Being a NASCAR fan (or a NASCAR writer) is like being part of a large extended family. When there's a crisis, you can always count on members of the NASCAR community to rally to your aid. As in all families, however, there are bound to be disagreements and sometimes outright feuds.
If you want to stir things up on race day, just invite some NASCAR family members over and bring up one or more of the following topics, guaranteed to separate the Hatfields from the McCoys at any NASCAR gathering. I have also included some of the arguments you may hear on both sides, though not necessarily my own thoughts or opinions:
Topic #1: Buschwhacking - When Cup series regulars like Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Greg Biffle compete in a Busch series race, the practice is known as Buschwhacking and the drivers, Buschwhackers.
PROS:
Buschwhacking helps the Cup drivers prepare for their own race, which is usually the following day at the same track. Busch series promoters love the added attention and TV viewership that Buschwhackers bring to their races, and many of the Busch drivers say that competing with the Cup boys helps them improve their own driving skills.
CONS:
With a few exceptions, the Buschwhackers are not competing for points in the Busch series, but their presence can certainly affect the finishing order and the race results. The smaller Busch teams cannot compete financially with the mega Cup teams like Roush Racing or DEI in terms of equipment and resources. It may be difficult for the Busch series to maintain its own identity in the face of ever-increasing Buschwhacking.
Topic #2: Road Courses - In 2006, two of the 36 Nextel Cup races will be held on road course tracks: Infineon Raceway in June and Watkins Glen in August. All the other races will be at NASCAR's traditional left-turning ovals.
PROS:
In order to win a NASCAR title, drivers should be challenged on a variety of tracks. Road course racing requires an entirely different skills set than oval course racing, and only the most well-rounded drivers will be able to distinguish themselves on these demanding courses.
CONS:
Road courses are simply not designed for 43 heavyweight stock cars to race on. The drivers end up following each other single file with very little passing, which makes for slow, boring races. Many fans are not crazy about the road-course "ringers" - road-racing specialists brought in by team owners just for these two races - especially since the ringers have never won a road-course race in the Cup series. Two road course races a year is two too many.
Topic #3: The Chase - Hard to believe that it's already been two years since NASCAR CEO Brian France introduced "The Chase for the Nextel Cup." The new points system was concocted to increase fan interest during the latter third of the season, when NASCAR competes head-to-head with the NFL for TV viewers. Under this system, the top ten drivers in points after 26 races have their points reset at five-point intervals, and then compete against each other in a ten-race playoff for the title.
PROS:
This change was desperately needed if NASCAR intends to compete with other pro sports. It's pretty dull when the championship is all but decided three or four races before the end of the season. The Chase's success is borne-out by the fact that the title has come down to the last lap of the last race two years running, resulting in continued growth of the fan base and improved TV ratings.
CONS:
It's easy to create close competition when you artificially manipulate driver points after 26 races. It's unfair to the top drivers, who have their points lead stripped away in order to narrow the gap between competitors. The 33+ drivers not in the Chase are practically ignored in the latter part of the season unless they win a race. The ten tracks chosen for the Chase do not offer enough variety and balance to test the drivers' skills and abilities. Essentially, the Chase format offers more symbolism than substance.
Topic #4: Rubbin' is Racin' - This well-worn NASCAR adage is meant to explain that stock-car racing inevitably involves contact between vehicles. Issues arise, however, when the contact is (or appears to be) intentional, when a potential race winner is wrecked in the final laps, or when a non-Chase driver takes out a title contender during the Chase.
PROS:
Rubbing will always be a part of racing. Contact is part of the game and if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Drivers talk about racing each other clean, but NASCAR isn't NASCAR without the "bump and run" and the "chrome horn." If a slower driver refuses to get out of the way, he deserves to be moved out of the way.
CONS:
Racing is dangerous enough without intentionally putting someone in the wall, and who wants to win like that, anyway? In these days of $20 million sponsorships, there is way too much on the line for drivers to maliciously wreck one another. Most wrecks lead to retaliatory strikes and both drivers lose out in the end. It is poor sportsmanship to take someone out on purpose.
Topic # 5: Foreign Auto Makers in NASCAR - With the announcement this week that NASCAR has welcomed Toyota to both the Cup and Busch series in 2007, the debate about foreign auto makers will continue, most likely with renewed fervor.
PROS:
Toyota is already racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series and has been highly competitive. In order to attract more fans, the sport needs to be open to change, and the introduction of foreign car makers to NASCAR is a development that's long overdue.
CONS:
NASCAR is a uniquely American sport with strong southern roots. We've made it this far with America's Big Three automakers and there is no compelling reason to change now. Bringing foreign automakers into NASCAR will continue to blur the lines between our sport and other forms of auto racing.
Have fun feuding this week, and be sure to come back next week for Part Two, featuring five more things for NASCAR fans to argue about.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing.
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