n I
did enjoy the format, Mike. But unfortuately, NASCAR can’t force someone to race
hard if he doesn't want to. I understand why Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and
Brad Keselowski hung back the way they did; to save their equipment and tires and give themselves the best chance to
win that $1 million first prize. But understanding it doesn’t mean I have to
like it. My main concern is not for Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing
or Penske Racing. I’m concerned about the fans that laid down their hard-earned
dollars to see the 48, 17 and 2 cars race all-out, all night Saturday. If I
have a beef, it’s with those who elected to give less than 100% Saturday, not
with the format of the race.
n Charles, were
you still cutting the grass when Jamie McMurray came from the back of the
Showdown all the way to second place, only to lose the final transfer spot on
the backstretch of last lap? Were you raiding the refrigerator when AJ
Allmendinger slashed his way from dead-last to second place in the Showdown, taking the final transfer spot from
McMurray with a “checkers or wreckers” move on the backstretch of the final
lap? Were you in the bathroom when Jimmie Johnson stormed from sixth to first in a
handful of laps to win the opening segment of the All-Star Race? Had you nodded
off by the time Allmendinger and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., stormed from the back of
the All-Star field to contend for the win? If so, you must have also missed
Kasey Kahne and Brad Keselowski hammering away at each other, side-by-side for
five uninterrupted laps, along with at least three four-wide battles
through the corners and some amazing strategic twists along the way.
Sounds like someone was watching one car,
not a race. – Robert (via Twitter)
They paraded around for 3 segs, Kenseth
spun his tires and the #5timecheater
got away. That's not exciting, it’s a waste of time. –Brandon (via Twitter)
Hey Dave, will this count as a win for
the 88 bunch, or does it have to be a points paying race? – Dave (via Twitter)
n
Since the Sprint Showdown is a non-points
event, Saturday night’s victory does not bring our long national nightmare to
an end. In terms of morale, the importance of that checkered flag cannot be
overstated.
I didn't like the segment leaders hanging
back. How about we seed them by laps led, instead of the order they won? –
Robert (via Twitter)
n I’m
guessing she would have LOVED Dick Trickle!!
What's more interesting about Days of
Thunder; how much the tracks have grown, or the fact that Harry Gant still
looks the same? – EJ (via Twitter)
n Those
are both pretty amazing, EJ. Let’s call it a push!
Love Robert's idea of seeding the shootout by laps led. How 'bout we do away with the segments and just let'm run for 80 or 90 laps followed by the ten lap shootout?
ReplyDeleteGlad I could provide a problem with a solution.
ReplyDeleteRobert For President!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Moody, that having only one driver to watch, and living and dying by how that one driver does, must make this a horrible sport to be a fan of. There was some serious racin' going on Saturday!
Sorry, but I gotta disagree. When you watch your favorite sport, most people cannot be objective enough to separate wins or loses from the quality of the action at the event. If your team wins, it was a great game, but if they lose, it was a lousy. The same applies to racing. It's hard to root for everyone.
DeleteI respect your opinion. I find that I am as pumped up after a race that was hard fought and ends with a great battle, as I used to be when Dale Sr. won. I have drivers I pull for, and others I don't like. I use the race to the checkers a few weeks ago between Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin as an example. Don't particularly care for either one of them, but it was a helluva race. If its a dull race its a dull race. I just feel sorry for the fans that don't get the full enjoyment from the sport, instead choosing to tune out after lap 2 because their guy had some bad luck.
DeleteI'm suprised there wern't any 'Four More Years' signs from the non-Junior Nation fans.
ReplyDeleteDoug from NJ
It was not what i was looking for. Feel sorry for those who PAID to go. Nascar has issues.
ReplyDeleteMandate a 4 tire stop before the last segment so that way it's not as big of a facade.
ReplyDeleteThere was racing at times Moody, but can you really argue that the last segment in itself was anti-climatic at best? Jimmie drove off and left the field while everyone else went single file. Not saying I wanted to see wrecks, just saying we aren't seeing all that much side by side happening on it's own.
Perhaps the 48 was just THAT much better. I just did not like that if you didn't win a segment, you virtually had NO chance to win. Allmendinger said as much on his radio which is why they took 4 tires at the end. They were screwed either way.
I would like to see an intermission between segments 2 and 3 next year personally. Give some teams some time to make some serious adjustments if they have to so that we are giving the FANS a worthwhile side-by-side show.