One Good Idea Deserves Another

By Arianne Hegeman
February 1, 2008



NASCAR released a list of changes for the upcoming season.  The list featured timely responses to both major and minor discrepancies.  Some changes were exhaustive while others were simple steps in the right direction. 

Here’s my take on some of the changes.

Exhaustive Changes:

1.        All monies collected from fines and penalties this season will now go towards NASCAR Foundation charities.  In the past,  the thousands of dollars that accumulated from forbidden curse words, inappropriate hand gestures and untimely love taps went right back into the points fund which in turn was handed back to the drivers at the end of the season.  The process was more like a no-interest savings account for individuals like Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart.

2.       NASCAR has enforced a new rule for pit road crews.  The over-the-wall guys can only push their vehicle three pit stalls away from their own box.  This will equal the length that the cars can also be driven in and out of pit stalls.  Safety is top concern for the dedicated men who climb over pit walls, throwing themselves in front of moving vehicles.   

Steps in the Right Direction:

1.       Go or go homers will now qualify at the end of each qualifying session.  This will give smaller race teams more time to work on their vehicles as well as provide the opportunity to make the most out of track conditions.  Most tracks get faster later in the day which will result in faster times for go or go homers.  Unfortunately, this is not a complete fix for the top-35 rule, a process that frustrates competitors, race fans, and team owners.

2.       New engine packages have been announced for the Craftsman Truck Series and the Nationwide Series.  This will save a few pennies for race teams.  The changes will allow teams to use an engine longer than in the past due to the reduction in RPMs and horsepower.  However, this does nothing for about the presence of over a dozen Sprint Cup regulars in each event.  Cup regulars leave little room for single car race teams, no matter what engine package they are running.  

Tell me what you think about NASCAR’s changes for the 2008 Season.  Email me by clicking HERE