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Kevin Harvick saved NASCAR racing from disaster
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(AP Photo/Mark Young)
When Ryan Newman’s Chevy went airborne in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega, those who understand the bigger picture of auto racing, held their collective breath. Nothing stunts racing enthusiasm like major injuries or fatalities of any kind.
Without a doubt, Harvick’s No. 29 broke the fall of the No. 39. The roof did cave in on Newman’s helmet, but without landing on the Harvick’s front end, the Army Chevy would have been compacted far more.
While the NASCAR blogs and talk shows are lit up with comments by professionals and average fans, alike, about what NASCAR has to do to stop cars from going airborne, comments also focus on has to be done to stop the single line, nose-to-tail racing.
A quick and easy solution to the issues that plague racing at Talladega is not likely to occur. While most of the chatter focuses on the Cup race, it needs to be remembered that only a day earlier in the Camping World Truck Series, Rick Crawford had the backend of his No. 14 truck get airborne. This is not just a Cup issue.
NASCAR needs to recognize the human element
Instead of maintaining an adamant position of being right about the pre-race declaration, NASCAR needs to acknowledge that they avoided a disaster because Harvick picked that moment to pass on the inside of the field. By simply saying that they are genuinely grateful for the fact that no driver was hurt and they are looking towards addressing the concerns raised this weekend, NASCAR could humanize how those inside and outside of NASCAR view the sanctioning body.
Should NASCAR doubt the importance of being perceived as engaged, one only needs to remind the powers that be, that this sport is one of the most sponsor dependent endeavors in athletics. At this time, series sponsors such as Sprint and Goodyear are facing economic hardships. Teams have worked harder to keep sponsors and fans happy and watching, and NASCAR needs to do the same.
It’s not just Newman: He’s voicing something bigger
Newman’s comments after getting medical clearance illustrate the frustration that many in NASCAR as well as many in the fan base feel about the sanctioning body. "The more rules, the more NASCAR is telling us how to drive the race cars, the less we can race and the less we can put on a show for the fans. As I said, I will go back in the day, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, all those guys, they respected each other. In the end there were some big accidents, but geez, we don't need the cars getting upside down like this. This is ridiculous.”
It does appear that Newman is snake bit at the Alabama track. “There is way more technology than that to help us out. Whether it is a speed issue, a roof flap issue, whatever. I said it myself in the media center after the Spring race here, and now to be the guy standing here trying to live it all out again, I'm just happy I am living it out.”
“It is a shame that not more is getting done. I don't know,” Newman reflected. “I am the only guy out there with an engineering degree. I would like to have a little respect on my end.” Ultimately, it may be NASCAR’s propensity towards issuing edicts and addressing issues after catastrophe [the COT and the No. 3] rather than collaborating with all stakeholders that has caused fan affinity to cool and drivers, who do not have the choice to sit out a race they see as dangerous, to get increasingly frustrated.
Hopefully, NASCAR will refrain from the ultimate dictatorial step that the NBA has taken in fining anyone who questions or expresses negative opinions about officiating or governing. Nothing would cause more fans to bail from NASCAR faster than seeing a driver, whose life was put at risk only days early, get reprimanded for expressing an opinion that may be more the norm, than the exception.
For more information on Southern California Motorsports, check out:
Camping World West Champion Jason Bowles to race Nationwide at Phoenix
Top ten finish for Jimmie Johnson more luck than skill
Did the Talladega track president do Jimmie Johnson a favor?
NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger arrested
Janelle Jalbert is a fan of a variety of racing formats and equally enjoys the history of the sport. Janelle grew up in an auto mechanic’s family and swears that there is carb spray running through her veins. She can be reached via email for both comments and story ideas. You can follow Janelle as the Southern California Motorsports Examiner on Twitter as @SoCalMotorsport.
Janelle also serves as the NASCAR Truck Series Examiner. Feel free to join the discussion about the hard racing in the CWTS at the NASCAR Truck Series Examiner fan page on Facebook
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