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[/media-credit]What is it with the young people in my generation? Why did we ever change from the traditional pack racing to the two-car tandem bore fests that have ruined the true art of restrictor plate racing? It seems like a trend especially here in the United States that is not only affecting NASCAR, but it also reflecting in choices of our own government. President Obama said he wanted to “completely transform America.” What has happened? The economy is crap and gas prices are up 92%.
Now, what about NASCAR? The two-car tandem style racing has made the races at Daytona and Talladega pretty much unbearable. One fan may say, “OMG! See that? Look at that finish! Screw all you people who like pack racing!! (Random animal noises made). Here is the big problem. 90% of the fans had fallen asleep prior and weren’t awake to see the finish. Trevor Bayne wins the Daytona 500!!! Omg!!! At only 20 years old! He’s going to be the best racer, ever!! What did Bayne do after winning the 500? Phoenix? Crashed. Las Vegas? Hit the wall. A lot. Bristol? Crashed.
Of the 17 races Bayne ran in 2011, he finished 30th or worse 47% of the time. Daytona and Talladega no longer came down to luck from missing the Big One or skill, it came down to mostly luck from who was pushing you at the right time. And some fans have the nerve of calling pack racing “demolition derbies.” For your information, a 15-car accident on Lap 29 of the 500 last year took out most of the top contenders. The Big One started by David Ragan last night at the Shootout was started because it takes more skill to bump-draft under this style. Under the tandems you could just slam into your guy and not worry about a thing because Brian France turned it into bumper cars at 200 mph. That’s not racing. Bayne’s win was a fluke and so was Ragan’s.
Drivers like Ragan have been babied throughout their careers and now they will have to learn how to really race. Ragan will not finish well in the Daytona 500 and he certainly won’t finish well in any of the restrictor plate races. These are the only races that Ragan ever had a chance of doing well in. This is why he races now for Last Row Motorsports. He simply does not have the skill yet.
NASCAR has undergone a lot of changes as of late. The Bud Shootout is back to its old format in 2013. What’s next? No more Chase? No more yellow line rule? What will it be? Enjoy the Daytona 500! It will be the best we’ve seen since 2007.
You have absolutely no clue! If it only takes luck to win at Daytona or Talladega, then every street stock driver in the country could do it. And that’s absurd. What you see on Tv and what actually takes place on the race track are worlds apart. Sit in the cheap seats on the Daytona backstretch if you want to see how “easy” it is to drive at 200 mph. If igorance is bliss, you must be the happiest person in the world.
Earth to Dan: There is a big difference between qualifying and racing. Against the wind? What happened when he was against another car at the Bud Shootout? Exactly… Ragan can only do half the job.
Ryan’s sarcastic ways can lead people the wrong way, but he is correct.
Dan, it is you who needs to wake up. David Ragan shouldn’t be racing in the Sprint Cup Series at all.
That this author is only a High School Senoir and covering nascar and sports since 2004 (8 years old at that time?) makes this article laughable at best. Pretty obvious this writer hasn’t even been “around the block yet” when it comes to racing knowledge.
You’re an Idiot..
Ragan just Qualified 14th in FRW car….against the wind.
I don’t know who you are but you don’t know squat about racing and seeing talent