TRRExtra: How To Shorten The Season Without Removing Events
Nobody asked me but:
Since everyone is suddenly raising the
issue of a NASCAR season that’s entirely too long, why not shorten it by
making certain events more valuable than others. And, before you scream, have
the value dictated by purse size. The upper tier events would have a purse
that’s $3 million or higher. (The current average is $2.6 million plus if you
include the super purses at the Daytona 500 and The Brickyard.) That way, all
the teams are encouraged to run the entire series but, if they want to stay away
for whatever reason, they can. In addition, out of a 36 race schedule, maybe
only 30 events are counted in the final standings. The "major" events
might have "points-and-a-half" available. A win is worth 1.5 times the
normal available at a "normal" event. This way the issues of greed
that allowed the series to get this big in the first place are satisfied and
those who don’t want to go the distance, can stay home and make up the points
on the major events.
As for the promoters or fans or television
networks who won’t get a chance to see everyone at every event, find the money
to make it worthwhile for the drivers, crews, and support personnel to chance
around the country until they’re chased out of the sport. Choose whom you want
greed to be good for!
I made a point last week about the
Michelin Race of Champions in the Canary Islands. Speedvision had a wrap up of
the event. That’s at
Speedvision.com. You can get the results but the really significant
thing that happened was the impression Robby Gordon made on everyone there. He
posted the fastest qualifying lap over sports car and rally experts invited to
the affair. Then, in the semifinals, he rolled the car and nearly burned it to
the ground. His win in New Hampshire may yet go down as the greatest feat in
NASCAR history!
Tony Stewart running in the 24 Hours of
Daytona just prior to the Daytona 500 is welcome news. Stewart proved last year
that he can turn left and right when he ripped past Robby Gordon and Kevin
Harvick to win at Sears Point. The final pass into first was done on a left-hand
turn BUT you get my point. This should also help him begin the season stronger
by getting his undivided attention right from the start. A good start coupled
with his usual strong finish could see Stewart make that last step up the podium
into a championship next year. Everyone was quick to put Jeff Gordon against
Robby Gordon after Robby won in New Hampshire. I think any right thinking NASCAR
observer understands that Stewart is the challenge to Jeff for next season and
for as long as Steward wants to stay in Winston Cup.
This was the note in Jayski:
"Mobil Not Happy? hearing Mobil might not be coming back to Penske at all
as an associate sponsor as they were not happy with the team going away the way
it did and might do just a very small associate sponsorship now if at all and do
not have a contract signed(12-11-2001)" The word is that Penske management
sent everyone to a meeting about the future of the organization and changed the
locks while everyone was gone. Only the people who were picked to stay were
given keys to the new locks. A pretty chicken thing to do. Maybe Mobil doesn’t
want to be associated with that kind of management team.
The Craftsman Truck Series, at one third
the budget, is twice as vibrant as a jumping in place for sponsors. For example,
Dickies Workwear is throwing in with Billy Ballew and Preston Countryman to put
together a Rookie-of-the-Year effort for Trent Owens, nephew of Richard Petty.
Ballew and Countryman were both part-time teams. Now they’ll be out there every
week. They’ll be in Fords.
Robert Pressley is moving to the CTS to
replace Joe Ruttman in Bobby Hamilton Racing’s #18 Dodge truck. Many observers
are seeing this as a chance for Pressley to shrarpen his skills after being
booted out of his Winston Cup ride with Jasper Engines at the end of the season.
Ruttman drove Hamilton’s Dodge to two victories, 20 top-10 finishes and a third
in the CTS points. In other words, Pressley is taking over a good ride, just
like the one he left. In seven years Pressley’s best has been a second. Two
hundred plus starts and no wins. His skills are limited. Too bad Ruttman can’t
continue.
NASCAR Crew Chiefs apparently grew weary
of their drivers being put on pedestals they built. They’re gathering together a
voice through www.crewchiefclub.com.
The Crew Chief Club went together in April but they’re hammering up the
promotional steam. There’s great information and a Backfire section where you
can get answers from the mouth of the horse! With people like Robin Pemberton,
Larry McReynolds, Jeff Hammond, Todd Parrot, Jimmy Makar and Fatback McSwain
becoming stars in their own right, this could become a valuable place to have in
your favorites.
Perhaps NASCAR Crew Chiefs do need a
common voice. Some strange things happened this year with the contraction
underway. For example: Ultra Motorsports, which won 12 of 24 races in the
Craftsman Truck Series this year, released Ted Musgrave’s crew chief Fred Wanke.
He managed Musgrave to a second in CTS. Ultra has merged with Evernham
Motorsports for next year. This followed a mostly unsuccessful effort to find a
Winston Cup sponsor for a team that had a driver du jour this season including
Robby Gordon’s roll to a second at Sears Point.
The National Association of Pit Crew
Members has its own website at
www.pitstops.org.
According to the website: "The NAPCM is an organization recognizing the
efforts of racing pit crew and team members and the contribution that they make
to their field. It is a way for these athletes to address the issues that they
face in their industry and come up with ideas to solve common problems faced by
all racing pit crew and team members." It also gives them a voice in a
changing NASCAR.
NASCAR realizes its legal exposure in
safety liabilities. In the technical bulletin announcing the mandatory helmets
and firesuits for pit crew members going over the wall the language said:
"Each Competitor is solely responsible for the effectiveness of personal
safety equipment used during an Event. NASCAR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF ANY PERSONAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT." This stands out,
especially, after some of the teams at the end of the season were wearing
everything from hockey to skateboard helmets. Once again NASCAR stopped short of
taking the full step by not requiring specified equipment and suits. I hope this
doesn’t bite the organization in the butt before the season is over. NAPCM,
here’s an issue you need to address.