Atlanta’s racing surface is one mile of turns and a half mile of straights and its reconfigured layout is nothing like Charlotte, the original quad oval. Texas is similar to Charlotte but different. Just ask the drivers. If they were true cookie cutter tracks teams could take the same setup that worked for Texas to Charlotte next month. The problem is they can’t because the two tracks race entirely different. If you click on the track link on NASCAR.com’s home page you’ll readily see that while the tri/quad ovals are similar they are also unique in their front stretch and turns radius. What isn’t apparent is the extreme difference in the transitions from turns to straights at all the tracks. Ask the drivers and crew chiefs if the similarities make their setups the same and you’ll probably get that glazed, are you nuts look. True cookie cutters would race the same and, as we see, they simply don’t and can’t. To qualify as a cookie cutter a track would have to be identical to one other and none of the afore mentioned qualify in that regard. The reason for the predominant layouts is common sense and good business aimed at fan convenience.
There is one true four turn track on the circuit in Indianapolis. There are only three turns referred to at Pocohoho. I’ll never understand how Charlotte, Texas or Atlanta developed four turns. How do you split a continuous turn into two? Using the logic currently in vogue that would mean Pocohoho has six turns. The constant misuse of terminology puzzles me. Who started this nonsense and why? Since Indy has four turns we have to have four? Nonsense.
Here’s another one. Regardless of the series, the booth buffoons constantly remind us that rain washes the rubber off a track and makes it slick. Then we are told that the racing grove will pick up once rubber is laid down. Then, as the race progresses, we are told the track is too slick because of the rubber build up. It seems to me they can’t have it both ways but what do I know? No rubber, no grip. A little rubber, better grip. Too much rubber no grip. I’m confused. I hope I’m not alone here. What I do know is that the highways are slick as snot on a door knob after a dry spell and then a sudden rain. It’s called oil deposits that are floated to the road surface and you‘d better allow plenty of room between you and the car in front.
What’s with the SPRINT gal/gals in Victory Lane/Circle? What is their purpose? All I’ve seen of them is standing in the background looking dumbfounded. Ms. Winston used to kiss the winner and pose with him. Could it be that the Alltel car won Daytona and the Cingular car won Bristol? They either need to have her participate or disappear.
What an unexpected but not all that surprising turn of events with General Mills leaving Petty Enterprises. They’ve signed on with Richard Childress and the 33 team to run next year as his fourth entry. No announced driver has been named but Bobby Labonte seems to be heading the list. Why I don’t find this surprising is a simple fact. The 43 car hasn’t seen victory lane since 1999. I don’t know the financial arrangement but I’m sure a major corporation like General Mills relationship with the Petty’s was lucrative. My guess is that the corporate heads finally decided, “What have you done for me lately.” I’ve always liked Bobby Labonte and he is a great spokesman but what has he to show for his time with Petty? I’ve never understood his leaving Coach Gibbs for a quite questionable ride.
The number of race vehicles without sponsorship, in all three series, is quite troubling. Granted, we are in an economic slowdown but my TV and radio tells me there are corporations pouring tons of money into advertising. Nutri System, for example, drives me up a wall with their constant barrage of commercials on all channels, day and night. Flomax, Cyalis and Viagra drive me crazy but it’s obvious their advertising budget isn’t hurting. So here’s the deal as I see it. The advertisers are out there but who wants to spend fifteen to twenty mil to run twentieth with a team not known as a front runner? Would you? If DuPont left Jeff Gordon
tomorrow he’d have twenty big names lining up
before sunset offering to sponsor him. Even with
the Petty’s as owners who wants to jump on a
team that has one mediocre car and one that
can’t run for diddly squat? For that matter, why
does it take 90 people to field one car as per the
48 team? Why do teams feel the need for
palaces to build cars instead of more simple
facilities like the once powerful Petty’s ran?
Costs are totally out of hand and the chickens
are coming home to roost. It’s rumored that
UPS is leaving MWR for Roush. AAA is leaving
Roush. Bud left the pole award and Shoot Out.
Somehow, the Coors Light Pole doesn’t have the
ring that Bud carried.
I could go on forever about the things that puzzle me but I don’t want to bore you to tears. I just
get tired of the perpetual rendering of certain aspects of our sport as being fact and unavoidable or inevitable. I don’t buy it. Things need to change before the sport prices itself out of existence. The top thirty five rule, intended to protect sponsors, has turned out to have the exact opposite effect and resulted in unintended consequences.
Take care, God bless and watch over those little innocents. Never forget 911.
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