Big Stories made Texas an Interesting Stop

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Over ten years on the air and three on the net; see what can happen when I don't let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

April 8, 2008 7:15 am EDT 11 Comments

Carl Edward’s win at Texas was almost overshadowed by other NASCAR stories from the week.

Heading into the race at Texas Motor Speedway the BUZZ was all about Jack Roush’s continuing fight with Toyota. Swaybar-Gate was alive and well. That talk has died down, but hasn’t totally disappeared with many new and potentially larger stories taking its place.

Kyle Petty stepped out of the #45 car for the race at Texas–or did he? Kyle first said he was forced out of the seat by King Richard and Robby Loomis. Kyle has softened that stance a bit since but he still doesn’t appear to be totally happy with the circumstances of the driver switch; with further news that Kyle will be stepping out of the seat for an extra race to attend his daughter’s wedding. Is that a good reason to miss a Sprint Cup race? You bet it is. But you do have to wonder why the wedding wasn’t planned for one of Kyle’s scheduled TNT broadcast weeks.

Michael McDowell’s crash and tumble down the back stretch at Texas gained a lot of press, both in and outside of the usual racing community. The advances in track, car and equipment safety have to be credited with McDowell’s ability to walk away.

Then comes the story behind this week’s BUZZ ON PIT ROW:

Carl Edwards said he likes the way the new car isn’t too easy to drive on the intermediate tracks, while others were calling it an ill-handling pig. Is Carl just overcome with winner’s euphoria?

Let me state my position really clearly since you asked. A lot of people, I’ve heard people say that the races are boring, and people always want something to complain about; and if it’s too hard to drive you don’t get enough side by side racing.

Fact is, these are the 43 best drivers in the world, the cars have 900 horsepower, drive 200 miles an hour, and the track and tires are slippery and that’s a spectacle, and that’s what it’s supposed to be.

It’s not supposed to be easy for everyone and not supposed to be driving down the interstate; and I’m tired of hearing people complain the media make up stories about how terrible it is and stuff. This is auto racing. There are going to be people that are faster and days we won’t be able to keep up because the car is too hard to drive and somebody is going to win. That’s racing.

While Edwards seemed fine with the car, others complained about it’s lack of raciness. NASCAR’s Jim Hunter has stated that there are no imminent plans to make changes to the race car.

Learn to drive it boys.

photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: Car of Tomorrow, Carl Edwards, Jimmy Johnson, NASCAR

Tagged with: Carl Edwards, Jack Roush, Texas Motor Speedway

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Comments

11 Responses to “Big Stories made Texas an Interesting Stop”

okla21fan on April 8th, 2008 10:02 am

Just a few years ago drivers/owners were complaining that had an aero advantage and that Nascar needed to make some sort of change. Now it seems that it is not one manufacturer but the complaints spread across all car makes, and that the only ones who ‘have an advantage’ are the ‘faster cars’. Gee, I am thinking that is call racing isn’t it? Someone else is always got to be the fastest car while another has to be the slowest.
okla21fan on April 8th, 2008 10:03 am

Just a few years ago drivers/owners were complaining that [insert manufacturer name here] had an aero advantage and that Nascar needed to make some sort of change. Now it seems that it is not one manufacturer but the complaints spread across all car makes, and that the only ones who ‘have an advantage’ are the ‘faster cars’. Gee, I am thinking that is call racing isn’t it? Someone else is always got to be the fastest car while another has to be the slowest.
Bram on April 8th, 2008 11:34 am

At the end of last season, I spoke with several drivers and crew chiefs to get a feel for how they viewed the looming spectre of the 1.5 mile tracks.

The common theme was ‘it’ll be ugly, but we’ll all be ugly together’.

The facts and stats seem to bear that out. 10 cars on lead lap at Texas at race’s end, 12 at Atlanta ( tires issues not withstanding), Vegas being the lone exception with 22 due the intense testing done there.

Passing is still at a premium, 1.5 milers are still largely one-groove tracks for the fastest.

Quality passes are even worse with the new car — example:Texas — 2006 stats show upwards of 1800+ QPs, 2007 — 1500+ QPs, Sunday — 350 QPs.

“learn to drive it boys”.. at this juncture on 1.5ers, its like trying to make chicken salad out of chicken feathers.

Its going to take time to unlearn the idiosycrasies of the slick, exotic aero beast we all came to know and love and it’ll take time for us all to accept the “fat baby waddling” style of racing that is replacing it in this new car.

its ugly….
Tim Zaegel on April 8th, 2008 9:40 pm

I’m ususally not a huge fan of athletes complaining about the “this and that’s” following competitions, but I tend to agree with the majority of the drivers on this case. With the exception of possibly Vegas - which was decent - these 1.5 milers have been the pits this year, and I really think NASCAR needs to step in and look at changing something on these cars following the season. Too many more races like Texas are going to force me to actually change the channel eventually.
Charlie Turner on April 8th, 2008 10:51 pm

Bram states that 1.5 milers are mostly one groove. He’s right. They always have been the tracks with the “worst” racing. And describing the old car as “slick, exotic aero-beast” is dead solid on. The new car drives kind of like a - get ready - STOCK CAR. And Oklahoma hits it when he talks about “that’s racing” Run what you brung (or are allowed to”brung”), make it better if you can, and then race it Sorry Tim, nobody said that a race car should- necessarily - be comfortable to drive. I like Carl’s attitude this time.

Thanks for the comments guys.
Bram on April 9th, 2008 7:40 am

Thanks to you Charlie. I need to clarify a point as far as those stats I’ve cited. The QP stats are based off season totals at a certain track and I think as you can see there will be a shortfall in those stats at current tracking data unless the teams make huge gains before the next race at TMS. I am trying to reflect the CoT presenting less opportunities to make passes due its drivablilty. If that is set-up, lack of stabilty in traffic, or just good old fashion driver uncomfortabilty is uncertain. I would say a combination of the three.

And Charlie , you are spot on about Carl’s attitude. They get paid the big bucks for driving to the absolute performance limits of machine and man.
Luke on April 9th, 2008 10:14 am

I’ll say it. The show at Texas wasn’t too good.

There were a few more factors besides the car that contributed to the low lead lap count, but then again Texas isn’t one of the tracks known for having many cautions.

If anything, it gave a brief glimpse of who’s keeping up with the Joneses. Some of it wasn’t quite right, but there were some long looks at straight up green flag competition.

I think the keyword here is patience. It’s going to suck getting through it, but these teams and drivers are professionals. They’ll get it figured out.

I’d be willing to bet you’ll see a lot of testing at non-Cup tracks in the coming months though.
Steve Wronkowicz on April 9th, 2008 10:01 pm

I liked what David Poole had to say on the show. His point was, why not let all these teams drive the short distance to LMS on a daily basis and test the hell out of the car. Everybody except Furniture Row Racing has the same ability to test to their hearts content, all at the same venue. No one gets an advantage and just maybe they can all share some info to get the car where they want it.

I’m sure that has to be a reason this simple solution won’t work, but it does seem logical. Ahh–there is the weak link–logic.
4ever3 on April 9th, 2008 10:06 pm

Charlie I couldn’t have written it any better. I’m not a Carl fan, at all, but he is right just drive it.
Bram on April 10th, 2008 9:37 am

Steve — you’re using common sense again.

And, imagine that, Wheeler says his track is open for testing — so he can have a better All-Star race.
RevJim on April 10th, 2008 2:50 pm

Steve this post seems uncharacteristic of one from you–you wrote something that most of us can agree with. I think the teams will eventually get it together.
Bruton Smith is making sure the blame for “bad” races doesn’t go to his tracks–Gossage offered testing at his track, and NASCAR turned it down, Wheeler is offering testing at his track, and of course, NASCAR will turn it down, no doubt. NASCAR is willing to take the blame, it seems, so they can take the credit once the teams and drivers get a better handle on the car.
It’s good that NASCAR doesn’t plan on any changes to the car soon. Let the teams catch up to what they have first.

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