Food for Thought
Regardless of what some believe, or say, or blog about or dream the best racing in NASCAR is ongoing. Research shows that in 1970, 22 of the 48 races were decided by more than one lap.
Throughout that decade, 110 races were won by more than one lap. In the ’80s, a one-lap margin happened 16 times. Such a margin of victory happened just twice in the 1990s.
As a matter of fact, the last race won by more than a lap occurred in 1994.
If you want to argue it’s because of “Phantom Debris Caution Flags” go ahead, that only explains a small percentage of the difference.
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I don’t believe the desire for yesteryear is isolated in vrooming…THESE are the good old days, but I would have loved to driven an Edsel Ford!
I would like to see a comparison between being lapped because your slow vs being unlucky and caught up in an ill timed yellow after pitting during a long green flag run.
Well, even before the COT, the cars were getting so templated, it was hard to tell one model from another.
With COT, it’s going to be more like IROC - dont’ know if I like that.
For me, the think I’ve like the least of all changes in NASCAR over the years is restrictor plate races. Can’t stand it. If they think they have to slow the cars down, there’s gotta be a better way of doing it. I just hate that they don’t have anything left to pull out and pull away.
Don’t wanna be a “complainer” or “critic” - but hey, we’re called fans for a reason. It’s short for fanatics. Which I think means bitchy in Latin.
I’ve been critical of the CoT, known around here as the CORN, on two counts.
First I still believe most if not all the safety improvements could have been installed into the old body and would have been cheaper in the long run.
Secondly the testing program NASCAR had was a sham. They never had a test during late ‘05 and ‘06 that had more than approx 10 cars. And even then they hardly ever were all on the track at the same time.
I think that lack of “large field” testing then has led to most of the teams having troubles with understeer with the CORN now.
However, with the 16 events held after this year I suspect some wind tunnel testing after the season may improve that. That’s especially true now that the teams know the ‘08 season will be all with the CORN. That gives teams and NASCAR a greater incentive to speed-up improvements.