Talladega: A Matter of Opinion

by 4ever3 on Nov 2, 2009 11:40 PM EST

(Left to right) Richard Brickhouse, winner of the first race at Talladega in 1969, congratulates Jamie McMurray, driver of the No. 26 IRWIN Marathon Ford, after McMurray won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday in Talladega, Ala. (Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR) via www.nascarmedia.com

Sunday's race at Talladega was an exciting one to say the least.

What?

You don't agree?

You think it was boring?

Really?

The race had fuel mileage strategies, car preservation strategies, rule changes before the race, two major crashes, a red flag period, cars running out of gas, a non-Chase winner on his way out at Roush-Fenway, etc.

What? You still think it was boring?

Well you aren't the only one, it seems that some of the blogs and message boards out there are full of upset fans saying the race was boring.

O.k. if you think it was boring then tell me how because I want to know. Come on think about it, how was this race any different than any other - especially the 1.5 mile tracks?

The only difference I see is that the track is smaller so it looks like there is more racing going on because the leaders are lapping the slower cars, other than that what is the difference? The cars are all in a line for the better part of the race until there are restarts.

The race at MIS where Brian Vickers won in Aug was similar to the race at Talladega this past weekend, except there were no cars getting airborne or barrel-rolling down the front stretch.

If you don't understand the strategies playing out before you as you watch the race I guess you will think its boring to watch.

If you are only watching the race to see the wrecks then I guess you would have thought that most of the race was boring - go watch Days of Thunder then, it is only in that make believe NASCAR world where you can beat on each other's cars at 200 mph destroying the car's aero-dynamic properties making it look like a brick, then spin out loosing several of your forward gears, pit for new tires because all 4 of yours are flat, and then come from the back without a drafting partner and win the race; all at a 2-mile oval no less.

I guess how you watch the race determines your opinion of it. I for one liked the race, and even found it funny that Harvick and his Crew Chief were talking about having an I-pod in the car so he could listen to it during the race. The reason I thought that was so funny is because I always thought that if I were a driver I would want someone piping music to me over my headset to keep me motivated. You know some AC/DC or Kiss or Metallica (Give me fuel, give me fire, give me which I desire - to win baby!), no Lionel Richie here (Hello? Is it me you're looking for? - Nope) - well maybe after the race though.

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Comments

Michael Waltrip —> Metallica (corporate suck-ups…)

by slander on Nov 3, 2009 2:02 AM EST reply actions

No Denying the accusation

but remember who is paying the bills.

by 4ever3 on Nov 3, 2009 10:42 PM EST up reply actions

Snoozefest

I gotta admit most of this race (can most of it even be considered a race, since there was no racing?) was a complete bore. Sure the last 30 – 40 laps was the usual ’Dega craziness, but NASCAR took away the racing with that bump-drafting in the corners penalty BS.

It doesn’t matter what kind of ‘rule’ they come up with they can’t completely evade a big one. When it’s time to go, guys are gonna go, and try and fit into spaces they can’t, and tires are gonna blow, etc etc etc, and carnage is gonna happen. I think the announcers talked more about hoping their wasn’t a wreck then they did about actual racing. I wonder who put that in their ear?

It’ll be interesting to see if they have the same emphasis on the bump-drafting in the corners at Daytona in Feb. Turning off alot of your fan base during the first and biggest race of the year is probably not a smart business move, considering the direction the ‘sport’ is currently headed.

by NascarPoolsOnline on Nov 3, 2009 10:39 AM EST reply actions

Daytona and Talladega

are two different creatures. You actually have to lift off of the gas a bit at Daytona where as at ‘Dega you don’t.

Two ways to fix the ‘problem’ are;

1) take some of the banking out of the track so they actually have to lift off of the gas in the corners or
2) give them all 4 stroke Tecumseh lawnmore engines to run in the cars

by 4ever3 on Nov 3, 2009 10:45 PM EST reply actions