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March
22, 2007
Change
is Inevitable Except from a Vending Machine-
Here Comes of the Car of Tomorrow
By Dennis Michelsen
"Damn
that thing is ugly!"
That
is not a race fan at Bristol Motor Speedway being quoted
on Monday; that is the usual chorus that accompanies any
change in racing. I am sure that Ben Hur was ridiculed
for the strange look of his chariot back in the day. The
Car of Tomorrow is here and all is well in the world.
This is not some sign of the apocalypse, racing will continue
as it has for years and years. There are some things such
as death, taxes, and changes in racing (increased costs
too) that you can count on in life as certainties. Change
is inevitable except from a vending machine!
Don't
Take My Word for It
Styles come and go and innovations come and go. When
the Superbird was introduced many moons ago that large
rear wing was all the rage! It wasn't meant to be stylish
it was meant to help Dodge beat the Ford Torino! ARCA
driver Andy Belmont has seen changes in the sport for
a lot longer than I have. In an excellent article Andy
waxed poetic about changes in racing over the years. Until
I read these words of wisdom I was in the "Hell No"
camp when it came to NASCAR's new Car of Tomorrow design.
Now I am simply along for the ride.
NASCAR
Racing Crossroads
By Andy Belmont
Here we are at the corner of walk and don't walk. The
lighted crosswalk sign is about to change and the leap
of faith is upon us. When the light changes, do we cross
and hope that big truck headed in our lane will actually
get stopped in time or wait and proceed with caution?
This is a time of great change in auto racing; the next
phase has been in the mold for quite some time. Time stands
still for nobody, racers included.
Size
Does Matter
When you think about it the look and style of racing
cars is always evolving. Progress isn't always a good
thing but it is certain to happen. Change for the sake
of change makes me scream! Yes we want our drivers to
be safer, who wouldn't? If you have a pulse you are like
me and hold your breath until you see that window net
come down at the track. Will the Car of Tomorrow be safer?
People smarter than me say so and while I will scream
about my concerns, just like I did for the need for soft
walls long before they were in style or Superman died,
I will also hope for the best. Size does matter in safety.
NASCAR
Racing Crossroads
By Andy Belmont
And so it is, skepticism has been the common denominator
on the car of tomorrow. Conceptually, bigger cars with
more room for safety measures makes complete sense. Drivers
are safer, would you rather we go back to leather helmets
and chains holding the doors closed? If it is propaganda,
so be it, we bought into it. Do the costs need to be what
they are? Surely there are good reasons for every move;
you aren't paid to like them.
Racing Has Changed
In the short track-racing world here in the Midwest
promoter, Steve Einhaus of the ASA Midwest Tour has reminded
us all about the good old days. Do you remember when race
fans knew all the local racers by name? When posters of
your favorite drivers in gas stations helped make them
our racing heroes? Trying to bring back the past is like
trying to put the Genie back in the bottle! Times change
and peoples entertainment choices have changed too. Race
fans seem to want more than just great racing they want
a spectacle too! NASCAR understands that and feeds that
need.
NASCAR
Racing Crossroads
By Andy Belmont
In the late 1990's we ran a racetrack. 150 cars in the
pits on a Saturday night, 3,500 fans in the stands and
1200 at the back gate. On Monday, by 10AM the phone would
be ringing. Nothing ever good came of those conversations
on the Monday after. Racers complain. Racers are never
happy with the management decisions or the rules interpretations
or how the rulebook is written. It is what it is. I say,
walk a mile in their shoes. Try to balance making a good
show, with that terrible word that NASCAR and big company
America share, that word that everyone in America except
big company seems to be entitled to...profit. IT is a
delicate balance.
Fannies
in the Seats Will Decide
Complain all you want about the Car of Tomorrow,
that is your right! This Sunday at the track voted by
NASCAR fans as their overwhelming favorite the Car of
Tomorrow will make its debut. Whether in the end this
is good, bad, or indifferent for the sport it is change
and one that can't be stopped. When the dust settles whether
or not the racing is better or worse is not what will
decide what happens next. For all the hype and hyperbole
it also won't be about driver safety in the end either!
It will be fannies in the seats and television ratings
that decide whether this experiment is a success. Race
fans and race teams are being taken kicking and screaming
back to the future to bigger and boxier cars. Just remember
that even in racing, change is inevitable.
Editor's
Note: NASCAR Racing Crossroads by Andy Belmont originally
appeared on www.insidearca.com
and the entire article can be seen in its entirety
at http://insidearca.com/id56.htm.
For
more information about Andy Belmont please check out his
website at http://www.andybelmont.com
For
more information about the ARCA RE/MAX series check out
their website at www.arcaracing.com
and tune in every Tuesday night for "Inside the ARCA
RE/MAX Series" on www.racetalkradio.com!
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