Truex Jr. Win Overshadowed by France Jr. Death
On a day when two Juniors were the story of NASCAR’s day Martin Truex Jr’s first ever NEXTEL Cup win was far overshadowed by the death of arguably one of the most powerful men in motorsports, Bill France Jr.
France inherited NASCAR from his father Bill France Sr., and under his powerful reign, turned it into the most powerful racing organization in motorsports.
“In life you’ve got rules you have to live by, and you have to have people to enforce those rules,” France Jr. once said. “If you don’t have rules, you have chaos. Basically we are the government in the little country of motorsports.
“Our rules are the statutes and the laws of this little country. To gain and keep the confidence of everyone involved with NASCAR, those participating need to know, as evidenced by our behavior, that the rules are applicable to everyone and are enforced fairly.”
As for the “overshadowed,” Truex Jr. lead 216 of the 400 laps and dominated The Monster. So strong was the #1 DEI ride he was over seven seconds clear of runner-up and pole starter Ryan Newman who was followed across the line by Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, and Matt Kenseth.
More later on Busch The Elder’s pit-road retribution on Smoke among other things.
NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, Bill France Jr, Martin Truex Jr, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
It’s hard to argue with the formula for success that France created, but at the same time, it led to cookie-cutter tracks, the absolute monopoly of ISC-owned tracks, which should be a conflict of interest, and the enthronement of mediocrity and obsolete technology in cars. NASCAR desperately needs a complete re-think of their policies. They are the only ones with the money and influence to get a new Trans-Am-type series going again, which is one of my fondest hopes.
Marc, for some reason I can see half this post. Either it is your site, my podunk connection, or I have a serious retina tear.
Paul… you hit one of my “nerves,” i.e. cookie cutter tracks.
They only exist in the minds of fans who scratch the surface for any possible thing to fling at NASCAR. Are there tracks very similar in configuration and length? Yes.
Ask the drivers… almost to a man they will be very plain about how what allegedly are cookie cutters are in fact very different in how a car is set-up and the best method to get around them in the fastest way possible.
Conflict of interest? You’ll see that meme go down the memory hole when Kentucky Speedway’s anti-trust lawsuit gets tossed.
As to the obsolete tech… what would you suggest? Fuel injection? Traction control? Paddle shifting and no clutches? In other words “F1 lite?”
If that’s the case it would send team costs thru the roof and would negate any possible financial benefits derived from introduction of the CORN.
NEVER happen.
Holy Cow Marc I just posted my thoughts about Monday’s race with almost the exact same title. Great minds think alike I guess. But you get first dibs I guess, since you posted yours before me.
Take Care.