Tallagdega rumblings

[John B]

On the Jayski rumors page I read a couple links with some pretty strong comments about racing at Talladega. Bobby LaBonte had some pointed words about boycotting the race and how "we could use 4 weekends off," and how his team principles including Gibbs have said the race is not worth the driver's safety risk. Mark Martin was pretty outspoken in one the articles as well.

Could this produce a situation like New Hampshire last year, where the plates were brought in amidst talk of a boycott? Also, what do you think about the future of superspeedways in general - have they reached the point of being outdated like some of the older Formula One tracks? The list of plate crashes (think of the number of cars that have been totalled since 1988, starting with Petty flipping near the grandstand) is amazingly long.

[Joe Fan]

I don't know quite what to think about all of this. Sponsors telling drivers that they would condone them missing the Talladega race if they feel it is too dangerous. Last year at Daytona, Geoffrey Bodine has a horrific crash in the truck series and they weren't using plates. I have never been a real big fan of restrictor plates but they sure make the races more exciting than the old days when 3-4 cars used to run away from everyone.

[Ax Slinger]

I've never been a fan of restrictor plates either. My feeling has always been...

What do you have when you take the superspeed out of the superspeedway? Way?

That's kinda pointless in my opinion. Race cars are supposed to go fast!

[Raoul Duke]

Yes, but you must admit that it makes for some pretty close racing. Like the Talladega race, last october, with the whole field bunched up together in one pack, rather than spread out all over the track. And this years Daytona 500 as well was good.

[senna12]

I was reading a couple of stories on the NASCAR website. A lot of the drivers agree that last fall's race there was one of the most exciting races ever held. They just don't feel they should have to drive that way all the time!! 500 miles with white knuckles at 195 mph with 3 cars beside you, in a pack of 25 or 30, is nerve wracking stuff.

There seems to be some disagreement among the drivers as to the best solution for the plates.

[knott24]

I think they should take the restricked plates off and let them go.Because thats what is getting them kill.Just like earnheart said let us race.

[Raoul Duke]

I say keep the Talladega race, and leave it just the way it is. Dale Earnhardt would be ashamed if he heard all the drivers whinging like this. These people are paid to go out there and take risks the way they do. Last Octobers race was just unbelievable, you litterally didn't know what would happen untill the finall lap. This type of racing is sadly missing from other forms of motorsport.

No wonder Nascar is one of the most popular sports in North America, no other sporting event in the world comes close to having the same level of intensity, thrill, and excitement as a superspeeday Nascar race.

[knott24]

Dale said they should let them go as fast as they wont.I do agree with that.The way its going they are getting kill.Yes they new it was a risk but if they don't feel safe in the cars they will not put on good shows.The one person that thought he was untouchable got kill and yes that scared the drivers you can tell that by the way alot of them are driveing.If nascar would take and put soft walls up i don't think the drivers would be saying what they are.But nascar won't because it cost to much money.They don't worry about their drivers safety or they would do something.I can't blame the drivers they are worried about their familes.And nascar is just worried about the money they are making.Yes the fans like to see a good show and i do myself but noone life is worth taking for a good show.And i belive it can be solve if nascar would take steps and put soft walls up at least show the drivers that they are concerned about their lives because you know they can aford it.

[sprinter]

Anyone remember the last time nascar drivers decided to boycott a race and what happened?

Just race.

[Lee]

The last, and only driver boycott, in NASCAR's history, to date, was the first race ever held at, ironiclly, Talladega, in 1969. The drivers had formed a union, called the Professional Driver's Association, led by Richard Petty. Talladega was considered unsafe, because Goodyear, and Firestone (who was involved in NASCAR racing at this time) had not developed the tire technology to withstand the forces of the new track. The drivers ask Bill France Sr. to postpone the race until a tire could be developed to withstand the track. A hugh argurment ensued. The drivers kept claiming the track was unsafe. During the dispute, France took a car, that was illegal, out onto the track to prove that it was safe. After a couple of laps, he brought the car back into the pits, only to discover that the tires were blistered! Even with this proof, France refused to postpone the race. On race morning, Petty, and almost all of the other Grand National drivers left the track, with their cars, and equipment. The late Bobby Issac, who was not a PDA member, and Richard Brickhouse, who was, choose to stay and race. France held the race, filling out the field with cars from the old (now defunked) Grand American Division, a couple of ARCA cars, and the illegal car that France had driven for a few laps. He told the people that had bought tickets for this race, that if they came to the next scheduled Grand National (now Winston Cup) race at Talledega, or the next race at Daytona, that they would be admitted free of charge if they showed a ticket stub for this race. Richard Brickhouse won the race, which was run without incident, mainly due to the fact that the much lighter Grand American cars did not punish the tires, and were not as fast as the Grand National and ARCA cars that were entered in the race. As a result of his membership in the PDA, and his decision to ignore the boycott, after telling the other PDA members that he would honor it, Richard Brickhouse effectivly ended his career, since all of the other drivers/team owners blackballed him, he was never able to get another ride. The same was not true for Bobby Issac, since he was not a PDA member, and told the other drivers, from day one, that he was going to race, regardless of whether or not they did. They never held anything against him for his decision to race. France lost allot of money on this boycott, and took steps to prevent this from occuring again. In retorspect, Richard Petty stated that, in the long run, NASCAR probally benefitted more from the strike. Without the publisity, the Talladega race would have been "just another 500 mile race.

It is said that the steps that France took to ensure that there would not ever be another driver boycott would be so severe, to any driver/drivers that ever attempted a similar action, as to effectivly end the career of said driver/drivers! Besides, with the current points system, a driver cannot stand to miss races if he is running for the Winston Cup Championship. This is why drivers race for points, instead of wins nowdays, and is another difference between now, and 1969. In those days, the Grand National Championship was little more than an afterthought. Then, the top objective was winning races! Now, with the hugh infusion of R.J. Reynolds cash, (since about 1985) winning the championship has taken presidence over winning races! Due to these reasons, there will be no driver boycott of Talladega, or any other track on the circuit! This, you can count on!