NASCAR Pack Racing Has Risen from the Grave

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

February 25, 2012 11:24 pm UTC No Comments

Is it possible that NASCAR has found the perfect balance in restrictor plate racing?

Could the Family France have found harmony between 2011′s, new age, tandem – or pairs – plate racing and the old school, flash mob, chaos of recent seasons?

It sure looked that way in the Nationwide Series, Drive for COPD 300. Congrats to James Buescher, on surviving the wreck fest and winning the race.

Rookie driver John King pulled a similar rabbit out of the wrecks in Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NextEra Energy Resources 250, but that isn’t the point I want to make.

For maybe 90 percent of the NNWS race, pack racing was the story. Caused a bunch of semi-BIG ONES and wrecked a bunch of contenders. Fun stuff.

Then, for about the last 25 restarts (I know, it was about 4 really) the whole tandem-racing thing came back. Which I kind of – in the minority I think – like.

They still wrecked like they all owned body shops, but it was tandem wrecking, not pack wrecking.

I think I liked it. Cannot wait for Sunday.

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Filed under: Camping World Truck Series, Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR, Nationwide Series

Tagged with: Drive for COPD 300, James Buescher, John King, NextEra Energy Resources 250, restrictor plates

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Rusty Wallace Misses Call on Son’s Wreck

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.

August 1, 2011 7:24 pm UTC 4 Comments

ESPN needs to find other work for Rusty Wallace.

Friday night’s Nationwide race at Lucas Oil Raceway was looking to become a very memorable event. Not only was it quite possibly the last NNS race at the facility but it had some long green flag runs that aren’t usually seen at short tracks. The racing was good and ESPN’s coverage wasn’t. Not only does The Worldwide Leader have a penchant for going to commercial at all the wrong times; but it also employs one of the greatest understatement artists of all time.

Rusty Wallace has had a tough time transitioning to the broadcast booth. Unlike many of his contemporaries such as Ricky Craven, Dale Jarrett, Darrell Waltrip or Phil Parsons; Wallace isn’t able to pass along his vast racing knowledge to the television audience.

His lack of polish and broadcast acumen aside; he continues to struggle with having to comment on his own race team in general and his son in particular. It was no more evident than in Fridays race when he was too quick to lay blame on James Buescher for bumping Stephan Wallace thus propelling Wallace into prone teammate car.

Not only did the replay show that while Buescher did hit Wallace it was well before the latter ran into Annett; but the elder Wallace kept trying to sell the audience on his son’s innocence. It became embarrassing as Rusty then tried to divert the audiences attention by lamenting how much money it just cost him to have his two cars wrecked.

ESPN should not allow parents to be commenting on their children’s races–period.

Photo Credit: BethAnne Heisler/ON PIT ROW

Filed under: ESPN, NASCAR, NASCAR & the Media, NASCAR business, NASCAR Feuds, Rusty Wallace

Tagged with: James Buescher, Michael Annett, NASCAR, Rusty Wallace, Stephan Wallace

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