#3WideBlog Race Review: Talladega #PACKisBACK

     The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is made its first stop at the Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Superspeedway racing in NASCAR is one of the most exciting spectacles in the sport. 43 drivers take the green flag in what turns out to be a rolling chess match at upwards of 200 Mph. Two and three wide action almost all the way through the pack keeps fans on the edge of their seat throughout the entire race, and multi-car accidents are almost inevitable. This is just what some NASCAR fans were clamoring for, Talladega delivered.


     Throughout the entire race one story line that definitely became a big one was the rule changes. Alterations to the restrictor plates and the front grille openings on the superspeedway cars were made prior to Speedweeks in Daytona, so this was the first visit to Talladega with this rules package. With air temperatures reaching close to 90F at Talladega, this weekend was much different weather wise than Daytona. 

Pic via NASCAR.com

    Many drivers complained about overheating during the race. Hendrick Engines seemed to run especially hot, but there were complaints from many drivers in the field about running hot all race long. There were engine issues associated with it aswell, notably early departures of Regan Smith (lap 16), Ryan Newman (lap 44) and Jimmie Johnson (lap 110). 


    The new rules package was in an attempt to break up the two car tandem racing seen at the Superspeedways in the past, and replace it with the traditional pack racing. What resulted is a sort of hybrid pack racing, where yes the cars stay in what looks like a pack two and three wide, but you can see tandems throughout trying to gain that extra edge. Other than the overheating issues NASCAR seems to have done the trick because it certainly didn't come down to a tandem for the win. 


    Another thing Talladega saw that fans have been talking about is multi-car wrecks. It had been since Martinsville that NASCAR fans had seen a multi-car crash, and Talladega made them wait too. At lap 141 it happened, cars around the track were off the pace running out of fuel and there's a big wreck in Turns 3 and 4. Landon Cassill, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Juan Montoya, Terry Labonte, Aric Almirola and Dave Blaney are involved. Bunch of wrecked race cars. A restart at lap 184 (that looked like a restart in the mini-stock division at a local short track) causes a big mess. Paul Menard, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Robert Richardson Jr., Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, AJ Allmendinger and more are collected. There you go NASCAR fans, I'm not sure the team owners wallets are as happy.

via NASCAR.com

   That joke of a restart lead to a Green-White-Checkered finish in which Brad Keselowski passed and then pulled away from Kyle Busch by a little over three tenths of a second for the sixth victory of his Sprint Cup Series career. Tony Stewart had some interesting comments in a post race interview. They include: "The racing was awesome," "It's fun to be able to race and have to watch the (overheating) gauges at the same time. It just adds that much more." and "I'm upset that we didn't crash more cars," "That's what we're here for. I feel bad if I don't spend at least $150,000 in torn-up race cars going back to the shop. We've definitely got to do a better job at that." (Quotes via Jeff Gluck) Stewart also made mention of a Talladega figure 8 race track. Totally ridiculous, but the words of a frustrated driver/owner. I would fully expect his comments to be different had he come out with a top-5. 

    Its off to the "Lady In Black" this week for a Saturday night show at the track "Too Tough To Tame" Darlington. 


    Until Then Smitty OUT

#3WideBlog Opinion: Blackflag? Debris? Richmond Review.

   Debris? Or no debris? THAT is the question.

   Following Saturday nights NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Capitol City 400 at Richmond International Raceway, there are many story lines I could talk about. I could talk about Kyle Busch coming out with the win and breaking a 20 race winless streak. Maybe Dale Earnhardt Jr. having another solid finish in second place? Or the poor finishes of Greg Biffle (18th) and Martin Truex Jr. (25th). Nope. I am going to talk about the restart on lap 318 where Carl Edwards is "controversially" black flagged, and the "debris" caution on lap 386 that has everybody, including myself, riled up.

Capture via NASCAR.com

   In my opinion, there is no controversy, Carl Edwards black flag was fully merited for its intended infraction. Carl Edwards jumped the lap 318 restart, that is why the black flag was shown. You can see in the diagram on the right (still frame taken from NASCAR.com and edited by myself) that Edwards has accelerated before the designated restart zone. Nevermind Tony Stewart in the bottom lane spinning his tires, Joey Logano didn't go either, because it was too soon. There was some controversy regarding whether a NASCAR official told Edwards spotter that he was in the first position at the time of the restart. This could have been caused by the fact that the scoring pylon at the time of the "1 to go" signal, showed the #99 (Edwards) in first. This was caused because as they had lined up for the restart, Edwards (while scrubbing his tires) inadvertently crossed the start/finish line before Tony Stewart in the #14. With electronic scoring, the pylon is automatically updated with this information. If Carls spotter looked over at the pylon he might get the impression that Edwards was the leader. BUT, As they roll around under caution the ticker goes by. 89 to go Edwards, Johnson, Stewart. 87 to go Edwards, Johnson, Stewart. Johnsons pit road penalty is announced which takes him out of the mix. THEN, Carl has to pit. He is the only car on the track that hasn't pit yet, thus Tony assumes the lead. There is no way anyone could have thought Carl was the leader before that restart UNLESS, a) they looked at the incorrect scoring pylon OR b) a NASCAR official in fact did tell someone on Edwards crew that they were first on the restart (neither confirmed or denied), which makes no sense because as they lined up for "one to go" Stewart went low line (preferred line) and Carl went high.

   Carl tried to defend himself in the post race interview. Saying that his spotter, not a NASCAR official, told him he was the leader, and that he wanted to gain any advantage he could because he was starting on the outside lane. He was caught. He tried to say that Tony spun his tires, which yes may have embellished the infraction, but doesn't negate restarting before the zone. He also said that he had restarted like that all night and hadn't been penalized. His lap 57 restart was within the restart zone. His lap 122 restart was good aswell. The lap 237 restart was awesome, bunched 'em up short track style and took off, IN the restart zone. Lap 318, Too soon Carl. Black Flag. That is all.

   Which brings me to our next bit of controversy coming out of Richmond. The "debris" caution on lap 386. Now I don't want to go all conspiracy theorist on you, but NASCAR has been known to have a problem with "phantom" debris cautions. This is a caution that NASCAR throws, because they claim there is debris somewhere on the racing surface, but NOBODY actually sees this "debris". Some fans say there was a huge piece of metal on the backstretch, Tony Stewart claimed it was a plastic water bottle, and the majority of us didn't see anything at all. The point here is that NASCAR needs to do a better job of telling the TV crew where this "debris" is. Even if its a plastic water bottle, or a ball cap (Texas), and NASCAR has blown the call, we have to know so we don't begin to think NASCAR is trying to manipulate the race at all.

   In closing SHOW US the debris, this will curb the "phantom caution" conspiracy. We can't wonder if we're shown. Smitty OUT

#3WideBlog Opinion: NASCAR Tracks/Schedule, Smitty's View

   To start off this edition of #3WideBlog, I have to be honest with you all, I didn't watch Sundays NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas this weekend. I know, I know, I missed what was dubbed a "great" race by some. But some others thought the race was, again, "boring" or lacking "action. I didn't want to be caught up in this discussion again, so I made the decision to go out with my family instead. Personally I couldn't handle another race on a 1.5 mile track anyway, but I was just glad Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't finally snap that streak and me miss it. In my opinion there needs to be less of these "cookie cutter" tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule and things need to change.

   In the late 90's and early 2000's with the expanding popularity of NASCAR across the United States these 1.5 Mile "cookie cutter" tracks started popping up more and more. The tracks I'm talking about are Las Vegas, Kansas, Kentucky and Chicago. To a lesser extent Atlanta, Texas and Charlotte. Ten of NASCAR's 36 points races are held at these 1.5 mile tracks. This is too much. Four of the Chase races are also held on these tracks, also too much. NASCAR needs some diversity in the tracks it visits.

   Personally I enjoy the "dog leg" style 1.5 ovals of Atlanta, Charlotte and Texas, but there is no need for 5 dates on the schedule dedicated to them. I would never touch Charlottes races they are a part of NASCAR's History (Aside from the All-Star Race, which I feel should travel). Texas and Atlanta though need to be changed. One race, at one track, one year then switch for next year. This would bring us down to 3 "dog leg" track races.

   Then theres the "D-Shaped" 1.5 mile tracks. Of Las Vegas, Kansas, Kentucky, and Chicago. NOT my favourite. These too should be cut to 3 races. I am sorry for the fans of these areas or these types of tracks, but the masses have spoken. I dont care how they change it, or how they switch back and forth but something has to happen because 5 stops at these types of tracks is too much.

    I am a short track fan, So if they took my advice and had 6 races at 1.5 mile tracks instead 10, I would pack those extra openings with different short tracks. I would love to see Sprint Cup series race at Iowa Speedway, a 3/4 mile track with lots of excitement. Or what about any of the 100's of short tracks across the United States. Here's another novel idea, Expand further into Canada!

   Either way, in my opinion, NASCAR needs to do some work on their schedule. Bring in some tracks that are unique, and not like something you already have. Go back to "The Rock", revive North Wilkesboro, Build a new track. Anything but another 1.5 mile track, Please NASCAR? Please?

   Smitty OUT

#3WideBlog Opinion: Was Texas That Bad? My Point of View.

     The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series raced at Texas Motor Speedway this past week. The biggest story being that the field managed to run the final 234 laps under green. At least that's what ended up being the biggest story. 43 Drivers at NASCAR's most elite level should be able to run 234 laps under green more often in my opinion. But all over twitter and social media fans voiced their opinions. "Texas was boring", "Bad race with no restarts", etc. Even in the NASCAR on FOX Television coverage you could hear Larry McReynolds, Mike Joy and Darrell Waltrip almost begging for a caution it seemed, at least referring to it several times throughout the last 50 laps. Is this not what we were climbing up David Reutimann's tail pipe for a couple weeks ago? Causing a late race caution that changed the complexion of the race? I would bet the farm that a late race caution at Texas would have caused a totally different outcome.

     Back in the old days of NASCAR it wasn't uncommon for there to be several cautions. But it also wasn't uncommon for race winners margin of victory to be measured in laps not tenths of a second. The 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington actually holds the record for the widest margin of victory, 14 Laps. Ned Jarrett took the checkered flag 14 laps ahead of Buck Baker. This is also regarded as one of the most wild Southern 500's ever, but regardless there's no race for the win, no contest at all. Richard Petty won one of his many Daytona 500's by 2 laps. Even a late race restart couldn't "fix" that race. This happened many times. If you're a fan of wrecking this is all acceptable, you're not watching the leaders anyway you're watching for a wreck. What about Michigan? Three races held there have had no cautions at all! 1973, 1984, 1999. Were they all terrible races because they had no cautions?

     Texas did have two cautions, yes the record for fewest at that track. The first being our favourite, a "debris" caution. Lap 67 for "debris" in turn 4. This turns out to be a ball cap. Also at lap 93 Trevor Bayne has some bad luck slapping the wall. So you got two restarts. There were two extra chances for 43 of NASCAR's elite drivers to wreck, and imagine that they didn't! Bet their car owners patted them on the back.

     In my opinion races like this past Texas race are the ultimate test. Its the ultimate test of drivers focus at race speed, feeling the forces of the inside of a race car is physically demanding lap after lap. It is the ultimate test of your pit crew, to go through so many cycles of green flag pitstops, getting the job done with no mistakes and not losing track position. It is also the ultimate test of your equipment and set-up. With less cautions to make large set-up changes, you have to get it right early and build on small green flag stop changes. The engine and drivetrain had better be the best its ever been too because with the last 234 laps run under green there's no rest.

     This race had several cars on the lead lap, and a pass for the lead with 30 laps to go. There was great side-by-side racing and action all around the track. No my favourite driver didn't win, and yes a late race caution COULD have made a difference. Kudos to NASCAR for not throwing a phantom "debris" caution to make a great hard fought battle more "interesting"

    If you're looking for more wrecking at NASCAR's elite level, Maybe instead you could turn to your local county fair. Theres a demolition derby coming to one, near you.

Smitty OUT