Loose in Turn 3 (4/11/08)
Welcome one and all to the second edition of “Loose in Turn 3.” I thought last week’s conversation went pretty well, but as always, we acknowledge the room for improvement, so we’ve decided to spice this week’s discussion platform up just a bit. There’s been a lot going down as of late in our cherished NASCAR world, so there’s plenty to talk about from Chip Ganassi Racing to the Car of (Today) and even racing in general. So, sit back and strap yourself in tight, cause we’re about to get Loose in Turn Three!
Drivers Have More Strong Opinions Concerning New Car. How Heavy Should These Complaints Weigh on NASCAR’s Decision to Make Modifications to the Car?
TZ: I think that aside from the fans, the drivers’ opinions should be the next in line on those that need to be considered. While the sentiments may not be shared unanimously across the garage area, every week that we come from one of these cookie cutter tracks, it seems like at least a majority of the drivers share a complaint. If the drivers aren’t happy with the box that they’re given to drive in, then more than likely it’s going to translate into a lackluster race. They need to start listening a bit more closely to the Tony Stewart’s of the world.
Bruce: But Tim, don’t the drivers always have something under their skin at each track? All joking aside, the COT is a work in progress and from what we can tell so far, the safety features were tested very well. (Thanks Michael McDowell) Yes, it’s a work in progress. And yes, it’s taking the teams time to figure out how to make it work, how to make it turn into the corner and create a flying mud ball instead of a “flying brick”. NASCAR’s real test session of this platform began in the 10 races in 2007 and each race will uncover something new. The trick is when something keeps popping up at every race, then I’d expect something to change, otherwise the issues are sporadic data points and nothing more.
Charlie: Driver comments have to be considered in the evaluation of the car - sure. But just because a number of - even a majority of - drivers complain about the new car shouldn’t mean NASCAR has to change anything. Why can’t NASCAR ask the drivers to change? Are drivers - who in many cases earn millions of dollars for driving race cars - entitled to a easy driving machine? Better question - should a team like the #99 of Carl Edwards be penalized by having the rules catered to teams that haven’t figured the new car out as well? I say let the thing ride as-is for the rest of 2008 and reward the teams that figure it out.
The Rest of the Conversation:
- Chip Ganassi Is Pretty Unhappy With His Own Teams! (Read)
- What Do You Expect When You Tune In A Sprint Cup Race? (Read)
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POSTED IN: Loose in Turn 3, NASCAR
7 opinions for Loose in Turn 3 (4/11/08)
jimmccoy22
Apr 11, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Tim, I’m sorry. You are as off as some of Lil”E”s in-race adjustments! On the coverage comment, Rusty Wallace isn’t worthy to carry DW’s microphone. ABC’s better? What coverage are you watching? I can see how people may not like his folksy, good ol’ boy approach, but his points are good and he speaks English. Sometimes it’s painful to listen to Rusty and Petree mangle the English language.
As for last weekend’s race? Not that great, I agree. Not every race can be Bristol, pal! Really- when’s the last time there really was a good race at Texas?
Driver opinions? Pfft- NASCAR will NEVER be able to make ‘em all happy. I’m with Carl. These are the best dirvers in the world. They’ll figure it out!
I gotta go with Charlie on this. Sorry bro.
Tim Zaegel
Apr 11, 2008 at 6:27 pm
*sigh* … okay …
1. DW’s one of the worst announcers I’ve ever been forced to listen to in professional sports. I could care less about his “good ol’ boy approach,” what gets me about him is the fact that once he decides he likes a driver, he rides their jock all the way to the finish line … example - Kyle Busch … not to mention that he sounds like he has absolutely no clue what he’s talking about when he tries to make up excuses for his brother’s on-track idiocy. And, what about the bashing he took on Stewart a few years ago? As a fan, sure, you’re more than welcome to your opinion. As an announcer, completely unacceptable. I could go on and on about DW, but alas, he’s not even the main reason for my dislike with FOX’s coverage … in fact, I like the rest of the broadcast crew. My beef is with FOX themselves. About all one can hope for during the first 250 laps at Texas is for cautions and lead changes, yet they managed to cut to commercial during most of them.
2. Texas is just the most God awful boring track on the circuit, plain and simple. Right behind it is Michigan. I don’t know what point you’re trying to make with this one, it sounds like we’re pretty much in agreement.
3. When drivers become outspoken with their opinions in one’s and two’s, I agree - suck it up. However, when we constantly hear the majority of the garage complain (except for, obviously, the race winner), there’s something wrong. And, let’s not act like the fans haven’t noticed these same issues, we just don’t have the ability to pinpoint the problems like they do, because we’re not the ones in the cars. Ratings are down from last year, and last year’s ratings are down from the year before.
jimmccoy22
Apr 12, 2008 at 12:18 am
Ah, some specific points. Now we’re talkin’….
I’m your huckleberry!
Let’s try this again…..
1) Guys like Mike Joy, Chris Myers and Jerry Punch are the journalistic glue for these teams. In a sense, they conduct this funky orchestra of old drivers and crew chiefs and try to achieve some modicum of professionalism. A guy like DW? He’s there for color (personality) and knowledge. You’d have to agree (like it or not) that DW has color. If nothing else, you have to give him props for his infectious enthusiasm, even if you hate the “boogity, boogity” which I don’t. Knowledge? Let’s just say that 84 wins and 3 Cups don’t lie.
Favoritism? You must have been napping when DW knocked Shrub for his over-aggressiveness. If anything, I’d like to see some announcer say that some guy isn’t ready yet for Cup driving or that he sucks. No one has the cajones for it. As for Mikey- being a relative to a driver is a tough thing to handle on-air. I may have to take some time off from radio play-by-play when my son hits high school it’ll be clumsy. I don’t think Rusty handles Stephen very well either.
As for commercial breaks, the average broadcast hour has 18-20 in prime time or major events. Unfortunately, NASCAR doesn’t have time outs, so it’s even harder. My source? 18 years (mostly broadcast) media experience,including sports (play by play and color) and advertising sales.
2. We agree to a certain point on Texas. I actually think Pocono is worse. But here’s the difference between you and me: attitude. To me, the only really bad race is one that’s never run. I wasn’t horrified because I didn’t expect much. You watch enough stick and ball there will be some sucky games. Like when you had to hit the ball to the moon at Busch to get an HR. I still picked up good information on the whole on the steering wheel bit, we got some lead changes and it was amusing watching Robby Gordon use the wall as a hand rail. I’ll never understand why a lot of NASCAR fans can’t find the positive in ANYTHING. We had two good weeks with Bristol and Martinsville. Can’t have a home run every week.
3. It’s been said by no less than your old buddy DW that NASCAR is still early in the curve on the CoT. The only way we’re gonna get this thing right is by racing it and adjusting it until we get it right. It’s only gonna get fixed by getting the car out there and racing it. Those shop guys are smart. Somebody will figure it out. I find it very convenient that Jimmie waits until this race to complain about it.
I actually read where, as of Atlanta ratings were up this year over last. I’d like to see what you have about them being down again. BTW- the ratings argument is a straw horse if you’re using it to suggest the sport has lost popularity. People have more choices for following NASCAR than ever before, including the medium we’re using. Like I say, I know a thing or two about ratings. You can use a host of arguments to suggest the sport has fallen off, but not that one. TV ratings are DOWN in darn near EVERYTHING.
Adam C
Apr 12, 2008 at 1:27 am
Come on, jimmccoy. Tims right about this whoel thing with Waltrip. He sucks as an announcer. He was good driver sure, but as an announcer he just dont cut it.
Tim Zaegel
Apr 12, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Adam, it’s cool, man. This is just a friendly little debate here, and Mr. McCoy is more than entitled to his opinions, and I welcome them with open arms.
Jim,
1. I’ve never doubted that DW’s a knowledgeable cat, and he was a hell of a race car driver. But, when I’m watching a race, no I don’t want to hear someone in the booth have a lovefest with their favorite drivers, or talk about how anyone else doesn’t belong out there. It’s all fine and dandy if you’re in agreement with them, but if you share a different opinion, is that what you really want to have to listen to for a 3 1/2 hour race? As for him ragging on Busch, I would hardly call that knocking the guy, because in the same breath, DW can talk about how he’s a reckless maniac and the greatest thing on that track in years.
And, as for FOX’s commercial breaks, I understand that they have to have them, it’s what keeps these shows on the air. My beef is that at a track like Texas, you can see a lead change coming five laps away … so, they would cut to commercial two laps before the swapping of position. They used to bring us back to the race if a caution occured while we were away, now they bring us back two minutes later, MAYBE show us the replay, and send us right back to commercial.
2. I agree that most NASCAR fans are synics to a certain degree, but let me ask you this … if nobody expected much excitement at Texas and we all thought it’d be rather boring and the stands don’t sell out, why even send the series there? … twice no less!
3. Okay, I think you’re severely misinterpreting what I’m saying about this issue. I’m not saying that I agree with the drivers that say the car is crap, I’m not lobbying for any mid-season changes, and I’m not saying that maybe the only solution is for the teams to keep working at the car until they eventually get it figured out. What I am saying, however, is that the drivers’ opinions need to be heard, plain and simple.
4. I’ll concede the point about ratings, you got me on this one. A little more digging, and ratings were down last year (I’ll attribute that to HMS domination), but they were back up as of Martinsville.
jimmccoy22
Apr 13, 2008 at 8:56 am
Tim- I’m glad you appreciate the debate- I have no beef with you on a personal level- and bTW I appreciate your service to cour country.
That said:
1) We’ll have to agree to disagree agreeably on DW. I listened critically to his observations last night, and again, his knowledge brought valuable insight, and I’d generally say I agreed with his points. Biased? I’ll grant you quarter there. Still- he’s a commentator as a member of the team, and he can do that to some degree. Joy and Myers can’t.
2. Texas HAS to be a part of the racing schedule. The state is too valuable to the sport. I think politics plays a part here. Not testing at Texas was a HUGE mistake.
3. I’ll concede to your point here. I think you’ll agree we need to be a little patient with driver adjustment with this car on the 1.5ers, but they’ll do it. If NASCAR lets driver weigh in, they’ll need to be judicious about who does.
Tim Zaegel
Apr 13, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Jim, of course I can appreciate a good debate. That, afterall, is why I initially came up with the idea for this particular column was to invite differing opinions.
By the way, I noticed your reference to Busch Stadium in one of your comment sets. You wouldn’t happen to reside in that area, would you?
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