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NASCAR’s testing ban has become a joke
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When NASCAR decided to suspend, in effect ban, testing at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks, they did so to save teams money in an economy that seems to be bordering on the brink of collapse according to some.
The rule went into effect this year and while teams have observed the ban at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks, that doesn’t mean there’s been no testing. In fact, teams have been testing at tracks all across the country; at least those tracks that don’t host NASCAR events and by those teams who can afford it.
At General Motors Proving Grounds in Arizona to the fabled Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina to New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, NASCAR racecars have been turning laps, tuning engines, shaking down suspensions, and spending money.
“You know, I am in agreement that in desperate times, in difficult times, you have to make difficult decisions,” said driver Jeff Burton. “But we don't have a testing ban; we have a testing restriction. You know, so teams are still testing.”
“Rockingham is a place that a lot of people have paid attention to, the short track and the big track; Texas World has made an announcement a couple weeks ago they were going to update their facility to try to make it so people could use it,” he added. “And if those things happen, people will use them. I don't fault a car owner for doing that. The rule doesn't say you can't do it, so the rule doesn't say you can't do it, if you think it's going to make you better, that's what you need to do.”
And for those teams who have already tested, there is no hiding the fact that they are doing it.
“I did test Texas World Speedway,” said driver Greg Biffle. “Very fast. A little bit bumpy, which is to be expected of a racetrack that the pavement is that old. But just very fast place. It's kind of a fun racetrack.”
“But our cars today are probably pretty dang fast for a racetrack like that, fastest I've been in a race car before, 218 miles an hour yesterday at Texas World Speedway. That's getting her done, if you want to say,” he added. “195 mile an hour average, so it was a pretty fast place.”
By the way Biffle drives for owner Jack Roush, the same owner who late last year urged all teams in the garage area to observe the letter of the law and not test anywhere.
"If we could organize a situation where all the established teams would hold hands and resolve not to test outside of the NASCAR mandated or approved testing, not go to the skid pads, not go to Canada, not to go to Pikes Peak or any of the places they're checking on, I'd be happier with that than to skirt around," Roush said soon after the announcement was made. "If everybody else does it, we may have to do it, too. But that's certainly not in the spirit of trying to save the teams money and trying to operate in these severe economic circumstances."
The biggest challenge for teams who decide to test is the lack of the same Goodyear tires that they will use during the season.
“Well, the interesting thing is if you can't have the right tire, then what are you really learning?” said Burton. “We struggle taking a tire that has completely nothing to do with where you're testing for and being able to apply a whole lot of what you've learned. No matter how hard you work on bump stops, no matter how hard you work on shocks, no matter how hard you work on geometry, at the end of the day the last thing that touches the road is the tire, and the tire has a huge bearing on how your car drives. So at what point are you learning, and how effective is it?”
Despite the restrictions on testing, teams are deciding to do it anyway. NASCAR officials meanwhile have remained silent. Those teams that can afford it are still spending the money and so far there seems to be no reason they can’t.
While NASCAR of course can’t control what happens at a track they don’t sanction, they can control the drivers and teams who decide to skirt the testing ban then try to compete on a NASCAR sanctioned track. If they are really serious about their ban and the desire to save teams money, then anyone caught testing anywhere should have their NASCAR license pulled and heavily fined under the good old catch all rule ‘actions detrimental to the sport’.
Until and unless NASCAR decides to do something about it, testing will continue. It’s almost like a parent telling their child not do to get into the cookie jar and having the kid reaching in when mom’s not looking.
Truth be told the suspension of testing by NASCAR has become a joke, there is no money being saved and the egg is dripping of the faces of NASCAR officials. They may have instituted the testing ban with all the right intentions, but it isn’t working.
It’s now time for NASCAR to do the right thing and either reexamine the restrictions or simply lift the suspension altogether and allow the testing to go on.
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