Did you know since the start of the season only one non-Cup regular has won a national series event? The driver? Trevor Bayne.
Who would have thought by this point in the season, 11 races in (counting all the races in all three series), the Daytona 500 winner would be the only non-Cup regular to win a race? Crazy. This leads me to wonder what effect the points changes have had on who is racing where. Though I’ve been moderately supportive of the changes, the obvious answer is not much.
Kyle Busch, or a Kyle Busch owned team has won five of 11 races – four of which have come in a non-Cup Series event. We’ve seen NASCAR veterans Mark Martin and Michael Waltrip win, and Kasey Kahne continue his perfect Truck Series streak. We’ve had a lot of compelling storylines; the regulars in the Truck and Nationwide Series just haven’t been part of it.
As a result the points leaders in the two lowers series who have no wins and just one top-five finish between the two of them. In the Nationwide Series it’s Jason Leffler who leads the points with no top-fives and three top-tens. He’s averaging an 8.5 place finish. Series veteran Matt Crafton leads the truck points with one top-five and three top-10s. He’s averaging a seventh place finish.
Your second place driver in the Truck Series? That’s 19-year-old Cole Whitt with just two top-ten finishes to his name.
Ironically, for all the early seasion talk from NASCAR about how the points changes would put a little more emphasis on wins, the Cup Series points leader, Kurt Busch, also has no wins, just one one top-five, and four top-tens. Is consistency still the king? It sure is looking that way.
While I was definitely an advocate of some kind of a points move, I’m sorry to see what they’ve done hasn’t really changed anything. Certainly we don’t expect Kyle Busch et al to run the full season in the Truck and Nationwide Series, but their presence thus far has been overwhelming – and in most cases stifling. There is still a lot of season to go, but from what we’ve seen so far, I don’t expect too many changes.
So three – or four – races in what do you think about the points changes? Was it what you expected? Give us your points opinion so far!
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Yikes.
Do you want to know what happens when you don’t have any young drivers being developed? You end up with two straight Cup Series Rookie of the Year classes made up of start-and-park drivers and rolling chicanes.
Fox Sports’ Lee Spencer (and others) reported Thursday Roush and Wood Brothers driver Trevor Bayne won’t be eligible to compete for ROY honors this season despite a planned 17 race schedule because he isn’t running for the Cup Series championship. That means we currently have one driver competing for a now unsponsored Rookie of the Year award: Brian Keselowski.
Keselowski’s recent history has been marked by regular start-and-park runs. Out of 30 attempted races last season, Keselowski only finished nine (he failed to qualify for four).
This award is supposed to honor and celebrate the best and the brightest of the future. Past ROY winners include Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, David Pearson and Jeff Gordon. Now obviously there have been some guys who haven’t panned out, but it’s been a very long time since we’ve a seen such weak classes.
Now I write this not to bash Keselowski. I think given some decent equipment he could actually run OK – note several top-20 runs over the last couple of seasons in really sub-par equipment – but he’s very likely to win the ROY award this year after running what I assume will be a pretty full start-and-park schedule. This of course isn’t his fault. This situation though is a little ridiculous and speaks to some serious issues we have right now.
Hopefully with the move to limit Cup driver involvement in lower series (and an improving economy) we’ll see younger drivers once again having opportunities to advance through the sport. Expect to see a competitive young field with the likes of Trevor Bayne and Justin Allgaier this season. Maybe we’ll see them, and some of their up-and-coming peers competing for the Cup ROY award in the not too distant future.
In the meantime though, NASCAR needs to come up with some alternative for awarding this, or not award it at all. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather see no one in the record books than someone not deserving of the award win it.
We learned a lot through the media tour this week. NASCAR is changing the points system. RPM has a new CEO, who happens to also be female. Felix Sabates has a lot of ideas for how to make things better (on second thought, not sure we learned anything there). Larry McReynolds thinks the sport’s media is too negative. And some in the sport’s press corps have thin skin. All in all, an enlightening week.
Perhaps most enlightening though were those comments from McReynolds and the backlash he incurred. Serving as EGR’s MC on Monday, McReynolds told a less than receptive crowd to be “more positive.” The snark and angry responses that ensued were large in number, but not exactly surprising. I’m sure some of you saw them.
Monte Dutton of the Gaston Gazette wrote:
McReynolds and his (Fox) mates would much rather talk about ingrown toenails than empty seats. He seldom used the noun “sport” without the modifier “our.” He perhaps considers himself uniquely qualified to lecture on the subject of ethics, as one of his employers is fond of proclaiming itself “fair and balanced.”
And Jeff Gluck of SB Nation wrote:
At the very least, offering a large group of people suggestions on how to do their jobs makes everyone defensive, and it’s certainly not going to make anyone change how they do their jobs.
Point taken Jeff.
Thanks for the ethics lesson… not
The fact is, McReynolds was always going to lose with these comments. Reporters aren’t going to admit (if they are) that they have taken a negative slant, and fans aren’t going to admit their outlook on the sport is at least, in some measure, colored by what they read and hear (it is). I’m not sure what the impetus was for McReynolds to make these comments, but they were a not so great idea.
The common refrain out of much of the press corps was: “we’re just telling like it is.” And since NASCAR’s media is a bastion of journalism in this country, why should anyone be questioning them? They are, of course, always objective, and never delve into opinion or question the decisions of the sport’s drivers, team executives, team owners, sanctioning body etc. Just the facts.
Snark aside, Larry McReynolds probably shouldn’t be lecturing anyone on ethics in journalism. And the sport’s press corps is right that they have a moral and ethical responsibility to “seek truth and report it.” Still what McReynolds said contains at least a grain of truth.
As a side note, after railing against McReynolds (inherently a negative thing), it took just a couple of days for some members of the press corps to further strengthen McReynolds’ point. No sooner had NASCAR announced the points change on Wednesday, had the sports media begun tearing it apart. These scathing editorials from some people who are normally tasked with writing the news, no doubt has colored perception. Or maybe not?
Fans can think for themselves
Jeff Gluck wrote:
Fans can think for themselves and make up their own minds – about everything.
One of the first things you learn in the news business is that every decision you make when you’re crafting your story is a matter of opinion. Every comma, every period, every sentence not written, every shot edited out, they’re all editorial decisions that can change the meaning of a story. That in turn can affect how the story is told to the readers, viewers or listeners, and how they see a particular event.
While Gluck is absolutely correct, that fans are capable of thinking for themselves, as a steward of the news, and perceived expert on the sport, what he and others say matters. It especially matters to those who closely read and follow what he and other favorites have to say.
Whether you want to admit it or not, unless you’re personally witnessing events, the person or organization you’re getting your news and information from colors your perception. And there is nothing wrong with that.
For instance, I like college football, but I’m not an expert on recruiting – what Rivals.com and other ranking experts have to say about a recruit absolutely affects my opinion of said recruit. The same is true in NASCAR. People tend to defer to those who have more knowledge than they have, it’s human nature.
Some final thoughts
I didn’t agree with everything Larry McReynolds had to say on Monday, but I do think he made a good point about the environment that has enveloped the sport’s media. Some in the press corps write about NASCAR with clear disdain. And I think there is a good deal more negativity that permeates NASCAR than other sports – I think a lot of that has to do with respect for leadership at the top (‘Craftsman World Truck Series’ anyone?).
I know this going to sound ground breaking, but I also think it’s possible to be factual and honest without being inflammatory and unnecessarily negative – on the flip side it’s possible to do all that without being ‘Pollyanna’ish.
Until we once again strike that balance though these charges of negativity are going to continue to pop up. And until the collective press corps is willing to look in a mirror and see itself for what it is, warts and all (some proved on Monday they aren’t ready), nothing is going to change.
The fourth estate is alive and well in NASCAR. There is no doubt about that. For the sake of the sport though, that may or may not be a good thing.
Finally, NASCAR is back on track, testing this week at Daytona. With that comes the first signs of the 2011 season. Yesterday we got to hear about Tony Stewart’s trip down under, Brian Vicker’s return, and our first look at the ever so slightly altered COT on track.
While we still have 30 days and counting until the Daytona 500, we’re about to get all the news and information we can handle for a while.
Today, NASCAR will hold its annual competition update, hopefully shedding some light on their plans for this season. Among some of the rumored changes is a replacement for the, at times, complicated Latford points system. According to an Associated Press report, NASCAR is considering a plan that would award 43 points to the top finishing driver and then one less point to each driver after that.
While that change may, or may not, occur, NASCAR had a great sounding board this week, with responses from drivers, fans and everyone in between. Something tells me, by the time many of you read this, we’ll have our answer.
Thankfully NASCAR has scheduled this on Friday so we’ll have the entire weekend to talk about (endlessly), and (over) analyze any changes that are made.
Then, starting Monday, the (wouldn’t you know it, branded) NASCAR Sprint Media Tour kicks off. It’s three days of the sport’s teams putting on their best face and rolling out their latest and greatest. Any news, announcements, paint schemes and personnel changes that we haven’t already heard about, or seen will likely take place between the kick off and next Thursday afternoon.
The tour boast 21 stops at race shops, the speedway, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and elsewhere. You can bet there will be at least a little news that comes out of it. You can follow it all on twitter (hashtag #mediatour), or any of your favorite NASCAR news sites.
While at this moment, I have no news to report, feel free to use this post as a discussion board as it comes rolling in over the next few days and week. Enjoy (I know I will)!
With Christmas now behind us and New Years coming this week, the 2011 season will quickly be up on us. Only eight weeks stand between us and the 2011 Daytona 500. And teams know the clock is ticking.
This week between Christmas and the New Year is traditionally an off week for the teams. While some will still have employees working, many shut their shops down almost completely. It gives the crews and shop guys the chance to recharge and spend time with family and friends before preparations begin in earnest. This week is literally the calm before the storm.
Starting on Monday, Jan. 3, the race is on. From there, teams will have about six weeks until the haulers are due to pull into the Daytona infield for Speedweeks. Many will be working long hours to prepare everything from race cars and haulers, to pit boxes and tool boxes for the long season ahead. Teams will be running out of time to finish any remaining business deals, hire the last few needed employees, and do things like get firesuits and hero cards made. This time is also used by many sponsors to film commercials and create their NASCAR centric ad campaigns for the season.
These next six weeks will also be the return to a normal training schedule for the pit crews. As I’ve mentioned before, some teams have already begun getting their crews ready for the new style stops, but a regular schedule including practice and plenty of gym time will commence. With many cold days still ahead of us, you can be sure the crews that practice outside will be ready for warmer climates come February.
For myself, I’m going to spend this quiet week relaxing and getting ready to have some fun with friends for New Years. Come Monday however, it’s game on. Daytona will be here before we know it and there is a lot to do.
We had a question this week in our Ask The Insiders post about what the new six man pit stops will look like and I wanted to take this opportunity to expand a little further on my answer.
Last weekend at California NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed to Scene Daily that both the Cup and Nationwide Series would eliminate the catch can man position for the 2011 season. This confirms what we initially told you back in April. We knew for certain a few weeks ago that NASCAR would be getting rid of the catch can for the Nationwide Series, but NASCAR was back and forth about the Cup Series. We know now that it’s gone completely.
The elimination of the catch can means that all teams will now go to the new self-venting fuel cans like the Truck Series has been using all season. (See it in action here.)
I’m still not entirely clear if this move means we are only allowed six guys over the wall, because I’ve heard some talk that NASCAR may still allow seven. Either way though, pit stops will change, but not drastically. There will still be two tire changers, two tire carriers, and a jackman. And the actual tire changing part of the pit stop won’t change.
What eliminating the catch can position does do is change how many of the adjustments get made. With a seven man crew, the catch can guy makes most of the wedge and track bar adjustments with extended length wrenches. Now, the tire carriers will be tasked with making those adjustments. This will no doubt slow stops down when significant adjustments are needed.
Stops will also slow down, at least at first, because the fueling will take longer with only one crew guy handling the duties. We’ve seen in the Truck Series this season that stop times often get extended when a full fuel load is used. It takes a while to dump both cans, and the gas men must take the old can back to the wall before getting the second. In the past that first can would stay plugged in, thanks to the catch can guy, while the gas man went back for the second can.
It’s interesting to note though that the last two major changes to pit stops (longer studs in the Cup Series and different tire rolling rules) did slow stop times down initially, but after some time to perfect the technique, the times did come back down. I don’t expect this change to be any different.
I also wanted to say that while I’ve heard what NASCAR’s reasoning is for making this change, I don’t necessarily agree. The money that teams could possibly save by having one less guy over the wall is really a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things. The few thousand dollars a year won’t make or break any team, and instead of charging $30,000 less for a sponsorship, teams will just spend that money elsewhere. NASCAR is right in trying to help the teams with budget problems, but this isn’t the way to do it.
Now that the Chase is all but set, and will officially be after this weekend, teams who are on the outside looking in have the opportunity to start working towards next season. With no championship left to fight for, teams can start experimenting and thinking outside the box to find some way to both fight for wins this season and learn for 2011.
Since NASCAR effectively banned testing a few seasons ago in the name of cost savings, teams have had to get creative to find ways to improve their cars and setups. They use everything from wind tunnel time, shaker rigs, non-sanctioned tracks, and computer simulations. What being out of the Chase means, is that teams now have ten or eleven race weekends they can use almost as mini test sessions. They can try different engine configurations, aerodynamic changes, and chassis setups. It will allow them to experiment and make those notebooks full of information a little bigger. While the Chasers are focusing on being fast now, everyone else can gather data for next season.
Another area in which teams can (and some have already started doing) is throwing in some different pit crew guys. Teams are always looking for that right combination of guys that will consistently be quick on pit road, and with less on the line, taking some chances in this area over the final few races of the season can help. Instead of just watching guys work together in a practice setting, putting new guys together during actual race conditions can give crew chiefs and pit crew coaches a much more accurate view of what a guy and a team are capable of. It can also be a great opportunity for teams to get some younger guys some valuable race experience.
Especially for those teams that have struggled over the course of the season, there really aren’t a ton of reasons why they shouldn’t spend then next several weeks trying to learn for 2011. Without chances to win the title or races, there really isn’t much else to lose. And who knows, maybe they will hit on one or two small things that could push them over the hump for next season.
It’s official… NASCAR has released the schedules for the 2011 season, and seasons of speculation are finally over – both Kentucky and Kansas got their long-anticipated Cup dates.
I’ve never been the biggest advocated for giving Kentucky a Cup date and Kansas a second Cup date. They’re really just more of the same. That said, I’m glad NASCAR, ISC and SMI are bringing racing to fans who appreciate it.
Though I haven’t been the biggest proponent of adding dates to those two tracks, I (and TC) have been a proponent of taking a date away from California. The racing is never very good and for whatever reason the crowds just couldn’t be maintained. Some markets just cant support two dates.
I believe that’s the story in Atlanta. Though I like the track and the racing it produces, it too was having issues with attendance. From a business prospective it made more sense giving its second date to Kentucky – a place I think will be able to support the event.
Other welcome news was that SMI didn’t pull a date from New Hampshire – I thought for sure Bruton would use the police issue in Loudon to give Las Vegas a second date. The man in the gawdy sunglasses surprises.
Overall, while the 2011 schedule does bring us changes, there aren’t really a ton of surprises. As always, the internal politics of NASCAR, ISC and SMI keep the possibility of changes to a minimum. I’d certainly like to see a Chase that was more representative of the whole schedule, but I’m good with what is hopefully just the beginning of a truly improved schedule in NASCAR.
Some Thoughts on the Truck Series Schedule
With 24 scheduled events for the 2011 season, and another one TBA, the Truck Series schedule is much improved over this year’s. Gone is the three week break between Daytona and Atlanta, and the two week break between Atlanta and Martinsville. Those successive breaks were a little excessive – not to mention they killed the momentum of the season.
There are a couple of two week breaks early on in 2011, and a month long break in the middle of the summer, but all in all they’ve done a much better job keeping the series flowing.
As far as filling that TBA date, why not have a triple-header at Richmond in September? There might be some logistical issues with the haulers, but who wouldn’t love to see the trucks make their RIR return?
I’m not sure what NASCAR is working on for that date, but my plea is that they keep them at a short track.
And finally a couple of disappointing spots. Pocono is back on the schedule. I think we all know my thoughts on that. And I don’t really understand the reasoning for moving the Phoenix date. It’s going to be weird for them to have an off-weekend before the season-finale at Homestead – and we’ve had such great end of season showdowns there.
What are your thoughts on Kentucky and Kansas and all three schedules for the 2011 season?