having to show up for their daily job requirements.
Each passing year is showing that I$C is trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear of a racing facility. This is pure California Dreamin. Their insistence on having a Hollywood connection is ludicrous since the track is nowhere near Hollywood itself. The closest it comes is when Fox parks the Hollywierd Hotel in the infield. We used to have a quite similar track called the Texas World Speedway. We no longer race there for the very same reason affecting Fontana. Its location, once the new wore off, just wasn’t conducive to attracting a full house. It only had one race date so it wasn’t an over saturation of the market area. Fontana has the problem of trying to fill the seats for two race dates while not offering the great, side by side racing we so desire. Texas World offered far better racing and it failed. The I$C suits haven’t observed the old adage, “Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it.” The comparison of the track surface at Fontana to Darlington is a real slap in the face to us loyalists.
Let me jump back on my “Defending Robby Gordon” horse. I’m not sure who the insider was that posted this but the following purports to be from the NASCAR rule book:
20-3.10 Bumper Covers
G. The following is a list of approved front bumper covers.
(1) Upper Front bumper cover
2007,2008Chevrolet Impala SS CC50703
2007 Dodge Avenger 05045265AA
2008 Dodge Charger 05045265AA
2007,2008 Ford Fusion M-17626-C107
2007,2008 Toyota Camry 00646-52119-00
Well, shazam, lo and behold. Why wouldn’t Robby’s crew be confused? The only noticeable difference between the Charger and Avenger nose pieces is the indentation where the simulated grille decal is applied. Once again, they both fit the template, they both have the same part number and there was no intent to gain a competitive advantage. Where is the harm? Where is the foul? The harm is in the rule book. The foul is Dodge knowing the difference but still providing the wrong part. This judge grants Robby a full and complete pardon and takes 100 points from Dodge toward the manufacturers point standings. Common sense dictates this would be the end of the story. As always, common sense and NA$CAR in the same sentence is an oxymoron but hope remains eternal.
I’ve read many complaints and a very few kudos for the NA$CAR officials at Fontana. I have mixed emotions about the seeming fiasco we witnessed on TV and, for some, at the track. NA$CAR owes it to the paying customers to make their best effort to run a complete race on the date advertised. They were fighting a losing battle from the time the sun rose Sunday until they belatedly called for the race postponement at midnight. They had the compound problem of rain, humidity and the track weepers. I was watching the radar and it appeared to me that there was a window of opportunity. Sadly, the radar didn’t show the saturating humidity that, while not rain, made the track drying efforts hopeless. The wind was from the wrong direction and didn’t help. This turned out to be a situation where the officials were damned if they do and damned if they don’t. I don’t envy them at all but I do believe the race should have been called by 6PM local time.
While I have my problems with Larry Mac, his posting on the Fox website was bang on. He readily points out the fallacy that the TV networks controlled the events at Fontana has no bearing in truth. While they may lobby NA$CAR for start times more beneficial to their schedule there was no way they wanted the late call on the race postponement. Fox would have been very happy if the call was made before 6PM EST. As he pointed out, their staying with the coverage cost the network millions in ad revenue they make with their worn out reruns of The Simpsons and the like. He didn’t actually use those words but his hidden meaning is quite obvious. Sponsors don’t pony up the big bucks to cover a non race even though, in this case, the rain delay coverage was great entertainment.
I’ve also read many complaints made against NA$CAR for the wrong reasons. The pre race entertainment, Anthem presentation, color guard, etc. are all selected by the track promoters. NA$CAR has no direct say in this while I wish they would develop a standard for the presentation of the Anthem. That twit they used at Fontana was a disgrace. When Fox cut to the stage for ZZ Top I had this sudden urge to go out and buy a flea collar but was too occupied by trying to stop my ears from bleeding. All that fluff, pomp and circumstance is planned months ahead of the actual event to ensure availability of the performers. So, in an off handed way, I’m defending CA$HCAR where they are innocent.
I’ve read a few accounts about Monday’s races touting the racing as being better than in years past. I’ve also read many accounts of how terrible it was. Regardless of your view on the quality of the racing, factor this. Tuesday evening I watch the replay of the 1976 Daytona 500. We’ve all seen the classic replays of Petty and Pearson crashing just before the finish line with Pearson’s car crawling to the win. Here’s the deal. They were the only two cars on the lead lap with third place a lap down and fourth two laps down. While there is much wrong with the current state of our racing do we really want to return to those glory days? The
quality of the cars today makes for less blown
engines and far better racing on the lead lap.
We may not see a green flag swapping of the
lead every other lap but your favorite driver has a
far better chance of a good finish, even a win,
than back in the day. The shaky camera
coverage of the 1976 race would not be tolerated
today and we don’t have screaming Brits/Scots
like Jackie Stewart talking about windscreens,
boot and bonnets.
As always, this is my opinion based on
knowledge and observation. You may disagree
but never be disagreeable.
May you be ever cognizant of your duty to protect and care for those innocent little ones. May a loving God’s blessings be upon you and yours, our great nation, all who serve to protect and defend and all victims of terrorism. May you never forget 911 and the loss of 3,000 innocent friends, relatives and neighbors whose only guilt was showing up for work.
Never forget: We Are the Land of The FREE Because of The BRAVE.
Mom, Apple Pie, John Wayne and NASCAR Racing, now that’s America.
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