By Deb Williams
TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 5, 2008) – Talladega. Ever since the 2.66-mile track opened in 1969 it has been a formidable superspeedway in NASCAR, one that few enjoy but everyone treats with respect.
Heading into Sunday's AMP Energy 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the only championship contender who possibly looked forward to the high-speed chess game. After all, he'd learned the tricks of the foreboding track from his father, the speedway's leading race winner with 10 victories. Only one driver – Jeff Gordon – possesses more victories than Dale Jr. Gordon owns six and Dale Jr. five, including four straight. Even after his Chevrolet lost an engine in the first practice on Friday and his primary car was destroyed in the second one, Dale Jr. still was optimistic about Sunday's 188-lap race.
Yet, between cut tires, four accidents involving nine of the 12 Chase drivers, and NASCAR's out-of-bounds rule for its restrictor-plate tracks, the fall Talladega race sent title hopes into a tailspin for many of the contenders. This occurred despite their play-it-safe strategy throughout most of the event.
Point leader Jimmie Johnson didn't even attempt to go for the win, opting instead for a safe finish. His ninth-place finish allowed him to extend his lead over second-place Carl Edwards to 72 points. Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton maintained their third and fourth positions in the standings, respectively. Matt Kenseth remained ninth, but, in typical Talladega fashion, the rest of the standings were jumbled with Dale Jr. possibly taking the toughest hit and race winner Tony Stewart gaining the most.
Stewart gained four positions, advancing to seventh, while Dale Jr. dropped two to 10th. Kyle Busch, who was involved in the 12-car accident triggered by Edwards, moved up to 11th, while teammate Denny Hamlin, who was hospitalized after his single-car crash, dropped to 12th.
While the shuffle in the standings was an important issue to those in the title chase, the tire issue was more critical to the overall picture. After the circuit's top drivers refused to compete in the inaugural Talladega race due to tire problems, tires had never been an issue at the circuit's longest track. However, that has changed in the last two races since the track was resurfaced and the COT was implemented. In Sunday's race, at least five cars succumbed to cut tires, bringing the total for the weekend to six. One driver even noted there were problems with the Hoosier tires in Friday's ARCA race, as well.
Goodyear's engineers will study the worn tires extensively and it will be interesting to hear the results. Due to the close tolerances mandated by NASCAR on the cars and the intense bump drafting that was occurring, was debris from the cars actually cutting the tires?
A few years ago I was told NASCAR was instructing Goodyear officials as to how they wanted the tires built for certain tracks. Is NASCAR too involved in the tire construction process?
Now, I admit, I think NASCAR has instituted way too many regulations in the sport. One of those involves the yellow, out-of-bounds line. I was against it when it was implemented and I'm still against it. I know why it was adopted. I covered the Daytona races when Jeff Gordon executed the daring maneuver as he headed into turn one. Man, it was exciting!
I know NASCAR said the rule was implemented for safety. But, for gosh sakes, NASCAR, leave the drivers alone and let them race. An out-of-bounds line on a race track is ridiculous. Perhaps NASCAR officials should watch some of the 1950s films from Darlington when more than 70 cars started a race, three abreast, and they used every part of the track, including the apron, on which to pass.
However, if NASCAR believes it should tone down the racing, then make the out-of-bounds line rule the same in the top three series. On Saturday, it was stated during the truck series telecast from Talladega that a driver could go below the yellow line on the final lap; that an out-of-bounds line didn't exist on the last circuit. If Regan Smith watched the truck race and heard that remark, I'm sure he didn't think he had done anything wrong on Sunday's final lap against Stewart. It was obvious NASCAR wasn't sure either, as it took officials a few minutes to issue a ruling. A decision that gave Stewart his first victory this season and relegated Smith to 18th, the last car on the lead lap.
Perhaps NASCAR should consider some deregulation. It certainly wouldn't hurt.
10-06-2008, 12:11 PM
Regulate This . . . The story of how Tony Stewart SMOKED Talladega in 2008!
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