NASCAR Returns
I know these last few months have been hard for you without any NASCAR to watch. Luckily, the short offseason is just about over. The Bud Shootout is this Saturday at 8pm eastern. Practice and qualifying starts on Thursday. The actual season starts the following Sunday (Valentine’s Day) with the Daytona 500.
It’s a great event but we’re forced to hear endless comparisons calling the race “the SuperBowl of NASCAR.” I hate that. Why don’t we call the SuperBowl “the Daytona 500 of the NFL?” NASCAR fans can be desperate for the validation and national recognition that the attendance and viewership numbers demand, but comparisons like this make you sound needy. Stand on your own. Be proud of your event and let the cards fall where they may.
Besides, I think it’s a ridiculous comparison. While it is one of the most prestigious races, it doesn’t compare at all to the SuperBowl’s importance to the overall season. Lose the SuperBowl and you lose the championship. Lose the Daytona 500 and you can easily come back to win the championship. It’s even arguable whether or not it’s the most prestigious. There are some racers who would much rather win the Brickyard 500 than the Daytona 500.
There are a number of changes this year. Most notably, NASCAR is loosening up it’s enforcement of on-track violations. Restrictor places are bigger and there are no bump drafting rules anymore. Have at it boys!
However, I’m disappointed that they still haven’t changed one thing: the number of Sprint Cup regulars who compete in the Nationwide events. I want to see a rule that limits Sprint Cup regulars to 10 races in the Nationwide series. Yes, it’s good for the Nationwide guys to get a chance to learn from the big boys, but is anyone really impressed when the big boys win all the races and the championship in the minor leagues? It hurts the Nationwide series and limits the number of spots available for new drivers. Kyle Busch, I’m looking at you. Give it a rest and focus on the Sprint Cup. You could obviously put the extra time to good use there considering you didn’t even make the chase last year.