That twice a year complaint returns...more road co
Auto racing fans witnessed a thriller at Watkins Glen earlier Sunday, adding yet another great stock car road course race to the record books.  It was a classic Tony Stewart vs Jeff Gordon battle that drew the fans to their feet through the final laps.

The racers will race. Ron Fellows had a great run in the 96 car.  Robby Gordon drove up into the top 5 with his #7 car, which is also usually a mid packer.  Road courses bring out the driver in these guys - give me more of this, and less 100% car reliable ovals.

Once the Champ Car race concluded, you can bet a hand-full of the open wheel faithful tuned into the NASCAR race.  They didn't flip their tube to ESPN because they wanted to listen to Rusty Wallace tell us what kind of hot rod Denny Hamlin had, but they switched over to see road course racing on a week where NASCAR is respected by road racing faithful.

Stock cars aren't made for road courses.  They're huge, they don't turn, and they don't brake; the best thing about stock cars on a road course is they won't b-r-e-a-k break.  The good ole' boys can once again beat and bang without worrying about crumbling their right front fender.  Throw the aero out - it's an all out brawl in the final laps at the left/right tracks.

Let's fix the caution rules NASCAR.  I understand the field would not always be as bunched without them, but I'm tired of seeing the yellow come out for spins that everyone has already cleared.  Notice, it only happens sometimes (or when NASCAR needs commercial time).

Let's fix the schedule.  Why do New Hampshire, Pocono, California, Michigan, etc. etc. all have two race dates?  Those are by no means big races.  They could all be road course dates.

The point of this whole ramble is that road courses are great for NASCAR.  They generate excitement (Harvick/Montoya, Ambrose/Gordon, Montoya/Pruett), earn respect from other race fans, and make the racers drive for once!  The drivers want to be challenged when the difficulty of California Speedway isn't always enough.
Posted: 8/12/2007 10:21:00 PM
Comments:
I would have to say the road course racing is one of the most entertaining. I would like to see NASCAR take some of the dates from some of the tracks with 2 events a year and go to a couple different road courses like Laguna Seca, Road America, Road Atlanta, VIR, or even Barber Motorsports Park. I would like to see the Craftsman Truck Series have road course racing again.

The only drawback is that the people who pay to go to these races don't see a whole lot but it is great for TV because they can cover the whole track.

If NASCAR want to grow into worldwide fame I believe that they will have to start doing more road racing because look at Formula 1, Champ Car, and the LeMans series... they are known more worlwide than NASCAR and look what they race ROAD COURSES. You see where I'm going.
Posted On: 8/12/2007 10:21:00 PM
I find very little of NASCAR racing boring. Sometimes an individual race may lack drama, like when someone gets a commanding lead, but that happens in all sports. I like the road courses generally, but no more or less than others. I like F1 very much, but I don't think comparing F1 to NASCAR is helpful, as we have two completely different styles of racing. Each has its own characteristics.

I agree with all of you though: Sunday at the Glen was fantastic!!
Posted On: 8/12/2007 10:21:00 PM
I just don't understand how the race at the Glen could be considered boring.
Gordon cracks under pressure.
Cars passing in the grass and or dirt.
Drivers not setteling for points (ala Carl Edwards having second in the bag overdrives the next to last corner).
Several cars coming from the back.
And not to knock Earnhardt, but proof that one must take care of their equipment to be successful.
I thought it was a great race, and would rather see another Righty-tighty, Lefty-loosey course or two instead of a revisit to California or Michigan.
Posted On: 8/12/2007 10:21:00 PM
i agree 100%.  I started as a nascar fan, and then branched out to IRL (which is kind of a let down), and then finally to F1.  I must say although I am from stock car country (richmond, va) there are only a hand full of nascar races that are actually action packed and keep me from channel surfing the whole time.  Those tracks would be plate tracks, short tracks, and road courses.  Road courses provide the drivers with a chance to  show what they have, and not worry about if their cars are right on...lets face it some tracks with a good car you or I could drive.  Sad to say, I am now more of an F1 fan than a nascar fan, the reason: road courses.  So despite what pete pistone says, I think we need more road courses.
Posted On: 8/12/2007 10:21:00 PM
I missed the race on Sunday but watching the replays made it look pretty classic. I think there could be one or two more road course races put on the schedule but the question is if you add two road course races what two races do you take off the schedule? I'd probably go to Road Atlanta or something but it would be good for NASCAR to pick a road course in the south east so more of the core NASCAR fans can experience some road course madness.
Posted On: 8/12/2007 10:21:00 PM

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