NASCAR has found well-rounded success in the most unlikely of places - a ROAD COURSE. This weekends Cup race at Watkins Glen was everything a race should be. You had the close racing NASCAR and its fans prefer, many "quality passes" (in this case, they were TRULY quality passes), and as much drama as I can remember in an auto race.
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Just the sequence in the last 20 laps with Stewart, Hamlin, and Edwards deliberately taking their cars across the grass in a complex series of turns in order to preserve their side by side positions was absolutely INCREDIBLE. That was racing in the old world meaning of the word. The 'shiners would have been most proud.
On top of that, the track was clearly a significant challenge to drive. The best drivers in NASCAR (some of the best drivers in the world) had trouble negotiating the course at speed without losing control of their massively heavy machines - both Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon totally lost control while leading the race. And you had strong road racers trying to bring their substandard rides up through the field, and largely succeeding (Fellows and Gordon), including an incredible sequence where Robby Gordon GAVE WAY to the faster Ron Fellows - probation clearly has produced its intended result. Both of these great road racers were spectacular, gaining nearly 20 positions (well, Gordon did this twice) during the race.
Of course, you had the Montoya vs. Harvick drama which, accentuated by a long red flag period to clean up the fluids left on the track after their wreck, added even more emotion to an already intense race. As funny as it was to see two guys in giant helmets, colorful driving shoes, and funny looking jumpsuits pushing, slapping, and dancing with one another, it definitely added another dimension to the event. Would the young bully engage the less-than-svelte former CART champion and Monaco G.P. winner in a one round full blown street fight? Thankfully, we were spared that excitement. Save something for the next race, I always say ...
And then, the most unlikely drama of all: while leading with just two laps to go, NASCAR's finest driver spins out with a sure victory in his sights. Jeff Gordon will see that one in his sleep for a few weeks. Such an event would NEVER have happened on the relatively easy to navigate, repetitive oval courses they typically run, but a complex road course - another story altogether. Amazing stuff! Absolutely GREAT racing.
I would LOVE to see a road race added to The Chase (as already mentioned in these blogs by other contributors). The best racing so far this year has occurred on road courses, and as Tez has already pointed out, the road courses have let the truly superior drivers separate themselves from the pack (vs. the randomization that seems to occur on the ovals, particularly the restrictor plate tracks).
As you get more and more drivers becoming accustomed to driving on road courses, these races will get better and better. It's hard to imagine how much better a race could be than this weekends race at The Glen, but I'm betting we'll see it happen over the coming years. Great stuff NASCAR!
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