Note: The following opinion is that of a reader. His opinions are entirely his. Any comments
should be directed to him at the email address listed below.
If you would like to express your opinion in this space you can
submit content for my review by using this form.
The new engine rules for the NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series in 2001 make me wonder
what NASCAR's intentions are. There have been 3 young, talented drivers killed this year. Hitting the
wall too fast head on killed them all. With even more power next year with the new engine rules, there
will be faster speeds next year in the NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Trucks. This will make the risk for
driver injury or death is even higher.
I, think that NASCAR needs to start slowing speeds down more, instead of speeding up. The Busch
and Craftsman Trucks most of the time produce more competitive races than the Winston Cup series,
because of the slower corner speeds, that makes the groove or line through the corner wider, allowing
for more 2 and 3 wide racing through the corners. The weaker engines also helps the Busch Grand
National Series have more competitive races because the cars are easier to drive, and handle better.
With the new engine rules, its not only drivers that have to worry about speeds, fans do also. It's
likely that the Craftsman Truck Series will have to use restrictor plates at Daytona, to make the
racing safer for the fans in the grandstands. This year Geoffrey Bodine had a horrific crash during
the truck race at Daytona, with faster speeds the truck might have went into the fence harder,
possibly injuring more or killing spectators.
This all makes me wonder, if NASCAR is speeding up the support series' to Winston Cup, you know
they aren't very interested in slowing down the Winston Cup cars, which would make for better
racing, and reduce the risk of injury or death. With speeds getting faster in Winston Cup all the
time because of improved aerodynamics, new tires from Goodyear, and hard work by the teams in the
dyno room to gain more power. Eventually, all tracks that are considered super speedways (1 Mile or
more in length) will become to fast and Winston Cup Series will have to use a restrictor plate at all of
them.
I like what NASCAR did at Talladega, putting a 70-degree rear spoiler on the car, and putting a metal
strip across the roof. That hurt the aerodynamics of the cars, and made for a lot better race. NASCAR
is going to have to look at doing this at more tracks, to keep from using restrictor plates.
NASCAR became popular because of the good, hard, competitive racing. With more flat tracks on the
series schedule, and faster speeds, NASCAR is endangering what made it what it is today. I feel
NASCAR will lose fans, if it doesn't do something soon. I'm sure NASCAR knows more about what
they're doing than I do, but I have to question their intentions.
Author: Greg
E-Mail: nascarfreak74@excite.com
