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Gettin’ ready for 600 miles of fast, loose laps

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by Charlie Turner

I'm Charlie Turner co-host of the syndicated, mostly NASCAR radio show On Pit Row. Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. Oh yeah, Steve is an idiot.

May 21, 2007 12:39 pm CDT 4 Comments

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Lowes Motor Speedway Fast Lap

That twenty lap at a time thing NASCAR prescribed for the All Star race didn’t work too well for me.  It may help to prove a theory that I have about racing and, really, sports in general. 

My thinking is that there is a reason that a given sport has grown to a level of popularity.   The games work.  By that I mean the combination of the length of games - or races in the NASCAR sense - the size of the venues, even the liveliness of the ball or hardness of the tire, whatever.  All of those things have evolved in to a sport that works competitively.   Artificial competitions often don’t work as well.

The All Star race has produced some great finishes.  This one didn’t.

Last week we had great debate and tasty trash talk on the Fast Lap blog.  Try these four corners.  Flat out.

1)  Should NASCAR change the “qualifications” to be in the All-Star race?

2) Do you prefer the All-Star race with or without the fan voted inversions?

3)  What race do you like better; The Bud Shootout or the All-Star Race?

4)  Should NASCAR change or eliminate the past champions provisional?

Put up your best and be part of this week’s ON PIT ROW which will feature guest appearances from Larry McReynolds and Rocket Ryan Neuman.  As they say at Toledo Speedway - be there!

Filed under: Fast Lap Questions, NASCAR, On Pit Row the Fastest two hours on radio 

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Comments

4 Responses to “Gettin’ ready for 600 miles of fast, loose laps”

  1. User Avatar Steve on May 23rd, 2007 8:19 am

    Charlie is rarely right about anything, but I must say his “sports are what they are–because of what they are” actually makes sense to me. Now on to this week’s questions:

    1) Just look at the Casey Mears/ Brian Vickers situation to know that this deal needs changing. Casey is in because he drives the #25. Brian is in because he used to drive the #25. Ridiculous! Give me last years winners, this years winners and any current past champions that want in. Everyone else races in-in the qualifier. As many make the race from “The Open” as need to make a 25 car field in the Challenge.

    2) The inversions are a must to keep the drivers honest. The no inversion program from this year led to a boring race. But you have to relieve the fans of the voting part. They always vote for full inversion. Most smart teams figure that out quickly. NASCAR needs one of the lottery machines with 26 balls (see above), numbered zero to 25. After each segment pick a ball and that’s how many cars invert. Simple—yet intriguing.

    3) The Bud Shootout gets my vote solely on its timing. Nothing is better than seeing those cars hit the track for the first time in the winter. New drivers in new teams. New sponsors. It all ads up to a great event—even if the racing sucks. Because, even if the racing sucks; the season has begun.

    4) The past champion provisional is the most abused rule in NASCAR. Drivers making racing just because they won a championship decades ago–PLEASE! Would Dale Jarrett have been as valuable to Michael Waltrip Racing without the PCP? NO. Would Bill Elliott be looking to run for the Wood Brothers while they try to get back into the top 35? NO! As much as I want to see Bill run the 21 this week—this rule needs to go. During the “field filler” era I could see its need. But in the “go or go home era” it’s ridiculous.

    There you have it. Agree or not.

  2. User Avatar Luke on May 23rd, 2007 8:45 am

    1) No. Charlie, you’re nuts. You’re telling me that the #25 team didn’t help the effort of the win, and because their driver flipped em the bird they should be punished? The qualifications are fine. (34)

    2) Exactly. Invert in every segment but the first. Use the ball machine, and leave out what’s been selected. Also, a 20,30,40,50 format would be nice. (28)

    3) Tough call. I remember when The Winston was full of crazy and cool paint schemes, and a thing to look forward to. Not so much now, at least since it was re-branded. I’ll go with the shootout, as it brings a relief to finally be back on track. (48)

    4) Yes and no. Limit it to the past 10 seasons, provided the “champion” has competed full time since winning the title.
    (21)

    —

    That all being said now…

    I too am looking forward to seeing Bill back in a Ford. Just one of those “feel good” kind of things. Like all it right with the world.

    However, Steve is right. Elliot would (probably) not have been sought had the past champ’s provisional not been an option, and DJ would not have been as valuable without it. Had DJ stuck with Yates, he would have made at least 11 races, the first 5 based on owner’s points, and then at least the next 6 if he had to use that “thing” for each of the next 6.

    Then again, Yates is still struggling. However, Roush isn’t looking as hot as we would expect either. Though they are (obviously) much stronger than Yates.

    Back to DJ for a second. I think that even without the PCP, he still would have held some value to MWR. While the PCP was a bonus, he still went there to help the program get off the ground (at least try to), and provide feedback. MWR is in the limelight, but as we all know Toyota is pretty much sucking eggs at this point.

  3. User Avatar Charlie on May 23rd, 2007 11:41 am

    Why is everybody always pickin’ on me?

    1. NASCAR is pretty close on the qualifications. I would put all previous year Chase qualifiers, the winners from last and this year, active previous winners of the All Star race, the Busch and Truck Series champs from last year and the top three from the open qualifier. XLVII

    2. The fan voted inversion is just too hokey for me. Fan inversion is a perversion. Wish I’d have thought of that during the show. Why make the All Star a go’kart race? XXXIII

    3. I know I complain about all the hype associated with All Star week at Lowes. But I can’t help liking the weeklong all-star lead-up and the family feel that NASCAR gives the associated activities. The cars used to look cooler when they were doing special paint schemes too. XLIX

    4. I would have 2 past champ provisionals available per race, with the following caveat: To use a PCP, the team must declare the intention before qualifying the car and provisional qualifiers would slot in at spots 44 and 45 in the field, regardless of time. XLV

    Et tu, Luke?

  4. User Avatar Luke on May 23rd, 2007 12:02 pm

    “Why is everybody always pickin’ on me?”

    Easy target? :D
    Well, as easy as Paris Hilton after 2 beers.

    he he he he!

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