried about getting in trouble with their sponsors, the fans and, most importantly, NASCAR. Another component that I think would be vital at this meeting is the folks that work the souvenir rigs. They are face-to-face with the fans every weekend and they have the pulse of the sport. So I want to know what they are hearing and are thinking. This one may surprise you, but I also want the transporter drivers at this meeting. They are the ones that criss-cross the country Those guys probably see and hear more about what's going on in the sport than anybody. I think they would bring an interesting perspective to the table as to what they see and hear from fans across the country. So that's kind of a cross section of people that I want in my town hall meeting. These are folks that make their living in the sport, not people that are making a living off the sport. Again, I call it the blind obvious. This is a "been there, done that" kind of thing for me. I was so wrapped up in what I was doing as an owner/driver that I overlooked so many things that needed to be changed or improved. I got so wrapped up in the day-to-day issues that I never had time to see the big picture. Public relations are a huge component in our sport whether you are the sponsor, a team, a driver or NASCAR itself. Sure you can spin it the right way or the wrong way, but you have to be able to come out and address the hard questions that folks want answered. I don't care if it's the drug testing policy, debris cautions, the bump drafting policy or whatever the issue of the day is, you have to be able to sell it to the media, the TV folks and most importantly to the fans. It's like this new car. They just haven't done a very good job of selling it in my mind. You all know this. Again, the blind obvious: If you put a product out on the market that isn't very good, well no one is going to buy it. As NASCAR moves forward that is something they really have to think about. I want a car that I can buy that I just watched win a race at the track. If you remember, back in the day the old phrase was "win on Sunday, sell on Monday". I also just want to label them the brand name, not the model name. Quit calling them Impalas, Camrys or whatever. Call them what they are -- a Ford, Chevy, Toyota or a Dodge. I think fans can identify better with that. So I am going to have this first town hall meeting with all the various representatives of the folks I mentioned previously. I am going to listen and compile all the information and opinions given at this meeting. Following that I am going to hold a second town hall meeting but it will be more traditional like what NASCAR has done recently. I am only going to invite NASCAR officials and personnel. I will also include the car owners, drivers and crew chiefs. While my first meeting is for folks outside the fence, this second meeting is for the folks, as I like to say, that are inside the fence. See, the first group of people pay to go to the sport, the next set of people are paid to be in the sport. I want it made clear in this second meeting that these folks can speak freely. I don't want them worrying about getting in trouble with NASCAR, the media or the fans because obviously that will slant the way they talk. I want them to honestly tell me how they feel and think without fear of retribution. I want to take all the information, suggestions, ideas and data from both meetings and make a presentation to NASCAR that clearly identifies the problems that need to be worked on in our sport. You heard me say this earlier in the week but it bears repeating. We need to quit working on the symptoms and start working on the problems. So that's my plan. I will let you know when it is going to happen. So stand by. I will let you know how it goes and more importantly where it goes. Now that might be the most interesting part of all. The fix is in, except when it comes to the real problems Talladega again proof NASCAR faced with serious issues By Joe Menzer, NASCAR.COM 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- 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) 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. The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. Don't Tamper With Talladega Larry Woody | Senior Writer I remember a time when drivers had trouble sleeping the night before Talladega. Now they have trouble staying awake during the race. At one point during last Sunday's race – using the term loosely – Tony Stewart radioed his crew that he was having a problem keeping his eyes open. Trust me Tony, you weren't the only one. About mid-race I switched over to watch old re-runs of the Joy of Dry-Walling. Drivers spent most of the race running single-file, with points-leader Jimmie Johnson lollygagging in the back, and despite some late-lap fireworks, the overall affair was a snoozer by past Talladega standards. I think the problem was due to two things. For starters, the race followed a scenario that has been typical this season – a lot of riding followed by a little racing. Fans should get a 95-percent refund on their tickets because they get to see only about 5 percent of actual racing. Secondly was the pre-race warning by NASCAR not to touch anybody. Specifically NASCAR warned drivers not to "bump draft" in the corners. Great. In a season in which fans are nodding off and tumbling out of the stands from sheer boredom, NASCAR tells drivers not to bump into each other. (In other news, the NFL has called all its players together and warned them not to hit anybody.) Over the years I've generally defended NASCAR and its decisions because I thought it was acting in the best interest of the drivers and the sport. But this is getting ridiculous. NASCAR, with its new car, tells drivers what to drive. At Talladega and Daytona it restricts how fast they drive and when and where they're allowed to pass. Now it's telling them how carefully to drive. It's about to regulate the life out of the sport. I realize that NASCAR is concerned about safety. But driving race cars is not safe. It never has been and it never will be, not entirely. Especially on monster tracks like Talladega. Look what happened last Sunday: even with NASCAR's no-bumping edict, Ryan Newman still took one of the wildest tumbles in history, followed by a predictable pileup near the end. The no-bump rule didn't make the racing any safer. It just made it more boring. NASCAR is searching for a creature that doesn't exist: a Completely Safe Race. It's made great strides by cushioning the walls, mandating better cockpit restraints and making the cars virtually invincible – witness Carl Edwards' Talladega tumble in the spring and Newman's cartwheels last Sunday, both escaping without a scratch. At Talladega NASCAR has further slowed the cars and raised the catch-fence. That's about all it can do. It's about all it SHOULD do. It's time to stop the tampering. Drop the starting flag and get the heck out of the way. Tom Higgins Scuffs A Talladega anniversary – and that scary-fast Dodge I had heard of jaw-dropping sights, but never seen one.
Six months prior to opening, NASCAR Hall of Fame taking shape By Bob Pockrass/scenedaily CHARLOTTE – A little more than six months before the opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, only two exhibit items are in place – a car transporter and a big Unocal orange spotter ball. Those likely will be two of the biggest items in the hall, so they had to be put in place during the construction of the building. But even without the presence of race cars that will be lined up against the ramp that people walk from one floor to another or the many video screens that will be in place, the infrastructure for the facility shows at least a glimpse of what museum executives hope makes the place special and more than just, well, a museum when it opens May 10, 2010. "We are much more than a museum and much more than a traditional hall of fame," hall of fame executive director Winston Kelley says. "While those are two key elements, we're also part entertainment attraction, with over 50 interactive stations throughout the facility, and part theater." There are vents underneath the seating area of the big theater, which likely will blow air to give the feeling of being in a race car while watching the introduction to the hall of fame that will be a visitor's first stop. There also is an area that juts out on one of the floors, which will be a flag stand where people can wave a green flag above the cars that encircle the ramp walkway. That spotter ball? Customers will be able to go inside. The $195 million, 150,000-square- "It's going to house our past, it's going to house our future," NASCAR Chairman Brian France says. "It's going to be the most interactive hall of fame in the world. We are quite confident for many, many years to come, this is where race fans will come. … It's going to be a very festive place." The hall consists of four floors. The theater is at the bottom and has a separate entrance for special events as well as a concession stand and cafe. The 270-seat theater with a screen that is 65 feet by 15 feet also would be a site to watch races. The second floor will be a 10,000-square- Customers will walk the ramp next to the authentic race cars, and the ramp also will be the place where tracks are highlighted going from the flat tracks to those with the most banking. The third floor will be where the hall of honor will be, where inductees will each be recognized with a spire that is 7 to 8 feet tall, and will include a facial likeness, a video of the honoree's history and an area at the bottom where kids can create a rubbing. Also on that floor will be the race week experience exhibit, which hall officials hope is one of the most interactive areas. That is where the racing simulators will be located as well as the area where people can change tires. That area will take a fan through the race week. On the top level, NASCAR's history will be chronicled, including a vault of artifacts. It will include a legacy area to honor those who spent their lives contributing to the sport and also will have a "great finishes" theater where fans can call up the best finishes in NASCAR history. Kelley said the projection is for 800,000 visitors in the first year. "We have something, we believe, for everyone – the avid die-hard NASCAR fan, for the novice with little or no knowledge of the sport, for kids of all ages and adults from all walks of life," Kelley says. "While our mission is to honor the history and heritage of NASCAR, our vision and day-to-day objectives will be to focus on our guests." Ralph Appelbaum Associates is the hall's exhibit designer. Its previous projects have included the National Constitution Center, the World Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and the London Transport Museum. Kubik Maltbie is the primary fabricator and installer of all exhibits. The firm's past work includes projects at the Smithsonian Institution and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Electrosonic Inc. will do all of the audio-visual components. Electrosonic, which has collaborated with Kubik Maltbie on numerous projects, has a long list of clients, including The Weather Channel sets, the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center and the World of Coca-Cola. The hall of fame also includes a 2,700-seat ballroom, and adjacent to the hall is a 19-story office tower, which includes NASCAR's Charlotte offices as well as three floors for the NASCAR Media Group. NASCAR ON TV THIS WEEK
All times Eastern Well, that's all for today. Until the next time, I remain, Your Nascar Momma Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up there and eat that candy ass." -Dale Earnhardt - 1998 |
knowyournascar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To post message, send an email to:
knowyournascar@yahoogroups.com
-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To post message, send an email to:
knowyournascar@yahoogroups.com
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
No comments:
Post a Comment