Mike Calinoff: Making The Rules
Written by Mike Calinoff · October 7, 2003
It’s Not as Easy as You Think…
Human nature dictates that we strive to find faults. We all do it.
As NASCAR continues their quest to make our sport safe, they initiate new guidelines by which we must abide. Structuring those guidelines is a tedious task that usually generates both positive and negative results.
Racing back to the line is something that NASCAR has been critical of over the past several seasons. The incident at Loudon that found Dale Jarrett sideways, unbuckled and white-knuckled was the clincher necessary to make the change.
We don’t race back anymore and there are good and bad theories behind rule.
In the past drivers had to earn spots on the track. If you went a lap down, you had the chance to make it up if the timing was right and you had a competitive car. That’s only fair. That’s what the game is all about.
Now, if you’re a lap down – 15 seconds behind the leader – you can still gain your lap back, and have a chance at the win. Fair, unfair, I don’t know. But it’s created a definite result in the finish of the last two races. Newman won Dover as a result of the rule and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. found himself set for the finish at Talladega. Both tracks boast high speeds so safety was in place when the yellow flag waved.
The rule in general seems to have merit. It eliminates the helter-skelter of flying through the field when the caution comes out. It has stopped the lapped cars from literally picking up speed when they should be slowing down. That’s a positive.
So where is the negative? Restarts.
It’s only a matter of time until we see the lapped cars charging to turn one on a restart – trying to beat the leader into the corner. That would ensure their lap back if a quick yellow were to fly. Not a good situation. The cars that are lapped are usually there for a reason. Ill-handling equipment is at the top of the bill and having them over-drive their cars to gain spots can only cause havoc. It’s going to happen.
On the other hand, it’s their right to race. The whole idea is to pass cars and gain as many positions as you can for the finish. It’s why they show up every week.
So what really is the answer? I’m not quite sure.
NASCAR has the unenviable task of having to make, police and answer for the rules. It’s not as easy as you think. With each change of the rules come new factors. Like a chess game, each move affects the next. For each problem comes a host of solutions – each with their own ramifications, and each may or may not be the answer.
The evolution of NASCAR racing has brought with it youth, speed, safety and money. And each of those elements play off each other as well. What are the answers? Which method is right? Trial and error is probably the most adequate measuring stick and we’ll need to respect each decision and deal with their consequences.
Mike Calinoff, new contributor to FastMachines.com, is a twenty-five year auto racing veteran. Mike has been involved in most aspects of racing and was recently featured on NBC’s pre-race show with Benny Parsons. Aside from his consulting work, team management skills and professional speaking, Mike works weekends for Matt Kenseth in the Winston Cup and Busch Series as the Team Spotter. Click here to learn more about Mike.
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One approach to the remaining delimma of the restart may be to line up the lapped cars on the outside of the track instead of the preferred inside line. I’ve never understood the rationale of allowing the lapped cars the inside of the track, only to slow down the fast movers and possibly start chain reaction wrecks