We now have seven different winners in seven races. I’m sure no one at the sanctioning body dreamed this would happen, but it did, and I’m sure we will see repeat winners as the season goes along. The trouble is Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Kasey Khane, Clint Bowyer, and a couple of surprises haven’t won. If they do, that puts the number at 16, and that’s going to mean the win and in scenario will be all or nothing for the Chase. Of course, I’m sure some in the group of winners will win more than once, so winning might not get someone in the final playoff. It should be interesting from here on out.
Rain continues to plague the circuit. So far we’ve had rain at Daytona, and a threat of rain at Phoenix, Bristol Texas, and Martinsville. Daytona and Bristol became night races, Martinsville had to have a double header on Sunday, and Texas had to go on Monday afternoon. Surely, the weather will turn around for the rest of the season.
Joey Logano’s win at Texas was exemplary for a couple of reasons. His car has been fast all season. In fact, the Team Penske Fords have been up front all year, but today, Logano dominated the last part of the race. So much so, even a last lap caution putting him back in the field didn’t stop him from passing the two cars in front of him and moving away to a win. Maybe Sliced Bread is finally reaching his potential
On a sad note, I worked today and couldn’t be in Texas. About the halfway point, a client came in to pay a bill. I was shocked because he was always talking to me about the races, and it was unusual to see him at my office when the race was in progress, so I asked him why. He answered that Dale Jr. had gone out early so he had no interest in watching the race. All of a sudden it occurred to me that maybe that was what was wrong with NASCAR’s declining television ratings and attendance problems. The question has to be asked. If the retirement of one driver decreases the numbers that many, including the media and even the sanctioning body think it does, is it healthy for the sport? If the success of only one driver is all that a majority of the fan base is concerned with, do we have a healthy sport? Is the reason everyone is praising the racing this year only a product of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. running at the front? I think those are valid questions, and if so what is going to happen when that driver retires from the sport? That’s really food for thought.
The racing has been good this year. So far, it has been dominated by the Fords and Chevrolets with each brand winning three races each. Toyota has only won one race, but the cars have been competitive, and that’s totally different than the last few years when Chevrolets dominated and Fords were less than competitive. We’ve also seen the emergence of Kyle Larson and seen signs of life at Richard Petty Motorsports. This is all good news in the competition department.
Back in prehistoric times when this writer was following the sport from Hank Schoolfield’s Southern Motor Racing newspaper, I can’t remember any fan leaving in the late stages of the race if The King, Fearless Freddie, The Silver Fox, or Cale didn’t have a chance to win, and yet last Sunday I saw the sea of green below the press box head for the exits when Kurt Busch passed for the win and drove away. NASCAR needs to cultivate more winners so that new fan relationships can be made. This season and the competitive racing may just do that. At least it looks hopeful. The health of the sport demands it
