All-Star Disappointment

What a shame — once a year they hold the All-Star Race in front of a tremendous crowd live on TV and after all of the pre-race ballyhoo and hoopla, it was just another dud. It was a sad excuse for a race.

The Big 5-0

I think NASCAR should increase the fields to 50 cars. It would be interesting to see how well they run. I’ll bet some ARCA guys might come over.
Bench racing at the Moose Lodge has Kyle Busch as the one to beat this weekend.

Good Memories

The last time real American race cars ran at Indy, driven by well-known experienced U.S. speedway drivers was 1964. If you were 18 then, you’d be 62 now and eligible for Social Security.
Had you been 18 and watched the Offys on the short tracks (midgets) and at Indy since Watson’s first win in 1956, you would be 70 now. That age range (62-70) defines the memories of those who were there to remember professional U.S. speedway-race cars and drivers at their zenith, the era of “the specials.”
There is no consolation for these racing fans anymore than there would be for NASCAR fans had the European aficionados (Ford and Penske) taken over their sport with rally cars and drivers. There may be some “grass” here, but it’s Astro-turf without roots.
So, if we sound dated and out of place, it’s because we remember what Indianapolis once was, and, with proper oversight and development, should still be.
Strangely, NASCAR might be the only entity that could ever again give us our race cars back home again at Indianapolis — tube-frame, front-engine V-8- or turbo-4-powered race cars.
And if Montoya wants to strap in one, that’s fine with me. Just remember, it’s professional racing so wave to the paying fans on the parade lap.

Suggestions For NASCAR

A few ideas for making NASCAR racing more exciting and bringing the fans back to the tracks (did you see all the empty seats at most of the tracks so far?)
• Fast qualifiers race — no provisionals.
• Penalties: Drive through, stop-and-go, whatever should be served under green-flag conditions. It’s supposed to be a penalty. No one can touch a car serving a penalty. No fuel, no tires, no nothing.
• Pit stops: No crew or equipment on or over the wall until the car is stopped in the box. Car cannot leave until all crew and equipment are back over the wall.
• Points: Winner gets 43 points, second gets 42 and so on. Fast qualifier gets one point. Lead a lap and get one bonus point. Lead the most laps and get another point. Dump “The Chase.” After 36 races, the driver with the most points is the champion.
• Get rid of scoring loops: On yellow, you’re scored where you were at the finish line on the last completed green lap. That’s the way virtually every driver raced when they came up through the short tracks.
• If you cheated to win, you have the victory taken away along with whatever fines are levied. You’re given 43rd place.
• Quit throwing the yellow with no explanation. The racers, fans in the stand and those watching on TV deserve to know why there was a yellow. Just because Junior, Jeff, Kyle or anybody else is stinking up a race is no reason to throw a yellow.
• Limit the number of tires and the amount of fuel each team gets for a race. All three divisions, no begging, borrowing or stealing more from a teammate or another car.

Dubious Dodge

I believe it is time for Dodge to throw in the towel in the Sprint Cup Series. The Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington is a good example of a brand that is not ready to win a championship.
The 19 car goes out in two laps. Hornish, Jr. and Petty follow to the garage. Hornish came back and barely got on TV. The pace car from Dodge got more time than the race cars.
The boss of motorsports should be fired at once. Toyota is blowing Dodge’s doors off each week. The No. 10 blows up and the No. 12 must have been parked. Only the No. 2 was visible, and the No. 9 was a lap down most of the race.
Are the other teams that much better? I don’t believe one Dodge will be in the top-12 positions for the championship.
The advertising department should stop putting up the money for the race title because they will give it to the competition. Last year, it was the nose of the car. What is the excuse this year?