I never exactly know what to anticipate when NASCAR goes road racing. It’s something that is not usual to what they do on a weekly basis. It is one of those styles where the best drivers can either excel or struggle.
At the same time, I never know what to expect from the track itself. Across the three top NASCAR series (Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Trucks), only four road courses are run. Two are in Cup, while all four are run in Nationwide. The Truck Series has not run on a road course for years, but have in years past.
Let me explain what I mean. In 2007 at this track, both Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson were penalized before qualifying even started for unapproved adjustments. Their crews were doing modifications outside of where NASCAR templates went, and simply got caught. The penalty went beyond suspension, probation and fines. For that race, both Johnson and Gordon had to start shotgun on the field as they weren’t even allowed to qualify their cars.
The craziest road course event I’ve ever watched in NASCAR came in 2008 when the Nationwide Series made it’s first trip to Montreal. It started normal, but then the caution flew because of rain. Normally, the race would be halted and drivers and fans alike would wait out the weather.
Not this time. From out of nowhere, NASCAR officials went to the hauler and brought out the Goodyear Eagle rain tires, that were over seven years old, but kept in a controlled environment.
In what was considered both a crazy move by drivers, but historically monumental for the sport, out came the grooved tires, brake lights and windshield wipers. Yes, NASCAR actually raced in the rain, and surprisingly didn’t have many major incidents. It wasn’t until the rain became too heavy did officials throw in the white towel and stop the event.
Ironically, the next year they raced in the rain again, only to have a crazy finish where the dominant driver made one mistake to cost him the win.
This weekend alone saw two of the most intense, and most crazy road course races in history.
The Nationwide Series went for it’s second trip to Road America in Wisconsin, and it ended with drivers off track, some running out of fuel, and a driver that thought he won have it taken away because of rule violations.
Move to Sunday and the wrecks were plentiful at the Infineon Raceway. It was almost like watching a short-track race with right turns, because there was torn up sheet metal, bent bumper bars, rubber donuts, and angry drivers the entire afternoon. Cars were pushed into spinning, others ran over, and one ending up with the drive wheels on top of a tire wall.
And yet some fans don’t exactly like road course racing. I don’t understand why, because it’s unique and out of the ordinary for the drivers.
I don’t hear anyone complaining when the NASCAR stars decide to race in an event like the 24 Hours of Daytona or in the Prelude to the Dream. Those styles of racing are not what the guys do on a normal weekend, but it’s only when they compete in their normal series that the fans become vocal.
It’s not something I’d like to see more of in NASCAR, but it is something I rather enjoy.
I just wish other fans would see it that way.
RESULTS: 1-Kurt Busch 2-Gordon 3-Edwards 4-Bowyer 5-Ambrose 6-Logano 7-Johnson 8-Truex 9-Harvick 10-Keselowski
NOTABLE FINISHES: 11-Kyle Busch 14-Kenseth 22-Montoya 37-Hamlin 39-Stewart 41-Earnhardt Jr.
CAUTIONS: 5 for 17 laps. Lap 34-36 (#13 stall-Pit Entrance), 39-41 (#1, 14, 24, 29, 39, 83, 88 accident-T11), 48-50 (Debris), 61-64 (#47 accident-T11), 88-91 (#14, 83 accident-T11).
LEAD CHANGES: 12 among 9 drivers. Logano 1-5, Hamlin 6-12, Kurt Busch 13-31, Hamlin 32-36, Kurt Busch 37-50, Bowyer 51, Kurt Busch 52-71, Stewart 72-74, Montoya 75-76, Gilliland 77, Harvick 78-82, Smith 83-87, Kurt Busch 88-110.
TIME OF RACE: 2 Hrs, 54 Mins, 10 Secs.
AVERAGE SPEED: 75.411 MPH
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 2.685 Seconds
POINT STANDINGS (Top-12): 1. Edwards, 573 points; 2. Harvick, -25; 3. Johnson, -33; 4. Kurt Busch, -34; 5. Kyle Busch, -37; 6. Kenseth, -52; 7. Earnhardt Jr, -65; 8. Bowyer, -77; 9. Gordon, -93; 10. Newman, -98; 11. Hamlin, -110; 12. Stewart, -113.