Last week, NASCAR and Eddie Gossage of Texas Motor Speedway outlined the rules for the upcoming All-Start Race.
With a half-dozen segments, inversions of the field and more gimmicks, more than a few analysts have needed to give their head a shake in order to understand just what will be happening. Now for those “Old School NASCAR fans” who believe that everything was better back in the day, segments and inversions have long been a staple of the All-Star Race. For example, in 1992, the fans voted just how many spots should be inverted. (To no one’s surprise, the fans voted to invert the entire field.) Even in the original “Winston,” run in 1985 and won by Darrell Waltrip, there was a mandatory two-tire pit stop between Laps 30-40 and there were prizes for leading the 20th and 50th lap.
However, I think NASCAR may have overdone it this time. I know that 10, 15 and even 20 lap races are a nod to NASCAR’s roots with short Saturday night heat races and such. But really, 10-15 laps even at a mile-and-a-half will be over in a blink of an eye. Couple that with the fact that, on most intermediate tracks, once the leader clears the pack and takes off (usually by the time they reach Turn 1) and it’s just waiting for a caution.
(Quite honestly, the reason I don’t watch drag racing is because you know the winner within 15-20 seconds of the start. Under the current rules package, and admittedly not every race, but NASCAR is starting to resemble drag racing where within seconds of the restart, you know who will be leading for the foreseeable future.)
I think NASCAR needs to use an old journalism cliché and “Keep It Simple Stupid.” Instead of a half dozen stages and inversions, just put the drivers who have won since the last All-Star Race (or during the previous year) and let them run the equivalent of two fuel runs (just to have a pit stop come into play) and whoever crosses the finish line first gets the win.
Even when it comes to the participants and qualifying, they can simplify things. Nowadays, it seems as if there’s umpteen ways to make it into the All-Star Race (to say nothing of the season-opener Busch Clash). It should just simply be race winners.
And I’m sure people might say that being that strict in terms of guidelines might rob viewers of the excitement of seeing other drivers making the race. My reaction is that if you want to see a non-winner, tune into any other race from the Daytona 500 to season finale at Phoenix. The All-Star Race should be reserved for the best of the best: those drivers that went to Victory Lane. If a top driver didn’t make the field, that should serve as incentive to get that win in order to make the field next year.
(And again, the same goes for the Busch Clash. If you won a pole the previous year, you’re in. If you didn’t, you’re watching the race from the sidelines as you prep for the Duels.)
The All-Star should be for the elite, not just a shorter yet more convoluted version of the regular races fans see every week.
As for qualifying: Again, we don’t need a confusing gimmick to set the field. In 1985, the field was set by number of wins in 1984 with ties broken by driver points. I don’t see a reason why anything has had to change.
Basically, what I’m saying is put the best drivers out on the track and let them race it out. I know that many people (and I’m one of those people) like to see the pit crews and strategy come into play. And that’s why I am suggesting that the race run the equivalent of two fuel runs: to allow for some strategy. If a caution comes out, let them decide between two tires, four tires, fuel only, etc.
More rules doesn’t necessarily equate into more excitement. Usually, it’s the other way around. You present a good, exciting product, not one that’s been watered down, and the fans will enjoy it. It’s certainly more conducive to engaging the audience, especially as NASCAR seeks to bring in new fans. It’s why I never got into football. Who has time to figure out all the different types of plays and especially why the last two minutes of play seemed to last a half-hour?
Okay, I have just written an article suggesting NASCAR simplify the All-Star Race and the Busch Clash. Next time, I am going to write about how sweeping changes – and borrowing from another sport – could make the playoffs more exciting.
johnmilner.ca 