In My Opinion: Talladega

Carl Edwards into Ryan Newman before going into the catch fence

This is why fans flock to Talladega, Al. Racing action at it’s finest. Three-wide, nose-to-tail racing. Everyone looking to get ahead of the pack and take the lead and the win. On the other tracks, they ride around until the last 100 laps. At Talladega they are racing three-wide most of the race. And can only stop to breathe during a caution.

The problem is they are going so fast and so close to each other, there is no room for error. But the racing at this track and Daytona, is the reason fans love the Sport. Nowhere else do you get racing this intense. Some may ride around in the back, hoping not to get collected too early, but they have to keep up with everyone else or they will loose the draft and not be able to catch up again.

At the Daytona 500 in 2001, one of the most-loved drivers in the Sport, Dale Earnhardt, lost his life. And NASCAR went into a frenzie trying to figure out why it happened and how to prevent that from happening again. They came out with the mandatory HANS (Head And Neck System) device. They came up with the SAFER barrier, to absorb the energy when someone crashed into the concrete wall. They even made the COT (Car Of Tomorrow) with many safety features built in.

But in my opinion, none of those things were the real problem. Yes the drivers are safer. As seen by Carl getting out of his car after flying into the catch fence and running to the finnish line. He even said something should be done before someone is killed. And he wasn’t talking about the drivers. But the fence did what it was supposed to do. It knocked Carl back onto the track and kept him from flying into the stands. Everything did what they were supposed to do. And yet, people got hurt.

Some say that there should not be that double yellow line rule on the last lap. And maybe that should be looked at. Last year at Talladega Regan Smith was forced below that line with the Checkers in sight. Instead of crashing into Tony to get back up there, he stayed where he was and got to the finish line first. Tony was declared the winner and Regan was sent back to the last car on the lead lap. This time Carl tried to knock Brad Keselowski below the yellow line, Brad stood his ground and Carl went flying.

I have to ask which was the better ending. Regan should have won with no spectacular crash. Brad could have been forced below the yellow line, and it could have been a race to the line between the two of them. As it was, Brad stood his ground and Carl was the one who went flying. So, yes, that rule should not be in effect with the Checkers in sight. It maybe shouldn’t be there at all. At the Daytona 500 this year, Brian Vickers blocked Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and sent him below the yellow line. Jr., trying to get back up onto the track, clipped Brian and sent him into the other drivers. Would he have done that if there was no yellow line rule?

My other concern is the blocking. I know that’s what the drivers say it is their job to do. In my opinion, blocking is what causes the wrecks. If a driver is faster, he should be able to get around someone slower. And the slower car should not be allowed to block. Blocking kills! Blocking forced Carl flying into the stands. Brad pushed Carl almost to the Finish line, moved over to try for the win and Carl blocked. We all saw what happened. Jr. pushed Ryan to near the end. When they got there, they split up to try to win. If Carl hadn’t blocked, it would have been quite a different ending. Any of those four could have won.

So what, if anything, should be done? Maybe nothing. Fans flock to Talladega just to see that kind of racing. The fence held and no one was seriously hurt. Maybe don’t fill the stands that close to the wall? Perhaps. If the double yellow line rule wasn’t in place, there might be less crashing to get back up there. In my opinion, what needs to be addressed is the blocking. Blocking causes the crashes.

Do the fans want to see caution-free racing? Some watch just to see the crashes. It isn’t racing unless someone crashes. Or is it? In my opinion, if I wanted to see crashes, I’d go to a demolition durby. I watch NASCAR to see racing. But I have to admit, Talladega is one race that I simply cannot be doing something else while it’s going on. Like I said, it’s racing at it’s finest. You just can’t beat three-wide, nose-to-tail racing.

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My Opinion: NASCAR at Talladega

I’m sure everyone has seen the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway by now. Or at least has seen the spectacular ending. And much analysis has gone on about what happened and who’s fault it was. I don’t have any answers, but I’d like to give my own opinion.

In this economy, the different tracks have suffered not filling the stands. And the fans all say why bother go to a track to see boring races. Is it the car? Is it the tracks? Why are the races boring? Aren’t there enough crashes to suit the fans? All good questions. But Talladega didn’t have any trouble filling the stands. And I’ll bet ratings went up this week. I don’t know yet for sure, but in my opinion, I’ll bet they did.

Let’s face it, Talladega is an exciting race. The fans love the racing at that track.  The drivers aren’t so sure they like racing there.  Let’s face it, three-wide, nose-to-tail racing is just exciting. I personally don’t like all the big crashes. But the racing is superb. I missed out on sightseeing in Houston in 1998 because I HAD to see the race at Talladega.

There’s just something about everyone racing for 500 miles without letting off. You simply cannot go 500 miles without letting off the throttle. That is, without someone not making a mistake. And at such close quarters, the one mistake is inevitable. Restrictor-plate racing is very exciting.  And the crashes are spectacular. It’s the nature of the beast. And it’s why everyone watches.

Now in this race they had a big one when Jeff Gordon tried to make it four-wide and Matt Kenseth was there. That triggered many cars being caught up in a crash. Even the one-car crashes of Michael Waltrip and Kurt Busch were great because they both saved it and didn’t crash into anyone or anything.

The problem isn’t restrictor-plates. Or going too fast. Or even trying to pass below the double yellow line. The problem is, in my opinion,  blocking. The eighth caution came out because Kyle Busch was blocking. The high side was going fast while he was leading, so he went up high. When he did, the low side went fast and he went down. The announcers all decided he was “going three-wide all by himself”. And thought that was great. But when you do that, the one you are blocking may not want to be blocked.

In fact, blocking is what causes most of the crashes. And since they are all so close together, everyone gets taken out. That’s what happened to Kyle. He was blocking and Jeff Burton decided not to give. And Kyle spun out. Dale Earnhardt lost his life at Daytona in 2001 because he was blocking  and someone didn’t give.

So this race we saw something a little different. Two cars hooked up together and pulled away. The drivers being Dale Earnhardt, Jr. pushing Ryan Newman. Then Brad Keselowski pushed Carl Edwards from way back up into the lead. Dale and Ryan stayed together until the last second, Dale going low near the end and Ryan going high. Either could have won with that plan. They stayed together until the last few yards and it would have unfolded for either one of them to win.

But Brad pushed Carl into the lead. And at the last second, they each wanted to win. Brad tried to go high, Carl blocked. Brad went low, Carl tried to block. But Brad was near the double yellow line. And last year Tony Stewart pushed Regan Smith below the yellow line. Regan passed him there and didn’t get the win, but finished the last car on the lead lap! So, when Carl came down to block, Brad stood his ground and Carl spun himself out. It was spectacular, with Carl getting airborn and hitting Ryan’s car on the hood and into the windshield. And then getting more airborn and into the catch fence. No driver was hurt. But debris hurt 8 fans.

So my take on this whole thing? Don’t have that yellow line rule the last few yards when the Checkers are flying. And don’t let blocking be acceptible. Blocking causes the crashes. Don’t let them do that. Could Carl have won if he didn’t block? I don’t know. But we all know what happened when he did block. Tony blocked and won. Because of the yellow line rule. So get rid of both. No blocking. No yellow line rule. At least not when the Checkers are in sight.

In defence of NASCAR, the cars did what they were supposed to do. They kept the drivers safe. The catch fence did what it was supposed to do. It caught the car and sent it back onto the track. And Carl got out of the car and ran to the finish line. Everyone has the option of entering the race or not. And fans fill the stands, knowing something spectacular could happen. That’s why they buy tickets.

In my opinion, Talladega is the best race of the year. Both times. Anyone can win. Brad Keselowski won this time. And I’m happy for him and Jim Finch Racing. It was a great race.

Race review: Talladega

Welcome race fans to the ninth race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. This is at Taladega Superspeedway in Taladega, Al. This is a huge 2.66 mile track, and so fast they have to use restrictor-plates on the carburators so that they don’t run at speeds over 200 mph. This is racing at it’s finest with the pack all running three-wide, nose-to-tail most of the 499 miles.

Qualifying was on Saturday with 42 Juan Pablo Montoya earning the pole with a speed of 188.171. 16 Greg Biffle will start second. 82 rookie Scott Speed gets into the race on speed, with part time driver 78 Regan Smith, 87 Joe Nemecheck, 36 Scott Riggs, 71 David Gilliland, 41 Jeremy Mayfield and 13 Max Papis also getting in on time. Failing to make the race were 66 Michael McDowell (Dave Blaney had a family committment) and 4 Eric McClure. The 09 entryof Jim Finch is piloted by rookie Brad Keselowski of the NASCAR Nationwide series and starts ninth. It’s a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the 80’s.

82 Speed pits before the Green Flag and is held a lap. This is an impound race and no one can make adjustments to their cars before the Green flag. 77 Sam Hornish, Jr. isn’t fealing well and Travis Kvapil is on stand-by if they need him. 9 Kasey Kahne, 19 Elliott Sadler, 12 David Stremme, 43 Reed Sorenson and 44 AJ Almendinger (all Dodges) had to change their engines and will start from the rear. Also to the rear is 7 Robby Gordon who was too low after inspection.

42 Montoya leads from the pole. 11 Denny Hamlin is pushing 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 1 Martin Truex, Jr. pulls out in front of 88. 88 gets back in front of 11. 88 takes the lead with help from 11.42 gets in front of 1 to take the lead. 1 takes the lead with help from 17 Matt Kenseth.

The first caution comes out on lap 7. They were four-wide and 17 got into 24 Jeff Gordon in a retro Pepsi paint scheme. Fourteen cars are involved. 48 defending Champion Jimmy Johnson manages to get by. 20 rookie Joey Logano is leading. After pitting, 39 Ryan Newman is leading. They go Green on lap 14.

88 pushes 1 Martin Truex, Jr. into the lead. 11 pushes 42 into the lead. 2 Kurt Busch takes the lead. 42 is pushing 31 Jeff Burton and 11 pushes 2. 31 Burton takes the lead. 31 is falling back with no volts. He comes in to change batteries, but it gets going and he doesn’t pit. 11 and 31 were banging on each other and wires may have gotten loose.

The second caution comes out on lap 30 for debris. 31 pits to change the battery, but goes three laps down. 18 Kyle Busch gets out of the pits first. They go Green on lap 35. 82 Scott Speed is the Lucky Dog and gets his lap back. 88 pushes 48 and nearly turns him.

The third caution comes out when 55 Michael Waltrip cuts in front of team mate 47 Marcos Ambrose and slides across the track. He doesn’t hit anything. 18, 09 and 48 get fuel only to come out in the lead. 82 Speed stays out to lead, then pits. They hang 09 out to dry. 88 takes the lead with help from 1. 17 takes the lead with help from 11. 88 takes the lead with help from 11. They are now single-file. 48 feals something is loose.

The fourth caution comes out for 2 spinning, much the same as 55 did. Both were a great save as they didn’t hit anything and no one else was involved. 31 Jeff Burton is the Lucky Dog and gets one of his three laps back. 1 is leading. 11 pulls low and 17, 42, and 6 David Ragan follow. 18 is falling back, low on the track. 31 drives by 55. 11 Hamlin takes the lead. 88 takes the lead. 42 takes the lead. 88 takes the lead. 12 David Stremme and 77 follow.

48 is pushing 42 to lead. 48 with help from 88 leave 42 behind. 88 wobbles and then saves it. 88 moves 09 below the double yellow line and 09 falls back. 77 takes the lead.

The fifth caution comes out for debris. 31 Jeff Burton gets another lap back. 11 comes outof the pits first. 18 is still in the pits. 98 Paul Menard stays out to lead. 18 comes back in for repairs. 11 takes the lead. It is a single-file restart, but before too long they are again three-wide. 29 and 24 are back out on the track 56 laps down, battling for 37th. 9 and 44 are many laps down, but racing together.

88 takes the lead with 31 pushing him. 31 is still a lap down. Together they race away. 98 is pitting. (Remember, he stayed out to lead.) 43 Reed Sorenson gets into the wall with a right rear going down. He pits and they stay Green. 20 Logano leads and then drops back. 19 Sadler gets into the wall. 1 takes the lead pushing 31 who is a lap down. 83 Brian Vickers takes the lead. 31 pulls in front of 83.

The sixth caution comes out during the commercial for debris on lap 126. 31 is ahead of the leader and stays on the lead lap. 98 Paul Menard is the Lucky Dog. 99 Carl Edwards stays out to lead, then pits. 09 pushes 19 Sadler into the lead. 19 and 11 pull ahead. 2 takes the lead. 11 pushes 00 David Reutimann and then takes the lead. 07 Casey Mears takes the lead. 88 pushes 31 into the lead. 88 takes the lead in the middle with 2 pushing him.

The seventh caution comes out during the commercial. The shade from a caution light fell off. 88 leads them to the pits. 2 takes fuel only to lead. 43 Reed Sorenson is the Lucky Dog. 17 goes to the middle by himself. 88 pushes 78 Smith. 11 falls back. 1 falls back. 18 Kyle Busch is blocking everyone. He’s three-wide all by himself.

The eighth caution comes out when 31 gets into 18 while he was all over the track, blocking. (Good for Burton.) It will be a single-file restart within 20 laps and 18 has to restart in the rear, after being unable to crank it up and loosing a lap. They restart with 13 to go with 17 Kenseth leading. 11 pushes 39 Newman into the lead.

The ninth caution comes out with nine to go. This was the other big one, taking out ten cars. 17 pits for a flat tire. They restart with four to go, and 39 Newman is leading. 14 Tony Stewart is falling back working with only seven cylinders. 09 Keleslowski pushes 99 Edwards into the lead.88 is pushing 39. 99 blocks 09 and 09 stands his ground, turning 99. 99 flies into 39 and then into the catch fencing.

What a wild ride! 99 hit 39’s windshield, and 39 crossed the finish line in third! 88 goes low to finish second. And 09 rookie Brad Keselowski wins in the James Finch car Mr. Finch bought from Rick Hendrick. Keselowski held his ground and didn’t go below the yellow line, causing 99 to spin. Last time out, Tony Stewart shoved Regan Smith below the yellow line. Regan didn’t stand his ground and passed Stewart below the yellow line for the win. He was relegated to the last car on the lead lap. Today Brad stood his ground and Carl spun in spectacular fashion into Newman and the catch fencing.

Brad Keselowski wins the race as a rookie. It’s his first Cup win and his owner in Nationwide comes up to him in Victory Lane go give him a boot in the rear! All in all, it was a great race. Those who were blocking paid for it. And the rookie didn’t back down or go below the yellow line, but stood his ground to win the race. The rookie beat the veteran at his own game.

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Race Track Review: Talladega

This week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series races this week are at the Talladega Super Speedway in Alabama.

Ya gotta love restrictor plate racing! NASCAR decided that the race cars go too fast at Daytona and here at Talladega. The drivers can go full throttle at the tracks and never lift. On the other hand, if the cars are going too fast, there’s no room for reactions. So, what NASCAR did was put restricter plates on the carburetors. That cuts down horse power so the cars can’t go much over 200 mph.

However, what that did was make everyone’s speed just about the same. So everyone drives in one big pack. Throughout the race, it is one pack, three-wide, nost-to-tail. It makes for exciting racing. It also leaves no room for mistakes. When someone does make a mistake, or tries to block, they usually get into each other and take out half the field.

This track is also an impound race. That means they practice for the race and make a qualifying run, but after qualifying the cars are impounded and the teams cannot work on the cars. There is also no more practice before the race. And I don’t think I care for that. Those cars not in the top 35 in owner points have to make the race on speed. So they set their cars up for speed to get in, but that normally isn’t how they want to race. And with no practice after qualifying, they have to make these changes after the race starts.

As a fan, I’m not sure I like that. I like to see practices. This weekend will host ARCA tonight, Nationwide tomarrow and Sprint Cup on Sunday.

Talladega is 2.66 miles around. It’s HUGE! Daytona is only 2.5 miles. And the track owners repaved the track a few years ago. So the racing surface is pretty smooth. The drivers pretty much go around the track with their foot on the gas. It’s exciting to watch. And a bit nerve-wracking. Talladega is known for “The Big One”. That is, the big crash that takes out many cars. Because there is no time to react.

There is also drafting and bump-drafting. The cars push the car in front of them to make both of them go faster. The trick is knowing who to draft with and when to bump-draft. If you bump the car ahead in the turn, you’ll send him into the wall! And that’ll take out everyone around you. If your “partner” doesn’t go fast enough, you’ll have to change lanes. And that’s tricky when everyone is nose-to-tail.

The racing is exciting, but also nail-biting. When you miss the “Big One”, you have fun driving at Talladega.  So a lot of drivers look forward to the Checkered Flag. If you’re there at the end, you had fun. But if you or someone around you makes a mistake, it is no fun and your car goes home on the hook!

Personally, I LOVE watching Talladega. I once gave up sightseeing in Houston to watch the race. Because it was Talladega. And it was a good thing I did stay put. My favorite driver won the race!

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Race Review: Subway Fresh Fit 500

Welcome, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race fans, to the eighth race of the season. This week’s race is at the “Desert Jewel”, Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, AZ. This is a quirky one mile flat track in the dessert. Officials have to round up the rattle snakes before the teams come to town! The first race here was in 1988 and four drivers attempting to qualify, were there that day. Mark Martin, who is on the pole for this race, Michael Waltrip, Sterling Marlin and Trevor Boys, who failed to make the race. Also failing to qualify were 64 Todd Bodine from the Camping World Truck Series, 41 Jeremy Mayfield, 51  Dexter Bean and 02 Brandon Ash. By the way, Alan Kulwicki won that first race and made famous his “Polish Victory Lap” by going around the track in the wrong direction to wave to the fans.

48 Jimmy Johnson is trying for four in a row here. 24 Jeff Gordon won the last race in Texas, ending a long loosing streak. Traditionally, when Jeff breaks a long loosing streak, he wins the next race also. 16 Greg Biffle won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at PIR on friday night. Can he make it a weekend sweap? And 5 Mark Martin is on the pole with a speed of 133.814. Can he finally win in his Hendrick Motorsports car from the pole?

Here we go! 5 Martin leads from the pole. 00 David Reutimann and 83 Brian Vickers battle for position. 00 gets by for fifth. 11 Denny Hamlin gets by team mate 18 Kyle Busch for seventh. 24 Gordon and 14 Tony Stewart battle with 19 Elliott Sadler on the outside. 14 threads the needle to take the position. 2 Kurt Busch is catching leader 5 in traffic. 96 Bobby Labonte gets by 29 Kevin Harvick for thirty-first. 16 Biffle and 48 Johnson battle for thirteenth.

The first caution comes out on lap 54 when 09 Sterling Marlin gets into the wall. Everyone pits. 36 Scott Riggs is the Lucky Dog and gets his lap back. There is a fuel fire in the 48 pit box after he leaves. 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has trouble in the pits and makes another pit stop. 5 comes back out first, but 55 Michael Waltrip stays out to lead, then pits the second time around. 48 pins 18 behind 34 John Andretti to get by. 14 slides ahead of 11.

88 bumps 82 rookie Scott Speed to get by. 48 gets by 00 for seventh. 29 Harvick fights to stay on the lead lap. 2 and 14 battle for second. 2 gets by, but 14 gets back by 2. The second caution comes out on lap 103 for debris. 96 Labonte stays out to lead, then pits. 07 Casey Mears is the Lucky Dog. Back to racing, 2 Kurt Busch is leading. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya, 9 Kasey Kahne and 1 Martin Truex, Jr. are three-wide. 1 and 83 batle for tenth.

The third caution comes out when 12 David Stremme looses it off turn two and spins. 20 rookie Joey Logano is the Lucky Dog. 1 changes two tires and comes out second. The 48 team drops a lug nut twice and so has a long pit stop. 24 is smoking with a tire rub after contact with 11. The fourth caution comes out when 44 AJ Almendinger tries to get under 88 and locks up the tires and spins. 24 pits for tires and repairs. 29 Kevin Harvick is the Lucky Dog. 48, 11 and 24 get together.

2 is leading. 16 gets by 1 for fifth. 99 Carl Edwards and 11 battle for twelfth, and 99 gets by. 11 has a tire going down. 48 moves 1 out of the way to take the spot. The fifth caution comes out during the commercial. 55 Michael Waltrip gets loose and into 7 Robby Gordon, sending him into the wall. 24 barely gets by. 88 stays out to lead, along with 47 Marcos Ambrose, 24, 12, and 96. 2 gets into the concrete wall (not a safer barrier there). 19 Elliott Sadler may be the Lucky Dog.

14 gets by 2 and 31 Jeff Burton through the middle. 88 has a four second lead on 18 Kyle Busch. 14 and 18 battle for second. 14 gets by. 5 drives by 18 on the outside. 14 is catching leader 88. 14 takes the lead during the commercial. 88 pits after loosing the lead. 44 is getting loose all over the track. 36 Scott Riggs pits and misses a lug nut, so he has to come back in under Green. 24 misses a lug nut and has to come back in, and goes two laps down. 5 battles 14 for the lead, and takes it. Green Flag Pitting is going on and 00 Reutimann leads and then pits. 48 leads and pits. 83 leads, then pits. After all the pitting, 88 is once again back in the lead.

5 and 88 batle for the lead and 5 takes the lead, with 14 coming. 88 is falling back. 48 and 88 battle for seventh. 31 and 77  Sam Hornish, Jr. battle for twelfth. 78 Regan Smith gets by 71 David Gilliland. 00 gets by 16. The sixth caution comes out with eleven to go. 88 gets loose and spins after 07 Casey Mears got into 88. 18, trying to be first out of the pits, is caught speeding. 39 Ryan Newman stays out to lead. They restart with six to go. 5 takes the lead. 48 gets by 11 for fourth. 16 gets by 11 for fifth. 2 won’t let 48 get by for third.

And Mark Martin wins the Subway Fresh Fit 500 from starting on the pole. He also led the most laps. The 51 year old driver hasn’t won a race in years. Since he retired several years ago. Mark does the Polish Victory lap with the Checkered Flag. He becomes the third oldest winner. 88 bumps 07 after the race to show he didn’t appreciate the tap that spun him. 07 taps 88 back.

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