Inside Motorsports: How could NASCAR boost credibility?
By DAVID POOLE, dpoole (AT) charlotteobserver (DOT) com

Five things NASCAR could do to improve its credibility with fans:

1. POST RULES ONLINE: Publish the Nextel Cup, Busch and Truck series
rule books online and allow fans to order copies. The rules for other
major sports are readily available. NASCAR should be no different.

2. PAINT LINES ON TRACKS: The lines should show where the electronic
scoring loops are. That way, fans could look at replays and judge
where cars are when a caution comes out, helping them understand
scoring decisions.

3. TELEMETRY ON TV: Allow television to show telemetry on cars on pit
road. So long as NASCAR is fairly and properly using electronic timing
to call pit-road speeding penalties, this would provide exoneration
the skeptics couldn't deny.

4. REALIGN CARS: Wave around cars trapped on the end of the lead lap
because of pit stop timing to let them line up behind the field, not
between the pace car and the leader. A car is either a lap down or
isn't. Other circuits have eliminated this limbo. NASCAR should, too.

5. DEVELOP A THICK SKIN Sometimes, even the best umpires and referees
miss calls. NASCAR is too scared it's going to get caught being wrong
on enforcing a rule. It absolutely happens, and pretending it doesn't
only adds to fans' suspicions.


[I add: Never use Green / Yellow starts for races! In fact, I
would like to have yellow laps NOT count! Only count Green Flag
laps!]

Wayne Mann wrote:

I completely agree.

I completely disagree. Cautions (and their laps) are a part of racing.
Having caution laps not count would eliminate most of the racing done by
the guys going over the wall.

A couple of other things I'd add to the list:

- Stock body cars with minor tweaks for aero/safety/equipment purposes.
- Fastest 43 qualify. Everybody else, better luck next week.
- No restrictor plates
- No burnouts (It's just a matter of time until some fan contracts a
respiratory ailment and sues the living hell out NASCAR or some team)
Burnouts are for kids. Victory laps are for race winners.
-Control costs. Not for the teams, for the fans.

"Wayne Mann" <tpdl (AT) charter (DOT) net> wrote

All pit stops are to begin on a green flag lap. If a car gets trapped in
the pits when a yellow comes out that'd be luck. Caution flag? Pit road is
closed till the green flag flies. Cars entering pit road for repairs held a
full lap at the end of pit road. If they only needed tires anyway they
should easily be able to make up the difference when the green comes out and
everyone else gets to their pit window. This would also negate the need for
a lucky dog bone award-a-lap.

"Vandar" <vandar69 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

belong on a race track....with logos that look like the ones on their cars.

I also disagree with your disagreement on cautions. I believe that the pits
should be effectively closed when the yellow is out forcing green flag pit
stops and/or penalties of going a lap down for entering the pits under
caution. this would make the pit work even more meaningful and pit road
would be less congested. Furthermore, NASCAR's use of full course cautions
on road courses is totally bogus. Local cautions in N$ events are rare even
though they are a normal occurrence in other RR series.

The Other Doug wrote:

A lot of people, including myself, would prefer it.

NASCAR's use of road courses is totally bogus.

How about they run counterclock racing 1st half and clockwise racing the 2nd
half?

Bear Bryant always told his players to act, when they scored a touchdown,
like they'd been to the end zone before, instead of jumping around and
whooping and hollering and celebrating.

"Vandar" <vandar69 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

Greg Bailey wrote:

I always admired the way Barry Sanders handled it - just hand the ref
the ball and head to the bench.

Wayne Mann <tpdl (AT) charter (DOT) net> wrote in
news:kmaq33hkljaig4om1pig67e84du98llt2a (AT) 4ax (DOT) com:

I don't agree with this one. The cars "tail end" of the lead lap
weren't good enough to get back on the lead lap without a caution,
so they can't complain getting on the lead lap isn't a gift. If
they're not good enough to take advantage, they'll be a lap down
soon enough, where they belong. Meanwhile, the fans get to see some
action, instead of the leader flying off to a 2 second advantage
while the second place guy works past the inside line.

I don't have a problem with counting yellow laps - it's always been
done that way, and if the cautions are real and the track crew makes
an honest effort to clean up & get back to racing quickly, it's not
a problem.

I don't approve of "green/yellow" starts, which are basically
cheating on NASCAR's part.

I also don't approve of going yellow after a red flag stoppage.
Restarting after a red should be handled the same as it is at the
start of the race, the cars lap behind the pace car without
counting laps until the green flag is dropped.

John

On May 6, 1:17 am, Vandar <vanda... (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

Burn outs do nothing but attempt to call attention to a driver that
without a solid engine man at the shop, would have engine smoke
instead of tire smoke. Like football racing is a team sport. Any
post race celebration that does not involve the entire team with the
exception of the traditional victory lap, is one that is best done
without.