So, as most perhaps know, NASCAR has introduced a “Caution Clock” in the truck series. After a certain length of time of green flag racing a “Competition Yellow” is thrown to bring the field back together.
Do we think some form of this would work at, say, New Smyrna (or elsewhere)?
Try to keep it objective and constructive if you can–that is, “X reason” is why or why not, as opposed to “Here is what is wrong with Cup, NSS, the management, the trucks, the motor rules”, etc.
I think that if you don’t win you sure get a participant trophy. Why sure anyone try to be smarter then the next guy and figure out how to win. Remember when builders/owners built a car that could win, hire a driver that could drive and lap everyone on the track. To me the caution clock is like the lucky dog trick. I understand the reason the lucky dog started, for safety. But to be able to win because they gave a lap back to someone or they threw a yellow to bunch the field back up is crap. However, at one time you had to be a mature, seasoned driver to race in the big time.
I think it would be bad for short tracking because it suppresses on-track competition. Too many spotters would be on the radio to the driver saying things like “just ride another 30 laps, and then we can adjust it.”
The racing is better when everyone mashes it.
I assume you are talking about 100/200 lap races.On short tracks there is enough mayhem without periodically rebunching the field. I don’t mind mandatory cautions at half way points as this to is safety issue as it eliminates many green flag pit stops. I see what NASCAR is doing and they are doing it because of the disparity in the overall quality of the field in the truck series.
Not a good idea for Who ever is leading. They built a lead and when you throw in cautions to bunch them back up you throw in a chance of a guy who clearly can’t win or lead more than a couple laps run a bonsai move going into 1 or 3 and crashing said leader .
Good idea for whoever is in the stands. Crashes and passes.
If rules were reigned in short track racing ( that’s another thread) you wouldn’t be as strung out like bigger tracks.
Just my 1 cent. Bernie sanders gave my other cent away.
caution clock
another way to lose car count
Yea let’s bunch up all 4 of those cars and see if we can get a crach
Well, the advantage to the fans is obvious–More wheel to wheel competition.
Presumably more fans would then show up with admission–providing the advantage to the track.
Regarding the drivers and teams and torn up equipment, definitely that possibility exists.
The only other way to look at it would be that Showtime packs the pits, and they are pretty rough over there. Presumably the competitors get a kick out of tight competition.
But, thus far, that offsetting factor has not been brought up…
Butts in the stands for a regular race is a by product of the number of cars in the pits. Each car/driver has his own group of fans there to see him do well r in some cases to wish them bad luck. This is why the tracks should do all they can to get as many people involved in the lower divisions as they tend to be your local competitors. Showtime and for years Citrus always ran several classes with good attendance in each class.
What used to be when fans left a track and what they said
“Man that driver can really drive a car and was he fast”
Now with the Caution Clock
“Man that driver was lucky to come from 4th and win that race and the track is so PC to give everybody a chance to win.”
Darren,
Counterpoint:
Back in the day there was generally more cars, more car guys in the stands, and more competition on the track.
Today (potentially):
“Well, that was boring, maybe we should just play video games next week”.
Lets keep the gimmicks in Nascar.
Back in the day the short track restarts were single file. And they were boring. Just as a straight up lineup following qualifying is boring.
When Cup went to double file restarts and they migrated to short tracks, that was an improvement (no?).
But hey, it’s all good, just a thought…
Change is not always better/the fix
All the changes that NASCAR has made has driven away the true oldschool diehard fans and they are left with a few an far fan.
Changes to the rules every year have cost the drivers and owners way to much for a hobby.
There is the thing to remember is that this is a hobby and racers can only race if they can afford too.
so jacking the back gate fee, jacking the tires cost, changing the rules is only leading the end of short track racing.
The owners need to get out and WORK to get sponsors for the tracks and classes. Find ways to get the fans in the seats not ask the drivers to pay for the show.
The owners need to stop listening to every racer that know is all and change the rules because “if you don’t they will leave”
“Change is not always better”–Pun33
Clearly not. When NASCAR left the short tracks the show got worse, they went into denial regarding the problem, and have been coming up with band aids ever since.
But let us remember, given the 1.5 mile tracks and the boring show, the changes have all been to try to turn around a sinking ship. That is, everything was not great and then the changes have driven away the fans (though there is some of that, to be sure). The changes and gimmicks are an attempt to regain or acquire new fans.