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We can work it out
Back in the day, competitors never got anything free. You had to earn it. Racing back to the flag was an important part of our sport. Yeah, there were times when it was a little dicey, but it brought people to their feet. When there are cars everywhere, and you've got people racing back to the line to keep somebody a lap down or get a lap back, it was the best part of some races. It's been eliminated, and I understand why. There's always sound reasoning behind every rule, but those rules can take away so many options and other freedoms.
Safety equipment is another area where NASCAR needed to step in. Up until 2002 when NASCAR started to mandate certain safety equipment — gloves, full-face helmets and eventually the HANS Device — it was left up to the competitors. NASCAR allowed whatever made drivers comfortable. As time went by, it became obvious that some drivers were hardheaded and didn't want to take advantage of what was available. In almost every instance when things have gotten out of control or competitors weren't working together, getting along or solving issues on their own, NASCAR has stepped in. As the sport has become safety conscious, the element of danger has almost been eliminated.
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Programs of the week
Sunday, 3/22 on FOX 1:30 pm: Food City 500 This week on SPEED Friday, 3/20 Noon: Cup practice 1:30 pm: N'wide practice 3:00 pm: NASCAR LIVE 3:30 pm: Cup qualifying 4:30 pm: N'wide practice 7:00 pm: Trackside Saturday, 3/21 11:00 am: Cup practice 12:20 pm: Cup practice Sunday, 3/22 11:00 am: NASCAR in a hurry 11:30 am: NASCAR Raceday 8:00 pm: Victory Lane All times ET | ||
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Another example is the testing policy. If there weren't limits, teams would test every day, but it's another freedom that was taken away. Teams should be allowed to spend money any way they desire. It shouldn't be NASCAR's concern how many times you test, where you test or what you test, but the sanctioning body felt differently so they tried to limit testing. They said it was going to save teams money, but it costs more because teams now travel all over the country looking for tracks where there isn't a NASCAR-sanctioned race. How does it save money to go to Iowa, Milwaukee, Kentucky or Lakeland?
The tire-leasing program is even more expensive and ridiculous. Teams can't test with the tires that they will run in races because NASCAR won't let Goodyear sell them. It's one of the most ludicrous things I've ever heard. I don't see how Goodyear can tolerate that policy when teams want to buy tires. It hasn't limited anything. It's just created more expense. My favorite saying is the rule of unintended consequences. When NASCAR makes a rule, every team sits down and says, "OK, here's the rule. How are we going to circumvent it? How do we not let this rule affect what we're going to do?" That's been the way teams have operated ever since the sport was created because it's become NASCAR's job to control things. It's gotten out of hand as they try to control everything.
From the fight with AT&T about sponsors on a car to approving paint jobs, the cars are in the tighest box they've ever been in, particularly the New Car/Car of Tomorrow. The engines are heavily regulated. The shocks are taken apart and checked. Areas where crews looked for an advantage have slowly been taken away. The best inspectors in the garage are the competitors themselves. That's why NASCAR wants everybody to have the same thing. If everybody has the same car, it's pretty easy to walk by and tell that a car is different. One of the methods to the madness is trying to keep everything the same. It makes the cars a lot easier to police and control, but it's an option that's been taken away from teams.
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The name of this story is "We Can Work It Out" because I've been thinking about car numbers in the wake of Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Hendrick Motorsports not coming to an agreement for the No. 8. I bought my first number — No. 17 — from Holman-Moody. They owned it and had the rights to it. If I wanted to use it, I had to work out something with John Holman. So I paid him $5,000, which was a lot of money back in 1975. It's not the first or last time that's happened. We've all gone to the owners, been a little bit rational about it and worked out deals for numbers. If another team has a number, you come to some sort of an agreement. Well, in the case of the No. 8, that's not going to happen. There seemed to be some sort of a problem trying to work things out.
Car numbers may be one area where NASCAR should step in. They ultimately have the right to decide what numbers get used. The No. 3 doesn't belong to Richard Childress or Teresa Earnhardt. If somebody forced the issue, they could make NASCAR give them the No. 3. Nobody has ever forced the issue with the No. 28. In the past, the procedure has always been if you don't use it, you lose it. NASCAR is heavily involved in everything else that they ought to step in and decide what numbers teams get.
As I look back, I wish I had insisted on keeping the No. 17 because that's who I was. That was my identity. When I had to stop driving No. 17 in 1998 and switch to No. 66, it hurt me because I had no identity with the No. 66. It was just a number that K-mart decided to put on their race car to promote a line of clothing. A lot of athletes in other sports feel the same way about their numbers.
If NASCAR wants to control everything else, it might be a good time for them to step in and take control of all numbers. They can make sure that the people using the numbers understand that NASCAR has the ultimate say in which teams can have the numbers and which teams can't. If you're not going to use it, you're going to lose it.
Member Comments
You people should be ashamed of yourselves D W is a Champion and Has Class! He just wants to stay on top of his game and carry the sport to a new level. What have you people done except make stupid comments? He has foresight!
racer2k9/4/2007 22:57:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
What does DW stand for? Dumb Wang! Hes a **** loving,Toyota reject!I hope toyota never wins a race period!And that goes for his brother too.
pgh139/3/2007 7:46:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
What does the S stand for in NASCAR? Ialways thought it meant Stock. These cars are as much stock as Pam Andersons breasts are natural! Why not start a new series like NASCAR was all about. Race it on sunday and go to the dealer and buy it on monday!!!! Please SHOW ME THE STOCK CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
terribleted20069/3/2007 6:57:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I was at the MI race and it was boring as was Bristol. Bristol used to be exciting with all the bumping and hitting but now it is just another track. Nashville has a beautiful new track and they cant have a NASCAR race, this in a town where most of all the old racers got a start. I have been a race fan since I was five years old and the INDY 500 has gone the same way that NASCAR is going. I agree it is up to fans to let the rulers know that we are the ones who finance the races and if we arent there or dont watch on TV there wont be a NASCAR.
bellecruiser9/3/2007 6:25:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I hope the fatcats in the executive suites at NASCAR are readng these comments. I took the time to skim over each one and didn't find one positive comment on the state of NASCAR today. It appears NASCAR is abandoning it's core fans.<br /><br />I would be interesting hearing from the new fans and their thoughts on the "new" NASCAR.
Dunbury9/3/2007 6:19:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
DW You are right but you left out one thing. Broadcast. I guess NASCAR determines who is doing that as well. I hate hearing about going to espn.com and click search word. Let it go ESPN!!! Damn Brent Musburger should stick to football. I have watched ESPN's cast of the sport on Sundays and let me tell you one word can describe the cast MISTAKE. Every week they are saying things that is not true it seems as though the research is not being done. Don?t say anything would be better than saying the wrong thing. I like Rusty have for a long time BUT I?m not sure which is worse his driving or commentary. Oh almost forgot we ESPN we tune in to watch the race not commercials every 5-9 minutes of racing (yes I timed it). FOX should take control of the broadcast and Give us the fuel the Fire and that which we desire!!
9/3/2007 2:48:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
What the heck is going on? I've posted twice on this site but it seems to be frozen. Come on Fox, get it together.
FAN-O-SMOKES208/29/2007 17:10:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey Binks62 - is that the limit of your intellegence? Is the best you can do is B.A.L.L.S and other BS? either post something intellegent or go to a website that other mindless robots go to
MightyQuinn8/29/2007 11:13:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
hey binks62 - is that the limit of your intelligence? type something worthwhile or go to a website that has other low-life comments such as yours
MightyQuinn8/29/2007 11:07:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
NASCAR should have one or two races a year that they throw the rule book out to door! Let the engne builders show their stuff! Let the body builders have so leeway. LET THE GUYS RACE! Keep the safety rules and only do this on short tracks to keep the cars from going to fast, but let them "Ol Moonshiners" get out their and show the fans that they really do know how to drive and not just turn left at the end of the straight-way
MightyQuinn8/29/2007 11:02:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I think that NASCAR sould allow one or two races a year that they toss the rule book out the door! Let the engine builders show their stuff - let the body buiders show their stuff and so on. Let it be on a track that the cars cannot get up to full speed such as Bristol and keep the safety rules intact but let the drivers race! Let the Ol Moonshiners get out there and have some fun! NASCAR has taken the fun out of racing and turned it into a bunch of cars turning left at the corner.
MightyQuinn8/29/2007 10:58:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
hilter would be proud of you wussies, you are taking it in the rear like a wussies man! ha ha
bink628/28/2007 19:38:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
NO! you do as i say American drivers, to bad japaneza rules now. no b.a.l.l.s drivers ha ha ha
bink628/28/2007 19:24:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
First thing that Brian France and NASCAR should do is admit the Car of Tomorrow with its Japanese rice burner wing is todays "EDSEL" and get rid of it. What's happening is 'money talks' and with the COT, Toyota now can use the same car as Ford, GM, and Chrysler uses. And Toyota doesn't even have a V-8 in a passenger car. What should be done is to get rid of the COT, let crew chiefs have more slack to tinker with the cars, and every aspect of a race team shouldn't be micro-manaqed.
jrog02058/28/2007 18:07:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
the old real nascar drivers with B.A.L.L.S HAVE ALL DIED the ones today and the retired vet s have been snipped little little wussies little little wussies little littel wussies. welcome to the B.A.L.L.S drivers and the vet driver league........
bink628/28/2007 17:05:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
after all the real drivers have already died one said the point system killed nascar years ago! he was true!
bink628/28/2007 17:02:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
nastycar makes being a crime boss a good thing
bink628/28/2007 17:01:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
WHAT EVER HAPPINED TO HE WITH THE MOST MONEY WINS IF NASCAR HAD THEIR WAY NOONE COULD WIN CONSISTANTLY WHICH SUCKS WE ALL LOVE TO SEE OUR DRIVER WIN ITS THE POLITICAL CORRECT THING HAPPENING WHERE NOONE CAN BE A LOOSER ANYMORE WE HAVE TO MAKE THINGS SO EVERY ONE WINS AND THAT JUST SUCKS I WANT TO CHEER MY DRIVER ON EVERY RACE SINCE THEY MAKE IT SO NOONE CAN EXPIERMENT ON THEIR CARS TRYING TO GET THAT EXTRA HORSE POWER OR BETTER HANDLING WE MAY AS WELL JUST RACE CARS STRAIGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR CAUSE OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR THEY WILL DO 150 THAT WILL LOOK AS GOOD ON TV AS 200 AND WILL BE ALOT CHEAPER ON THE OWNERS AND ALOT LESS WORK ON THE SHOPS TOO <br />I THINK IT SU CKS LET THE GUYS TRY THINGS TO GIVE THEIR DRIVERS AN ADVANTAGE LET THEM BE GOOD OL BOYS AGAIN RANTHER THAN HAVING TO BE SO D A M N POLITICALLY CORRECT
JB021719658/28/2007 16:44:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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