Welcoming Randy Moss To NASCAR
July 3, 2008
Because when I think NASCAR; I think Randy Moss. In what may be the strangest marriage since Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson; New England Patriots’ Wide Receiver Randy Moss, has decided to purchase himself part of a NASCAR truck series. Read more
Open Testing Would Have its Drawbacks
July 3, 2008
NASCAR is evidently considering going “wide open” with its testing policy. As it stands now, NASCAR mandates so many tests per year at their sanctioned tracks, and typically most teams show up for the tests. Teams can test any time they want at tracks that are not NASCAR sanctioned.
While there may be good things about the plan, I think it would completely hinder the process of trying to save the teams money. It would also drive the “haves” and the “have-nots” even farther apart in performance.
If NASCAR allowed teams to test at their own discretion, I can see a scenario like this: Multi-car, multi-million dollar budget teams will start testing weekly to gain a competitive edge. Eventually, all the big-budget teams will follow suit in order to keep up. In order not to burn out the weekend crews, new employees will have to be hired specifically for testing. More transporters will be needed. Teams will likely also have to employ separate drivers and engineers for the sole purpose of testing.
On the good side, this would create a lot more opportunities for people trying to break into NASCAR. On the bad side, the costs would be astronomical, and there is no way a small, single-car operation could keep up. Were a team like the Wood Brothers to try to keep this pace, their employees would all be asleep at the wheel, pardon the pun, by the time the most important part of the week came around.
More testing would also mean additional burning of fuel, a touchy subject right now if there ever was one. Why give any more ammunition to critics who are already calling us wasteful with the fuel supply?
More testing costs would inevitably mean teams asking for more sponsor money, and in this economy, along with asking for more fuel, how feasible is that? Until things start looking up, I think it would be wise for NASCAR to keep testing in-house.
Breaking News: NHRA Shortens Racing Distance To 1,000 Feet
July 2, 2008
As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA announced today that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or one-quarter mile. This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport’s long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with the sport. Read more
Franchitti Out of the Sprint Cup!
July 2, 2008
Chip Ganassi pulled the plug on the #40 Cup team. He says they ran out of sponsorship. With Dario running 41st in the point standings the decision apparently wasn’t too difficult. It was announced Read more
Mark Martin Deserves A Little Respect. Okay, Maybe A Lot.
July 1, 2008
I read something this morning that troubled me greatly. It seems that the U.S. Army is all for Mark Martin moving away from the #8 Chevrolet next season due to his age. They evidently want Aric Almirola in the car full-time because, at 24, he more “fits their demographic.” Read more