CUP Restarts = BS?

[OldSchool+]

So, everyone has been fussing about NASCAR's sloppy restarts and their lack of "enforcement" regarding the "rules".

Cup restarts are about the same as any short track, and for that matter, street drag racing. Everyone is trying to "psych" the other guy in some fashion and gain an advantage.

Currently they start two wide and have a "box" of about three car lengths for the leader to fire in and "control" the start, otherwise the starter throws the flag and restarts the race.

Fair enough, except that anyone that has been in the position knows that if you wait for the other guy to fire, you lose 1-3 spots. And the other guy can "lay down" to make it look like you jumped the start.

Which is, IMO, precisely what Greg Biffle did to Brad K at Loudon. Maybe it was intentional, maybe not, it really does not matter. And clearly Brad did jump the start.

By half a car length. Which he then immediately gave up, allowing Biffle to repass.

But it mattered not, NASCAR gave Keselowski the black flag. "[CUP official Richard] Buck said it didn't matter whether Keselowski actually completed a pass, he violated the rule that the leader has control of the race and the second-place driver can't restart by accelerating before the leader hits the gas."

But here is the deal: How was Brad's behavior in any way different than "going below the yellow line" at a plate track and then giving the position back up--with no penalty?

Answer--It isn't. It is the same as it almost always is with officials. What they do is emotion driven--in this case there was a sense that they needed to do "something"--not based in actual right or wrong.

NASCAR fumbles the ball--again--IMO.

[OldSchool+]

ps--Here is "The Solution", or a solution, anyway.

Lose the "start box" and the two lines painted on the track. Line them up as if it was the start of a new race (that is what the fans want anyway). Have the flagman throw the flag anywhere he wants. If he deems the start to be "fair", off they go. Either guy can gain a small advantage (again, similarly to the beginning of an event), but not too much.

If the starter "feels" that either of the front two cars "jumped" the start, he calls in the penalty.

Will it always be "right"? No, but, IMO it would be a better deal than the current one.

[Darren]

Back in the day the flagman was in control of the race, NASCAR or short track. Now its the race director. He will call yellow flag unless its a wreck on the track and the starter/flagman sees it first. NASCAR does not need a flag person in the flag stand. They could have a robut and they push the button to wave the green flag in one hand or the yellow in the other along with the lights around the track. Tower people control the race. Not for sure about Cup but I believe they have a flag gal in one or both of the lower 2 series. She could wear a something less then a fire suit and give us something to look at when its starts to get boring, which would be one lap after restarts.

[OldSchool+]

Darren,

Point taken. But it is really, um, beside the point.

NASCAR could skip the Flagman, and Brian or his appointee could press a button changing the yellow to green as the field approached.

Again,

>NASCAR controls the start, period.

>The first and second place cars are on equal ground regarding who fires first.

Yes, I know, it isn't precisely "fair", but y'Know, as Brad said, "It's an entertainment sport".

[chassisdude]

Now that is the best idea I have heard in a long time. Lets go with a flag lady instead of a flag man, she should be tall and bend way over to wave the green, I would think she should be a healthy full figured woman and I would say a very low cut firesuit would be best, now everyone will be watching the start or restart, I sure know I will be paying a lot of attention to the flag lady.

[OldSchool+]

Flagman, Brian-with-a-button, Flaglady, it matters not to me...

But I do understand that Linda Vaughn is available, resplendent in gold and silver sequins.

[egspeedway]

Given the subjective way they have enforced this it is quite apparent that this is yet another means for NASCAR to inject drama and intrigue into what otherwise may have been a boring subject. No wonder drivers and owners have to be so careful regarding their concerns for anything other than safety.

[dave41]

restarts

back in the day , golden gate and auburndale we the leader could restart on the back shoot or anywhere coming out of four. after that flagman restarted you. never restart at the same place

[OldSchool+]

"...it is quite apparent that this is yet another means for NASCAR to inject drama and intrigue into what otherwise may have been a boring subject [,restarts]."--EG

Well, it is not so apparent to me, but you may be correct.

To me, it looks like all the other NASCAR "rules"-- whatever Moe, Larry, & Curley came up with this weekend. That is, it does not put NASCAR in an intelligent light.

Ever notice how the booth is deathly quiet until "the call" comes down? That is because they are waiting to see what happens and then varnish over it like it is rules based and they (the announcers) knew what was going on the whole time.

[egspeedway]

The TV package has been losing fans at an alarming rate due to single file long runs with side by side only after restarts. This has led to completion yellows multiple debris cautions and now with restarts and pit lane violations they can target specific drivers, This should allow for come creative choreography. Sadly on the cookie cutter tracks car speed and handling are by products of aerodynamics and engineering with drivers role reduced to carrying out instructions.

[Benny The Mule]

back in the day , golden gate and auburndale we the leader could restart on the back shoot or anywhere coming out of four. after that flagman restarted you. never restart at the same place

I too enjoyed the leader allowed to fire anywhere between entrance of turn 3 and exit of 4......I never fired in the same place and liked a fast rolling start. drove guys crazy trying to guess where i would fire. LOL.

[OldSchool+]

NASCAR responds!

"The restart zone for this weekend's NASCAR races at Dover International Speedway will double from 70 feet to 140 feet, according to NASCAR. The sanctioning body will also lengthen the restart zone for the 2015 season's remaining races post-Dover -- the exact increase will be determined by an at-track basis. The restart rules have not changed. Drivers will still line up double file, with the leader being the "control car," meaning the second-place car can't take off before the leader in the restart zone located before the start/finish line."--Nascar.com

Actually liked my deal better, but this should be a help, IMO.

The leader starts the event. Second place guy jumps, he is penalized. I still think that the second place guy has to anticipate the start, and therefore can be tricked into firing first by the leader. And I still think that if he "gives the spot back", as Brad did, it should be a non-issue.

We will see, since they already have set a (stupid) precedent.

[egspeedway]

Completely agree especially the no penalty if you give back the spot. I would rather see a shorter restart zone so as to put pressure on both. The longer the zone he greater the likelihood of a jump or being sandbagged.