Much In NASCAR Ain’t BrMuch In NASCoke, So Don’t Fix It – For Now

It’s never been unusual for NASCAR to put a positive spin on just about anything it does or its interpretation of its competitive environment. Truth be known, that’s what it should do.

However, during his “State of the Union” address at the annual Media Tour, when NASCAR CEO Brian France said, “The sport is in a very good place,” I was one of those who did not roll his eyes with the cynical thought we were getting another whitewash.

The fact is, France is absolutely correct. The 2010 Sprint Cup season was, overall, one of NASCAR’s best, one in which the positives far outweighed the negatives.

There have been times when new NASCAR policies and rules have done very little to improve its product but that was not the case last season.

Thanks in part to a simplified points system and the creation of a “wildcard” selection to the Chase that put an emphasis on victories, we saw what was the closest championship battle in NASCAR’s modern era – if not ever.

As you know, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards finished the season tied in points, but Stewart claimed the title because he had more victories.

I’m not sure Hollywood could have created a more exciting scenario.

This is not to say NASCAR did it all. Let’s credit the competitors. If Stewart hadn’t blazed to five victories in the Chase’s 10 races, well, who knows how the championship would have unfolded?

It’s obvious NASCAR does not need to tamper with its championship system. The 2010 season proved that it could work just fine and please fans and competitors alike.

As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Rightfully, NASCAR isn’t going to fix it.

One thing it is trying to fix is the proliferation of two-car, “partner” drafts that have become the norm at Daytona and Talladega.

This is a relatively new phenomenon and it appears NASCAR is responding to the will of those fans, and others, who do not like it.

Understand, not everyone disapproves. I’m one of them. Yes, two cars running alone with one’s nose up the other’s tail looks silly. But I believe it’s helped bring about drama and surprise.

Nevertheless it was NASCAR’s primary goal during testing to find the technological means to prevent these two-car dances.

Testing showed us big-pack racing had returned to Daytona. And, wonder of wonders, NASCAR didn’t hit the panic button when sustained speeds of over 200 mph were reached.

But two-car drafts did not go away. I’d be willing to say that while we might see plenty of pack racing in the Daytona 500 (I thought fans didn’t like that, either), the outcome will be determined by the two cars that hook up best in a “dance.”

Now there’s plenty of time for NASCAR to enforce legislation for things to be otherwise, but my point is: If it doesn’t, so what?

I know many will disagree, but if the Daytona 500 ends with two cars hugging on to each other, I don’t think that is necessarily going to be a bad thing.

Racing on the superspeedways may be “cracked” to some, but I don’t think it’s entirely broken. So if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

NASCAR announced a couple of other policy changes for 2012, one of which is decidedly positive and the other, well, the sanctioning body needs to tread lightly.

We now know that NASCAR will no longer punish its teams and drivers without making the fines, and other judgments, public.

Smart, very smart.

There was plenty of outcry after the sanctioning body secretly leveled a $25,000 fine against Brad Keselowski for publicly criticizing the switch to fuel injection.

That wasn’t the only time such a thing happened, by the way, and I think the reason NASCAR received the criticism it did is because, over the years, it has been accused of many, many clandestine cloak-and-dagger exploits designed to impose its will and enforce its domination.

Which certainly didn’t contribute to a positive image - nor has fining drivers and teams secretly.

If NASCAR practices what it is now preaching it will benefit. The less it appears to be a secret society, the better off it will be.

We know that NASCAR intends to re-evaluate its “Boys have at it” policy in 2012. It will strengthen its stance against drivers retaliating on the track.

NASCAR loosened its grip on driver behavior in 2010 and allowed them to police themselves and retaliate when they believed they had been wronged.

I think the main reason NASCAR did this was to offset the constant criticism that it had “cloned” its drivers; robbed them of their true personalities and denied the sport the rivalries its fans crave.

So when it comes to any sort of “re-evaluation,” I would urge NASCAR to walk softly.

It stands to reason that it should step in, with force, when things obviously get out of hand – if two drivers wreck each other repeatedly and put others in danger, for example.

But then, I can’t think of a time when it hasn’t done that.

I suspect that by its announcement of a “re-evaluation” NASCAR was actually telling its competitors it will still have the final say, “Boys have at it” notwithstanding.

I think NASCAR will indeed tread softly. It should. Heroes and villains, rivalries and confrontations on and off the track have always been a part of stock car racing’s character and appeal.

When it comes to “Boys have at it,” in my opinion things ain’t broke, so NASCAR shouldn't fix it. Frankly, I’d be stunned if it attempted to do so.

Make no mistake, there are going to be incidents and other occurrences in 2012 that will be unanticipated and, perhaps, force NASCAR to make sweeping changes. Who knows?

But right now changes are few and largely minor.

That’s because, indeed, NASCAR begins 2012 in a good place.

There might be a crack here and there, but for now, nothing ain’t broken. So don’t fix it.It’s never been unusual for NASCAR to put a positive spin on just about anything it does or its interpretation of its competitive environment. Truth be known, that’s what it should do.

However, during his “State of the Union” address at the annual Media Tour, when NASCAR CEO Brian France said, “The sport is in a very good place,” I was one of those who did not roll his eyes with the cynical thought we were getting another whitewash.

The fact is, France is absolutely correct. The 2010 Sprint Cup season was, overall, one of NASCAR’s best, one in which the positives far outweighed the negatives.

There have been times when new NASCAR policies and rules have done very little to improve its product but that was not the case last season.

Thanks in part to a simplified points system and the creation of a “wildcard” selection to the Chase that put an emphasis on victories, we saw what was the closest championship battle in NASCAR’s modern era – if not ever.

As you know, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards finished the season tied in points, but Stewart claimed the title because he had more victories.

I’m not sure Hollywood could have created a more exciting scenario.

This is not to say NASCAR did it all. Let’s credit the competitors. If Stewart hadn’t blazed to five victories in the Chase’s 10 races, well, who knows how the championship would have unfolded?

It’s obvious NASCAR does not need to tamper with its championship system. The 2010 season proved that it could work just fine and please fans and competitors alike.

As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Rightfully, NASCAR isn’t going to fix it.

One thing it is trying to fix is the proliferation of two-car, “partner” drafts that have become the norm at Daytona and Talladega.

This is a relatively new phenomenon and it appears NASCAR is responding to the will of those fans, and others, who do not like it.

Understand, not everyone disapproves. I’m one of them. Yes, two cars running alone with one’s nose up the other’s tail looks silly. But I believe it’s helped bring about drama and surprise.

Nevertheless it was NASCAR’s primary goal during testing to find the technological means to prevent these two-car dances.

Testing showed us big-pack racing had returned to Daytona. And, wonder of wonders, NASCAR didn’t hit the panic button when sustained speeds of over 200 mph were reached.

But two-car drafts did not go away. I’d be willing to say that while we might see plenty of pack racing in the Daytona 500 (I thought fans didn’t like that, either), the outcome will be determined by the two cars that hook up best in a “dance.”

Now there’s plenty of time for NASCAR to enforce legislation for things to be otherwise, but my point is: If it doesn’t, so what?

I know many will disagree, but if the Daytona 500 ends with two cars hugging on to each other, I don’t think that is necessarily going to be a bad thing.

Racing on the superspeedways may be “cracked” to some, but I don’t think it’s entirely broken. So if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

NASCAR announced a couple of other policy changes for 2012, one of which is decidedly positive and the other, well, the sanctioning body needs to tread lightly.

We now know that NASCAR will no longer punish its teams and drivers without making the fines, and other judgments, public.

Smart, very smart.

There was plenty of outcry after the sanctioning body secretly leveled a $25,000 fine against Brad Keselowski for publicly criticizing the switch to fuel injection.

That wasn’t the only time such a thing happened, by the way, and I think the reason NASCAR received the criticism it did is because, over the years, it has been accused of many, many clandestine cloak-and-dagger exploits designed to impose its will and enforce its domination.

Which certainly didn’t contribute to a positive image - nor has fining drivers and teams secretly.

If NASCAR practices what it is now preaching it will benefit. The less it appears to be a secret society, the better off it will be.

We know that NASCAR intends to re-evaluate its “Boys have at it” policy in 2012. It will strengthen its stance against drivers retaliating on the track.

NASCAR loosened its grip on driver behavior in 2010 and allowed them to police themselves and retaliate when they believed they had been wronged.

I think the main reason NASCAR did this was to offset the constant criticism that it had “cloned” its drivers; robbed them of their true personalities and denied the sport the rivalries its fans crave.

So when it comes to any sort of “re-evaluation,” I would urge NASCAR to walk softly.

It stands to reason that it should step in, with force, when things obviously get out of hand – if two drivers wreck each other repeatedly and put others in danger, for example.

But then, I can’t think of a time when it hasn’t done that.

I suspect that by its announcement of a “re-evaluation” NASCAR was actually telling its competitors it will still have the final say, “Boys have at it” notwithstanding.

I think NASCAR will indeed tread softly. It should. Heroes and villains, rivalries and confrontations on and off the track have always been a part of stock car racing’s character and appeal.

When it comes to “Boys have at it,” in my opinion things ain’t broke, so NASCAR shouldn't fix it. Frankly, I’d be stunned if it attempted to do so.

Make no mistake, there are going to be incidents and other occurrences in 2012 that will be unanticipated and, perhaps, force NASCAR to make sweeping changes. Who knows?

But right now changes are few and largely minor.

That’s because, indeed, NASCAR begins 2012 in a good place.

There might be a crack here and there, but for now, nothing ain’t broken. So don’t fix it.It’s never been unusual for NASCAR to put a positive spin on just about anything it does or its interpretation of its competitive environment. Truth be known, that’s what it should do.

However, during his “State of the Union” address at the annual Media Tour, when NASCAR CEO Brian France said, “The sport is in a very good place,” I was one of those who did not roll his eyes with the cynical thought we were getting another whitewash.

The fact is, France is absolutely correct. The 2010 Sprint Cup season was, overall, one of NASCAR’s best, one in which the positives far outweighed the negatives.

There have been times when new NASCAR policies and rules have done very little to improve its product but that was not the case last season.

Thanks in part to a simplified points system and the creation of a “wildcard” selection to the Chase that put an emphasis on victories, we saw what was the closest championship battle in NASCAR’s modern era – if not ever.

As you know, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards finished the season tied in points, but Stewart claimed the title because he had more victories.

I’m not sure Hollywood could have created a more exciting scenario.

This is not to say NASCAR did it all. Let’s credit the competitors. If Stewart hadn’t blazed to five victories in the Chase’s 10 races, well, who knows how the championship would have unfolded?

It’s obvious NASCAR does not need to tamper with its championship system. The 2010 season proved that it could work just fine and please fans and competitors alike.

As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Rightfully, NASCAR isn’t going to fix it.

One thing it is trying to fix is the proliferation of two-car, “partner” drafts that have become the norm at Daytona and Talladega.

This is a relatively new phenomenon and it appears NASCAR is responding to the will of those fans, and others, who do not like it.

Understand, not everyone disapproves. I’m one of them. Yes, two cars running alone with one’s nose up the other’s tail looks silly. But I believe it’s helped bring about drama and surprise.

Nevertheless it was NASCAR’s primary goal during testing to find the technological means to prevent these two-car dances.

Testing showed us big-pack racing had returned to Daytona. And, wonder of wonders, NASCAR didn’t hit the panic button when sustained speeds of over 200 mph were reached.

But two-car drafts did not go away. I’d be willing to say that while we might see plenty of pack racing in the Daytona 500 (I thought fans didn’t like that, either), the outcome will be determined by the two cars that hook up best in a “dance.”

Now there’s plenty of time for NASCAR to enforce legislation for things to be otherwise, but my point is: If it doesn’t, so what?

I know many will disagree, but if the Daytona 500 ends with two cars hugging on to each other, I don’t think that is necessarily going to be a bad thing.

Racing on the superspeedways may be “cracked” to some, but I don’t think it’s entirely broken. So if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

NASCAR announced a couple of other policy changes for 2012, one of which is decidedly positive and the other, well, the sanctioning body needs to tread lightly.

We now know that NASCAR will no longer punish its teams and drivers without making the fines, and other judgments, public.

Smart, very smart.

There was plenty of outcry after the sanctioning body secretly leveled a $25,000 fine against Brad Keselowski for publicly criticizing the switch to fuel injection.

That wasn’t the only time such a thing happened, by the way, and I think the reason NASCAR received the criticism it did is because, over the years, it has been accused of many, many clandestine cloak-and-dagger exploits designed to impose its will and enforce its domination.

Which certainly didn’t contribute to a positive image - nor has fining drivers and teams secretly.

If NASCAR practices what it is now preaching it will benefit. The less it appears to be a secret society, the better off it will be.

We know that NASCAR intends to re-evaluate its “Boys have at it” policy in 2012. It will strengthen its stance against drivers retaliating on the track.

NASCAR loosened its grip on driver behavior in 2010 and allowed them to police themselves and retaliate when they believed they had been wronged.

I think the main reason NASCAR did this was to offset the constant criticism that it had “cloned” its drivers; robbed them of their true personalities and denied the sport the rivalries its fans crave.

So when it comes to any sort of “re-evaluation,” I would urge NASCAR to walk softly.

It stands to reason that it should step in, with force, when things obviously get out of hand – if two drivers wreck each other repeatedly and put others in danger, for example.

But then, I can’t think of a time when it hasn’t done that.

I suspect that by its announcement of a “re-evaluation” NASCAR was actually telling its competitors it will still have the final say, “Boys have at it” notwithstanding.

I think NASCAR will indeed tread softly. It should. Heroes and villains, rivalries and confrontations on and off the track have always been a part of stock car racing’s character and appeal.

When it comes to “Boys have at it,” in my opinion things ain’t broke, so NASCAR shouldn't fix it. Frankly, I’d be stunned if it attempted to do so.

Make no mistake, there are going to be incidents and other occurrences in 2012 that will be unanticipated and, perhaps, force NASCAR to make sweeping changes. Who knows?

But right now changes are few and largely minor.

That’s because, indeed, NASCAR begins 2012 in a good place.

There might be a crack here and there, but for now, nothing ain’t broken. So don’t fix it.

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