You know, when I think about it, I have a very short list of things I would like to see changed for 2011.
We’ve come off one of the most competitive seasons we have ever had in NASCAR. There were a lot of different players. There actually were a lot of new players. We had 13 different winners this year.
I have only a couple of things on my list of changes, and actually they are very small. First, I would eliminate the off week early in the FOX portion of the season. I know my bosses at FOX would love to see it go away, too.
There simply isn’t any reason for it. It’s a great time to be racing and to be on television because you aren’t going up against a lot of things. Now, I love an off weekend just as much as anybody — when it makes sense. It just seems that the teams, the fans and the TV audience are just getting a head of steam early in the new season and things just come to a complete halt.
It simply doesn’t have to be that way.
I probably would also take a look at making some of the races shorter. Now, to be fair, a lot of them have been worked on. Yes, there are ones you don’t touch like the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the 500 miles at Darlington Raceway.
Those are races with a lot of tradition and are high profile. Those shouldn’t be touched.
Past those three, I think our sport should take a very hard look at how to fit a race within a three-hour or, at the maximum, three-hour-and-20-minute window. I think that’s the perfect length for our competitors. I also think its perfect for the fans in the grandstands and those at home watching on television.
Probably the other thing I would like to see pushed hard is getting back to strong manufacturer identity with our race cars. I know NASCAR is doing that. Officials have a short-term plan as well as a long-term one. I just think it’s something we really have to work hard on. I am talking about doing a lot more than just a decal that says Ford, Chevy, Toyota or Dodge.
I know there is continued talk about adding elimination to the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Let’s face it, we already have it. When we got to Homestead-Miami Speedway a few weeks ago, nine of the 12 guys had already eliminated themselves from the championship. Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick were the only three left standing.
In 99 percent of all the other sports out there, it is all about the athlete’s talent. Our sport is a little different. That’s why I am not in favor of elimination from the Chase.
What if a championship contender had a blown engine in a Chase race and was eliminated? What if two guys lean on each other at Martinsville Speedway and one ends up in the wall with a blown tire? That’s why I say let the elimination happen naturally.
I just don’t think there should be an elimination mechanism put into the Chase. Heck, about halfway through the Chase, these guys eliminate themselves weekly. So don’t mess with it. I am in favor of letting them have their own points system to keep things tighter.
I am not in favor of adding more teams to the Chase. One thing I hate about the NHL and the NBA is it seems like everyone makes the playoffs. So when it comes to expanding the number of Chase teams or the elimination aspect within the Chase, I just don’t think I could embrace it. Naturally if NASCAR makes it a component, I will support and promote it.
