It’s Not Just The Tires

Everyone is probably tired of this subject by now, but one thing that has not changed as a result of Tony Stewart’s confrontation with Goodyear is the severe handling problem in the CoT that has not been fixed and is inherent in its basic design.
It should be obvious that when you have to make the right front solid and then put a 1,000 spring in the right rear to get the car to turn, that you have a poorly designed race car that will not be easy to adjust from track to track. Considering all of this, should you expect a tire manufacturer to give you an immediate solution to the problem?
Goodyear has always thrown a hard tire at any problem that it could not solve. Try and drive that combination.

Another Issue

How long will it be before NASCAR issues the whole car to each team?

Stewart Gains A Fan

Tony Stewart is the man. I am now a Smoke fan for life. I find it so gratifying that Tony had the guts to say to the whole world what I had been screaming at my television during the whole race at Atlanta. Goodyear doesn’t have a clue as to how to build and compound a proper racing tire anymore.
The evidence shows that they haven’t since being run out of F-1 by Pirelli and out of CART by Bridgestone-Firestone. Goodyear’s failure to compete, except in a rigged game like in Cup, has left it technologically inbred and devoid of the institutional knowledge needed to build a proper racing tire. Competition breeds strength and the lack of it brings weakness.
The current tire is inconsistent in quality and low in grip at best and just flat dangerous at worst. Just ask Tony how that wall feels when the right front blows up for no good reason.
I have laughed out loud every time I have heard the term, “one-groove track” thrown around by NASCAR-approved broadcast teams over the last decade. They haven’t been one-groove tracks — the Goodyears have been one-groove tires. Tony will undoubtedly get a trip to the woodshed from the powers that be, but he has shown real courage in speaking out about the pitiful performance of Goodyear’s race tires.

Atlanta Didn’t Deliver

I hate to sound like the “old-school” guy that I am, but (Atlanta) had to be the sorriest excuse for a race I have seen in a long time. It put me to sleep.
Race three-to-five laps and wreck, three-five laps and wreck, etc., etc.
The issues that seem to be cropping up with tires are occurring with regularity. Either the setup rules are wrong, the tire manufacturing is poor or is a combination of the two. While I respect what Goodyear has done for the general racing community, anybody that has been watching races since the advent of radials knows that they contribute to single-file racing because the setup window for error is just too tight, and if manufacturing issues come, well, the result was the Atlanta race.
If NASCAR wants to do what they say, which is to get closer to the fans that made the sport what it is, they better address this because it happens too often in all three series. It makes the races turn into snoozers. I know the new generation is into the event, but sooner or later they will lose interest if the racing doesn’t get any better. Either fix the tires, change the rules or continue losing fans.

Kudos To Wade

Hats off to Susan Wade for doing such a great job on her articles on the NHRA. I always look forward to reading her column because I know that I can count on her to tell it like it is — something that few people seem to be able or willing to do these days.
Thanks, Susan. Keep up the good work.

Playing Politics

Most people know that the majority of competitors, owners and NASCAR officials are members of the Republican party or they primarily vote and support Republican candidates.
I find it remarkably coincidental that they share the same value of commitment to their Iraq War. While middle-class men, the same age as many earning thousands and millions of dollars working for NASCAR, reap the benefit of this country. Not one of their children or they themselves serve in the military, even though they support the party who lied to place us there.
Doesn’t this really reflect the overall greed and control of NASCAR and the Republican party?
I say boycott NASCAR and support your local, middle-class tracks. A lot of these families have family members in this unnecessary corporate war.

Petty Issues

Why doesn’t someone tell Kyle Petty to quit embarrassing the Petty name and retire, so that the spot he keeps filling fields up with can go to some promising up-and-comer?
And why doesn’t somebody else tell him that ponytails went out in the 1970s?

Bowyer Gifted Wimmer?

Thanks for the best article I’ve read yet on Clint Bowyer in a recent issue. Clint is a smart driver who smoothly and quietly works his way to the front. He also has a great smile, presents himself well and has a great sense of humor. He is a sponsor’s dream. He is also garnering fans.
I certainly was unhappy with a good race that turned disappointing in Nashville. I’m fairly certain that Bowyer was asked to step aside and let Wimmer win. Bowyer’s car was tight, but not that bad. His car was one of two that were the class of the field. The gas situation would not have kept Clint from that trophy when he’d been second so many times. Whoever performed that miracle for Wimmer, shame on you. You spoiled the race for everyone, and I know Scott Wimmer is very capable of winning without Bowyer stepping aside.
Perhaps we needed Chris Economaki or Bob Jenkins on the air that day to dig into the story.
Would also like to mention that I enjoy Dan Knutson’s F1 news so very much. I really like reading the inside stories on F1. I’m trying to keep an eye on how Sebastien Bourdais fares. Thanks for all the reports on the IRL/Champ Car merger. I’m cautiously optimistic because we really need enough Champ Car drivers and races to cross over to the IRL to make a difference people and sponsors can see.

Fine Still Too Much

I still think Robby Gordon’s team is getting the shaft. NASCAR let him have his points back, but raised his crew chief’s fine from $100,000 to $150,000. It doesn’t seem justified. I was glad to hear he might run Indy and the 600. I’m glad someone is thinking about my wish.
Announcers definitely need some improvement. They should identify the cars by saying, for example, “Tony Stewart’s No. 20 Home Depot Toyota.” This would help satisfy not only the sponsor but also the manufacturer.

Safety Idea For NHRA

Having just attended the Gatornationals and seeing the Cruz Pedregon accident (and others), I realized that the cars could be much safer if the crew chief held a remote controller to activate the parachute and shut down the engine.
I’ve read that from mostly military development from the Iraq war that the (remote-control) hardware and technology is now ready to compete in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race and within two years can win.