On the track

I'm a NASCAR fan. Ask anyone. They'll tell you that I watch every NASCAR race that comes on, Cup, Busch or Truck series. And most of my friends and family know better than to call me during those times.

 

This little rant is aimed at the big bosses of NASCAR, France and Helton.

 

I've always believed that watching racing is a Southern thing. Like going into a restaurant and asking for a "Coke", and not being surprised when I get a Pepsi instead of Coca Cola. It's nearly an inbred response for us to like cars that go fast in a circle (I prefer the ovals and triovals over the 'road courses'. So sue me. I'm a purist. But I still watch them anyway).

 

So when Msrs. France and Helton start messing with my NASCAR, I get upset. They've made a lot of stupid decisions (at least, they're stupid in my not so humble opinion). Impounding cars between qualifying and racing. Severely limiting testing on circuit tracks (how are these people supposed to know how to set up a car if they can't test how it reacts to a track? By Ouija board? I Ching? Shooting dice? Come to think of it, that's what they're doing now in the impound races, more or less). No racing back to the caution. Stopping *all* on-track retaliation and fining drivers on a sliding scale for breaking one of their many 'rules'.

 

But their latest bit - limiting the number of cars that can be put on the track by any given team - is really getting my goat.  Okay, I can understand *why* they're doing it - I can't understand the *timing* of the announcement. Jack Rousch has five cars in the Chase. Half the field. With the announcement of the team cap, one of those teams knows that they won't be around next year. Their focus is no longer just on winning the championship. Their focus is now on keeping their jobs. Would it have hurt NASCAR's bigwigs to wait two weeks, until after the Cup Championship has been decided to make this announcement?

 

I have to agree with Mr. Rousch: this seems like a deliberate slap in the face to him from NASCAR.  They're trying to penalize him for having a successful shop and getting five teams into the Chase. Half the field.

Both Rousch and Hendrick shops will have to cut a team for next year's races. Yes, that will free up a couple of drivers and teams, but at what cost to the sport?

 

I sometimes think that Mr. France doesn't care about the *sport* as much as he does the money it can bring in. He certainly doesn't care about the core fans, the fans who have been watching NASCAR races all their lives, who went to places like Rockingham to watch races, and who now can't do that since the Cup series doesn't race at the "Rock" anymore.

 

I hope Mr. France realizes that you can't alienate your core fanbase and hope to keep things working. NASCAR was born in the South, and by turning away from the roots of the sport, you lose a great deal.

 

Never forget *where* you came from.

 

End today's rant.

 

Disclaimer: As always, the above is *my* opinion. Yours may and probably does vary.