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.
Hawg, I could not have said it any better myself. It's like you are reading my mind or something. The COT is an absolute wrecking ball. And I truly don't think that the tires were the only reason these cars were out of control at Atlanta. They are just too hard to set up. I too am getting sick and tired of DW and Larry making there ridiculous comments.
Caper- Thanks for the positive comments. Sometimes I feel I'm the only one taking this position. Let's hope they make some meaningful changes in the very near furute.
Hawq,
You know I totally respect your knowledge and opinions but I disagree with you on this topic. First, I remember too many races at Bristol with the old car where it was a single file parade and the only way to pass was to drive into the car ahead of you to move it out of the way so I think it is inaccurate to say the racing was great there with the old car. But more importantly, I think the Car of Today is better than most believe. Are there issues that still need to be addressed? Sure. But was it still a GREAT decision on NASCAR'S part to implement it? I believe whole-heartedly that it was. As you said, we're only four races into the season, races which so far I have found incredibly interesting, so let's give it more of a chance before we condemn it. Last year, HMS seemed to be way ahead of the curve on the COT while this year it does seem to me that the playing field has leveled and certainly being able to run a car at a super speedway, an intermediate track, or a bull ring seems to bode well for cost savings.
HR13- I agree. The COT was a great innovation and will take the sport to the next level, I'm just frustrated with NASCARs unwillingness to make the necessary imrpovements to help it reach its potential. Thanks for the feedback, it's always appreciated.
Well, if your speaking specifically about Bristol - there has never been side-by-side racing in any template configuration. It is a follow-the-leader racetrack with the occassional bump and run to move slower cars out of the way. Believe they felt that grinding the concrete would eventually allow for two grooves. I like the COT and it's theory because NASCAR needed to get away from an aero dominated industry. Anything that can bring back mechanical engineering is good for competition. As you have written they have not worked the bugs out yet and maybe they did pull the trigger on the full COT circuit too early. But that brings us to your third objective - reducing cost. That was never going to happen in the first 2-3 years anyway because they wouldn't have had a final boilerplate in place for mass production/design. NASCAR knew there would be tweaks to this template but felt that the end game would save the industry millions because it would eventually have just that - one template. If they had not gone to a full COT this year, they would have been spending more money cutting bodies and aero testing on the old frame, because the competition is still in it to win. I understand your frustration, but think many need to remember that this direction is going to help racing on the track and in their raceshops. R&D costs are going to continue to rise sharply in the next few years due to inflationary capital markets. I definitely agree with your earlier blog stating that NASCAR needs to take the responsibility of the tire issue and not Goodyear. They can't blame their vendor for gi
moseby- Very well thought response. Many of your points are valid. I have no problem with the COT concept and agree they needed to get away from the aero-type cars. I'm disappointed NASCAR hasn't moved more aggressively to bring the car up to where it should be. Bristol was only an example since it is coming up next. We'll see how the car responds the next few races after Bristol.
I very much agree with you that NASCAR, itself, has not been aggressive enough in working with their vendors to bring the COT up to optimal racing condition. They have sat back and waited for data to be gathered by Goodyear to determine what they want. They should have taken Bruton Smith's offer to go test at Texas. They should also go to Richmond, New Hampshire and maybe even Michigan to see the effect of the different track variables.
