More passing makes for crappier racing?

Question

Passes Double at "New" Bristol: NASCAR’s Loop Data shows green flag passing during Saturday night’s Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway more than doubled that of the spring race at Bristol – from 991 passes in the spring to 2,147 passes Saturday night. The consensus opinion held by the drivers at the conclusion of the race rang loud and clear: the new surface at Bristol Motor Speedway met – and exceeded – expectations, as the addition of a second and third racing groove greatly increased the number of passes – and thusly, the competition. Take a look at the total passing numbers from the spring and this past weekend:

2007 Green Flag Passes at Bristol

Spring, Location, Summer
184, Frontstretch, 529
128, Backstretch, 487
313, Turns 1 and 2, 571
366, Turns 3 and 4, 560
991, Total, 2,147

The 2,147 green flag passes Saturday is a 108% increase over the spring race at Bristol.

http://jayski.com/cupnews.htm

Explain how this is crappier racing please?!

Answer 1

I like how people claim that Bristol has always traditionally been a beat-and-bang bump-and-run track and now they've ruined a tradition. It wasn't like that until 1992 when they replaced the asphalt with concrete. It was more like it is now when it was an asphalt surface. If anything, they've fixed a tradition.

Answer 2

I think that Bristol has always had the rep of being the place where you saw tempers flare and wrecks/paybacks happen. The fans for years have been subject to this style of racing. It is not to say that the race on Saturday was bad it is just not what people are use to.

Change is always hard at first. If we all give it a chance then we are sure to be pleased with the results.

Safer driving is always best anyway.

Answer 3

Yeah, everyone seems to be forgetting this is the first race on a brand new surface. New tracks always take awhile to get worn in. It is nice to be able to make a pass without having to move the guy out of the way. Also take into consideration the fact that nobody wants to be responsible for the wreck that either knocks them or someone else out of the championship run.

Answer 4

Wow! I hadn't seen the numbers until now.

I work in the pits and i must say the race did seem boring to me. But i blame Goodyear for the hard tire they brought, it didn't have any grip and never really gave up.

It just seemed as if you knew what to expect once the race had started. It took all the strategy out of the race, because you could get new tires and be faster for about 15 laps then you would run the same as guys on old tires. It just wasn't any fun, but i BLAME GOODYEAR for that!

Answer 5

What was the tradition of Bristol? The tradition of Bristol is the age-old idea that "rubbin's racin'". NASCAR had made it so that only Bristol and Martinsville fit that style of racing. Yes, passing is fun to watch, but Bristol had that had that sorta feeling of tradition, like you had gone back in time to when guys like Earnhardt and Petty went for the win without thinking twice about knocking into the other car. With the loss of the former one-groove Bristol, you have also lost something else...tradition.

Answer 6

let me start by saying that i didn't think it was better or worse than before but to answer your question of why passing more makes it less exciting, its the watering down, with 2,147 pass in that race only MAYBE the last 300 made a difference, it gets to a point where a pass is just another pass, and unless its in the top 5 who cares,

I'll use football vs baseball for an example, baseball has what, around 150 to 160 games in a season? so a 20 game loosing streak in June means nothing,

where football has sixteen games, every game counts, every win is crucial, and every game is a must watch because of it,

the extreme example is talladega where any car on the lead lap in the last 30 laps could win, so the first 200 laps are absolutely meaningless,

but that just my opinion

Answer 7

I loved the racing this weekend. Rubbin is racin and there was lots of rubbin that I saw. What we didn't see was bumping in the back of someone to get a position. Part of this was the new track and part was due to the COT which took away the "Raise them up and drive under them" move which I always hated.

Answer 8

They whine when they wreck and they whine when they don't. Maybe you watch racing for the wrong reason. Maybe your concerned who is the prettiest driver. Maybe you should watch a ball game. Then you could see men chasing a ball around a field, just like when you were little. I'm sure you could relate better to that.

Answer 9

It does not make crappier racing. Just the opposite it showcases a drivers skill and patience. No more just wreck the car ahead of you. It also gave more cars room to pass and get the lucky dog. These Nascar cars cost between $300.000-$700.000 a piece. Bump and run is alright on the last few laps but not the entire race!!! If u fans are sick and hungry because their wasnt enough wrecks and fighting after the race GO TO OR HOST A DEMOLITION DERBY IN YOUR LOCAL AREA!!!!

Answer 10

I thought it was great because I watch for racing not wrecks. 2 and 3 wide racing at Bristol. Once Goodyear brings some better tires and the track ages the racing will be even better.