Another ( partial ) race is in the can.
I suppose Mr. Harvick is back on the “horseshoe” rant re the 48.
The 54 having to go to the back for Saturday’s race begs the question how is it ( and not that rare ) that a driver misses mandatory meetings or introductions? Unless they’re ill, what could be more pressing? Is it just ennui? Maybe starting position has simply become irrelevant. That might explain blowing off the drivers’ meeting, but not snubbing the fans by missing intros. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the absenteeism is due to sponsor obligations. Once again, $ rules.
So the Supreme Being rescued Sunday’s race before Nascar had the chance to intervene with their yellow magic. I think a lot of us are grateful. Although there was still good racing going on somewhere all of the time ( as always ), sometimes it appears the size of the crowd is directly proportional to the quality of the racing. That race certainly quelled the outcry over the Bristol racing debate.
Speaking of Bristol, Dale Jr. has the best take: some races are better than others, some tracks are better than others. I say deal with it. I’m perfectly happy with great races being rare. That’s what makes them great. And although I believe there are too many tracks that inherently lend themselves to mediocre racing, great races occur on them from time to time. I suspect Rockingham, N. Wilkesboro etc. – no matter how “great” they were, probably had their share of “boring” races.
Back to Nascar’s rules. What could be simpler than ” the leader must take the green flag first “? According to Nascar, a whole lot of things, as explained by Bob Pockrass of Scenedaily.com. You can read it here. “We don’t judge it [that close] – it’s got to be fenders,” (and not necessarily 1-2 in that order ) according to Robin Pemberton. It may be much ado about nothing since I can’t recall any situation where someone got away with jumping the gun on the leader. Well, maybe Dale Sr. in the mid ’90’s. But that was the All-Star race.
And now to Mark Martin’s new name – ” Epic Swag “. I don’t know what that refers to, but a friend of mine gave him the monicker ” Stroker ” many, many years ago. If there’s any connection between the two nicknames, please let me know, and remember, that was my friend – not me.
3.25.73: At Bristol, Cale Yarborough lapped the field twice while leading every lap.
If Ned was in the booth we’d know what’s up with Troy Beebe.
By Gary Erdakos
Ref: racing-reference.info, Greg Fielden’s “Forty Years of Stock Car Racing”, Richard Sowers’ “The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing”.
