Couldn't agree more. NASCAR somehow managed to turn the second most revered race into a complete and utter travesty. What a joke. I realize NASCAR has become more about the 'Entertainment Value' than the actual racing for quite some time now, but today marked a new low. Even the WWF has standards higher than these. And they expect people to tune in next week for that snoozefest called Pocono? Gimme' a break. And can anybody tell me why Brad Daugherty qualifies as an announcer for racing? I mean, seriously, I have as many Winston Cup starts as Brad. Geez. - Spydertrader
Couldn't agree more. I believe Dougherty had a Busch car at one point, but we both know why he's in the booth.
I think he sponsored a Busch car for a lot of years???? So he's got some experience at the race game. Isn't he partially sponsoring a Sprint Cup car next year????
Michelin tires couldn't handle the F1 race there in 2005 and 14 teams refused to race. Michelin refunded fans in attendance. Goodyear has no plans to do the same for yesterdays fans. Looks like the track itself is a big part to blame as well.
Goodyear screwed the pooch. Tire wear is still a question mark for the COT. Fine. But to get it that wrong is a disgrace. But NASCAR f'ed it up too. They should have said enuf of the yellows after half way and let the teams figger it out. What were they doing, 3-4 yellow laps and then 8 racing laps on a set? Fine, let 'em come in every 8 and change them. Would have found out which pit crew was in shape too. 8 laps x 53 seconds is what, a tire change every 7 minutes? Carl Edwards had it right - he said that it doesn't matter what tire they've got, as long as everyone's got the same thing. Maybe do like F-1 does and have 2 tire compounds available. At least it would put a little more strategy into the race other than track position and gas mileage......
Yes Daugherty Sponsored a Race Team, but then again, so did Pfizer. That doesn't mean the Marketing Director for Viagra has experience at the race game. Although a different issue back in 2005 (sidewall issues prevented the tyres [as F1 calls them] from handling the forces generated at speed), Michelin did do the right thing back then. IIRC, Michelin provided credit towards a race ticket to any fan wanting to return the following year. Without question. In fact, my take places the majority of the blame squarely on the shoulders of NASCAR. First for the fiasco that they called a 'race' yesterday. As mentioned, they should have simply placed the decisions into the team's hands. If that meant pitting every 8 laps under green to avoid a blow out - so be it - but what we had yesterday was a complete joke. More importantly, I have a feeling the CoT plays a far larger role in this fiasco than anyone is admitting. Combine the CoT's failure with Goodyear's insistance of using tire compounds which turn to powder, instead of, laying rubber into the track, and who in their right might couldn't have seen yesterday coming? - Spydertrader
Personally, I think there's a difference between a MD for a company that may or may not have an interest in the race game per se, and most likely doesn't have "skin" in the process... and a guy that definitely DOES have an interest and DOES have his own "skin" on the line.
NASCAR is like a lot of family-run businesses. When you're into the third generation, as you are here, the DNA has thinned out a lot. You start to get a lot of bad decisions. The COT is a joke, an ugly little POS that no one likes and that produces terrible racing. The Nationwide race at ORP was a far better show than the Brickyard, or pretty much any Cup race this year. The problem with the COT is that it gives someone in clean air, ie out front, an insurmountable advantage. The most exciting thing in a race is a pass for the lead, and you just don't get it with this car.
No NASCAR comments as of late . . . is Kyle Busch wearing you all out? For the record, I'm not a fan of his due to his attitude, but he sure is flippin' Rick "Bribes" Hendrick the bird. He kept Mears around, even though he's a big old waste of space, and is replacing him with a burned-out old man who has nothing else in his life to focus on now that his son quit racing. He's really making Rick look like a chump. That could have been a racing dynasty. Any comments as to why Jeffykins isn't his usual winning self?