A 10 minute mandatory pitstop could be the answer. The teams could decide when to take their pitstop and there would be no rush to fuel the car.
NASCAR style pitstops are dangerous and best left to teams with the proper safety equipment and training.
A 10 minute mandatory pitstop could be the answer. The teams could decide when to take their pitstop and there would be no rush to fuel the car.
NASCAR style pitstops are dangerous and best left to teams with the proper safety equipment and training.
Today 11:17 AM
Now that is a great idea. That is what we do in the road racing enduros I have run. Then everyone could still use some strategy.
Why don’t we put airbags in the race cars and governors on the motor?? It would be safer also:)
No one is forced to run a race like this, it isn’t even part of a series anymore! Point is, if you don’t have the equipment, training, or finances for a race like this you shouldn’t run it. When I run out in traffic to change the tires, I know I could get hit and accept it. That’s called taking responsibility. Our car was hit from behind during a stop (some drivers can’t handle pit stops either) and we weren’t startled in the least. The pitstops made this the only race South of Pensacola (since Lakeland closed) with even the slightest chance of “strategy” deciding a race. I for one think fuel mileage and tire management can make for a very interesting race.
Safety is of utmost importance to me, I’m always being the voice of caution around the shop. But does the fact that I could get hurt keep me from going snowboarding, mountain biking or doing pitstops?? NOPE!!! That’s what makes life fun!
When I started as a jackman on the NASCAR Busch North Series in 1998’, we went over the wall in jeans and a t-shirt. A mere couple years later, we were clad head to toe in firesuits, gloves, and helmets. I often look at one photo I have from Loudon back in 99’ and think, wtf was I was thinking. But FL racing is a different world than NASCAR where it’s more about saving money than safety. The stuff I have seen presented for competition, and allowed to race in this state due to low car counts just flat out scares me.
Good enough I guess I won’t run it then since I am a low buck owner.
One year at Ocala Speedway, they had an extended lap modified race, I think it was 200 laps, but don’t quote me on that. At the halfway point, they threw a competition caution and stopped all the cars single file where they were running. At this point, the crews announced how many tires they were going to change. If you chose to change no tires, you lost no positions, if you choose to change one tire, you started the second half behind all cars that changed no tires, if you choose to change two tires, you started the second half behind the cars that changed less than you did and so on.
By the way, Dwayne Dempsey “rode around” the first half, didn’t change any tires, started the second half on the pole, and won the race. I guess it would encourage alot of guys to save tires at the begining. I also don’t know if there is tire wear issues at NSS these days, but I thought it was a really cool format for this type of race. No need to bring 12 crew members, pit stop equipment, etc… And a good way to “shake up” the starting line up for the second half of the race…
Now that is another way to accomplish the same thing, still adds strategy but increases safety. If not, like dd38 said, might as well run 100 laps and save a set of tires (since saving money is the reason rather than safety). Or, run 2 - 100 lap features, inverting the field or something, with different purses for each. Maybe add a bonus for anyone electing to start in rear.
I already had a call from one friend who bailed out on this race. He said he had NO interest in Twin 100’s (which essentially this is), rather than a 200 lap race. Said he’d probably go to the World Crown 300 at Gresham instead. If it wasn’t for the traditional BBQ, I’d probably join him there.
Don’t get me wrong… I’ll still be there, and haven’t missed one in probably 15 years, but it has ALWAYS been a 200 continous laps, and never seemed to have a problem with that format before. I don’t understand why the change now.
I’d LOVE to be proven wrong about the lack of passing, but I have the gut feeling I’m dead-on target. We’ll see.
Jerry… You know we just LOVE proving you wrong… that’s half the fun! :huepfen024:
I will say that the fact that they are doing double file restarts will help offset the fact that they are doing a halfway mandatory pitstop. It will atleast get some side by side racing, bunch things up more and more importantly get the lapped cars out of the way.
One thing on the pitstops…now that they have widened and resurfaced pit road, the in race stops would be a little more safe…I know it was a little scary out there going across the wall in years past.
If you are going to have a mandatory pit stop why tell them when it will be just throw the yellow and drive the pace truck through pit road and make them stop then. That way it will be harder to just cruise during any part of the race. Then there may be 50 to go or 150 nobody will know.
and do it on an odd number (113 for ex.) a number peopl would no exspect
jerry
dam i hate to do this. Listen to Jerry he is right. Jerry i havent been in 2 years. been to 26 others. it did become a 100 lap race once and another time 200 with a BREAK.
they are Just trying to learn. Dont make the fans pay. its only 1 time a year.
Can u see the DERBY with 3 10 min stops wow.
Don62
gitting back in my box
Just because they are having a halfway break, that doesn’t mean that the strategy is completely out the window. I may be wrong, but do the rules state that the teams have to take their tires during this break?
The way I see it, depending on how the race is playing out for any particular team, they could wait until later in the race to take their tires and maybe take advantage of some fresher tires to make a charge. Plus for somebody who might be a little off during the first half, this gives them an opportunity to make more significant changes than would have been possible before. So we might see some guys “come to life” after the break and move to the front. Really, you just never know…
Also, having the break to eliminate the need for live pit stops is a good idea for the lower budget teams as stated before. For those who have said that teams who don’t have the equipment, finances, or training to run a race like this should not race: That’s kinda B.S. Everyone deserves a shot. In all reality, the guys who can’t afford this stuff, most likely don’t have a race winning motor and such anyway. So do they realistically have a shot at winning? No. But this at least takes away (or minimizes) one of their handicaps.
I think the bottom line is that the best guys are going to be up front no matter what format is run. There is really no way to know how these format changes will mix the race up. I personally think it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out. If it sucks? Well then so be it. Hopefully they fix it for next year. There is no guarantee that a straight 200 lap race in the traditional fashion would provide loads of excitement. But I at least give NSS some credit for trying something.
Just my opinions…