Serious business

So we are in for a real treat this year judging by the performances in the duels last night. Both races were decided by less than 6/1000ths of a second, that is about the same amount of time it takes to blink your eye, literally. There, I just blinked, that was the difference in both duels at Daytona. In fact you have probably blinked 40 times already while reading this post.

NASCAR got it right this year with the new rule tweaks, pleasing race fans from coast to coast. A larger restrictor plates and a leniency towards the good ol' bump draft will have all 200,000 plus fans in attendance as well as the TV audience all on the edge of their seats come Sunday.

Talking with a co-worker of mine, Ben, who is new to the sport but quite enthusiastic about it, we have come to the realization that taking the cuffs off the drivers will help draw in marginal fans. Fans who want action not science. Most people look at me like I have two heads when I tell them how much formulaic science goes into the preparation and execution of a winning race team. And believe me the science part of the sport is as important as the tires themselves, but people want to be entertained not quizzed. We want to see the "sling shots" and the bumping, and the wrecks. Heck 9 out of 10 of us know and associate the legendary phrase "rubbing is racing", the phrase that Robert Duvall's character Harry Hogge made famous, with NASCAR.

So lets see it play out the way it was meant to. Put the race in the drivers hands and let them sort it all out. Give them an inch and they will take a yard, and that my friends is a good thing, a real good thing.

Michael Clark (emsea)