Since we last met here Tuesday evening a week ago, I have observed several things on which I want to comment tonight. Some of you will agree, some wont, but as I state in the title, these opinions and observations are “mine”. I have already run some of these past friends of mine in person and on another social network site I frequent, and the majority, overwhelming majority, are in agreement with me. Maybe that’s why they “friend” me on that site!
Remember the old Abbott and Costello bit “Who’s on First” about Baseball? That is a classic comedy routine that is enjoyable no matter how many times you hear it. If you get a chance, check out YouTube as they actually have the video of those two going through the routine. Priceless. Remember one of Andy Griffith’s first recordings was a comedy routine called “What it was was football”? That is another routine that brings uproarious laughter from almost anyone. I love it when he figures out that the object of the game was to see “who could run from one end of that cow pasture to the other with that old pumpkin without getting knocked down or stepping in something”. So, we have established that Baseball and Football have a unique place in the history of comedy.
What about our sport? What about NASCAR? Well, after the events of the past week, or ten days, I would think the comedy routine for any standup comedian for stock car racing would be just stand there and say “NASCAR”. Why do I feel that way? Ok, here goes, whether you asked for it or not.
First up is the NASCAR Hall of Fame issue. I have presented my opinion on the Hall several times in the past and still support the premise that the historical artifacts in the Hall are worth the time for any race fan to go see. I do, however, as so many others agree, feel disheartened when I see the way honorees are selected. NASCAR established that five per year would be inducted. I think that is ludicrous but NASCAR has made up its mind and that is a closed issue. But then we have to deal with Big Bill France and Bill, Jr. being inducted. They should never have been on a ballot but should have, instead, received special honors as the founder and developers of the sport. Next we have Rusty and D.W. While both of them should be inducted at some point, it is far too early when we have the true pioneers of the sport, very worthy of induction, still on a list to be considered. At least Rusty had the decency, from what I’ve heard , to comment that he should not be in the Hall yet. D.W., on the other hand, makes a scene kissing Brian France (please forgive me for any nausea caused by that mental picture) and feels that he is entitled to be there. Now, on this year’s ballot, I see Anne B. France is a nominee and would guess that she is another “shoe-in”. From all I know of her, and having actually met her once, she is a fine lady and very sweet, but to be placed in the Hall of Fame is an absolute disservice to so many worthy of being there.
The only way to solve the problem is to induct the approximately 70 pioneers who need to be in that Hall without further delay. Won’t happen, but it’s nice to think about.
Next on my list of observations is the unusual circumstance with Kyle Busch at Kansas this weekend. He crashed his primary car. Took out a backup car. I do not remember one incident, ever, of NASCAR not requiring a backup car to go to the back of the pack, yet Kyle started 5th. It was explained that since JGR took the engine out of the car he wrecked and put it in the backup car, then he didn’t need to go to the back of the pack. Any of you ever heard that rule? The discussion I heard went back and forth about the fact that he wrecked the primary car BEFORE qualifying and since they put the primary engine in the backup car, that was totally legal. Sounds to me like this may open up a can of worms NASCAR is not ready to have opened. Oh, and I am not bashing Kyle on this one. I have developed tremendous respect for Kyle and may just do a Legendtorial at some later date addressing the TWO drivers I believe are the only two drivers out there with the pure desire to race. But that is for another day.
Next is the penalties handed down to the Penske Team at Texas. I find the penalties of points deductions from Brad and Joey to be in very poor taste and very contrary to what NASCAR should be addressing. Let’s address the issue of the cars passing inspection twice that has been confirmed and possibly three times as has been rumored. PASSED INSPECTION. Then, suddenly, an hour before the race, the rear ends of the two cars are not “approved”. Notice, not stated as illegal, just “not approved by NASCAR”. Ok, a rule is a rule is a rule, although NASCAR is notorious for rules written in pencil and plenty of blank pages in the rule book to add anything someone in NASCAR may find appropriate. My point on this one is if they want to deduct owner points, that’s one thing, but to deduct points from the guy out there risking his life for NASCAR’s bottom line when the driver did NOTHING and probably didn’t even know about the “unapproved” parts borders on criminal. In the overall bottom line, it may make no difference to Brad and probably not Joey as they will fight their way into that ignorant “Chase” but the issue remains a thorn for me when a driver is penalized for something like that. As for the Truex car being too low AFTER the race, I’m not sure how I feel about that. After hearing D.W. talk about all the illegal things he and his teams did throughout his career and considering Truex drives for the brother of D.W. it would not surprise me that there are adjustments that can be made from inside the car during the race. That’s just my point of view.
Now I want to talk about NASCAR buying into the political B.S. of “American Ethanol”. As you know, I listen to the races on the radio broadcast while watching the television on mute. The MRN crew had a guest in the booth, one Kelly Manning I believe was his name, who had the agenda to push the soon to be mandatory E-15 gasoline. He went to great lengths to stress, several times, that the E-15 (which is 15% ethanol versus the current “at least 10%”) we find in our gas now. He went further to explain that NASCAR is behind this E-15 all the way and that is what the cars and trucks are running. Kelly says NASCAR has run the E-15 “millions of miles” in competition. I don’t want to call the man a liar, but I just find that difficult to believe. I also find it difficult to believe because I have had discussions with owners of three different independent car service centers, one a third generation, the other two second generations. Those gentlemen have no agenda but all three have told me that Ethanol is NOT good for the regular motor vehicle. Two of the three told me that the E-15 will ruin an engine in any vehicle manufactured prior to 2011. Again, no agenda with these gentlemen, they are just telling me what they have observed in working on engines and seeing how the ethanol has affected them. Last spring, I had to take my lawn mower in for service. The guy told me the entire problem was caused by using 10% ethanol. Going one further, the service manager of a major new car dealer in this area has told me that gas mileage is adversely affected by ethanol and that use of it decreases engine life. Yet, NASCAR wants “its loyal fans” to buy into that. Was the time I bought ONLY what was NASCAR approved. Union 76 gas, nothing but Goodyear tires. No more. Now it’s almost like if NASCAR approves it, it scares the daylights out of me.
I heard today that qualifying at Sonoma and Watkins Glen will no longer be one car timed for one lap. Instead, starting this year, cars will go out in packs and each car will be timed in that pack and starting positions will be determined that way. Somewhat like F-1 does it. I guess I shouldn’t criticize it until I see how it works, but that just doesn’t seem a good thing to me.
So, folks, we continue with this NASCAR confusion. I am very pleased with the Gen-6 car although I heard “aero push” many times during the Kansas broadcast. I thought the Gen-6 addressed that. It was pretty clear that the lead car with the clean air could easily maintain the lead. You could see Kahne close when Kenseth ran into “dirty air” but as soon as he was in clean air again he opened it up. I doubt they are even looking for an answer to that one.
I sincerely hope NASCAR gets their act together. “Who’s on First” and “What it was was Football” are both good comedy routines. But it is sad when all you have to do to get a laugh is stand on the stage and say one word: “NASCAR”.
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