Does NASCAR Needs A Drug Program 

 

I read a blog the other day that promoted removing the restrictor plate so the cars would run at 210-220 mph or higher.   As I read the responses as to why it would be a good or bad move by NASCAR, I began to ask myself what additional reasons would make this a bad idea.    One reason really shook my bones …. drug abuse.

Major League Baseball (MLB) really made a mess of their drug program.   Instead of helping the sport as intended, it damaged it severely.   They would have been better off doing nothing rather having to deal with the total disaster they created for themselves.   Unfortunately, in today’s highly paid multi-sports arena, there are individuals who will do anything to make it to the top and stay there.  Based on what we’ve recently seen, I believe that is a fair statement.

NASCAR promotes its teams and drivers as athletes and rightfully so, therefore, we must conclude it is a sport.    That said, does NASCAR need a drug program?    My guess is, the idea of a drug program would be much like the Car Of Tomorrow, you either love it or you hate it?   Nonetheless, it is worth considering and exploring.  

Implementing a flawed drug program as MLB did would be counter-productive with devastating effects.    But, a proactive, well-defined and precisely managed program would be a great initiative, thus producing overwhelmingly successful results.  

To achieve overwhelmingly successful results, NASCAR would need to present their program to the participants and public and then go off the radar screen.  Meaning, testing results, punishments (well defined in their policy) and other actions should be kept out of the media.  Basically, family business stays in the family.   If a driver or team member doesn’t show up at the track or for work for 10 races, the response for the reason why could simply be “a rules infraction”.

Who would be tested?   Considering the dangerous nature of this sport and drugs themselves, everyone involved in building the car (engines included), servicing the car on pit road and the driver.  I would also include all NASCAR staff working on pit road, the track and the flag stand.  

Frequency of test?  Random and unannounced would be a must.   The frequency would be best determined scientifically based on how long the drugs stay in the body (standards are out there).   I imagine testing twice, possibly three times a season would keep those individuals honest that are tempted to use the stuff.

Times have changed and unfortunately, drugs are a part of mainstream America.    This statement applies to dangerous addictive drugs as well as performance enhancing drugs.    It is almost impossible to believe they have not found their way into the NASCAR garages (home and track).    In this case, the days of “if you don’t want the answer, don’t ask the question” are gone.  

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, clearly defines the term proactive!   With no history of even suspected drug abuse, last year the PGA and LPGA implemented a self-imposed drug program in an effort to internally police themselves.   Their policies are clearly defined, do not play favorites and have no grey areas.

Considering the importance of safety for so many people and the amount of money involved, NASCAR, sponsors at all levels and team owners should welcome the implementation of a drug program.  

A NASCAR Drug Program is inevitable; it is just a matter of when and the circumstances that finally bring it about!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity - take me out to the ball game boys... and that's the way it was. 

I have been a strong advocate of FOX Sports and their NASCAR race coverage, but they crossed the line last night.  Baseball is okay, but I gave it up years ago because of strikes, drugs and bad personalities.  That aside, baseball was not what I set my evening aside to watch.

So what can we as fans do about it,  can't shoot them!  One answer is for each fan to create a Blog explaining their disgust.    Responding to someone else's blog won't do it.  Stand up, be counted, turn the heat up enough and they'll get the message.

It will be interesting to see how Fox spins this the next couple of days!  

P.S.  -  I wonder if Fox offered NASCAR $$$$$ to delay the race broadcast.  That too, would be interesting to find out.  NASCAR can't resist making a buck anymore than a mouse can resist peanut butter on a trap! 

The boy sure can drive.... we certainly hear that often enough!  But he has one major problem ... his brain seizes-up to like an engine without oil at least once or twice every race.  Sometimes he drives with the intelligence of a well-seasoned and mature driver, but there are other times like the last lap yesterday that he pulls some real bone-head stunts.  He leaves the impression he left his brain in the hauler when he put his helmet on.   For those comparing him to Earnhardt, not quite yet ... he has a very long way to go to earn that station in life.  

It's sort of like the StarKist tuna commercial with "Charlie" the Tuna:  They don't want a tuna that "looks good", they want a tune that "taste good".  Same thing applies to Wildman Kyle, we want a driver that "consistantly" drives an intelligent race, not a driver who periodically suffers from "brain farts and lapses.

Good question.   How will the track at Martinsville and the COT get along?   Will the crews be able to set up the COT to effectively handle the unique demands of Martinsville and will their efforts result in great racing?  

Martinsville is a half-mile track with 12 degree banking in the turns and zero degree banking down the front and back straight-aways.   Unlike Bristol and Dover, it is not solely a concrete surface.  The straight-aways are asphalt and the turns are concrete.  It is generally a one-groove track until later in the race and that usually depends on the amount of rubber laid down.  

Brakes, brakes, brakes.  Ride them too hard and without a feathered touch and you won’t have any near the end of the race.  To be competitive, the drivers must hit them hard going into the turns, this equates to about 1,000 times per race.  How creative will NASCAR allow the teams to be when it comes to brake fans, blowers and ductwork?  This should be interesting to watch unfold.  

Early in the race until some rubber is laid down, the second groove, every place on the track, will be for slipping and sliding only.  Whoever goes or gets caught out there can easily loose 5-30 positions at one time.  

The COT and the tire love/hate relationship should get a workout this weekend.  Set up, tires, drivers approach to attacking the track … this could really be fun.  

The driver that wins will be the driver that hit his marks most consistently throughout the race and has Lady Luck on his side.  He will have to brake hard going into the turns, then be a smooth as silk rolling through the middle and coming off.   .... and of course, not get bumped in the left rear quarter panel on the last lap and get knocked out of the lead.

The pits always make life interesting for the drivers because they encircle nearly the entire track.  There will be as much action on pit road as there will be in the pits.  I hope we don’t miss too much while they are taking commercial breaks.  

And lest we forget, the bumping and ####ing that has always made Martinsville exciting.   Ten laps into the race and the leader will begin pressing the back markers and put them a lap down and so it will go throughout the race.  The leader will have to fight his way past every back marker; it won’t be a walk in the park.  Thus, the bumping and ####ing begins.    But then, it will really begin with the drop of the Green Flag.  

Martinsville and the COT will most likely bring out the best and worse of each other.  I’m anxious to sit back and watch it all play out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you ever wonder, really wonder, why NASCAR takes the weekend off every Easter?  After careful consideration and some heavy-duty research, I came up with some possible reasons why NASCAR takes Easter weekend off.  

Some say it is because everyone is tired and needs a break after such a grueling start to the season each year.  Two of the most popular reasons are:  so everyone can spend quality time with their family and friends and/or to give everyone an opportunity to worship and give thanks during, this, the holiest of weekends.  

Every year, some more so than others, NASCAR finds itself in the middle of some kind of controversy because of decisions or rulings it made.   Like everyone else, they are tired and those decisions or rulings have taken their toll on them through the weeks and months leading up to Easter weekend.   

Realizing the obvious and In keeping with the tradition of the Easter Bunny,   Easter weekend was the perfect opportunity to acknowledge they had laid an egg.  

Happy Easter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As each race unfolds, the controversies within NASCAR continue to grow leaving many of us to wonder how much more bizarre can it get?  Every week it’s something new, it’s never boring, but what’s next?

Next week the headlines may read:  

Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon have been redesignated as "over-the-hill" and Rick Hendrick gave Dale Jr the team's "Golden Crown".   Dale Jr says that isn't so and that he's in an awkward position because his equipment is no different and he and Tony Eury Jr face the same weekly problems as his team members.   When asked what he thought about this development, Mike Helton said,  you can't always be on top and besides, we all get old and slow down.

Straight from Hollywood:   Tony Stewart was notified on Saturday that he earned and will be presented the coveted "Oscar"  for his performance following the Atlanta race.  The award category he won is:  Best Performance in Drama.   The Ocsar Committee was quick to point out that this will most likely be the first of many awards.   NASCAR is unhappy with his selection and the associated notoriety that comes with it, but will take no action.

Crew chiefs are working feverishly to find the balance at Bristol since the cars will run on their rims instead of tires.  NASCAR issued Goodyear a six-race suspension for providing tires that were too hard and undrivable.  The COT, of course, was still lauded as the greatest innovation since "sliced cake" and no action was taken to address it's engineering flaws causing the tire dilema.

 A vendor at a beer tub failed to fill a cup up completely.   The vendor violated the rules by failing to remove the suds from the top of the cup, thus not toping it off fully.  Even tough the vendor stated she was unaware of the NASCAR Rule Book; she was fined 100 beer cups and is required to use a straight edge to remove the suds before handing the cup to the customer.

Eleven drivers that move the motor coaches for the drivers to and from the tracks each week were informed they violated the NASCAR Rule Book for improper valve stem placement when parking their coaches.   The rule is very specific; the valve stem must be centered on the bottom of the wheel when parked.   The fine is pending NASCAR’s ruling next Tuesday, but it is expected that NASCAR will take away their in-coach potty privileges for six races.  

The “Cat in the Hat” has another date with NASCAR’s rules committee for a brim infraction.   You read it right, a brim violation.   In his pit box during the race on Sunday, for some reason, he turned the brim on the front of his hat up.  If found cheating for this flagrant offense; the penalty would require him to wear a baseball cap for six races.   In addition, he would have to donate his favorite hat to the Goodwill.  

Smoke was penalized and sent to the garage for trying to qualify with 60-inch mud tires.  When asked why he made such a severe change he said, more rubber!   Fine is pending (NASCAR is behind closed doors urgently writing a new paragraph in the rule book to cover this).   

All teams in the Hendricks garage were found to have unauthorized tools in their rolling tool boxes.   NASCAR said the rules, again, are very specific; you cannot have any tools that are not sponsor affiliated with NASCAR.  This fine could be close to terminal.  The rule book states all tools will be suspended and locked up for six races.  

Gerrel Says-   Do you think there could be any fines issued for the track personal during the races for failing to maintain a sufficient supply of toilet tissue,soap & paper towels, in the women's restrooms?   The thought of possible penalties is painful.

Newmanfan12 Says-   I am just surprised that Newman did not get a penatly for "smoking" after his Daytona Win!!!! We all saw the "smoke" rolling out of his windows!!! We know it is in the NASCAR Invisable rulebook no smoking in the cars!   They may make him install a smoke detector attached to an automatic fire extinguisher.  

Absurd?  You bet!   Just wanted to have some fun and lighten things up a little.  

The United NASCAR Driver’s Union of America (UNDU) announced the standards by which the drivers will conduct their business with NASCAR in the future.  Their formal and written declaration released today came as no surprise to some, but shocked many fans across the nation.  The list is rather lengthy, so I have limited those in this post to the issues that will have the most impact in the days, months and years ahead.

1.  Driver introductions prior to a race will be restricted to them walking on a stage and waving.  Riding around in convertibles will no longer be allowed on a “free gratis” basis.  Driver fees for such action must be negotiated a minimum of 30 days in advance and the fees must be paid in cash no less than three hours after the race.  

2.  Embroidered or sewn on sponsor logo’s on the drivers uniform will be limited to a maximum of five.  This is necessary to ensure more meaningful compensation by each sponsor.   NASCAR’s long-standing attitude of “more is better” is not in the best interest of the driver and is no longer acceptable.  

3.   As in Formula One, no driver is to stand outside his car roasting in the sun just prior to a race without an umbrella.  When a driver leaves his motor coach, trailer or hauler, it is his team’s responsibility to provide someone to walk along side the driver with an umbrella covering him from the sun.  

4.  To ensure pit stop safety, no position changes will be allowed upon return to the track.  The position you maintained at the time of the caution will be your restart position following pit stops. It will eliminate the possibility of loose lug nuts, significantly improve pit crew safety and do away with “speeding on pit road” penalties.  

5.   The “Lucky Dog” will apply to the most recent five cars one lap down instead of just one.  Drivers should not suffer a point’s penalty because they were caught up in a bad situation.   

6.   Drivers are not to sit in their cars under Red Flag conditions for more than five minutes.  In situations requiring more than five minutes, the drivers are to get out of their cars and go to a break area funded and set up by NASCAR.  It should be located immediately behind the pit wall.   A minimum of 30 minutes will be allowed when this occurs.  

7.   Royalties are to be paid for commercial announcements that will be made by the drivers during the race.  This is necessary since the world is listening in to the driver’s radio communication with his crew chief and spotter.  

8.   Drivers will not give interviews as soon as they get out their cars immediately following the race.  A minimum of 30 minutes is required to allow them time to take a shower, change uniforms and to cool off following potentially aggravating racing with another driver on the track.  

9.   Goodyear is to provide four different tires at each race.  This will ensure adequate compound options for the drivers.  

10.  Infractions identified during pre and post race inspection are to be arbitrated by a panel of drivers, crew chiefs and team owners.  Their findings and recommended action, if any, will override NASCAR.  

11.  Strikes are an option for collective bargaining.   Before a strike can go into effect, 33.3% of its members must approve.    

12.  The most popular drivers are to given preferential treatment upon arrival at the track, in the pits and on the race track.  They must be given every opportunity to be successful.  Those that aren’t must try harder.  

NASCAR really is changing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Give me a break!   Goodyear brings a softer tire to Bristol to shut the whining Smoke up and he reluctantly meets with them and approves.  He is still blinded by the "smoke" on the interstate and can't see the obvious ... the COT chews up softer tires like a guy wiping out hot dogs in a wein-er eating contest. 

Before you judge my comments too harshly, wait until after the race when the proof will either be in the pudding or not.   If there are a number of tire wear issues and their associated consequences, then we will know for sure.  So far, there has been no middle ground when it comes to the COT and tires; either they are soft and wear excessively or they are hard and slip and slide.  We'll see!.

As for Tony, give it a rest.  Focus on driving and winning.  That's what it is supposed to be all about.

Gentleman, start your engines.  This is the one phrase all NASCAR fans look forward to hearing each week, but does it invoke the same excitement it once did, say last year or pre-COT?  Racing is changing and how far the changes will go depends on NASCAR.  

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!  That phrase says it all when it comes to NASCAR and their position on the COT.   Their position:  This is the car you’ll race and it isn’t to be tampered with in any way.  They developed this car to improve safety, to balance the playing field and reduce costs for the teams.  Of those three objectives, only one has been achieved … the car has improved safety for the drivers as was clearly demonstrated with Jeff Gordon’s violent head on crash at Las Vegas.  

Goodyear has taken a beating the last couple of weeks through no fault of their own because of the harder compound tires they’ve provided.   In their defense, they did not have a choice.   The COT chews up softer tires as fast as the pit crews can put them on.  Reason:  the COT was introduced prematurely and should not have been designated as the only car to be run until it had been thoroughly tested and the balance, handling and set up bugs were completely worked out, even if it took two years.  After 16 races last season, NASCAR knew it had major problems with the car but placed the “corrective action” burden squarely on the shoulders of the teams and drivers.  In short, NASCAR gave them a partially developed car and told them to:  Make it work!     

The drivers are frustrated because they want to race the way they always have, but the COT will not allow it.  Tony Stewart is so thoroughly irritated and put out that he can't see the forest for the trees.   As a result, he is lashing out at Goodyear and their tires instead of the car.   Scary, but based on these observations, the very fabric of the sport may be unraveling and beginning to erode from the inside out, all because of the COT.

We are four races into the season and nothing has changed.  It is a monster to drive, a nightmare to set up and it has not provided the close exciting racing NASCAR promised.   Yet, NASCAR continues to stick to its guns and will not allow any changes to the car.  Larry McReynolds and DW have repeatedly made comments such as: “It is what it is” and “we’ve got what we’ve got”.   Hearing this time and again is getting very old, if not annoying, and quite frankly … that dog won’t hunt.  

Bristol will test the COT differently than anything we’ve seen so far this season.  Bristol is a half-mile track with 36 degree banking.  Harder tires will slip and slide like crazy and softer tires will blow continually.  I have always loved Bristol because of its side-by-side close action racing.   As was the case with the COT at Bristol last year, we may see a completely different and boring race.   That would be a shame.  The fans, the drivers and the track owner deserve better,  what a pity!

Let’s not wait until someone gets seriously injured or a whole lot more expensive metal gets wadded up before aggressive and meaningful corrective actions are taken.  NASCAR is in denial or stubborn, or both.   They have, in fact, fallen prey to the terrible trap known as "Pride in Ownership" and will not budge an inch.   If no action is taken and NASCAR continues on its present course, the Nationwide Series is where we’ll find the competitive racing we’ve come to know and enjoy.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NASCAR is a powerful sport with powerful competitors, why then, is it being reduced to the status of a cheap whiners sitcom?  

Drivers, crew chiefs and team owners are indeed powerful personalities in NASCAR and when they speak, people listen.   What they say, good or bad, is believed by tens of thousands of fans.   Unfortunately, some fans are more NASCAR enlightened than others and believe every word spoken.  Variety is the ####e of life and that is certainly true of the driver’s lined up on the starting grid each race.    Personalities are as varied as the colors on the cars they drive.   That’s what makes the sport so great.   Sometimes I get the feeling though, some fans do not realize anything goes on except for the race itself.  In the scheme of things, the race represents only one aspect of the NASCAR racing adventure.  The drivers, on and off the track, add significantly to the NASCAR mystic.  

Letting the boys be boys is a good thing as long as it is not to the detriment of the sport.   You have gentleman racers like Mark Martin and Jeff Burton (to mention a few) who react calmly, always calculating their responses and behavior.  Then there are the ranters and whiners who loose their cool.   In those instances, I would classify that behavior as nothing more than a sore looser and won’t accept the fact it is part of racing.   That behavior is not what letting boys by boys is all about.  That’s whining!  

There are situations when a loss of composure is understandable, but they have proven to be few and far between.  A loss of composure is still controlled behavior to a point and not in the category of ranting or whining.

Drivers who make it to the Cup level are professionals in every sense of the word and should conduct themselves accordingly.  To gripe is acceptable and healthy and adds color, ranting and whining demeans the driver and his team and does no good for the sport.   Fortunately, we only have a few ranters and whiners!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As each race unfolds, the controversies within NASCAR continue to grow leaving many of us to wonder how much more bizarre can it get?  Every week it’s something new, it’s never boring, but what’s next?

Next week the headlines may read:  

Crew chiefs are working feverishly to find the balance at Bristol since the cars will run on their rims instead of tires.  NASCAR issued Goodyear a six-race suspension for providing tires that were too hard and undrivable.  The COT, of course, was still lauded as the greatest innovation since "sliced cake" and no action was taken to address it's engineering flaws causing the tire dilema.

 A vendor at a beer tub failed to fill a cup up completely.   The vendor violated the rules by failing to remove the suds from the top of the cup, thus not toping it off fully.  Even tough the vendor stated she was unaware of the NASCAR Rule Book; she was fined 100 beer cups and is required to use a straight edge to remove the suds before handing the cup to the customer.

Eleven drivers that move the motor coaches for the drivers to and from the tracks each week were informed they violated the NASCAR Rule Book for improper valve stem placement when parking their coaches.   The rule is very specific; the valve stem must be centered on the bottom of the wheel when parked.   The fine is pending NASCAR’s ruling next Tuesday, but it is expected that NASCAR will take away their in-coach potty privileges for six races.  

The “Cat in the Hat” has another date with NASCAR’s rules committee for a brim infraction.   You read it right, a brim violation.   In his pit box during the race on Sunday, for some reason, he turned the brim on the front of his hat up.  If found cheating for this flagrant offense; the penalty would require him to wear a baseball cap for six races.   In addition, he would have to donate his favorite hat to the Goodwill.  

Smoke was penalized and sent to the garage for trying to qualify with 60-inch mud tires.  When asked why he made such a severe change he said, more rubber!   Fine is pending (NASCAR is behind closed doors urgently writing a new paragraph in the rule book to cover this).   

All teams in the Hendricks garage were found to have unauthorized tools in their rolling tool boxes.   NASCAR said the rules, again, are very specific; you cannot have any tools that are not sponsor affiliated with NASCAR.  This fine could be close to terminal.  The rule book states all tools will be suspended and locked up for six races.  

Gerrel Says-   Do you think there could be any fines issued for the track personal during the races for failing to maintain a sufficient supply of toilet tissue,soap & paper towels, in the women's restrooms?   The thought of possible penalties is painful.

Newmanfan12 Says-   I am just surprised that Newman did not get a penatly for "smoking" after his Daytona Win!!!! We all saw the "smoke" rolling out of his windows!!! We know it is in the NASCAR Invisable rulebook no smoking in the cars!   They may make him install a smoke detector attached to an automatic fire extinguisher.  

Absurd?  You bet!   Just wanted to have some fun and lighten things up a little.  

 

 

 

Fines have been given for loose oil reserve caps and plates, teams have been spanked and NASCAR hollers "unfair advantage", but in their stubbornness, are they overlooking something really beneficial and important?   NASCAR says loose caps and plates cause down force giving the violator an unfair advantage over their competitors.  Really?

Well, the COT doesn't have a lot of down force compared to the car of yesterday and has been one of the biggest driver complaints.  NASCAR should use this finding to their advantage by allowing a small air flow opening in that immediate area to provide added down force.  Makes sense. 

The COT is broken and no amount of fines, suspensions or points revocation will fix it and it's time NASCAR admits it!

Many of you are much more technically savvy than I am and I would appreciate any feedback regarding this proposal.

 

This is a re-hash of last weeks blog because with all the tire hype following Atlanta, some drivers and fans are missing the mark.  Goodyear wouldn't be using a harder compound tire if the COT was a "stable platform" to race from.  Excerpts of last weeks blog as follows -

 

Before the season began, the topics of concern revolved around the COT and how it would run.  Given the COT's 16-race history last year, tire problems caused many accidents and were signs of what was to come this year.

 

The “Car of Today” may well end up being referred to as the “Car of Turmoil” tomorrow.  It is proving to be an  handling temperamental beast that only a few teams have figured out.  Set up, bump stops, rear springs; front shocks and load balance appear to be equal contributors to its quirky handling nature.   Does Goodyear stand a chance going up against such an unruly monster? 

 

Hooter's slogan is: "More Than a Mouth Full.   Following each race so far, the drivers slogan is:  It's More Than a Hand Full.

 

The COT is the problem, I'm not sure any tire will work until NASCAR gets the message and makes some of the many changes recommended by the team engineers.  We want a safe drivable car and right now we don't have it!

Where the rubber meets the road speaks volumes, especially when it comes to the tires being mounted on the cars.   Is it the car or is it the tire or, is it a combination of both?    After taking a look at the cut-away car on Fox last week and seeing how far out the camber is on the right front leaves no doubt why the tires are blowing.   Too much camber will cause excessive and rapid wear, right down to the cords.  Load and balance also play an equally important role in tire wear because way to much pressure is put on the right front.   NASCAR also has a hand in this because they told Goodyear to provide a harder compound tire because, as evidenced last year, the COT chews them up so badly.  The COT eats up softer tires so fast you would think they were in a "burn out" contest.   A harder compound tire equals slip and slide, no grip.   That is a recipe for disaster.  As we’ve seen.

The Fox commentators said there is 3/16 inch of rubber on the tread portion of the tire.  Why not go to a softer compound with 1/2 inch of rubber.  By doing so, it would stick better and have longer durability.  Goodyear can not be happy about the bad press and heat they are taking.

The splitter is also causing accidents to be more damaging than is necessary because they are not flexible and do not give when a tires goes down, thus causing loss of control (very little or no steering capability).    The banking at Atlanta is 24 degrees, four more than Las Vegas.  How much impact will it have on the splitter and set up and how will it affect the overall race?  Bottom Line:   I believe the splitter  ("trash grabber") needs to be reworked, maybe the entire front nose.

The tracks at Fontana and Las Vegas were not ready to be raced on and I blame NASCAR for that.  Weeping water at Fontana was inexcusable and NASCAR allowing them to run on an unsafe track, unforgivable.  It may be expensive installing safer barriers on all walls but then, how much is a life worth?  NASCAR needs to get to work!   Atlanta had no track-related problems and was ready.

What will we see at Bristol's short track?   Good safe competitive racing or will this trend continue to gain momentum?

I’ve been reading a lot of comments regarding Fox Sports coverage of the races and agree with some of the frustrations.   Most downside issues involve the frequency and timing of commercials.   Commercials pay the bills and make race coverage possible, therefore; they are necessary evils and the price we must pay to watch.  That said, there is one technical option available Fox could use to improve their coverage and make the fans happier.

  

Fox could introduce Picture-in-Picture (PIP) coverage of the race when they take commercial breaks.    It pains me greatly to give ABC’s marginally acceptable race coverage any positive feedback, but they did use the PIP last year when they went to commercial breaks.   By doing so, it allowed us to continue watching the race while the commercials were running.  Granted, the picture covering the race was roughly one-quarter size of the normal viewing screen, but it was still viewable, especially on my 42” flat screen.  

Murphy’s Law impacts everything and is everywhere.   When it comes to NASCAR race coverage it doesn’t show any favoritism.  The race is running full bore when they go to break and when they come back, lo and behold, the race is under caution.   How many times have we witnessed this?  

There are instances when I really look forward to commercials, when I run out of beer, snacks or have to make a mad dash to the restroom.  I’m sure you’ve all been there and done that.  But, during the course of the race those times are infrequent and I’m left to channel surf trying to time my return of the race so I don’t miss anything.  That turns out to be a negative for Fox and the sponsors paying for the commercial time.  

One option I tried years ago when ESPN was covering NASCAR was to tune in to MRN radio and turn the volume down on the TV, but that didn’t work so well either.

In no way do my comments imply I’m not happy with Fox Sports coverage of NASCAR, quite the contrary, I wish NASCAR would contract them to cover all the races.   Their coverage has been great! 

The addition of the PIP would, however, take their coverage to the next level and I would welcome it with open arms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As each day unfolds, the controversies within NASCAR continue to grow leaving many of us to wonder when it will end.  Every week it’s something new, it’s never boring, but what’s next?

Next week the headlines may read:  

A vendor at a beer tub failed to fill a cup up completely.   The vendor violated the rules by failing to remove the suds from the top of the cup, thus not toping it off fully.  Even tough the vendor stated she was unaware of the NASCAR Rule Book; she was fined 100 beer cups and is required to use a straight edge to remove the suds before handing the cup to the customer.

Eleven drivers that move the motor coaches for the drivers to and from the tracks each week were informed they violated the NASCAR Rule Book for improper valve stem placement when parking their coaches.   The rule is very specific; the valve stem must be centered on the bottom of the wheel when parked.   The fine is pending NASCAR’s ruling next Tuesday, but it is expected that NASCAR will take away their in-coach potty privileges for six races.  

The “Cat in the Hat” has another date with NASCAR’s rules committee for a brim infraction.   You read it right, a brim violation.   In his pit box during the race on Sunday, for some reason, he turned the brim on the front of his hat up.  If found cheating for this flagrant offense; the penalty would require him to wear a baseball cap for six races.   In addition, he would have to donate his favorite hat to the Goodwill.  

Smoke was penalized and sent to the garage for trying to qualify with 60-inch mud tires.  When asked why he made such a severe change he said, more rubber!   Fine is pending (NASCAR is behind closed doors urgently writing a new paragraph in the rule book to cover this).   

All teams in the Hendricks garage were found to have unauthorized tools in their rolling tool boxes.   NASCAR said the rules, again, are very specific; you cannot have any tools that are not sponsor affiliated with NASCAR.  This fine could be close to terminal.  The rule book states all tools will be suspended and locked up for six races.  

Gerrel Says-   Do you think there could be any fines issued for the track personal during the races for failing to maintain a sufficient supply of toilet tissue,soap & paper towels, in the women's restrooms?   The thought of possible penalties is painful.

Newmanfan12 Says-   I am just surprised that Newman did not get a penatly for "smoking" after his Daytona Win!!!! We all saw the "smoke" rolling out of his windows!!! We know it is in the NASCAR Invisable rulebook no smoking in the cars!   They may make him install a smoke detector attached to an automatic fire extinguisher.  

Absurd?  You bet!   Just wanted to have some fun and lighten things up a little.