Five weeks into the first full season with the next-generation race car in the Sprint Cup Series, and its hard not to surmise that the reaction is still quite mixed.At Daytona, it was a great race car, creating more drafting and passing opportunities while also returning much of the handle to the drivers.
Since then, there really hasn't been much difference in the way the car races with the exception of Atlanta. However, the tire combination was also a significant factor in the race car there, so defining its performance at AMS would best be described as a "crapshoot".
Otherwise, "bland" might be a little better of a word for the car.
The only true late-race stories came from drivers wrecking each other, whether that be Jeff Gordon getting into Matt Kenseth or Kevin Harvick getting into Tony Stewart.
But is the racing that much different than last year?
I'd argue that not much has changed in the NASCAR world -- with the exception of Hendrick Motorsports not dominating. NASCAR is still about the people and stories that rise from the engine noise each weekend.
It's never been completely about the technology used, but rather about the driver aces that use it.
Drivers still battle terms like "aero-push", tires that aren't quite right, and tracks with walls that may not be too safe. That's just the facts of trying to race 43 machines around an oval for 500 miles for 43 different drivers.
The cars can be tuned to bring them a little closer together, but at the end of the day, the biggest factor of side-by-side racing is the way a team sets up a race car and the way the driver drives it.
So, should the new car get some overhauls at the end of the season? I'd sure like to think so, but for right now, racing is still racing, and I'm still watching.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I beg to differ, racing is not still racing, at least under the present state of affairs. Nascar is slowly turning into motorized " roller derby ". What was once a sport for individuals has become a high priced "team" sport. I'm not referring to the pit crews, or mechanics who build the car, I mean on the track. For instance, it was obvious that Harvick had the faster car, yet Stewart insisted on making the pass difficult. Not for Tony himself, but for Denny, his teammate just ahead. We the public, will never know what takes place in those backroom meetings before a race, therefore we will remain in the dark as to what is really going on out on the track. But one thing is for sure, racing as we knew it has changed forever. In fact the drivers shouldn't really be called drivers anymore, driving technicians would be a more apt description. With power steering, air conditioning, and bullet proof cars, cookie cutter tracks, and ever changing rules, where is the beef. I fear the true sport of Nascar racing has been flushed from the bathroom of the France's family's heart. Attendence is down, the tv ratings are down, and even the responses to your column are down. The reason......boredom, disillusionment, and apathy. The fan's love of the sport is dying, and as an oft divorced man such as myself can attest to, once the love is gone, the end is not far off. Works for me....
Posted at 12:37AM on Mar 28th 2008 by Don Emerson
2. Damn Don, I think I am depressed now! I have to agree with some of your statements though (have you noticed that has been happening more and more lately?).
I too have noticed that the blog page responses are way down and mostly consist of just us regulars now with a few drive by hits once in a while. Of course, I don't believe that is Geoffrey's fault. The poor Man hasn't really had anything too exciting to write about as of late. This year did not start off with a bang at all or come in like a lion. In fact it has come in more like a lamb and appears to be staying that way. Even a controversial driver like Tony Stewart appears to have been "shut up" or forced to calm down. He's like a robot now that has conformed to the standards of all the other drivers. Freaky, really! So I guess we aren't just left with cookie cutter cars, we are left with cookie cutter drivers as well. Doesn't work for me either!
On a personal note: I am truly sorry to hear about your divorce and hope that you can find happiness once again either with another woman or on your own.
:-)
Kim
Posted at 9:07AM on Mar 28th 2008 by Kim
3. Sorry about depressing you Kim, but then I do that to a lot of women. I wasn't knocking Geof, he does a fine job. I just can't seem to get fired up about this season. The races have been boring, the COT is a disaster, and it just seems to be more of the same ol', same ol'. Nascar has managed to take the flavor out of it's dish, and as any chef will tell you, without the proper seasoning, it's just food. Works for me...
Posted at 12:58PM on Mar 28th 2008 by Don Emerson
4. The COT races are boring. I thought they were boring last year. Nascar had all winter to do something and they didn't.
I don't think they've forced Tony to be quiet. Tony and Harvick are friends and I think that's why there wasn't a blow up at Bristol. Didn't Tony and Kevin have the waxing thing going on the next day? I was listening to Harvick's radio when that crash happened. I heard Kevin relay an apology to Tony as soon as it happened (after a bit of radio confusion).
Hi Kim!
I also hope that Don finds 'happiness with another woman or on his own'. I'll just say that I don't know if you meant 'on his own' like I am taking it. But if you did then that is the most hilarious statement that I have read lately. :)
Susan
Posted at 2:32PM on Mar 28th 2008 by Susan
5. Once again I say why is everyone so glum about Nascar? No one ever likes changes but time and again Nascar seems to make the right ones. Whatever isn't working right, they will fix. I have been a Nascar fan for 30 of my 50 years, and I love it more now than ever. The competition is fierce, so much talent out there. They will work the kinks out of the COT. Probably make alot more changes before they are through. Are people so bored because there are fewer wrecks? Of course I would like my guys to win every week but even when they are in the back I still enjoy watching them come up through the field. Oh and by the way, whether you love him or hate him, or think he is a whiner or spoiled or whatever else, Jeff Gordon will wind up his career and be recognized as the greatest race car driver EVER! Be easy on me guys, I'm new to posting comments.
Posted at 11:29PM on Mar 28th 2008 by Candy
6. Oh Candy....what a sweet response. Welcome to the group. All Jeff Gordon fans please meet in front of the artificial insemination booth for pictures of his wife and daughter. Best driver ever.....hmmm... I think not, but definately a top 10. And Susan, please get your mind out of the gutter....geez, you can take a woman off the corner, but you can't take the corner off her. Works for me....
Posted at 12:16AM on Mar 29th 2008 by Don Emerson
7. Don,
A street walker? I think not. But it's becoming easier to understand why you've been married and divorced 8 times.
Susan
Posted at 7:56PM on Mar 29th 2008 by Susan
8. Don, thank you for the welcome. Artificial insemination booth? Are you saying Jeff Gordon is impotent or gay or what? And if he was, what does that have to do with the COT's performance or Jeff's driving ability? I loved the race today, what's to gripe about? Only that Jeff Burton didn't knock the #00 car off the track. Can't wait for Texas!
Posted at 8:30PM on Mar 30th 2008 by candy
9. I raced at Bristol this past weekend.
Saturday's finish was 11th
Sunday's finish was 10th
TOP 10 pretty good out of 38 drivers! Thanks for your interest, Dale Dodge Jr
http://www.freewebs.com/dadracing
Posted at 10:04PM on Mar 31st 2008 by Dale Dodge Jr