May 30, 2003

As I watched the Coca-Cola 600 last Sunday I was expecting to see Michael Waltrip take the win, then I realized this was not the Daytona 500. The rain and the red flag finish seemed to take the fans back to Daytona 500 back in February. Only this red flag finish gave us a different winner, Jimmie Johnson driver of the No. 48 Lowes car for Hendrick Motorsports and co-owner Jeff Gordon.

Although some fans feel they were cheated out of yet again another race finished under the red flag, but some of the drivers feel they were cheated as well.

Rusty Wallace. driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite car, Matt Kenseth driver of the No. 17 DeWalt car, Ryan Newman driver of the No. 12 Alltel car, Michael Waltrip driver of the No. 15 NAPA car, all stated that there was still 130 laps yet to run and they felt they all had a chance to win this race. They all felt they were cheated when NASCAR President Mike Helton called the race with a red flag, due to rain.

Although, some fans feel they were cheated out of yet again another race finished under green conditions, Mr. Helton explained why he made this decision. Mr. Helton said "There was more chance of rain throughout the night, and if there wasn't it would take three hours to dry the track."

Three hours after the race was called, Jimmie Johnson was still out making rounds, shaking hands as the winner of the Coca-Cola 600 and it never rained during these three hours. In fact it had quit raining before the race was ended.

The question the fans are asking is how could it have taken 3 hours to dry this track when the fans have seen the Daytona track, which is 2.5 miles, get dried in less time than a track like Lowes Motor Speedway which is only 1.5 miles? Why did Mr. Helton actually call the race finished after it had stopped raining?

More than once we've seen it rain with the drivers pulling into the pits, get the cars covered up and then return to racing when the rain cleared after the jet dryers finished their job.

What do the fans need to do or say to get their point across.. "They are tired of being ripped off by Mr. Helton?"

Some of these fans had purchased tickets to both the Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 to much of their dismay both races were finished under the red flag due to rain.

Many fans are considering not purchasing any more tickets to these tracks that has lights if Mr. Helton isn't going to use them when needed or if Mr. Helton isn't going to postpone the race until the following Monday as has been done in previous races.

I'm not sure what the fans can do to get their point across, but I wonder what Mr. Helton's reaction would be if he saw more than half the stands seats empty?

It is the fans of this sport that support this sport. When we purchase tickets, souvenirs, beverage, food, and the programs, these proceeds do go to support the NASCAR sport. Mr. Helton needs to realize this, for without the fans there would be no NASCAR.

Until Next Time: Turn Left

You can contact Denise at: Insider Racing News