Notes from around the sport.
By: Drew Hierwarter
This weekend, January 26 – 27, marks the 2008 running of the 24 Hours of Daytona, or what is officially known as the “Rolex 24 at Daytona”. This historic event is the first major race of the year and is the kickoff to Speedweeks at Daytona. There will be almost constant action on the 2.5 mile Florida tri-oval between now and NASCAR’s “Daytona 500” which will be run on February 17th.
Speaking of NASCAR, several of the stock car organization’s stars will once again compete in the twice-around-the-clock endurance race. Not the least of which will be two-time champ Jimmie Johnson, and his former Hendrick teammate, Kurt Busch. Also slated to drive are open wheel turned NASCAR drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti. This race always draws a wide array of racing talent from all forms of motorsports all over the world and much of it will be covered live on Speed TV.
Most of the teams that compete in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing series did some pre-season testing last weekend in Las Vegas. Full passes aren’t necessary to learn what they need to know so very few teams posted times worth talking about, but it’s still good to hear the engines and small the nitro after the winter break. The season begins with the traditional Winternationals on Feburary 7 -10 in Pomona,
And finally, the NASCAR Media Tour has been on-going this week and some of the announcements coming out of it are worth repeating here. After much debate in the press and over the Internet about all of the changes NASCAR has implemented over the last couple of years it seems that the folks in Daytona may be listening. They have decided that these changes just may be the reason for some of the drop in TV ratings and fan attendance. Monday, Chairman Brian France, Jr. addressed the assembled media and stated that they may have made too many changes too fast to suit many fans. So to correct that, NASCAR will be implementing the following changes.
For all of the races in 2008, the top 35 teams in owner points will qualify first, then the so-called “go-or-go-home” cars will qualify. This gives all of those teams not in the top 35 a better chance to make the race as they will now all be qualifying during the same track and weather conditions. Another change will be the starting times of some races. NASCAR admits that they have let the TV networks dictate a later start time to get a better time slot for West Coast viewers. Some of those races didn’t end until near midnight on the East Coast, something that was difficult for those fans at the track who still had to show up for work on Monday morning after a long drive home.
NASCAR also stated that they have no desire to stifle the individual personalities of its drivers. They will no longer be placing heavy fines on drivers for even the most minor display of displeasure or anger. Boys will be boys and NASCAR will lighten up a little. Lowes Motor Speedway promoter Humpy Wheeler said it best when told the press; “We need to get back to banjos and get rid of the violins. We got a little too fancy there for while. It’s not a fancy sport. Its guys with big hands and getting sweaty and getting out there and banging on each other and knocking each other around and all-American fans sitting there having a good time. This is meat and potatoes. It’s not caviar and smoked salmon.”