OK, class. Let's review last Sunday's Talladega Nextel Cup finish. Was Jeff Gordon really in front of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. when the caution froze the field?
Why does NASCAR sometimes throw a yellow for a harmless spin in the late stages of a race, and sometimes not? When does the red flag rule come into effect? Why does the Craftsman Truck series finish a race with a green-white-checker, but not Busch or Nextel Cup?
A couple of weeks ago, the nationally syndicated racing page, "That's Racin,' which runs Saturday in the Appeal, discussed NASCAR's flexible rulebook and the judgment calls that emanate because of it. Last Sunday's Talladega race was a prime example of how judgment calls can stir controversy. Under NASCAR's rule change from last fall, the field is frozen when the yellow comes out rather than letting the competitors race to the flag stand. After the yellow caused by Brian Vickers' spin after contact with Casey Mears, Earnhardt was first posted in front, but replays appeared to show Gordon ahead at the caution, so he was placed ahead of Earnhardt. At this point, Earnhardt fans, fueled by an afternoon's consumption of his sponsor's product, heaved Bud cans, food, coolers, and other assorted debris onto the track, rendering a restart moot.
Now, NASCAR can be faulted for its nebulous rules and the ensuing judgment calls, but the redneck goobers who showed their intelligence (or lack thereof) by showering debris on the track just reinforced the negative image many people and media outlets have of race fans. I, for one, hope a significant number of them were arrested and punished, but I fear my hopes are in vain. A reliable source in the press room quoted an Alabama Highway Patrolman on duty at the track as refusing to deal with the situation, stating, "There are more of them than there are of us."
Of course, the Earnhardt fans conveniently forget that their boy was handed the win at Talladega last year when NASCAR declined to enforce its own rule concerning passes below the yellow line. If you think the Republicans and Democrats are partisan, check out the Earnhardters and the Gordonians!
If you caught "Trackside" on SPEED channel Friday, you know the feelings of their panel on the subject. Personally, I think Darrel Waltrip's suggestion to put caution lights in the race cars is an idea that should have been implemented as soon as NASCAR decided to eliminate racing back to the yellow and "freeze" the field at the instant the caution came out. It's not as though it's an unprecedented technolog - ARCA uses the lights, as does the IRL at Indianapolis. Could it be a bit of "not invented here" syndrome on the part of NASCAR, or will we see the idea implemented this season? The sooner the better, in my humble opinion.
One idea that I'm glad to see implemented is the SAFER barrier. More and more tracks are installing these "soft" walls, and they have already saved a number of drivers from serious injury. Texas Motor Speedway is the latest track to put in the SAFER system, with installation scheduled for next week. The barriers will be in place for the June 12 IRL race there.
Speaking of safety, Reno-Fernley Raceway is making their 3/8 mile dirt oval a bit safer, installing tire-catch fences. The new fences may very well come in handy on May 15, when the Golden State Challenge 410 sprint cars will make their first appearance at the track. I will have visited Reno-Fernley the night before this column appears, but I'm writing it before my trip to Fernley. I'll check out the new fencing as well as the new road course paving, and I'll tell you about it in detail next week. I'm looking forward to my next outing at The Next Level driving school, which should be interesting on the lengthened track. Lots of new corners to learn!
There's a racecar Show and Shine scheduled in Carson City next Saturday at Michael Hohl Motors, 3700 South Carson Street. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Tom Waters at 882-4462 for more information.
Roger Diez is the Nevada Appeal Motorsports Columnist. Contact him at editor@nevadaappeal.com.
