Auugust 24, 2009
By Matthew Pizzolato
Matthew Pizzolato
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NASCAR’s decision to debut the new Car of Tomorrow has not gone over very well with fans -- or with drivers either for that matter. While definite improvements have been made in safety features of the car, racing has been sacrificed.
When Kyle Busch won the first race with the COT at Bristol, he said that the cars “suck.” And since that time, there have been no rave reviews for the car, only criticisms. NASCAR officials must not be able to take a hint because they are slated to ruin the racing in Nationwide with a COT for that series next year.
The most notable in the procession of drivers to speak out against the COT was Dale Earnhardt Jr., last week at Michigan.
“I feel like, especially right now, we need to really, really try to turn over every stone, and that includes where we are with this COT and where we feel like its development is and where we feel like its future goes,” Earnhardt was quoted as saying in an AP article on espn.com.
In a move that left many fans scratching their heads, Earnhardt Jr. was roundly criticized by NASCAR president Mike Helton for his comments. Earnhardt Jr., is by far the most popular driver in the sport, and when he says something, fans and other drivers tend to pay attention.
Helton played down Earnhardt’s comments by saying that Earnhardt is frustrated because he’s having a bad year.
Earnhardt is certainly not having his best season; he’s only finished in the top five twice and won’t make the Chase, but Helton’s comments were totally uncalled for and certainly not the brightest thing he’s ever said.
“So there's a frustration there that I think attributes to his comments and I think people see those,” Helton said in a David Newton article on espn.com. “When he landed on the car itself being more specific about that, it's more like his dad would comment when he was having a bad stretch.”
Earnhardt’s comments more than likely came from a genuine desire to create a better race for the fans and to improve the sport. He simply said what a lot of drivers have apparently been thinking because several of them came to his defense after Helton blasted him, including Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch.
“I still don't think we're ever going to get to where we really need to,” Gordon said in the AP article, when speaking of the COT.
Neither Gordon nor Busch are having bad seasons. As of the Michigan race, Gordon is second in the points and Busch is sixth; both of them will most likely make the Chase. So, what is Helton’s excuse for them agreeing with Earnhardt?
It is well past time for NASCAR to scrap the COT and go back to the old car, that is not going to happen. NASCAR has spent too much money on development and too much time shoving the COT down the throats of both drivers and fans alike. The COT is not going anywhere.
NASCAR’s ratings have dropped and ticket sales at the tracks have plummeted since the COT debuted, but instead of listening to constructive criticism on ways to improve their product, officials instead choose to bury their heads in the sand and proceed on a course of failure.
It would have been one thing if Helton had simply disagreed with Earnhardt and stated his own opinion about the car. Instead, he chose to make a personal attack against a man who has become the face of the sport.
Certainly, Helton has angered a large portion of Junior Nation, and that is definitely not a smart move.
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