Top Row Seat - Bristol
Dateline: 04/15/97Bent Sheet Metal
Bristol is never boring. That is one of the great truths of motorsports. And if you would like confirmation of that fact ask Robby Gordon (3+ incidents), Jack Sprague (4+ incidents), Mike Skinner (4+ incidents), or Geoff Bodine (3+ incidents, 2 cautions, 1 interview, and $10,000 in fines). Bristol is a tough place to race.
In case you missed out on the excitement, Geoff Bodine cost himself (as car owner) $10,000 in fines after his unsportsmanlike interview following his get together with Jimmy Spencer. Geoff didn't exactly hide his emotions in the interview saying things like "That was God damn stupid." This wouldn't have been so bad except for one small detail. Geoff was wrong, he slid up and got into Spencer to cause the wreck which put him out of the race. Spencer was already up against the wall.
Maintaining Good Sponsorship Rule #18 : If you are going to make a dramatic stand make sure the wreck wasn't your fault.
#24 Still Making Friends
It's no secret that PosterBoy is not my favorite driver on the circuit. However, even his fans have got to be disgusted with the fact that their hero resorted to putting a bumper on the leader in order to win.
I can't help but note the difference between what (he-whose-name-I-refuse-to-use) did this weekend and what Ted Musgrave did at Darlington. Both were faced with similar situations. Laps winding down, running in second place on a one groove racetrack with a slightly faster car than the leader. At Darlington Dale Jarrett gave Musgrave multiple chances to put a bumper on him and take the win but each time Ted lifted. Ted didn't get the win but he can look at himself in the mirror and know that he's trusted and respected by his fellow drivers and the fans. On the other hand, when the laps were winding down at Bristol the 2 and 24 were racing hard for the win when, as Rusty said he "Got down into turn 3 and got one of them little love taps [from PosterBoy]."
I've said it before and I will again here, there are a number of races on the schedule where you need help from other drivers to win. Imagine the 1998 Daytona 500 with PosterBoy leading, Musgrave second, and Wallace and Jarrett running 3rd and 4th. When Ted pulls out to pass on the last lap who do you think Rusty and Dale are going to draft with?
"The Rose Bowl Of NASCAR"
By the time the tour returns to Bristol in August that facility will hold 130,000 reserved seats. That number is even more impressive when you consider that I was there for the spring race in 1995 and I was amazed that it was possible to pack 68,000 fans around that little half mile track. Now in 1997 the thought of there being almost DOUBLE that number just 28 months later is staggering.
Mini-Season
The next three races comprise the mini-season. The shortest track on the circuit, the fastest superspeedway, and a road course back to back to back. I'll be curious to see if any one driver can perform well at all three of these tracks. In the past we've seen drivers finish in the top five at all three, but no one has ever truly dominated the mini-season. Could it happen this year? I don't think so. The guys who are running well (Jarrett, PosterBoy, and Wallace) each have a weakness. Jarrett has never won on a short track, #24 doesn't perform on the road courses, and Wallace's superspeedway bad luck is legendary. Nonetheless, even if no one driver can win all three races, I'll be keeping track to see who will earn the most points and claim the Mini-Season Championship.
Next Up
For the first time in 1997 I'm finally headed off to the race this weekend. I've never been to Martinsville but I love short track racing and I'm looking forward to seeing a new track. Look for next week's edition to have a little different perspective as I'll get to be there, smell the brake dust, listen to the scanner bites and report back to you all when I get back on Tuesday.
As for a prediction... Ask yourself who has been running well this year? Who has won at Martinsville in the past? And who is the acknowledged master of the short tracks? All three of those questions point to one guy. Rusty Wallace.
Go Fast, Turn Left, Stay Safe!
